Grade 3: Short Chapter Books

Making the transition from short books with just six lines on a page to longer books with full pages of text is difficult for most readers. Even though your child can read on a 3rd or 4th grade level, he or she may not have developed the attention span and reading comprehension to follow the plot in a complex chapter book.

Readers at this level like the predictability of series books. Since the characters and plot stay the same, readers can focus their attention on developing vocabulary and reading speed.

To help ease your child into longer chapter books, first try short books with illustrations, wide margins, and larger sized fonts like the ones on the following list.

These books can be found in the Juvenile Fiction section in rows 100 – 103. They have a white label on their spines.

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Abbott
“Secrets of Droon” Series
by Tony Abbott

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Adler
“Cam Jansen” Series
by David Adler

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Berends
The Case of the Elevator Duck
by Polly Berends

Eleven-year-old Gilbert, self-styled private eye, takes on his toughest case when he finds a duck in the elevator of his housing project. j
Berenstain
“Berenstain Bears Chapter Books” Series
by Stan Berenstain

The most famous family of bears has all kinds of adventures.
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Blume
Freckle Juice
by Judy Blume

Andrew wants freckles so badly that he buys Sharon's freckle recipe for fifty cents.
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Cameron
“Julian” Series
by Ann Cameron

Episodes in the life of Julian.
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Conford
“Jenny Archer” Series
by Ellen Conford

Nine-year-old Jenny’s adventures with family and friends.
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Cosby
“Little Bill Books” Series
by Bill Cosby

Little Bill and friends learn important life lessons.
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Dadey
“Adventures of the Bailey School Kids” Series
by Debbie Dadey

There are weird grown-ups in Bailey city - where a knight might give you piano lessons or a leprechaun might be the owner of a pet store.
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Dahl
Fantastic Mr. Fox
by Roald Dahl

Three farmers, each one meaner than the other, try all-out warfare to get rid of the fox and his family.
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Delton
“Pee Wee Scouts” Series
by Judi Delton

The scouts have fun and learn while participating in troop activities.
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Giff
“Kids of Polk Street” Series
by Patricia Reilly Giff

The kids in Ms. Rooney’s second grade class have all kinds of adventures together.
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Howe
“Pinky & Rex” Series
by James Howe

Stories of everyday situations with best friends Pinky, a boy, and Rex , a girl.
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Jones
“Bailey City Monsters” Series
by Marcia Thornton Jones

Annie, Ben, and Jane think that Hauntlys are the strangest people they've ever seen--until they see the Hauntlys' son, Kilmer.
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Jones
“The Barkley’s School for Dogs” Series
by Marcia Thornton Jones

It isn't easy being the new pup at school, especially when Jack chooses one of the bully's toys to chew on and befriends a cat.

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Kline
“Horrible Harry” Series
by Suzy Kline

Funny stories about friends, school adventures, and a creative, nonconformist boy named Harry.
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Krensky
“Arthur” Series
by Stephen Krensky

Arthur, Francine, D.W., Buster, Muffy, and the gang have fun in school and out.
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McMullan
“Dragon Slayers' Academy” Series
by Kate Mcmullan

Wiglaf is off to Dragon Slayers' Academy and in for a first day of school he will never forget.
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Osborne
“Magic Tree House” Series
by Mary Pope Osborne

Jack and Annie go anywhere, anytime with the aid of a tree house.
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Park
“Junie B. Jones” Series
by Barbara Park

She is loud, obnoxious, exasperating and irresistible.
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Preller
“Jigsaw Jones” Series
by James Preller

Jigsaw and Mila solve mysteries for their friends.
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Roy
“A to Z Mysteries” Series
by Ron Roy

Dink Duncan and his two friends investigate strange goings-on in their town.
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Rylant
“Cobble Street Cousins” Series
by Cynthia Rylant

The cousins work on all kinds of projects with their Aunt Lucy.
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Sachar
“Marvin Redpost” Series
by Louis Sachar

Nine-year-old Marvin learns about life in all kinds of hilarious escapades.
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Scieszka
“The Time Warp Trio” Series
by Jon Scieszka

When Joe receives a magic book for his birthday present from his uncle, he and his friends Fred and Sam are transported to exciting times and places.
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Spinelli
Tooter Pepperday
by Jerry Spinelli

Hating to leave her familiar surroundings, Tooter resorts to sabotage when her family moves from their surburban home to Aunt Sally's farm.
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Stanley
“The Third-Grade Detectives” Series
by George Edward Stanley

Noelle and Todd solve mysteries for their classmates.
Booklist created August 2003