Children's Books for 3rd Graders
Pests!
Skel loves his brick house spotless, from the floors right up to the ceiling - but Zom and Jack think cleaning is weird and would rather flop in the sunny yard. What happens when nobody lifts a mop for days? Why are strange little legs skittering in the shadows, and who seized the last slice of pie? Can the pals fix the mess before the bugs take over? This decodable reader practices the ’ei’ sound in words like ‘ceiling,’ ’eight,’ ‘seized,’ and ‘weirdly.’
Phantoms
Skel has a list of chores longer than his arm, and he’s far too busy for rest. But when night falls and glowing green eyes appear in the sky, can a tired skeleton outrun a hungry phantom? Will Bones and Jack reach him in time, or has Skel’s no-sleep adventure finally gone too far? This decodable reader practices si making /zh/ in words such as ’treasure,’ ‘decision,’ ‘vision,’ and ‘pleasure.’
Pick One, Bee!
Bea has one simple plan: fly through the garden and pick her ONE favorite flower. Easy, right? But with bouncing bees pointing every which way, roses hiding in fancy corners, and daisies wearing lace collars like tiny suns, how can anyone decide? Every bloom feels like the best one - until the next one appears. Will Bea ever make up her mind? This decodable reader practises the soft c in words like ‘cinch,’ ‘center,’ ‘circled,’ ‘decide,’ and ‘face.’
Pillager!
Brat Cat has eight jobs on her list and zero time for weirdos - so why is a grey pillager standing on her hill with a crossbow? When an arrow thumps into her shoulder on a perfectly normal Tuesday, this feisty farm cat grabs her bow and climbs the log pile. Can she seize the moment and save her pigs from the weirdest neighbor ever? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ sound in words like ’eight,’ ‘weight,’ ‘seize,’ and ‘reign.’
Rainbow Birds
Red Bird thinks she’s the boldest, brightest bird in the yard - but is she really the best? Yellow Bird claims the tallest hill, Orange Bird bowls through a flock of startled white birds, and Green Bird leads a loopy crew through the trees. Then a wild gust roars in. Can six very different birds find something better than being the best? This decodable reader practices the ‘ui’ sound in words like ‘cruised,’ ’nuisance,’ ‘recruits,’ and ‘suits.’
Run, Fig Pig, Run!
Deep in an old, forgotten mine, Fig Pig grips his little lamp and marches bravely into the dark. But what lurks beyond the rusty rails and towering stone arches? A glittering chest? A snoring spider the size of a wheelbarrow? A wobbly walkway over bubbling lava? Fig Pig thinks he’s tough enough for anything - but can one brave little pig really handle all that? This decodable reader practices the ‘ough’ phonogram in words like ’tough,’ ’though,’ ‘brought,’ and ’enough.’
Run, Rooster, Run!
Rooster has spotted a mouse in his farmyard, and he’s certain this will be the greatest catch in farm history! But what happens when Mouse zips away in a flash and vanishes into a haystack? And whose angry WOOF is that behind the bushes? Can Rooster outrun a very big, very loud, very toothy problem? Feathers will fly in this farmyard chase! This decodable reader practises the ‘si’ making /zh/ sound in words like ‘confusion,’ ‘decision,’ ’treasure,’ and ‘vision.’
Sail Away, Fig Pig!
Fig Pig is setting sail on the grandest cruise of his life! With a boat packed full of fruit and juice, he’s ready to explore faraway lands and find a brave crew to join him. But will polar bears chase him off the ice? Will golden deserts or squelchy swamps hide the perfect recruit? And who on earth would suit life aboard a tiny raft with one very bold pig? This decodable reader practises the ‘ui’ sound in words like ‘cruise,’ ‘fruit,’ ‘suit,’ and ‘recruit.’
Shoo, Big Bad Fish!
Red loves three things: swimming, looping, and lunch in his cool, cool pond. But what happens when Big Bad Fish comes gliding out of the dark, with rows of sharp teeth and a creepy little light on his head? Can one tiny fish and his nervous pals outsmart a giant with snapping jaws? Red has a really big idea - but will it work? This decodable reader practises the ‘ph’ sound in words like ‘phenomenal,’ ‘phantom,’ ‘phew,’ and ’triumphant.’
Sing It, Bug!
Spring has sprung, and Bug has a fizzy, buzzy, can’t-sit-still feeling in her belly - she wants to SING! But what happens when Duck only sings in the rain, Frog’s song has forty-seven verses, and Big Bird’s trill nearly blows Bug’s antennae off? Can one tiny bug find a song that’s truly her own, and maybe bring all her friends together too? This decodable reader practices the wr phonogram in words like ‘wriggle,’ ‘wrinkled,’ ‘wrist,’ ‘wrong,’ and ‘wry.’