What kind of books does your 3rd grader enjoy reading? Here are my recommendations for ages 8 and 9 (third grade) summer reading.
Find funny books, fantasy books, friendship stories, adventure stories, and books about animals. These books will get your kids engaged and reading all summer long!
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 book lists:
2nd grade summer reading list
4th grade summer reading list
All reading lists by grade level
3rd Grade Summer Reading List (Ages 8 – 9)
3rd Grade Graphic Novels
If you like graphic novels, read these fantastic books:
- Cat Ninja by Matthew Cody
- Mr. Wolf’s Class: Mystery Club by Aron Nels Steinke
- Wallace the Brave by Will Henry
- Zita the Spacegirl
by Ben Hatke
- Giants Beware!
by Jorge Aguirre
- Simon and Chester: Super Detectives by Cale Atkinson
3rd Grade Funny Books
If you like funny books, you’ll love:
- Doodle Adventures: The Search for Slimy Space Slugs! (series) by Mike Lowery
- The 13-Story Treehouse by Andy Griffiths
- Stinkbomb and Ketchup-Face and the Badness of Badgers by John Dougherty
- Wedgie & Gizmo by Suzanne Selfors
- Hamster Princess Harriet the Invincible by Ursula Vernon
- The Dragonsitter (series) by Josh Lacey
3rd Grade Realistic Books
If you like realistic stories, you’ll love:
- Sarai and the Meaning of Awesome (series) by Sarai Gonzalez and Monica Brown
- Stella Diaz has Something to Say (series) by Angela Dominguez
- Ellie, Engineer by Jackson Pearce
- STAT: Standing Tall and Talented: Home Court by Amar’e Stoudemire
- Mindy Kim and the Yummy Seaweed Business (series) by Lyla Lee
- One-Third Nerd by Gennifer Choldenko
3rd Grade Adventure & Mystery Books
If you like adventure and mystery books, you’ll love:
- I Survived the San Francisco Earthquake (series) by Lauren Tarshis
- Trapped in a Video Game by Dustin Brady
- Mac Undercover (Kid Spy #1) by Mac Barnett
- Secret Agent Jack Stalwart (series) by Elizabeth Singer Hunt
- The Great Shelby Holmes by Elizabeth Eulberg
- The Gumazing Gum Girl! by Rhode Montijo
3rd Grade Fantasy Books
If you like fantasy books, you’ll love:
- Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott
- Of Giants and Ice (series) by Shelby Bach
- Whatever After (series) by Sarah Mlynowski
- Pip Bartlett’s Guide to Magical Creatures (series) by Jackson Pearce and Maggie Stiefvater
- Bob by Wendy Mass and Rebecca Stead
- A Royal Guide to Monster Slaying by Kelley Armstrong
3rd Grade Animal Books
If you like animal books, you’ll love:
- Jenny and the Cat Club (series) by Esther Averill
- The Critter Club (series) by Callie Barkley and Marsha Riti
- Olga and the Smelly Thing From Nowhere by Elise Gravel
- Dolphin Rescue (Animal Planet Adventures #1) (series) by Catherine Nichols
- Who Would Win? Whale vs. Giant Squid by Jerry Pallotta
- What Makes a Monster? Discovering the World’s Scariest Creatures by Jess Keating
If you like nonfiction books, you’ll want to read:
- Almanac 2021 National Geographic Kids
- Escape This Book Tombs of Egypt by Bill Doyle
- The Inventors of LEGO Toys by Erin Hagar
- The Toad: The Disgusting Critters Series by Elise Gravel
- Strange But True! Our Weird, Wild, Wonderful World DK
- Rocket to the Moon: Big Ideas That Changed the World by Don Brown
You Might Also Like:
Best Book Series for 3rd Graders
Summer Reading Printable Activities for Kids
Book Lists with Reviews
5- and 6- year olds
7-year olds
8-year olds
9-year olds
10-year olds
11-year olds
12-year olds
YA
12 Responses
Could you please send me the printable summer reading lists for Grade 3 and Grade 4? Thank you so much!
sure — sorry the form isn’t working right now.
Could you please send me the printable list? Thank you!
Here you go — https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3rd-grade-summer-reading-list.pdf.
Hello. I love your summer reading book lists but I cannot find printable copies of them. Do you have these available?
Thank you!
Here you go — https://imaginationsoup.net/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/3rd-grade-summer-reading-list.pdf.
Are these books meant to be at a third grade reading level or simply of interest to 8 and 9 year old third graders? Some of the books would be of great interest to my third grade reader, but Scholastic lists several at 5th and 6th grade reading levels. Confused.
Thanks for asking, Ashleigh. It’s always a bit tricky for me on these posts since kids can vary in reading comprehension levels within a grade level so I tried to recommend books that are both of interest and that on reading level.
Although, if you think your child would like the story in the harder books, you might consider making them your bedtime story.
Do you want me to list the reading levels for each book? Would that help?
Please do not reconsider your list! As a teacher, I hear from my students all the time that they are “embarrassed” at some of the books the librarian has them check out. They have to stay within a certain reading level. It does not challenge them and stagnates their love of reading. Challenge them! My own kids were reading the Eragon series in third grade.
I tell my kiddos to go by the five finger rule. If there are five words on a page you struggle with, you will want to pick the next level down. Three words, but the book interests you, keep going, but look those words up. One to two words, you are at a comfortable level. Never be afraid to challenge a child – they will amaze you!
so true!
Looking for more good reading books for a 3rd grader and a 6th grader – both entering the 2015/2016 school year.
more books for 3rd graders with reviews for each: https://imaginationsoup.net/best-books-8-year-olds/
more books for 6th graders with review for each: https://imaginationsoup.net/best-books-11-year-olds/