Children's Books for 3rd Graders
I Smell Amazing!
Deep in the jungle lives Rafa, a huge red flower with bumpy, spotted petals and a smell so strong it can curl your toes! The orchids gnash their teeth, the roses turn up their noses, and the butterflies fly right past. But why do clouds of gnats adore her? And could Rafa’s stinky cologne actually be her greatest gift of all? This decodable reader practises the gn phonogram in words like ‘sign,’ ‘design,’ ‘reigns,’ and ‘gnaw.’
I Thought You Were a Cat!
Hantu is the biggest, boldest ghost in all of Indonesia, and scaring villagers is his favorite job. Lions whimper! Strongmen squeal! Guards drop their guns and flee! But when Hantu creeps into a tiny house to frighten one small, sleeping mouse, will the terror of the night finally meet someone too brave to shake? This decodable reader practices the ‘gh’ phonogram in words like ‘ghost,’ ’night,’ ‘fight,’ and ’thought.’
It's All the Cat's Fault!
What happens when one curious cat climbs the tallest tree in the yard and flatly refuses to come down? A simple rescue soon turns into a broken ladder, a screaming baby, a kitchen-raiding monkey, and a very hungry dog with a nose for trouble. Can anyone possibly convince the teacher that every single wild word of this story is true? This decodable reader practises si making /zh/ in words such as ‘occasion,’ ‘confusion,’ ‘pleasure,’ and ‘unusual.’
It's Butter's Birthday!
Summer holidays are finally here, and Bon has BIG plans - water balloons, games, and no homework! But when Mum is busy, Dad rushes off to work, and Su ignores him completely, is this going to be the most boring summer ever? Just when Bon’s about to give up, a wild idea sparks involving the family parrot, a polka-dot hat, and a very special party. This decodable reader practises the ‘gn’ sound in words like ‘sign,’ ‘gnaws,’ ‘assigned,’ and ‘designing.’
It's On Backwards!
It’s the biggest morning of Min’s life - her very first day of school! But there’s just one tiny problem: nobody has ever taught her how to do up the buttons on her brand-new uniform. Mummy is busy, Daddy is busy, and even Grandpa walks right past. Can Min figure it out all by herself before the bell rings? And what happens when she finally tries? This decodable reader practises the augh phonogram in words like ‘caught,’ ‘daughter,’ ’taught,’ and ’laughter.’
Just a Haircut!
Ned’s shiny new shed has everything a hero could want - stone walls, flaming torches, a crafting table - but no bed! Can he track down three fluffy sheep, snip enough wool, and finally get a proper night’s sleep? With his magic book guiding the way and a brand new pair of shears in hand, Ned sets off on a woolly adventure. But sheep are faster than they look - and a lot less keen on free haircuts! This decodable reader practises the ui phonogram in words like ‘bruise,’ ‘cruise,’ ‘fruit,’ and ‘pursuit.’
Just One More Prank!
In the quiet village of Canville, the Mage has a problem - his magic just won’t stay put! It fizzes, sparks, and begs to be let loose. Surely one tiny prank couldn’t hurt, right? But when bricks, cacti, bubbling lava, and squawking chickens start piling up around town, will anyone stop the mischief before it’s too late? A decodable reader exploring the soft g sound through words such as ‘magic,’ ‘giant,’ ‘village,’ and ‘gentle.’
Kip Jumps
Kip has somewhere very important to be today - but can one little hero make it across his neighborhood when a mob of eight snapping crocs is blocking the path? With jaws wide open and hungry bellies rumbling, these crocs are ready for a Kip-sized snack! Can Kip leap, bound, and fly his way to safety before those teeth catch up? This decodable reader practises the ’eigh’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ’eighth,’ ‘heavyweight,’ and ‘weightless.’
Let's Bee Friends
Zom the zombie is tired of shuffling neighbours who only groan about brains. Can he find a friend who talks about literally anything else? When a golden hive buzzes in a nearby tree, Zom is sure he’s struck gold - a whole neighbourhood of new pals! But bees are busy little workers, and shaking their home turns out to be a very bad hello. How can Zom make things right? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘weight,’ ‘freight,’ and ’neighbour.’
Llama Drama
BOOM. BOOM. BOOM. What is shaking the walls of Skel’s farmhouse in the middle of the night? When he stomps outside, he finds three llamas prancing on the grass - and by morning, there are forty-seven more! They are gnawing the crops, gnashing their teeth, and spitting sticky green goo. Can Skel and Zom ever get rid of this woolly, wobbling herd? This decodable reader practices the gn phonogram in words like ‘gnashing,’ ‘gnawed,’ ‘resigned,’ and ‘designed.’