JAMES B. EDWARDS ELEMENTARY

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Books for Rising 3rd Graders

Summer reading is an important part of the development of reading skills learned during the school year and the preparation for third grade. The goal of our summer reading program is for each child to incorporate reading into his or her daily summer schedule.

The following list represents a wide range of reading levels and many areas of interest and is intended as a starting point for selecting books for your child. The public library is an excellent source for quality books, both fiction and non-fiction.

Please give your child the opportunity to select his or her own books and encourage daily reading as a lifelong habit.

Here are some ideas to help you make summer reading a success for you and your child:

• Establish a daily reading time in your home for family members
• Appreciate all books your child selects, even those that are "too easy"
• Visit the public library often and check out a variety of books
• Read out loud to your child even after your child is reading independently
• Be a good role model, turn off the TV, and read lots of books

EASY

Madeline (series) -by Ludwig Bemelmans

Berenstain Bears-by Stan & Jan Berenstain

Arthur series -picture books by Marc Brown and chapter books by Stephen Krensky

Strega Nona -by Tomie DePaola

Ronald Morgan Goes to Bat -by Patricia Giff

The Snowy Day -by Ezra Jack Keats

Swimmy-by Leo Lionni

Frog and Toad Together -by Arnold Lobel

Make Way for Ducklings -by Robert McCloskey

Amelia Bedelia (series) -by Peggy Parish

Curious George -by H.A. Rey

TRANSITIONAL

Miss Nelson is Missing -by Harry Allard

Wiley and the Hairy Man-by Molly Bang

The Beast in Mrs. Rooney's Room-by Patricia Giff

The Girl Who Loved Wild Horses -by Paul Goble

Russell Sprouts-by Johanna Hurwitz

Dinosaurs Before Dark (Magic Tree House series) -Mary Pope Osborne

Marvin Redpost (series) by Louis Sachar

Amelia Bedelia (series) - (Peggy Parish)

The Littles Go to School -by John Peterson

The New Kid on the Block-by Jack Prelutsky (poetry)

Where the Sidewalk Ends-by Shel Silverstein (poetry)

Dr. DeSoto, Sylvester and the Magic Pebble-by William Steig

Lyle, Lyle Crocodile, Ira Sleeps Over -by Bernard Waber

Commander Toad in Space (series)-by Jane Yolen

Hey, Al -by Arthur Yorinks

MORE CHALLENGING

Superfudge -by Judy Blume

Shoeshine Girl -by Clyde R. Bulla

Beezus and Ramona or Henry Huggins (series)-by Beverly Cleary

Crackerjack Halfback (and other sports novels) -by Matt Christopher

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory-by Roald Dahl

The Hundred Dresses-by Eleanor Estes

And Then What Happened, Paul Revere?-by Jean Fritz

The Story of Ruby Bridges -by Robert Coles

Howliday Inn -by James Howe

Nancy Drew Mystery series -by Carolyn Keene

The School Mouse -by Dick King-Smith

Any books by  Suzy Kline

Lunch Money and Other Poems about School-by Carol Diggery Shields

Encyclopedia Brown (Mystery series)-by Donald Sobol

The Boxcar Children (Mystery series) -by Gertrude C. Warner

The Little House in the Big Woods (series)-by Laura Ingalls Wilder

Trumpet of the Swans-by E.B. White

This list is intended to get you started. Choose other books by the same author, read long books together and follow a child's natural interests with non-fiction books. The most important part of summer reading is to read every day and enjoy books together.

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