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FRA Summer Reading List
Students Entering Third Grade
(For books which are listed as part of a series, any book in the series is acceptable.)
| Adventure/Mystery | Animal Stories | Fantasy |
| Historical Fiction | Humorous | Non-Fiction/Biography |
| Realistic Fiction | Sports | Dessert Extras |
Adler, David A. Cam Jansen
Fifth-grader Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to help find a pickpocket at the circus. (series)
Berends, Polly. Case of the The Elevator Duck
Chronicles the adventures of an eleven-year-old detective that result from finding a duck in the elevator of his apartment building. (series)
Clifford, Eth. Help! I’m a Prisoner in the Library
Two girls spend an adventurous night trapped inside the public library during a terrible blizzard.
Dadey, Debbie. Bailey School Kids : Vampires Don’t Wear Polka Dots
Until Mrs. Jeepers, the third grade at Bailey Elementary School was hard to handle. No one ever dared make her mad--because whenever they did, the strangest things would happen. (series)
Dixon, Franklin W. Hardy Boys series
This is an adventure series that has catered to the dreams of generations of readers. (series)
Keene, Carolyn. Nancy Drew series
Nancy Drew has been a landmark heroine for girls since her Depression-era debut in 1930. Clever, resourceful and independent, Nancy uses courage and common sense to solve adventurous mysteries. (series)
Lane, Kathleen. Nana Cracks the Case
Eufala and Bog's very feisty grandmother takes a job with the Crispy County Police Department, searching for a candy thief.
Ron, Roy. A to Z Mysteries : The Absent Author
Dink Duncan and his two friends investigate the apparent kidnapping of famous mystery author Wallis Wallace. (series)
Selznick, Brian. The Invention of Hugo Cabret : a Novel in Words and Pictures
When twelve-year-old Hugo, an orphan living and repairing clocks within the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, meets a mysterious toyseller and his goddaughter, his undercover life and his biggest secret are jeopardi Eufala and Bog's very feisty grandmother takes a job with the Crispy County Police Department, searching for a candy thief. Bathwater Gang
Bertie's all-girl gang becomes involved in a harmless but heartfelt war with an all-boy gang, until Bertie's grandmother steps in with a perfect solution.
Stanley, George Edward. Adam Sharp: Swimming with Sharks
When the world's ships start sinking, secret agent Adam Sharp investigates and discovers metal robot sharks are behind the attacks.
Stewart, Trenton Lee. The Mysterious Benedict Society
After passing a series of mind-bending tests, four children are selected for a secret mission that requires them to go undercover at the Learning Institute for the Very Enlightened, where the only rule is that there are no rules. (series)
Warner, Gertrude Chandler. The Boxcar Children
Four orphaned children, afraid to go live with their grandfather, set up housekeeping in an abandoned boxcar and are doing fine until one of them becomes ill. (series)
Auch, Mary Jane. The Latchkey Dog
Sam's efforts to help his dog, Amber, adjust to being home alone all day cause his mother to worry that Sam is spending too much time by himself.
Byars, Betsy. Wanted…Mud Blossom
Convinced that Mud is responsible for the disappearance of the school hamster that he was taking care of for the weekend, Junior Blossom is determined that the dog should be tried for his "crime."
Crisp, Marty. My Dog, Cat
Ten-year-old Abbie, bullied at school for being small, wants to get a big black dog, but two months of living with a little Yorkshire terrier changes his mind about a number of things.
Erickson, John R. Hank the Cowdog
Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, accompanies Little Alfred on a fishing trip that ends in crisis. (series)
Fine, Anne. Diary of a Killer Cat
Tuffy the pet cat tries to defend himself against accusations of terrifying other animals and murdering the neighbor's rabbit.
Sargent, Dave. Saddle Up series
stories of historical fiction about proud, heroic horses belonging to a famous person at some point in history. The stories are full of exciting adventures with factual information about each horse.
Hesse, Karen. Sable
Tate Marshall is delighted when a stray dog turns up in the yard one day, but Sable, named for her dark, silky fur, causes trouble with the neighbors and has to go.
Howe, James. Bunnicula
Though scoffed at by Harold the dog, Chester the cat tries to warn his human family that their foundling baby bunny must be a vampire. (series)
King-Smith, Dick. Babe the Gallant Pig
A piglet comes to Farmer Hogget's farm, where he is adopted by an old sheepdog and accomplishes amazing things. (Any book by this author)
arshall, James. Rats on the Roof
An illustrated collection of seven stories about various animals, including a frog with magnificent legs, a hungry brontosaurus, and a mouse who gets married.
Schlein, Marian. The Year of the Panda
A Chinese boy rescues a starving baby panda and, in the process, learns why pandas are endangered and what the government is doing to save them.
Catling, Patrick. The Chocolate Touch
A boy acquires a magical gift that turns everything his lips touch into chocolate.
Dahl, Roald. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
Each of five children lucky enough to discover an entry ticket into Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory takes advantage of the situation in his own way.
DiTerlizzi, Tony. The Spiderwick Chronicles
Chronicles the adventures of the Grace children after they go to stay at their Great-Aunt Lucinda's worn Victorian house and discover a field guide to fairies and other magical creatures. (series)
Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My Father’s Dragon
A boy named Elmer travels to Wild Island to rescue a mistreated baby dragon; and, on the way home, Elmer and his new winged friend run into a terrible storm and a flock of escaped canaries searching for treasure. (series)
Hunt, Elizabeth Singer. The Escape of the Deadly Dinosaur: USA
Secret agent Jack Stalwart travels to New York City in search of a genetically mutated, flesh-eating dinosaur. (Series: Secret Agent Jack Stalwart)
Jones, Miranda. Little Genie : Make a Wish!
While shopping with her grandmother at a flea market, nine-year-old Ali buys an old lava lamp that turns out to have a wish-granting genie inside. (series)
Krulik, Nancy E. Girls Don’t Have Cooties
Katie, an ordinary third-grader who accidentally wished on a shooting star to be anyone but herself, turns into her best friend Jeremy and tries to reconcile the boys and girls in Class 3A after the boys decide all girls have cooties. (series: Katie Kazoo)
McDonald, Betty. Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle
Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle loves children, both good and bad. She never scolds, but has positive cures for children with special problems such as answering back or never wanting to go to bed. (series)
Peterson, John Lawrence. The Littles
When the Biggs go on a three-month vacation and an untidy family from the city moves into the house, the Littles must take action. (series)
Scieszka, Jon. Knights of the Kitchen Table
One minute they're looking at pictures of knights in the book, a birthday gift from Joe's magician uncle, the next minute they're battling fire-breathing dragons. Will Joe, Fred, and Sam escape death? (series)
Slote, Alfred. My Robot Buddy
For his tenth birthday, Jack wants a robot so he'll have someone to play with.
Stilton, Geronimo. My Name is Stilton, Geronimo Stilton.
Newspaper editor Geronimo Stilton unknowingly hires a fourteen-year-old mouse named Pinky Pick as his assistant editor; but when he sees her for the first time, he can't believe his eyes. (series)
Van Draanen, Wendelin. Secret Identity / (Shredderman Book 1)
Fifth grader Nolan Byrd, tired of being called names by the class bully, has a secret identity—Shredderman! (series)
Yep, Laurence. The Imp that Ate My Homework
Jim teams up with his grandfather, who is known as the meanest man in Chinatown, to defeat a powerful demon.
Cohen, Barbara. Molly’s Pilgrim
Told to make a Pilgrim doll for the Thanksgiving display at school, Molly is embarrassed when her mother tries to help her out by creating a doll dressed as she herself was dressed before leaving Russia to seek religious freedom.
Harvey, Brett. My Prairie Year: based on the diary of Elenore Plaisted
Nine-year old Elenore describes her experiences living with her family in the Dakota Territory in the late nineteenth century.
Hermes, Patricia. Westward to Home
In 1848, nine-year-old Joshua Martin McCullough writes a journal of his family's journey from Missouri to Oregon in a covered wagon. Includes a historical note about westward migration. (My America series. Students may read any book in this series, which has various authors.)
Moss, Marissa. Rachel’s Journal
In her journal, Rachel chronicles her family's adventures traveling by covered wagon on the Oregon Trail in 1850. (My America series. Students may read any book in this series, which has various authors.)
Wilder, Laura Ingalls. Little House on the Prairie
A family travels from the big woods of Wisconsin to a new home on the prairie, where they build a house, meet neighboring Indians, dig a well, and fight a prairie fire. (series)
Auch, Mary Jane. I Was a Third Grade Science Project
While trying to hypnotize his dog for the third grade science fair, Brian accidentally makes his best friend Josh think he's a cat.
Cameron, Ann. The Stories Julian Tells.
Relates episodes in seven-year-old Julian's life which include getting into trouble with his younger brother Huey, planting a garden, what he did to try to grow taller, losing a tooth, and finding a new friend. (series)
Duffey, Betsy. How to Be Cool in Third Grade
When Robbie York is marked as a target by a bully at school, he decides that the only way to survive the third grade is by being cool.
Howe, James. Tales from the House of Bunnicula
The stories are about a lovable and smart, not to mention cute, orphan wirehaired dachsund puppy named Howie, his Uncle Howard, and his friend Delilah. (series)
Kline, Suzy. Herbie Jones
Herbie's experiences in the third grade include finding bones in the boy's bathroom, wandering away from his class on their field trip, and being promoted to a higher reading group. (series)
Pennypacker, Sara. Clementine
While sorting through difficulties in her friendship with her neighbor Margaret, eight-year-old Clementine gains several unique hairstyles while also helping her father in his efforts to banish pigeons from the front of their apartment building. (series)
Bishop, Nic. Nic Bishop Frogs
Full-color, illustrated photographs describing the characteristics and behaviors of a variety of frogs around the world. (series)
Dubowski, Cathy East. A Horse Named Seabiscuit
An introduction to the life and career of Seabiscuit, the race horse who set sixteen track records and won more prize money than any other horse.
Kerley, Barbara. The Dinosaurs of Waterhouse Hawkins
The true story of Victorian artist Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins, who built life-sized models of dinosaurs in the hope of educating the world about what these awe-inspiring ancient animals were like.
Osborne, Mary Pope and Will Osborne. Magic Tree House Research Guides
Nonfiction companions to the "Magic Tree House" series provide all the facts behind the fiction! These chapter books are full of up-to-date information, exciting photos, fun illustrations. (series—e.g. Knights and Castles : a nonfiction companion to The Knight at Dawn)
Various Authors. On My Own biography series
Written in story format, each book features pivotal episodes that reveal what kind of person the subject is, or was, and how he or she came to be famous. (series—e.g. Helen Keller: Courage in the Dark.)
Various Authors. Childhood of Famous Americans biography series
A look at America's heroes and heroines of yesterday. All children know who Abraham Lincoln grew up to be - but what was he like as a child? What kind of girl grew up to marry George Washington? (series—e.g. Harry Houdini: Boy Magician)
Blume, Judy. Freckle Juice
Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.
Cameron, Ann. The Stories Julian Tells
Relates episodes in seven-year-old Julian's life which include getting into trouble with his younger brother Huey, planting a garden, what he did to try to grow taller, losing a tooth, and finding a new friend.
Danziger, Paula. Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon
The year she is in the third grade is a sad time for Amber because her best friend Justin is getting ready to move to a distant state. (series)
Greenwald, Sheila. Rosy Cole’s Worst Ever, Best Yet Tour of New York City
Rosy plans to show her small-town cousin all the amazing sights that make New York City such a great place to live, but things do not go as she had hoped. (series)
Haddix, Margaret Peterson. The Girl with 500 Middle Names
Janie's parents move to the suburbs so she can go to a better school, but when she discovers that all the other students are richer than she is, she feels out of place--until she realizes that there are more important things than money.
Jacobson, Jennifer. Winnie Dancing on Her Own
Winnie is worried when her best friends Zoe and Vanessa enroll her in ballet classes with them, since she would rather go to the library and read like they always do. (series)
Kline, Suzy. Horrible Harry and the Green Slime
Follows the school activities of second-graders, Harry and Doug, as they participate in a secret mission to celebrate "Charlotte's Web," learn how to make green slime, and put on a skit warning about the dangers of smoking. (series)
Look, Lenore. Ruby Lu, Brave and True
“Almost-eight-year-old" Ruby Lu spends time with her baby brother, goes to Chinese school, performs magic tricks and learns to drive, and has adventures with both old and new friends. (series)
Lowry, Lois. Gooney Bird Greene
A most unusual new student who loves to be the center of attention entertains her teacher and fellow second graders by telling absolutely true stories about herself, including how she got her name. (series)
McConnell, Christine. Ballet Bug
When Bea becomes interested in ballet, she starts taking classes, auditions for "The Nutcracker," and makes a new best friend, but also must cope with some nasty classmates and a possible conflict between playing hockey and dancing.
McDonald, Megan. Judy Moody
Third grader Judy Moody comes to school on the first day in a bad mood, but that all changes when she gets an assignment to create a collage about herself. (series)
McDonald, Megan. Stink : the Incredible Shrinking Kid
The shortest kid in the second grade, James Moody, also known as Stink, learns all about the shortest president of the United States, James Madison, when they celebrate Presidents' Day at school. (series)
Namioka, Lensey. Yang the Youngest and His Terrible Ear
Recently arrived in Seattle from China, musically untalented Yingtao is faced with giving a violin. (series)
Rylant, Cynthia. A Little Shopping
Rosie, Lily, and Tess, three cousins who are living together with their aunt, decide to make a miniature flower shop just like Aunt Lucy's real shop, and give it to her as a gift. (Cobble Street Cousins series)
Christopher, Matt. The Hit-Away Kid
Barry McGee, hit-away batter for the Peach Street Mudders, enjoys winning so much that he has a tendency to bend the rules; then the dirty tactics of the pitcher on a rival team give him a new perspective on sports ethics. (series)
Gutman, Dan. The Million Dollar Shot
Eleven-year-old Eddie gets a chance to win a million dollars by sinking a foul shot at the NBA finals. (series)
Hicks, Betty. Goof-off Goalie
Ten-year-old Gooseis best at goofing off, but when he decides to become the goalie for their soccer team, his friend Henry sets up a practice schedule and enlists their other friends to help Goose improve hhis skills. (series: Gym Shorts)
Maddox, Jake. On the Line
Since Derek is now the tallest player on his basketball team, the coach decides to have him play center but Jason, the former center, has little confidence in Derek and will not pass him the ball. (series)
Have a family time to enjoy several servings of picture books and poetry books too delicious to miss! Some suggestions are:
Picture book Authors/Illustrators
David Wiesner
Peter Sis
Patricia Polacco
David Wisniewski
Jon Scieszka
Robert San Souci
Diane Stanley (biographies)
Patricia McKissack
Brian Pinkney
Julius Lester
Chris Van Allsburg
Judith St. George
(So you want to be….series)
Poetry book Authors
J. Patrick Lewis
Shel Silverstein
Jack Prelutsky
Arnold Adoff
James Stevenson
Beatrice Schenk de Regniers
Lias Westburg Peters
Douglas Florian
John Ciardi
Valerie Worth
An art book to delightful to miss
Sturm, James. Adventures in Cartooning: How to turn your doodles into comics
