Topic: Y3 50 Recommended Reads

Year 3 Booklist: 50 Recommended Reads

50 Best Books for Y3 (Children Aged 7-8)

This is the BooksForTopics list of 50 top recommended books for Year 3 (children aged seven and eight). Y3 reading collections are best when they contain a variety of selected storytime chapter books, independent reads, funny stories, picturebooks, poetry collections, graphic novels, non-fiction texts and more. On this Year 3 booklist, there’s something for all tastes, but keep an eye out for seahorse-riding mermaids, invisible spaceships, animal rescues and the odd time machine here and there, too…

As well as taking into account which reading trends are currently the most popular with Year 3 children, our team of experts at BooksForTopics loves to put each book through its paces to find the best quality books matched to the age, developmental stage and interest level of children in Year 3.

This booklist includes popular Year 3 stories such as The Boy Who Grew Dragons, Charlotte’s Web and Varjak Paw, as well as the most popular read-it-yourself choices like Dog Man and The 13-Storey Tree House. We also included some lesser-known storytime delights that we recommend for Y3, like The Boy Who Stole the Pharaoh’s Lunch, the wildlife rescue story Saving Sorya, and the beautiful tale of Adoette, a hundred-year-old tree.

As well as the Y3 booklist below to browse, we’ve also got a printable poster, a downloadable checklist and a handy bookmark for you, and schools can purchase full sets of the 50 books via Peters.

Browse the Y3 booklist below or scroll down to find more purchasing options and printable resources.

The Worst Witch

Jill Murphy

Chapter book

The Worst Witch books have captured the imaginations of millions of young readers who enjoy stories about growing up and discovering magic.

Readers loved Mildred Hubble’s escapades as a trainee witch at Cackle’s Academy, where, however hard she tries, mishaps seem to come her way.

This is a classic chapter book series by Jill Murphy with a new memorable heroine to root for.

Book of Brilliant Bugs

Claire McElfatrick & Jess French

Non-fiction

Discover the insects of the world!

Earth’s creepy crawlies may be small but they are far from boring! Learn how they contribute to life on the planet, where they live, what they eat, how their bodies work, and what makes them so special.

This beautifully illustrated bug book for kids for ages 7-9 years old is packed with:

– Fascinating information about bugs that supports and goes beyond the curriculum
– Stories and facts to convey the amazing world of creepy-crawlies
– Factual and informative, with detailed illustrations and photographs of insects, spiders, molluscs, and more
– Compelling text written by insect expert, author, and television presenter, Jess French
– Stunning photographs of individual creatures, from beetles to butterflies

Take a magical journey through the forest floor, down into the deepest caves, and even across the open ocean. The Book of Brilliant Bugs , written by insect expert Jess French takes children on an expedition into the bug kingdom. The insect book is filled with fascinating facts about these little animals, how bugs pass on messages, compete for food, seek true love, and fill the air with buzzing wings. It also shows us how bugs help look after our planet and how we can help them.

Young animal enthusiasts can spot and learn all the main bug groups. From worms, snails, millipedes and centipedes, spiders and scorpions, woodlice, bees, and even bugs that glow! This educational natural science book will encourage children to love and appreciate science and nature.

Atlas of Adventures

Lucy Letherland

Non-fiction

The first thing that strikes you about this book is the size and weight of it. As an almost A3 sized and hardback book, it is akin to opening up a chest of treasures for a child reading it and it does indeed contain details of treasures from all around the world.

The book is dedicated to exploring around the globe. It is split into a section for each continent and takes the reader on an expedition to see superb sights from around the globe – both natural and man-made – from elephants bathing in Chiang Mai, Carnival time in Brazil or canoe trips down the Zambezi River.

Each double-page spread features a beautiful illustration of the featured adventure accompanied by a section of text explaining its significance and geography. The style of writing is engaging to children and addresses the reader directly. In addition to this, there are smaller chunks of text dotted around the illustration, each of which shares fascinating facts about the place and people associated with it. The language used is accessible but will also expand the children’s vocabulary.

This book is likely to inspire child-led learning as the information and engaging style leave readers in KS2 feeling like well-travelled global citizens and wanting to find out more about the places, animals and people featured.

Salah Rules

Dan Green & Simon Mugford

Non-fiction

The perfect book for any football fan! Simon Mugford’s informative text set alongside Dan Green’s fun and realistic illustrations makes for an engaging read that will leave children knowing a lot more about Mo Salah.

The text is formatted in a highly visual and easy-to-read way so that it can engage a range of children, including readers embarking on their first chapter books as well as older reluctant readers. Small chunks of text are interspersed with key stats and tables throughout that will engage football fans.

There is also a free-to-download pack of Teachers’ Notes and Activities to accompany the series. Interspersed throughout the book are a range of jokes that children will enjoy. The text is displayed in a range of interesting ways, including speech bubbles, fact boxes and comic style sequences. The variety on layout keeps readers engaged, while the narrative is simple to follow.

This book is a member of a growing series of ‘Football Superstars’ books, showcasing the best modern-day footballers around. We highly recommended this series to newly independent readers or reluctant readers in KS2. The books in the series lend themselves well to being collected, swapped and shared like football cards. Many children know snippets about these players but these books provide a detailed insight into every aspect of the footballer’s life.

Varjak Paw

Dave McKean & SF Said

Chapter book

Varjak Paw has become a modern classic and an absolute staple of primary school storytimes. The eponymous feline is far from ordinary. Varjak is a Mesopotamian Blue, an exotic and ancient breed descended from the legendary adventurer and hunter, Jalal. As Varjak listens to his grandfather recount the mesmerising tales of Jalal, the fabled ancestor, he begins to visit him in his dreams, inspiring the young kitten with his tales of bravery and daring.

But when a malevolent Gentleman and his two vicious black cats arrive on the scene, Varjak’s comfortable life is abruptly overturned. To save himself, his family, and his newfound friends, Varjak must master the long-forgotten Seven Skills in the Way of Jalal. – a sort of martial arts for cats.

This is a story of loyalty, courage and self-belief that will keep readers hooked from beginning to end and of course, it is a must-read for all animal lovers.

Jelly Boots Smelly Boots

David Tazzyman & Michael Rosen

Poetry

A riotous celebration of words – silly words, funny words, words you only use in your own family, new words, old words, and the very best words in the right order.

Melon

Melon squashy, melon sloshy. My friend Helen’s eating melon. So far, so good with Helen and her melon. But here’s what I’m tellin’ Helen: ‘Don’t SIT on your melon, Helen!’

Filled with colour illustrations and packed with silly rhymes, witty wordplay and thought-provoking story poems, this collection will delight children of all ages. Michael Rosen is the bestselling author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, along with many other picture books and collections of poetry.

Yapping Away

Joshua Seigal & Sarah Horne

Poetry

Joshua Seigal, winner of the 2020 Laugh Out Loud Book Awards, brings his raucous humour, creativity and wit to another brilliant collection of poems. Ideal for fans of Michael Rosen, this book will delight all young readers and fans of funny books.

From hilarious to heartfelt poems – and everything in between – this collection offers something for everyone. Discover the eight steps for having a successful tantrum, and why you should NEVER attend a Teddy Bear’s Picnic (you have been warned). Packed full of fun illustrations by Sarah Horne, and covering a range of imaginative topics, Yapping Away is the perfect follow-up to Joshua Seigal’s prize-winning collection I Bet I Can Make You Laugh.

Ideal for children as young as 3 to read with adults, or for children aged 5-7 to read by themselves.

The Beach Puppy

Ellie Snowdon & Holly Webb

Chapter book, Dyslexia-friendly

Ruby’s dad has arrived home with a wonderful surprise – Coco the sausage dog puppy! And when the family go on holiday to the seaside, of course Coco will be coming too. The beach is a thrilling place for a dog – so many sights, smells and holes to dig! Ruby and Coco can’t wait to spend the day splashing in the waves and playing in the sand. But disaster strikes when Coco disappears. Suddenly she’s lost and all alone on the huge, busy beach … Will she ever find her way back to Ruby?

Worldwide bestseller Holly Webb makes her Barrington Stoke debut with a truly adorable sausage-dog tale!

Sam Wu is Not Afraid of Sharks

Katie Tsang and Kevin Tsang & Nathan Reed

Chapter book

Filled with warmth and humour, Sam’s chatty narrative is really the star of these books and is what makes the stories so relatable. This book will strike a chord with anyone who knows what it feels like to be more frightened then they want to admit (which, let’s face it, is most people). Coupled with Nathan Reed’s appealing cartoon-style illustrations that are perfectly placed to bring a visual element to the book’s humorous tone, this is a brilliantly fun book that would make a wonderful addition to Year 3 & 4 classrooms. I also really like the way in which Sam’s Chinese heritage is represented positively in this series without necessarily being central to the plot.

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