Long time grade 3 teacher Erika McKearney Victor recently gave me some tips with regards to grade 3 reading.

I will be teaching grade 3 in September and I’ve never taught grade 3.

I’m feeling a bit nervous about what books to read aloud that will get students thinking about social justice issues, such as identity, diversity, inclusion and anti racism. These are just a few of the topics I regularly explore with my grade 4’s and 5’s.

I plan to follow Erika’s advice and start with a funny book, like Lulu and the Brontosaurus by Judith Viorst. After that, it’s wide open except for the #GlobalReadAloud21 pick Dragons in a Bag by Zetta Elliott.

Some other titles I am considering are: A Boy Called Bat by Elana K. Arnold, The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate, The Wild Robot by Peter Brown, The One Thing You’d Save by Linda Sue Park and The Barren Grounds by David A. Robertson.

What are some books you would recommend for this grade level? Thank you in advance. I look forward to reading your comments below.