Children's Books for 3rd Graders

High in the green mountains of Africa, a young woman named Saba longs to win the heart of a quiet, sad-eyed boy who will not eat and will not speak. When a wise healer says the cure needs one whisker from the chin of a living lion, will Saba dare such a dangerous ‘pursuit’? Can patience really tame a wild beast, and mend a broken family? This Bookbot level practises the ‘ui’ sound with words like ‘pursuit’, ‘bruised’, ‘suit’, ‘fluid’, and ‘fruitful’.

Opio is ten, and he’s sure he’s old enough to paddle the family canoe out past the village all by himself. He knows the shallows, the bird calls, the way the water turns grey before rain. But what happens when a thick fog rolls in and the shore vanishes? With his father’s lessons whispering in his mind, can one small boy find his way home across the wide, open lake? This Bookbot story practises the soft ‘g’ sound in words like ‘village’, ‘courage’, ‘gently’, and ‘change’.

Zom is tired of the quiet stone room while Skel is off hunting, so he decides to become a farmer! He builds a lovely planter, scoops up every seed he can find, and plants them in neat little rows. But what happens when wild chickens come stomping through? And horses? And sheep, cows, and pigs? Can Zom possibly save his garden - or will he end up with something far stranger? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘celery,’ ‘circus,’ ‘advice,’ and ’excellent.’

Zom and Skel have raced to the top of a hill - but what is that strange, glowing egg Zom has found at the bottom? Nobody seems to want it. Not a hen, not a squid, not even a dragon! Will Skel ever find out what laid this odd egg, and what sort of creature might hatch out of it? This decodable reader practises the ‘kn’ phonogram in words like ‘knew,’ ‘kneel,’ ‘knocking,’ and ‘unknown.’

In the coral-stone town of Lamu, a girl named Pendo sells fish and can read faces like a sailor reads the sky. When a powerful merchant accuses her father of theft, who will believe a girl’s word against three witnesses? Then, in a warm tide pool, her fingers touch a strange singing shell that holds the truth of that morning. Will anyone else listen? This Bookbot Level KN story practises the /n/ sound in words like ‘knew’, ‘knows’, ‘knot’, and ‘knuckles’.

Everyone in the coastal village knows the old baobab is wise, but no one dares ask it anything. When the well suddenly runs dry and the elders argue for days, can a quick ten year old named Nuru find the courage to climb the red-sand ridge and listen to a tree? What will the baobab tell her, and will anyone believe a girl who says she ‘knows’ the answer? This Bookbot level practises the ‘kn’ sound with words like ‘knew’, ‘knows’, ‘knot’, and ‘knocks’.

A long line of ants is marching straight across the yard, and they look hungry - very hungry! Where are they going, and how much food is enough for so many tiny mouths? From roller skates to a picnic blanket, from the kitchen cupboards to a sweet surprise on the counter, these tough little workers will not stop searching. Will they find the perfect snack? This decodable reader practises the ‘ough’ sound in words like ’thought,’ ’enough,’ ’tough,’ and ‘brought.’

Every night, Ned locks his door, pulls the covers tight, and listens to the zombies groan outside. He’s tired of hiding from the monsters in his neighbourhood - but what can one boy do against an army of creepers and skeletons? When The Book whispers about a weapon made of iron, could Ned finally be brave enough to stand and fight back the dark? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram through words like ‘weigh,’ ‘weight,’ ’eight,’ and ’neighbour.’

Rose the sheep is finally heading home after a long summer on the hill - but wait, what’s this? A brand-new gate, and it’s far too small for a big, woolly sheep! Can yoga shrink her down? Will running do the trick? What about swimming? After three weeks of trying, Rose has one last, brilliant idea. This decodable reader practises the ‘kn’ sound in words like ‘knew,’ ‘kneel,’ ‘knots,’ and ‘knuckles.’

The street fair’s noodle-eating contest is finally here, and there’s no way anyone can out-slurp our hero - right? But when sneaky Tim shows up cracking his knuckles, the race is on to practice harder, faster, and slurpier than ever. Can a mountain of rice noodles and a secret training plan be enough to beat him? Or has our champ bitten off more than they can chew? This decodable reader practises the soft c sound in words like ‘city,’ ‘race,’ ‘pencil,’ ‘bounce,’ and ‘place.’