Adler, David. Cam
Jansen series. Viking, 1981-. Reading Level: 3.4-3.9
Cam Jansen uses her photographic memory to solve mysteries.
Allard, Henry. Miss
Nelson Has a Field Day. Houghton Mifflin, 1985. Reading
Level: 3
The notorious Miss Swamp reappears at the Horace B. Smedley School,
this time to shape up the football team and make them win at least one
game.
Barrett, Joyce Durham. Willie’s
Not the Hugging Kind. HarperCollins Publishers, 1989.
Reading Level: 2
Willie's best friend Jo-Jo thinks hugging is silly, so Willie stops
hugging everybody but he soon misses giving and getting hugs from his family.
Brown, Marc. Arthur
Accused. Little, Brown and Co., 1998. Reading Level:
3.1
When the quarters which Arthur has collected for Mrs. MacGrady's charity
drive disappear, Buster attempts to solve the mystery and prove his friend's
innocence.
Bruchac, Joseph. A
Boy Called Slow. Philomel, 1994. Reading Level: 2
This short biography tells the story of how Sitting Bull got his name
when he came of age in this Lakota tribe.
Bunting, Eve. Fly
Away Home. Clarion Books, 1991. Reading Level: 2.7
A homeless boy who lives in an airport with his father, moving from
terminal to terminal and trying not to be noticed, is given hope when he
sees a trapped bird find its freedom.
Calmenson, Stephanie. Gator
Girls series. Morrow Junior Books, 1995-. Reading Level:
2.8
Best friends Allie and Amy, who happen to be alligators, get ready
for summer, participate in a street fair, and participate in a Halloween
costume contest in the easy reader series.
Cameron, Ann. The
Stories Julian Tells. Pantheon Books, 1981. Reading
Level: 3.4
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 grow taller, losing a tooth, and finding a new friend.
Cherry, Lynne. The
Great Kapok Tree. Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1990.
Reading Level: 3.8
The many different animals that live in a great kapok tree in the Brazilian
rainforest try to convince a man with an ax of the importance of not cutting
down their home.
Christopher, Matt. Soccer
Cats series. Little, Brown and Co., 1999- . Reading
Level: 3.9-4.1
A different player on the Soccer Cats team is featured in each volume
of this series.
Cleary, Beverly. Muggie
Maggie. Morrow Junior Books, 1990. Reading Level: 4.5
Maggie resists learning cursive writing in the third grade, until she
discovers that knowing how to read and write cursive promises to open up
an entirely new world of knowledge for her.
Clifton, Lucille. Lucky
Stone. Delacorte Press, 1979. Reading Level: 4.4
A lucky stone provides good fortune for its various owners.
Cohen, Barbara. Molly’s
Pilgrim. Lothrop, Lee and Shepherd Books, 1983. Reading
Level: 3
Told to make a doll like a Pilgrim for the Thanksgiving display at
school, Molly's Jewish mother dresses the doll as she herself dressed before
leaving Russia to seek religious freedom--much to Molly's embarrassment.
Cosby, Bill. Little
Bill series. Scholastic Inc., 1997-. Reading Level:
2.5-3
Warm family stories are the basis of this easy-to-read series.
DePaola, Tomie. The
Legend of the Bluebonnet . Putnam, 1993. Reading Level: 4.2
A retelling of the Comanche Indian legend of how a little girl's sacrifice
brought the flower called bluebonnet to Texas.
Duffy, Betsy . The
Math Wiz. Viking, 1990. Reading Level: 3.9
Marty Malone is great at math, but finds out that he needs more than
just math to tackle third grade problems like PE and making friends.
Fleischman, Sid. McBroom
and the Big Wind. Little, Brown, 1982. Reading Level:
3-4
Josh McBroom relates how he and his family harness the rambunctious
prairie wind. (If you enjoy this title, be sure to try others in the McBroom
series.)
Gannett, Ruth Stiles. My
Father’s Dragon. Knopf, 1948. Reading Level:
5.6
A young boy determines to rescue a poor baby dragon who is being used
by a group of lazy wild animals to ferry them across the river on Wild
Island.
Giff, Patricia. Matthew
Jackson Meets the Wall. Delacorte Press, 1990. Reading
Level: 4
Matthew's family move from New York to Ohio is difficult enough as
they leave behind good friends and memories, but the disappearance of
their cat and a neighbor boy so tough he's called the "Wall" add to Matthew's
anxieties.
Giovanni, Nikki. Spin
a Soft Black Song. Hill and Wang, 1985. Reading Level:
6
A poetry collection which recounts the feelings of Black children about
their neighborhoods, American society, and themselves.
Goble, Paul. Iktomi
and the Boulder. Orchard Books, 1988. Reading Level:
3.3
Iktomi, a Plains Indian trickster, attempts to defeat a boulder with
the assistance of some bats, in this story which explains why the Great
Plains are covered with small stones.
Greenfield, Eloise. Grandmama’s
Joy. Philomel Books, 1983. Reading Level: 2
When Rhondy's grandmother is sad after learning that they must find
another place to live, Rhondy reminds her that they will still have what
is most important--each other.
Greenfield, Eloise. Grandpa’s
Face. Philomel Books, 1988. Reading Level: 4
Seeing her beloved grandfather making a mean face while he rehearses
for one of his plays, Tamika becomes afraid that someday she will lose
his love and he will make that mean face at her.
Greenfield, Eloise. Honey,
I Love, and Other Love Poems. Crowell, 1978. Reading
Level: 3
Titles include "I Look Pretty," "Fun," "Riding on the Train," "Harriet
Tubman," and "By Myself.”
Greenfield, Eloise. Me
and Neesie. HarperCollins Publishers, 1975. Reading
Level: 2
Janell tells what happens to her invisible friend, Neesie, when Aunt
Bea comes to visit.
Greenfield, Eloise. Nathaniel
Talking. Black Butterfly Children’s Books, 1988. Reading
Level: 3
This poetry book features a young boy name Nathaniel who tells about
some some joyful and some sorrowful moments in his young life.
Haley, Jack. Jack
and the Fire Dragon. Crown Publishers, 1988. Reading
Level: 6
Jack encounters the menacing monster known as Fire Dragaman and rescues
three beautiful sisters from the monster's underground cave.
Heller, Ruth. A
Cache of Jewels: and Other Collective Nouns. Grosset &
Dunlap, 1987. Reading Level: 2
Brief text and lavish illustrations explain collective nouns.
Heller, Ruth. Many
Luscious Lollipops: A Book about Adjectives. Grosset &
Dunlap, 1989. Reading Level: 3
This is one of the attractive books by Heller that features lyrical
text and outstanding artwork while explaining a specific part of speech.
Hiser, Constance. No
Bean Sprouts, Please. Holiday House, 1989. Reading
Level: 4.2
Fourth-grader James is resigned to his mother's healthy but boring
lunches until he gets a very unusual lunchbox for his birthday.
Hooks, William H. Pioneer
Cat. Random House, 1988. Reading Level: 3.3
When a young pioneer girl smuggles a cat aboard the wagon train taking
her family from Missouri to Oregon, it turns out to be the best thing she
could have done.
Howe, James. Pinky
and Rex series. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 1990- .
Reading Level: 2.9-3.6
In this series a boy, named for his favorite color, and Rex, a girl
named for her interest in dinosaurs, are best friends and have adventures
together.
Hurwitz, Johanna. Class
Clown. Morrow Junior Books, 1987. Reading Level:
4.6
Lucas Cott, the most obstreperous boy in the third grade, finds it
very hard to turn over a new leaf when he decides to become the perfect
student.
Huston, Gloria. My
Great-Aunt Arizona. HarperCollins Publishers, 1992.
Reading Level: 4
An Appalachian girl, Arizona Houston Hughes, grows up to become a teacher
who influences generations of schoolchildren.
Kellogg, Steven. Best
Friends. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1986. Reading
Level: 3.4
Kathy feels lonely and betrayed when her best friend goes away for
the summer and has a wonderful time.
Kellogg, Steven. Johnny
Appleseed: A Tall Tale. Morrow Junior Books, 1988.
Reading Level: 4.4
Presents the life of John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed,
describing his love of nature, his kindness to animals, and his physical
fortitude.
Kimmel, Eric. Hershel
and the Hanukkah Goblins. Holiday House, 1989. Reading
Level: 3
Relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue
and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.
Kline, Suzy. Horrible
Harry series. Viking, 1985-. Reading Level: 2.9-3.3
Harry, a second-grade prankster, gets into mischief but is still a
good friend.
Krull, Kathleen. Wilma
Unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph Became the World’s Fastest Woman.
Harcourt Brace, 1996. Reading Level: 5.1
A biography of the African-American woman who overcame crippling polio
as a child to become the first woman to win three gold medals in track
in a single Olympics.
Lester, Julius. John
Henry. Dial Books, 1994. Reading Level: 4
Retells the life of the legendary African American hero who raced against
a steam drill to cut through a mountain.
McDonald, Megan. Judy
Moody. Candlewick Press, 2000. Reading
Level: 3
Third grader Judy Moody is in a first day of school bad mood until
she gets an assignment to create a collage all about herself and begins
creating her masterpiece, the Me collage.
Mathis, Sharon. Hundred
Penny Box. Viking Press, 1975. Reading Level: 3.9
Michael's love for his great-great-aunt who lives with them leads him
to intercede with his mother who wants to toss out all her old things.
Mayer, Marianna. Beauty
and the Beast. SeaStar Books, 2000. Reading Level:
4.8
Through her great capacity to love, a kind and beautiful maid releases
a handsome prince from the spell which has made him an ugly beast.
Mead, Alice. Junebug.
Farrar Straus Giroux, 1995. Reading Level: 3.5
An inquisitive young boy who lives with his mother and younger sister
in a rough housing project in New Haven, Connecticut, approaches his tenth
birthday with a mixture of anticipation and worry.
Mills, Lauren. Rag
Coat. Little, Brown and Co., 1991. Reading Level: 3.9
Minna proudly wears her new coat made of clothing scraps to school,
where the other children laugh at her until she tells them the stories
behind the scraps
Olaleye, Isaac O. In
the Rainfield: Who Is the Greatest? Blue Sky Press, 2000.
Reading Level: 3
When Wind, Fire, and Rain meet in the land of the Yoruba to decide
which of them is the greatest, Wind and Fire make great shows of strength,
but Rain demonstrates the power of gentleness.
Park, Barbara. Junie
B. Jones series. Random House, 1992-. Reading Level:
2.6-3
Spunky comic heroine, Junie B. Jones, finds herself in predicaments
at school.
Pilkey, Dav. Captain
Underpants series. Blue Sky Press, 1999-. Reading Level:
4-4.7
Join the fun as George and Harold hypnotize their principal into thinking
that he is the superhero, Captain Underpants. Simple black and white
illustrations have comic strip appeal.
Pinkney, Jerry. The
Ugly Duckling. Morrow Junior Books, 1999. Reading Level:
4.5
An ugly duckling spends an unhappy year ostracized by the other animals
before he grows into a beautiful swan.
Polacco, Patricia. The
Keeping Quilt. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers,
1998. Reading Level: 4.4
A homemade quilt ties together the lives of four generations of an
immigrant Jewish family, remaining a symbol of their enduring love and
faith.
Rankin, Laura. The
Handmade Alphabet. Dial Books, 1991. Reading
Level: 2
Presents the handshape for each letter of the American manual alphabet
accompanied by an object whose name begins with that letter.
Ringgold, Faith. Tar
Beach. Crown Publishers, 1991. Reading Level: 3.4
A young girl dreams of flying above her Harlem home, claiming all she
sees for herself and her family. Based on the author's quilt painting of
the same name.
Roop, Peter. Keep
the Lights Burning, Abbie. Carolrhoda Books, 1985.
Reading Level: 2.2
In the winter of 1856, a storm delays the lighthouse keeper's return
to an island off the coast of Maine, and his daughter Abbie must keep the
lights burning by herself.
Roy, Ron. A
to Z Mystery series. Random House, 1997- . Reading
Level: 2.8-3.8
Supersleuths, Dick, Josh, and Rose Ruth, solve mystery after mystery
as they work their way through the alphabet of subjects.
Rylant, Cynthia. The
Blue Hill Meadows. Harcourt Brace, 1997. Reading Level:
4
Tells the story of the Meadow family and the life they lead in the
quiet country town of Blue Hill, Virginia.
Sachar, Louis. Marvin
Redpost series. Random House, 1992- . Reading
Level: 2.7-3.6
Marvin’s sometimes funny and sometimes thoughtful experiences in third
grade form the basis for this easy to read chapter book series.
St. George, Judith. So
You Want to Be President? Philomel Books, 2000. Reading
Level: 3
Presents an assortment of facts about the qualifications and characteristics
of U.S. presidents, from George Washington to Bill Clinton.
San Souci, Robert D. The
Faithful Friend. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers,
1995. Reading Level: 5.2
A retelling of the traditional tale from the French West Indies in
which two friends, Clement and Hippolyte, encounter love, zombies, and
danger on the island of Martinique.
San Souci, Robert D. Sukey
and the Mermaid. Four Winds Press, 1992. Reading Level:
4.8
Unhappy with her life at home, Sukey receives kindness and wealth from
Mama Jo the mermaid.
Schroeder, Alan. Minty:
A Story of Young Harriet Tubman. Dial Books for Young Readers,
1996. Reading Level: 3.6
Young Harriet Tubman, whose childhood name was Minty, dreams of escaping
slavery on the Brodas plantation in the late 1820s.
Seattle, Chief . Brother
Eagle and Sister Sky. Dial Books, 1991. Reading Level:
4.4
A Suquamish Indian chief describes his people’s respect and love for
the earth, and concern for its destruction.
Siebert, Dianne. Heartland.
Crowell, 1989. Reading Level: 3
Evokes the land, animals, and people of the Middle West in poetic text
and illustrations.
Smith, Robert Kimmel. Chocolate
Fever. Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1972. Reading
Level: 4.2
From eating too much chocolate, Henry breaks out in brown bumps that
help him foil some hijackers and teach him a valuable lesson about self-indulgence.
Steptoe, John. Mufaro’s
Beautiful Daughters. Lothrop, Lee & Shepard Books. 1987
Reading Level: 4.3
Mufaro’s two beautiful daughters, one bad-tempered, one kind and sweet,
go before the king, who is choosing a wife.
Taylor, Mildred. The
Friendship. Dial Books for Young Readers, 1987. Reading
Level: 4.1
Four children witness a confrontation between an elderly man and a
white storekeeper in rural Mississippi in the 1930s.
Taylor, Mildred. The
Well: David’s Story. Dial Books for Young Readers 1995 4.3
In Mississippi in the early 1900s ten-year-old David Logan’s family
generously shares their well water with both white and black neighbors
in an atmosphere of potential racial violence.
Walter, Mildred Pitts. Justin
and the Best Biscuits in the World. Lothrop, Lee & Shepherd,
1986. Reading Level: 3.9
Suffering in a family full of females, ten-year-old Justin feels that
cleaning and keeping house are women's work until he spends time on his
beloved grandfather's ranch.
Young, Ed. Lon
Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China. Philomel Books,
1989. Reading Level: 3.5
Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who
is disguised as their grandmother.
This page was created by the Dayton & Montgomery County Children's Book List Committee in June 2001.