Best Fiction Books by Grade at VCL: Third Grade

Does this boy have what it takes to stand up for what he believes in? In 1863, the Civil War is raging throughout the country. Eleven-year-old Henry has been on the sidelines so far -- but the events of a hot July week in Pennsylvania are about change his life forever. Does he have what it takes to survive the Battle of Gettysburg? The I Survived series is a runaway success with even the most reluctant readers. With its nonstop action and kids'-eye view of history's most terrifying events, the books draw readers in and don't let them go until the last page!
* Part of a series: I Survived.

It’s 1943 Copenhagen and the Jews of Denmark are being “relocated,” so Annemarie Johansen’s best friend, Ellen, moves in with the Johansens and pretends to be part of the family. When Annemarie is asked to go on a dangerous mission, she must find the courage to save her friend’s life.

A young mouse named Ralph is thrown into a world of excitement when a boy and his shiny toy motorcycle check into the Mountain View Inn. When the ever-curious Ralph spots Keith's red toy motorcycle, he vows to ride it. When Keith leaves the bike unattended, Ralph makes his move. But with all this freedom (and speed!) come a lot of obstacles. Whether dodging a rowdy terrier or keeping his nosy cousins away from his new wheels, Ralph has a lot going on!
* First of a series: Ralph S. Mouse.

BAD KITTY is forced to take a bath in this hysterical illustrated how-to for young readers. The following are some items you will need for Kitty's bath: one bathtub, plenty of water, dry towels, a suit of armor, a letter to your loved ones, clean underwear (because stressful situations can cause "accidents"), an ambulance in your driveway with the engine running, and, oh, yeah, you'll also need Kitty, but good luck with that!
* First of a series: Bad Kitty.

An unforgettable first novel about coming of age one sweet summer—and learning to love what you have. The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known. Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother.

Some Pig. Humble. Radiant. These are the words in Charlotte's Web, high up in Zuckerman's barn. Charlotte's spiderweb tells of her feelings for a little pig named Wilbur, who simply wants a friend. They also express the love of a girl named Fern, who saved Wilbur's life when he was born the runt of his litter. This is a tender novel of friendship, love, life, and death that will continue to be enjoyed by generations to come.

Iceland, circa AD 1000 Elska is a silver dapple Icelandic filly. She spends summers frisking about the countryside and winters in the farmyard, where the girl human Amma takes special care of her. But when a powerful neighbor notices Elska, her contented life suddenly changes. Here is Elska’s story . . . in her own words.
* First of a series: Horse Diaries.

Abruptly separated from her mother, littermates, and the wire cage that was her whole world, Ginger the golden retriever is shuttled from one harrowing situation to another until she finally escapes, living as an outlaw with a pack of wild dogs. But freedom doesn't feel so good once she becomes hungry and cold and sick. Will Ginger ever find a furever family to call her own? The DOG DIARIES series tells a dog's story from a dog's point of view. Focusing on a different breed for each book, these stories are based on true dog stories or on true-to-life situations.
* First of a series: Dog Diaries.

Carole Hanson and Stevie Lake have been best friends ever since they met at Pine Hollow Stables. So when Lisa Atwood joins their riding group, the girls aren't sure she's got what it takes. Lisa may be the smartest student in the classroom, but she's got a lot to learn when it comes to horses. . . .
* First of a series: The Saddle Club.

This story of a housepainter who is sent a male penguin by the great Admiral Drake, and who, thanks to the arrival of a female penguin, soon has twelve penguins living in his house, has amused and enchanted generations of children and their parents.

Stuart Little is no ordinary mouse. Born to a family of humans, he lives in New York City with his parents, his older brother George, and Snowbell the cat. Stuart's greatest adventure comes when his best friend, a beautiful little bird named Margalo, disappears from her nest. Determined to track her down, Stuart ventures away from home for the very first time in his life. He finds adventure aplenty. But will he find his friend?

Josh and Amanda just moved into the oldest, weirdest house on the block--they think it might even be haunted! But their parents don't believe them. You'll get used to it, they say. Go out and make some new friends. But the creepy neighborhood kids are not like anyone they've ever met before. And when they shortcut through the cemetery one night, Josh and Amanda learn why.
* First of a series: Goosebumps. Other Goosebumps series include HorrorLand and Most Wanted.

Ten-year-old Leroy Brown opens his own detective agency and solves 10 crimes. Whether he is solving cases for his neighborhood friends or his chief-of-police dad, he always has an intriguing mystery to crack.
* First of a series: Encyclopedia Brown.

Five of Hans Christian Andersen's most loved fairy tales: The Snow Queen, The Nightingale, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, and The Wind's Tale; with color illustrations by Edmund Dulac.

Enter the fairy-tale realm of Hans Christian Andersen with thirteen of his best-loved tales! They include The Princess and the Pea, The Tinderbox, Thumbelina, The Emperor's New Clothes, The Little Mermaid, The Steadfast Tin Soldier, The Wild Swans, The Flying Trunk, The Ugly Duckling, The Nightingale, The Snow Queen, The Little Match Girl, The Goblin at the Grocer's.

The Grace children discover the faerie world is closer than you think in the first book in the Spiderwick Chronicles. After finding a mysterious, handmade field guide in the attic of the ramshackle old mansion they've just moved into, they discover that there's a magical and maybe dangerous world existing parallel to our own-the world of faerie. The Grace children want to share their story, but the faeries will do everything possible to stop them...
* First of a series: The Spiderwick Chronicles.

After being transported by a cyclone to the land of Oz, Dorothy and her dog are befriended by a scarecrow, a tin man, and a cowardly lion, who accompany her to the Emerald City to look for a wizard who can help Dorothy return home to Kansas.
* First of a series: Oz.

One of the most magical concoctions in children's literature, Lewis Carroll's tale follows Alice into the upside-down, inside-out world of Wonderland where she attends the tea party of the Mad Hatter and plays croquet in the court of the Queen of Hearts.

A New York Times Bestseller The Disney Fairies star in a magical all-new early chapter book series for kids ages 6 to 10--The Never Girls! Kate craves adventure and excitement. Mia loves dresses, roses, and anything beautiful. Lainey dreams of talking to animals. Gabby believes in fairies more than anyone. In a blink of an eye, these four best friends all get their biggest wish--they're whisked off to Never Land, home to Tinker Bell and her fairy friends. The adventure of a lifetime is just beginning! But how will the Never Girls ever get home again?
* First of a series: Disney Never Girls

Rich Princess Belcheena is looking for a husband-a husband with red hair who has killed at least two dragons and whose name starts with her favorite letter of the alphabet, W. Could Wiglaf be the man, um, boy of her dreams?
* First of a Series: Dragon Slayer's Academy

Rodda's beloved series is back, now with a fresh cover design. When Jessie discovers the Fairy Realm, she learns that it is in grave danger. Can Jessie use her mortal powers of intelligence, courage, and good sense to save this land?
* First of a series : Fairy Realm

Amber Brown. Justin Daniels. Best friends...a team that really knows how to have fun, that knows how to help each other out. They've known each other practically forever... And then--disaster strikes. Justin has to move. And the fighting begins. Will the best friends be able to work it out before it's too late?
* First of a series: Amber Brown.

Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are intelligent children. They are charming, and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky. In the first two books alone, the three youngsters encounter a greedy and repulsive villain, itchy clothing, a disastrous fire, a plot to steal their fortune, a lumpy bed, a deadly serpent, a large brass reading lamp, a long knife, and a terrible odour. In the tradition of great storytellers, from Dickens to Dahl, comes an exquisitely dark comedy that is both literary and irreverent, hilarious and deftly crafted.
* First of a series: A Series of Unfortunate Events.

Having a little sister like four-year-old Ramona isn't always easy for Beezus Quimby. With a wild imagination, disregard for order, and an appetite for chaos, Ramona makes it hard for Beezus to be the responsible older sister she knows she ought to be…especially when Ramona threatens to ruin Beezus's birthday party.
* First of a series: Ramona.

It's time for the annual Blueberry Festival, and Kylie Jean just knows she'd be the perfect Blueberry Queen.
* First of a series: Kylie Jean.

Lonely, especially since he is the new kid in school, Leigh Botts begins writing letters to his favorite author, Mr. Henshaw, describing his life since his parent's divorce, and through these letters he finds comfort, compassion, and a knack for writing.

Nick Allen likes to liven things up at school, and suddenly he's got the inspiration for his best plan ever...the frindle. Who says a pen has to be called a pen? Why not call it a frindle? Things begin innocently enough as Nick gets his friends to use the new word. Then other people in town start saying frindle. His teacher wants Nick to put an end to all this nonsense, but the funny thing is frindle doesn't belong to Nick anymore. The new word is spreading across the country, and there's nothing Nick can do to stop it.

Judy Moody was in a mood. To start, Judy Moody doesn't have high hopes for third grade. Her new classroom will not have a porcupine named Roger. And with her luck, she'll get stuck sitting in the first row, where Mr. Todd will notice every time she tries to pass a note to her best friend, Rocky. An aspiring doctor, Judy does have a little brother who comes in handy for practicing medicine, a cool new pet, and a huge Band-Aid collection. Judy also has an abundance of individuality and attitude, and when Mr. Todd assigns a very special class project, she really gets a chance to express herself!
* First of a series: Judy Moody.

Grace loves cats. She doesn’t like Sammy Stringer, a boy in her class. When her neighbor’s cat goes missing, Grace does her best to make Mrs. Luther feel less lonely. But as the mystery of the missing cat continues, Grace’s well-intentioned plan backfires, and she finds herself in a bit of trouble. Maybe, just maybe, Sammy Stringer will help her through.
* First of a series: Just Grace.

Fourth-grader Evan Treski is people-smart. His younger sister, Jessie, on the other hand, is math-smart, but not especially good with people. So when the siblings’ lemonade stand war begins, there really is no telling who will win—or even if their fight will ever end. Brimming with savvy marketing tips for making money at any business, this fresh, funny, emotionally charged novel subtly explores how arguments can escalate beyond anyone’s intent.
* First of a series: The Lemonade War.

When eight-and-a-half-year-old Mallory McDonald's parents tell her that they are moving, she's mad! How can they make her move away from Mary Ann, her best friend in the whole wide world?
* First of a series: Mallory.

 The beloved story of a spunky young girl and her hilarious escapades.   Tommy and his sister Annika have a new neighbor, and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has crazy red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a pet monkey named Mr. Nilsson. Whether Pippi’s scrubbing her floors, doing arithmetic, or stirring things up at a fancy tea party, her flair for the outrageous always seems to lead to another adventure.
* First of a series: Pippi Longstocking.

Nancy Clancy and her best friend, Bree, have love on the brain - after all, they're learning about the human heart in science class! But when the girls decide to play matchmaker, nothing works out as planned. So the big question is: Will love conquer all?
* Part of a Series: Nancy Clancy.

A Newbery Medal Winner. The story of an Incan boy who lives in a hidden valley high in the mountains of Peru with old Chuto the llama herder. Unknown to Cusi, he is of royal blood and is the 'chosen one.'

A Native American boy named Walnut, with a special gift to see beyond his poor eyesight, journeys with an old warrior to a land of mystery and beauty. Because Walnut can't see well, he has difficulty meeting the challenges, especially feats of skill with bow and arrow, that prove he is ready to receive a new name and become an adult.

There was a terrible mistake-Wayside School was built with one classroom on top of another, thirty stories high! (The builder said he was sorry.) Maybe that's why all kinds of funny things happened at Wayside-especially on the thirteenth floor.
* First of a series: Wayside School.

Sounder traces the keen sorrow and the abiding faith of a poor African-American boy in the 19th-century South. The boy's life is changed forever when his father is caught stealing a ham to feed his starving family. His dog, Sounder, is wounded in the incident and waits faithfully for his master to come home.

4th grader Peter is challenged by his mischievous younger brother, Fudge.
*First of a series: Fudge.

On October 1, 1932, during Game Three of the Chicago Cubs -- New York Yankees World Series, Babe Ruth belted a long home run to straightaway centerfield. According to legend, just before he hit, Babe pointed to the bleachers and boldly predicted he would slam the next pitch there. Did he call the shot or didn't he? Witnesses never agreed. Like other baseball fans, Joe Stoshack wants to know the truth. But unlike other fans, Joe has the astonishing ability to travel through time and solve one of baseball's greatest puzzles.... Many baseball heroes are featured in this fiction series.
* Part of a Series: Baseball Card Adventures.

As a young boy, Derek Jeter dreams of being the shortstop for the New York Yankees. So when Derek is chosen for the Little League Tigers, he hopes to play shortstop. But on the day of the assignments, Derek Starts at second base. Still, he tries his best while he wishes and dreams of that shortstop spot. And to help him stay focused on school, his parents make him a contract: keep up the grades or no baseball. Derek makes sure he always plays his best game-on and off the baseball field!
* First of a semi-autobiographical series by Derek Jeter of the NY Yankees.

Thanks to Kate's mom, a sports reporter, cousins Mike Walsh and Kate Hopkins have tickets to the Red Sox game and All Access passes to Fenway Park. But as they're watching batting practice before the game, the lucky bat of Red Sox star slugger Big D is stolen . . . right in front of dozens of people. Without the bat, Big D can't seem to hit a thing. Can Kate and Mike figure out who pinched the bat before Big D and the Sox chalk up a loss?
* First of a series: Ballpark Mysteries.

Mac Williams, goalie for the Cougars, is known as much for his upbeat game chatter as for his outstanding saves. But when an anonymous artist starts making fun of him with a weekly cartoon, Mac is anything but upbeat. Would one of his friends really betray him-or is there someone else who wants to make him look ridiculous? Many sports are featured in this fiction series.
* Part of a Series: Matt Christopher Sports Series.

Anna, Brittany, and Jasmine have a problem: their school cancelled the girls' soccer team. They have to join the team at their arch rival school! They're not happy about it, but they're glad they get to play. The girls on their new team, though, aren't exactly welcoming. Will Anna, Brittany, and Jasmine ever feel at home? Many sports are featured in this fiction series.
*Part of a Series: Jake Maddox Sports Stories.