• Summer Reading, Incoming 3rd Grade

    Summer Reading Grade 3Summer reading should be fun. These reading lists have been prepared by the librarians of the Santa Monica Public Library in collaboration with the Elementary Library Coordinators and Librarians of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District. The lists provide a selection of good books that kids enjoy. Reading levels are suggestions only, as every student learns to read at his or her own speed.

    You can help by reading with your child and encouraging his or her own interests. Reading takes lots of practice and encouragement. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes every day for your child to read with you. Have fun with the books and help instill the joy of reading in your child. Some titles are also available as audiobooks so families can enjoy a good book together.

    For extra summer fun, visit your local public library for reading programs, many of which offer activities and prizes. Have a wonderful summer vacation and read, read, read! 


    Picture Books (XXF)

    Drum Dream Girl: How One Girl's Courage Changed Music, by Margarita Engle
    A Cuban girl in the 1930s strives to become a female drummer in Cuba. Inspired by true events.

    Henry's Freedom Box, by Ellen Levine
    Fictionalized account of Virginia slave Henry “Box” Brown, who escaped by shipping himself in a crate to Philadelphia in 1849.


    Easy Chapter Books (Bridges XF)

    Cam Jansen (XMF series), by David Adler
    Cam uses her photographic memory to solve mysteries.

    Fenway Foul-up     (series), by David Kelly
    Cousins Mike and Kate investigate when a player’s lucky bat is stolen.

    Stink (series), by Megan McDonald
    Stink Moody, younger brother of Judy, always gets into funny situations.

    Maybelle Goes to Tea (series), by Katie Speck
    Maybelle the cockroach goes to Mrs. Peabody’s Ladies’ Spring Tea.

    Dinos Are Forever (series), by Greg Trine
    Jo Schmo becomes a superhero, catching bank robbers and foiling Dr. Dastardly's plan to take over San Francisco using reanimated dinosaurs.


    Children's Fiction (XF)

    Riot Borthers (series), by Mary Amato
    Brothers Orville and Wilbur make adventures out of silly things.

    Ivy and Bean (series), by Annie Barrows
    Friendship adventures with Bean and her neighbor, Ivy.

    Freckle Juice, by Judy Blume
    Andrew wants freckles, so he buys a freckle recipe for fifty cents.

    Ramona (series), by Beverly Cleary
    Ramona Quimby copes with life at home and at school.

    Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, by Roald Dahl
    Five lucky children enter Mr. Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory.

    Sugar Plum Ballerinas (series), by Whoopi Goldberg
    Follow Sugar Plum Ballerinas at Harlem's Nutcracker School of Ballet.

    Owen Foote (series), by Stephanie Greene
    Owen interests include soccer, science and spies.

    Just Grace (series), by Charise Harper
    Misnamed by her teacher, Just Grace prides herself in being helpful.

    Heroes in Training (series), by Joan Holub
    Follow boy Zeus as he frees the rest of the Olympians.

    Toys Go Out, by Emily Jenkins
    A collection of stories follows the adventures of three curious toys.

    How Oliver Olson Changed the World, by Claudia Mills
    Oliver finally shows his parents that he is capable of doing great things.

    Scraps of Time (series), by Patricia C. McKissack
    Grandmother Gee tells stories about African-American ancestors.

    Magic Tree House (series), by Mary Pope Osborne
    Siblings Jack and Annie travel through time on exciting adventures.

    Clementine (series), by Sara Pennypacker
    Clementine gets into trouble for paying attention to all the wrong things.

    Hamster Princess (series), by Ursual Vernon
    Harriet the hamster princess slays ogres, goes cliff-diving, and more. (Also Dragonbreath series)

    Lulu and the Brontosaurus, by Judith Viorst
    Lulu doesn’t get a brontosaurus for her birthday, so she goes out to find one.


    Children's Graphic Novels (XGN)

    The Adventures of Ook and Gluk: Cavemen from the Future, by George Beard
    Friends Ook and Gluk are always in trouble, until they find a portal to the future, learn kung fu, and free their people.

    El Deafo, by Cece Bell
    In this graphic novel memoir, Cece finds her “superpower” while going to school and making friends wearing a bulky hearing aid.


    Non-Ficton

    X005.1 PRATT
    What is Computer Coding?
    Find out how computers follow instructions written in code instead of human language.

    X599.53 HATKOFF
    Winter’s Tail
    Follow the story of a bottlenose dolphin who received an artificial tail.

    X599.78 MATTICK
    Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear
    The true story of the bear who inspired A.A. Milne’s Winnie-the-Pooh.

    X811 FLORIAN
    Laugh-eteria: Poems and Drawings
    Karate Kids: One was a black belt. One was a brown. One had a loose belt; His pants fell down. Silly, irreverent, and always clever poems.

    X811 SILVERSTEIN
    Where the Sidewalk Ends
    A collection of humorous poetry including a boy who turns into a TV set. X940.1 OSBORNE Knights and Castles A Magic Tree House Research Guide in which Jack and Annie learn the facts about knights and castles.