50 Best 3rd Grade Books for Summer Reading (Age 8)

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What are the best 3rd grade books for summer reading? Here are my chapter book and nonfiction book recommendations for 3rd graders, ages 8 and 9 (third grade), to read during summer vacation– or anytime.

You’ll find the best of funny books, fantasy books, friendship stories, adventure stories, and books about animals. These are excellent books that will get your 3rd grade readers hooked on books all summer long!

I’m a former teacher, parent of two, avid reader, and book reviewer (15 years.) You can trust that I’ve read and reviewed all of these books and that these choices will be interesting to children and appropriate for third-grade readers.

3rd grade summer reading

You may be wondering: how old are 3rd graders? The third grade age is usually age 8, turning age 9 sometime during the school year.

These books for 3rd graders in the upper range of chapter books and the lower range of middle grade books. These 3rd grade books are short, illustrated, and about topics 3rd graders can relate to. Those topics and themes include friendship, family, real life, and hard things –like saving the world or solving a mystery!

Download the free printable of this summer reading list. NOTE: If you don’t see the printable sign-up below, please clear your cache and try again.

This list of 3rd grade books only shows the titles. If you want to read my detailed reviews, visit the best books for 3rd graders. There, you’ll read the book title, the author, the illustrator, the genre, and my review, elaborating on the plot, theme, and why kids will like it.

3rd grade books

Don’t forget that a summer reading program can be awesome motivation. Download my free printable summer reading packet to help your kids set goals and stay on track.

Make sure the book is at the “just right” reading level with the 5 Finger Test.

For book reviews, visit Best Books for 8-Year Olds Book Reviews.

More summer reading book lists:

2nd grade summer reading list
4th grade summer reading list
All reading lists by grade level

3rd Grade Books for Summer Reading (Age 8)

SHOP this list.

3rd Grade Books: Graphic Novels

3rd grade books to read for summer: GRAPHIC NOVELS

Young readers love graphic novels — and they count 100% as real reading with compelling stories and interesting characters and plots. Reluctant readers and all readers use essential reading comprehension skills like inference when reading graphic novels. So if your 3rd graders like graphic novels, pick one of these fantastic 3rd grade books.

3rd Grade Books: Funny Books

3RD grade books to read for summer

If your 3rd grade reader likes funny books, they’ll love these hilarious chapter books.

3rd Grade Realistic Books

3rd grade books to read for summer: REALISTIC

If your early readers in 3rd grade like realistic stories, they’ll love one of these great books:

3rd Grade Adventure & Mystery Books

If your 3rd graders like adventure and mystery books, they’ll love:

3rd Grade Fantasy and Science Fiction Books

3rd grade summer reading -- FANTASY AND SCIENCE FICTION

If your young reader enjoys reading fantasy and science fiction books, they’ll love:

3rd Grade Books: Animal Books

3rd grade books to read about animals

If your third grader loves animal books, pick from one of these good books:

3rd Grade Books: Nonfiction

3rd grade nonfiction Summer Book List

If your 8-year-old in third grade likes nonfiction books, try these good nonfiction choices for 3rd graders:

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Early Reader Books
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21 Comments

  1. Hi~ I can’t find the link for the printable summer reading lists for 4th, 5th, and 6th grade. Can you please share it with me. Thank you SO much!

  2. I am a teacher at an elementary school. I love your summer reading lists. I love that you update them every year. I cannot find the link to print the third grade summer reading list. Can you send it to me? Thank you.

  3. Is there a 3rd grade printable summer reading list? I printed the rest of them but couldn’t find the 3rd grade printable list. Thanks!!

  4. Hi Melissa!
    I sent in to get the 3rd grade summer reading list printable version. I am an elementary librarian and would love your Picture book through 6th grades lists if possible?
    Thanks for your great lists!!