# 3 grade book list

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [December 15, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845 "2002-12-15T04:09:50Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845/1 "2002-12-15T04:09:50Z")

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My son has just turned 5 and he now reads at a thrid grade level. We go to the library about once a week. he gets what ever he wants. But I want to start to make sure that he gets some really good books that I may not have thought of or never heard of.

Right now we are reading Willy wonka stuff. Then we will do oz books.

Thanks you all

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**Author:** ![Enderw24](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ba9def/32.png) [@Enderw24](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enderw24)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845/2 "2002-12-15T04:25:38Z")

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I used to love books by Beverly Cleary. Ramona Quimby being a nuissance at school, the mouse and the motorcycle, all the books were great.  
While I never really liked Judy Blume as much, I really enjoyed Superfudge.

Also, he may enjoy the 3 investigators. I read those all the time as a kid though they may still be just a tad too advanced for him even at the 3rd grade reading level. Maybe wait about two years on these.

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**Author:** ![Another\_Primate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@Another\_Primate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Another_Primate)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845/3 "2002-12-15T04:27:14Z")

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Keep in mind (and I’m sure you already know this) that even though he reads at third-grade level, he’s still a five-year-old inside. Most of the “learn-to-read” books are kind of boring, but there are lots of “read-to-me” books for that age that he’ll love reading to himself.  
That said, hmm, third grade – I loved Pippi Longstocking (not just for girls!) and Uncle Wiggly.  
-Another Primate

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**Author:** ![Kaitlyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/73ab20/32.png) [@Kaitlyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kaitlyn)\
**Post date:** [December 15, 2002, 10:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/3-grade-book-list/142845/4 "2002-12-15T10:45:37Z")

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Beverly Cleary is excellent, her Ramona Quimby, Henry Huggins, and Ralph S. Mouse books are all well done. For a five year old boy, I’d start with the Ralph Mouse books.

Judy Blume’s Fudge books are well done.

The Amber Brown books by Paula Danzinger.

Clyde Robert Bulla’s early chapter books are almost all wonderful reads:  
_The Chalk Box Kid  
The Paint Brush Kid  
Shoeshine Girl  
The Sword in the Tree  
Pirate’s Promise  
Pocahontas and the Strangers  
White Bird  
Eagle Feather_

Loius Sachar’s Wayside School Books are all fun.

Other early chapter books that are good for third grade reading level:

_Go Fish_ by Mary Stoltz

_Lily and Miss Liberty_ by Carla Stephens

_Hannah_ by Gloria Whelan

_The Chocolate Touch_ by Patrick Catling