Paula in MS Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 (edited) Please give me your best suggestions for books that will capture the interest of my 3rd grade girl. I want reading to be a fun pastime for her, not a chore. She reads on grade level, is highly imaginative, and loves animals. She is also very into science, so non-fiction ideas are welcome. We are reading from the step into classics series for assigned reading. Many of these are read out loud to me. She has a tendency to speed through a book and skip unfamiliar words instead of stopping to figure them out. I think this will end if I can find some books that will be enjoyable to her and will keep her interest. I look forward to hearing some of your ideas. Thanks, Paula ETA: I am looking for suggestions for "fun reading". I am hoping to find some books that are so interesting to her that she has to read just one more chapter before putting it down. These can even be below grade level. I just want her to WANT to read SOMETHING. Thanks. Edited February 4, 2011 by Paula in MS Clarification Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 We are working through the Sonlight lists, Veritas books, Honey for a Child's Heart lists and the 1000 Good Books list from Christian Classical Homeschooling. So far we've been RARELY disappointed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Poke Salad Annie Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 The Carolyn Haywood books are nice if you can find them at your library. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SilverMoon Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 (edited) . Edited July 12, 2022 by SilverMoon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
angela in ohio Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 (edited) Imaginative + animals: The Mouse and the Motorcycle series anything by Thornton Burgess Charlotte's Web The Trumpet of the Swan 3rd grade girl: Betsy-Tacy series Little House series (if these are too long for her yet, try the "chapter books" - they are snippets from the read Little House books and very nice) The Moffats series All-of-a-Kind Family (the last two are at a higher level, so maybe not yet) Non-fiction + animals: Nature Readers from Christian Liberty Press Crinkleroot's Guides Don't worry about the skipping words. :001_smile: They really do grow out of it, though I always backed them up when they were reading out loud to me. And even if she isn't stopping for the word, she is storing away the context clues, and she will know more about the word next time she sees it. Edited February 4, 2011 by angela in ohio Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted February 4, 2011 Author Share Posted February 4, 2011 SWM and Silver Moon, Can you give me a couple of suggestions of your favorite books that you think would appeal to my daughter based on her interests? She will be reading these on her own for fun reading. Thanks so much! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blakereese Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Because you recommended that she is highly imaginative and likes animals, I would have her start with Charlotte's Web followed by Stuart Little. After that try the Thornton Burgess animal stories. HTH! :) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paige Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 A Wrinkle in Time? It has a strong female protagonist and is very science themed. I loved it as a kid and just had my 3rd grade son read it. He really liked it and he never likes the books I make him read. He's into Percy Jackson which may appeal to her too. My friend's DD is into the 39 Clues series. I read the whole Black Stallion series around 3-4th grade too as a kid and loved them! I would recommend those too. I have no idea what reading level they are. Or a little easier would be the Bobsey Twins and the old Trixie Belden series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mytwomonkeys Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 my daughter is 9 & in third grade. the last 3 books she read & loved were: because of winn dixie the family under the bridge ramona the pest all were fun & easy for her. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FriedClams Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 All the Dick King-Smith books!! Animals. Fun. 3rd grade reads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Meriwether Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 My 3rd grade girl liked Misty of Chincoteague earlier this year. She likes mostly mysteries, so I don't have a big list of animal books, but if your daughter ever decides she likes mysteries, I could give you a great list. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MelAR05 Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 I just found the Christian Liberty Press Nature Readers at our homeschool library and my daughter who loves science and nature absolutely loves these books! I believe they are part of their reading program so they have Nature Reader K, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th (I think). She just finished 2nd and is beginning 3rd. The only problem is that I wish there were more of them! :) Here is the complete set -http://www.christianlibertypress.com/proddetail.asp?prod=KITNR Melissa Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snickelfritz Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 Fun books that my dd can't put down and are listed as late 2nd to 3rd grade level: Geronimo Stilton by....Geronimo Stilton. This is a series about a mouse detective. Flat Stanley series Sugarplum Ballerinas by Whoopi Goldberg She also enjoys the CLP Nature reader that someone else mentioned. I don't know what they intend, but the level on the book doesn't EXACTLY match to grade. Dd is reading CLP nature reader 1, while everything else she reads is solidly 2nd to 3rd. I look for series of books for my dd, because she is very slow to get interested in a new book. But once she starts a series, she will read them all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 My son is really enjoying Harriet the Spy right now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NanceXToo Posted February 4, 2011 Share Posted February 4, 2011 When my daughter was in third grade, she liked: A to Z Mysteries The Adventures of the Bailey School Kids Magic Tree House Junie B. Jones Choose Your Own Adventure stories Captain Underpants and enjoyed the Little House books as read alouds. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paula in MS Posted February 5, 2011 Author Share Posted February 5, 2011 Thanks so much for the replies. I will definitely try out the CLP nature reader. Off to make some library requests. Paula Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen in PA Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 The Bunnicula books are fun for animal fans. We are also fond of the Jenny Linsky/Jenny and the Cat Club books by Esther Averill. I have heard good things about the Animal Ark series, but DD never showed any interest in those. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
A home for their hearts Posted February 5, 2011 Share Posted February 5, 2011 My dd has loved these animal books by Holly Webb. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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