Read-Aloud Books for Third Graders

We’re only a week away from the first day of school in my family, so I’ve been thinking about teachers and how grateful I am for the work they do. I have a friend who teaches third grade in California. She has the perfect attitude for such a job, always looking at challenges as opportunities. She outfits herself with sturdy sneakers to keep up with her active students, knowing that you need the right tools to do a good job. Another set of tools are the books she shares with her class. She asked if I had any recommendations for novels to read aloud to her third graders. Below are my suggestions for funny, touching, thoughtful books that are sure to appeal to her young readers.

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza (2021)

Hamza’s novel is made for book lovers, as she focuses on her main character’s English class assignments to read Holes, Bridge to Terabithia, and From the Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Ahmed is having a terrible year. His dad is sick, and the family had to move from sunny, diverse Hawaii to cold, white Minnesota. Through the books assigned in class, Ahmed figures out how to navigate his new life.

Prairie Lotus by Linda Sue Park (2020)

This historical novel is an interesting companion for kids who love the Laura Ingalls Wilder books. Hanna lives on the prairie in 1880. She’s half-Asian and that means she faces prejudice, something her white father doesn’t always understand. But she’s determined to get an education and become a dressmaker.

Front Desk by Kelly Yang (2018)

Mia lives with her parents in the motel where they work. When she’s not at school, she helps out by running the front desk. She dreams of being a writer, even though her mother wants her to focus on math. At the hotel, her parents let immigrants stay in the hotel for free, which they keep secret from the owner. This first book in a series about Mia is a great exploration of family, friends, and following your dreams.

Dactyl Hill Squad by Daniel José Older (2018)

All I really need to say about this book is New York, Civil War, and dinosaurs. But I’ll also tell you that main character Magdalys and her fellow orphans learn to fly on dactyls to take down an evil magistrate. There are two other books in this fantasy historical series.

Cilla Lee-Jenkins: Future Author Extraordinaire by Susan Tan and Dana Wolfekott (2017)

Cilla is half Chinese, half Jewish, and an aspiring author. She is rushing to finish her autobiography before her baby sister is born and her family forgets all about her. I adore this book and its two sequels. Cilla is appealing and funny and would make a great friend.

Mort Ziff Is Not Dead by Cary Fagan (2017)

Norman is the overlooked third kid in his 1960s family. When he wins money in a contest, he decides to spend his prize on a trip to Florida for all of them. There he meets Mort Ziff, an old-school comic who still does his act at a hotel in Miami.

Save Me a Seat by Sarah Weeks and Gita Varadarajan (2016)

Told in alternating chapters, this novel focuses on the unlikely friendship between Ravi and Joe. Ravi is a recent immigrant from India and is having trouble fitting in. Joe has an auditory processing disorder that makes school a challenge and is missing his best friend who moved away. Both fifth graders find themselves the target of the class bully. That unfortunate link draws them together into a true friendship.

The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo and Bagram Ibatoulline (2006)

This selection comes recommended by my kid because it was the book their third-grade teacher read to them! The titular character is a china rabbit owned by a girl named Abilene. Edward falls overboard on a sea voyage and then begins a series of adventures, passing from person to person.

Bonus pick: The League of Picky Eaters, which I wrote about in another post, would make a very fun read aloud.