Children's Books for 3rd Graders

Chui the leopard is the most magnificent animal on the savanna, or so he believes. But when his plain gold coat shines against the bush and scares off every meal, what is a hungry hunter to do? Could the answer lie with an old painter and her pots of clay? This warm tale shows that what you truly are may be more than it seems. Level WR practises the ‘wr’ sound with lesson words like ‘wriggle’, ‘wrist’, ‘wrinkled’, ‘wretched’, and ‘wrong’.

Zom has a BIG plan - he’s going to be rich! All he needs is cows… lots and lots of cows. Brown ones make chocolate milk, white ones make vanilla, and that splashy pink one? Strawberry, obviously! But when three curious villagers come running in pursuit of the sweet smells, will Zom’s sneakiest new flavour win them over, or send them sprinting down the path? This decodable reader practises the ‘ui’ phonogram in words like ‘fruit,’ ‘juicy,’ ‘suit,’ and ‘recruited.’

Hank has big plans for the greatest garden his street has ever seen - but what happens when the sky lights up with strange swirling colours? What falls out of those clouds, and will anyone believe him when he tells the tale? Grab a shovel and dig into this wonderfully weird backyard adventure packed with surprises on every page. This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words such as ’eight,’ ‘heavyweight,’ ’neighbourhood,’ ’neighbours,’ and ‘weightless.’

Anansi the spider has a plan. The great fig tree drips with sweet fruit, but a swarm of hornets has claimed every last one, stinging anyone who dares come close. How can one small spider outwit a whole angry swarm and win back the figs for his hungry village? With a ‘wry’ grin and a clever trick, Anansi sets to work, while the hornets buzz with ‘wrath’ at his whispered words. This Bookbot level practises the ‘wr’ sound in words like ‘wrapped’, ‘wrangle’, and ‘wriggled’.

Kwaku Anansi has a plan so big it makes his eight eyes shine: gather all the wisdom in the world into one pot and become the wisest creature alive. But when his climb keeps ending in a slide back to the roots, who offers the simplest idea of all, and why does the pot suddenly feel so heavy? Can a clever spider learn to ’laugh’ at himself? This Bookbot level practises the ‘augh’ sound in words like ‘haughty’, ‘distraught’, ’naught’, and ‘onslaught’.

Jack the scarecrow is the world’s worst at scaring - but he’s determined to fill the farm with bees, birds, and bats! When his neighbour Zom asks for help with pesky mosquitoes, Jack sets out to build the cosiest, darkest hideaway any bat could dream of. But where do you put a bat box on a sunny, open farm? Will the bats ever come? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ‘height,’ ‘weight,’ ’neighbour,’ and ‘receive.’

There’s a naughty little mouse in the house, and nobody knows how to catch it! Grandma shrieks, Mum swings her broom, Dad hides behind the curtain, and even the cat refuses to help. Can one tiny, cheeky critter really outsmart a whole family? And when the baby giggles instead of screaming, could laughter be the secret to making a new friend? This decodable reader practises the ‘augh’ phonogram in words like ‘caught,’ ’naughty,’ ’laugh,’ and ’taught.’

Gran says they’re making the best coconut bars in the whole world - from scratch. But what does “from scratch” actually mean? Climbing trees? Cranking wheels until your wrists ache? Wrestling stubborn husks that refuse to budge? With every crack, thunk, and stir, the kitchen fills with the sweetest smell ever - but will Gran ever say the magic words: “We are done”? A decodable reader practising the ‘wr’ sound in words like ‘wrapped,’ ‘wrestled,’ ‘wriggle,’ and ‘wrists.’

Ned has landed in a strange, blocky world, and his very first rule is simple: don’t go outside! But when the nights turn freezing and heinous monsters lurk between the trees, can a talking Book really help him build a cosy shed with a warm furnace inside? Will Ned be brave enough to step out and gather what he needs before dark? This decodable reader practises the ’ei’ phonogram in words like ‘weird,’ ‘ceiling,’ ’neither,’ ‘receive,’ and ‘being.’

It’s Jan’s birthday, and the whole family has a secret mission! Mum is swirling frosting on a giant cake, Dad is puffing up balloons until his face turns tomato-red, and Grandpa has wheeled in a shiny surprise. But who will carry all the wobbling boxes into the party room without dropping a thing? Can Tim really pull it off? This decodable reader practises the eigh phonogram in words like ’eight,’ ’eighteen,’ ’neighbour,’ and ‘weighed.’