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Grade 3 - 2026-2027
The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate
The One and Only Ivan
by Katherine Applegate

Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself. Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes and he decides that he must find her a better life.
Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare by Gene Barretta
Lincoln and Kennedy: A Pair to Compare
by Gene Barretta

President Abraham Lincoln grew up in a one-room log cabin. President John F. Kennedy was raised in the lap of luxury. One was a Republican and one a Democrat. They lived and served a hundred years apart. Yet they had a number of things in common some are coincidental: having seven letters in their last names. Some were monumental: Lincoln's support for the abolitionist movement and Kennedy's support for the civil rights movement. They both lost a son while in office. And, of course, both were assassinated. In this illuminating book, Gene Barretta offers an insightful portrait of two of our country's most famous presidents.
Freckle Juice by Judy Blume
Freckle Juice
by Judy Blume

Believing freckles will change his prospects for the better, young Andrew pays fifty cents to an obnoxious classmate for her secret recipe only to endure a tummy-churning disaster, in a reformatted edition of a classic favorite by the award-winning author of Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing.
Bobbie the Wonder Dog: A True Story by Tricia Brown
Bobbie the Wonder Dog: A True Story
by Tricia Brown

This is the amazing true story of Bobbie, the Wonder Dog, a legend in his own time who warmed the hearts of a nation. The Scotch collie mix was lost on a family trip from Oregon to Indiana in 1923 and walked all the way home, a six-month and almost 2,800-mile journey, to return to the people he loved.
Tornado by Betsy Byars
Tornado
by Betsy Byars

From Newbery Medal-winning author Betsy Byars comes a sweet, entertaining story that will touch the heart of dog lovers at any age. A tornado appears in the distance, and the family quickly gathers into the storm cellar. The storm rages outside, but Pete, the farmhand, knows this is the perfect time to tell his stories about a dog named Tornado. Blown into their lives by a twister when Pete was a boy, Tornado was no ordinary dog--he played card tricks, saved a turtle's life, and had a rivalry with the family cat. Forgetting their fear, the family hangs on every word of Pete's stories, both happy and sad, of this remarkable dog.
The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling
The Chocolate Touch
by Patrick Skene Catling

John Midas loves chocolate. He loves it so much that he'll eat it any hour of any day. He doesn't care if he ruins his appetite. He thinks chocolate is better than any other food! But one day, after wandering into a candy store and buying a piece of their best chocolate, John finds out that there might just be such a thing as too much chocolate. 
Muggie Maggie by Beverly Cleary
Muggie Maggie
by Beverly Cleary

Third grader Maggie Schultz has firmly decided that cursive writing is not for her. Kind words, clever arguments -- even Daddy's punishment of not being allowed to use the computer -- cannot persuade her to form those curly letters with her pen. Then her sympathetic and very perceptive teacher appoints Maggie class mail messenger. When she cannot read the notes she must deliver around the school, Maggie suddenly finds cursive very interesting! Full of Beverly Cleary's trademark humor and perceptiveness, this gentle tale about tackling one of elementary school's tougher lessons will delight readers of all ages.
Frindle by Andrew Clements
Frindle
by Andrew Clements

When the opposition opinion comes up, do we only see the intention of the opposition, or another possible big idea? A classic series that makes students laugh, teachers reflect, and parents understand children better! Everyone knows that Mrs. Granger has seeing eyes, and no one can escape her eyes. And that's not the worst part, her enthusiasm for dictionary is simply unmatched. Nick found it incredible that there are such boring people in the world! Nick found an article by chance, talking about the mystery and origin of characters, he had a flash of inspiration, and secretly drew up a great plan: he wanted to invent a new word.
The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
The Lemonade War
by Jacqueline Davies

As the final days of summer heat up, so does a sibling showdown over a high-stakes lemonade stand business. Jessie and Evan Treski compete to see who will make $100 first off of their respective lemonade stands. Full of surprisingly accessible and savvy marketing tips for running a stand (or making money at any business) and with clever mathematical visuals woven in, this sensitively characterized novel subtly explores how war can escalate beyond anyone's intent.
Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
Because of Winn-Dixie
by Kate DiCamillo

The classic heartwarming tale from Kate DiCamillo--now with an afterword from the beloved author, reflecting on twenty years in print One summer's day, ten-year-old India Opal Buloni goes down to the local supermarket for some groceries--and comes home with a dog. But Winn-Dixie is no ordinary dog. It's because of Winn-Dixie that Opal begins to make friends. And it's because of Winn-Dixie that she finally dares to ask her father about her mother, who left when Opal was three. In fact, as Opal admits, just about everything that happens that summer is because of Winn-Dixie. This updated edition of Kate DiCamillo's classic novel invites readers to make themselves at home--whether they're experiencing the book for the first time or returning to an old favorite.
Boxes for Katje by Candace Fleming
Boxes for Katje
by Candace Fleming

Acclaimed writer Candace Fleming has authored several children's books based on historical events. Katje is a little girl in Holland who is struggling to survive after WWII with hardly any clothes or food. But then, an American girl named Rosie helps Katje and her town by sending care packages. 
Investigators by John Patrick Green
Investigators
by John Patrick Green

#1 New York Times-bestselling author John Patrick Green's goofy graphic novel series is a colossal comics hit Join super spy alligator duo Mango and Brash as they surf the sewers and fight the forces of evil. With their Very Exciting Spy Technology and their tried-and-true, toilet-based travel techniques, the InvestiGators are undercover and on the case And on their first mission together, they have not one but two mysteries to solve Can Mango and Brash uncover the clues, crack their cases, and corral the crooks or will the criminals wriggle out of their grasp?
The First State of Being by Erin Entrada Kelly
The First State of Being
by Erin Entrada Kelly

When Ridge, a time-traveling teenager from the future, gets trapped in 1999, he befriends Michael, a lonely twelve-year-old boy, changing the course of their lives forever.
Nim's Island by Wendy Orr
Nim's Island
by Wendy Orr

A girl. An iguana. An island. And e-mail. Meet Nim-a modern-day Robinson Crusoe! She can chop down bananas with a machete, climb tall palm trees, and start a fire with a piece of glass. So she's not afraid when her scientist dad sails off to study plankton for three days, leaving her alone on their island. Besides, it's not as if no one's looking after her-she's got a sea lion to mother her and an iguana for comic relief. She also has an interesting new e-mail pal. But when her father's cell-phone calls stop coming and disaster seems near, Nim has to be stronger and braver than she's ever been before. And she'll need all her friends to help her.
Clementine by Sara Pennypacker
Clementine
by Sara Pennypacker

Clementine is NOT having a good week. On Monday she's sent to the principal's office for cutting off Margaret's hair. On Tuesday, Margaret's mother is mad at her. On Wednesday, she's sent to the principal, again. On Thursday, Margaret stops speaking to her. Then Friday starts with yucky eggs and only gets worse. And by Saturday, even her mother is mad at her. Okay, fine. Clementine is having a DISASTROUS week. But maybe she can find a way to make it better. 
The Knights of the Kitchen Table #1 by Jon Scieszka
Knights of the Kitchen Table
by Jon Scieszka

When Joe, Fred, and Sam are sent back in time by a magic book, they find themselves face-to-face with giants, dragons, wizards, and the Knights of the Round Table.
I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919 (I Survived #19): Volume 19 by Lauren Tarshis
I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919  
by Lauren Tarshis

When the massive metal tank filled with sticky brown molasses that rises up over her crowded North End neighborhood explodes, young Carmen must fight for her life, as a tsunami of molasses rushes through the streets.
The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner
The Boxcar Children
by Gertrude Chandler Warner

Henry, Jessie, Violet, and Benny are brothers and sisters. They're orphans too, and the only way they can stay together is to make it on their own. When the children find an abandoned boxcar in the woods, they decide to call it home - and become the Boxcar Children!
Charlotte's Web: A Newbery Honor Award Winner by E. B. White
Charlotte's Web
by E. B. White

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. Wilbur the pig wants to make a friendin the barn. Charlotte the spider wants a friend too! And with the words she makes in her web, she will make sure that everyone knows what a special pig Wilbur is.
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?! by Jonah Winter
You Never Heard of Sandy Koufax?!
by Jonah Winter

In this striking picture book biography, an old-timer tells us what made Sandy Koufax such an amazing baseball player. We learn that the beginning of his career with the Brooklyn Dodgers was rocky, that he was shy with his teammates, and experienced discrimination as one of the only Jews in the game. We hear that he actually quit, only to return the next season--different--firing one rocket after another over the plate. We watch him refuse to play in the 1965 World Series because it is a Jewish high holy day. And we see him in pain because of an overused left arm, eventually retiring at the peak of his career. Finally, we are told that people are still scratchin' their heads over Sandy, who remains a modest hero and a mystery to this day. 
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