Classroom Recommendations 2nd-3rd

The Youth Services Librarians from Happy Valley, Milwaukie Ledding, and Oak Lodge Libraries have pulled together some of their favorite books that would be great additions to classroom libraries. Below are single titles, though most are linked to series. They are sorted by suggested grade level, but feel free to "shop" high and low!

You might also be interested in:
Classroom Recommendations K-1st

Classroom Recommendations 4th-5th

Updated July 26, 2023
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Karen's haircut : a graphic novel (baby-sitters little sister #7)
Martin, Ann,M
Paper Book
Another graphic novel in this fun series spin-off of The Baby-sitters Club, featuring Kristy's little stepsister! Karen feels like an ugly duckling. She already has to wear glasses, and now her baby teeth are starting to come out, too. Fortunately, she knows exactly what will make her look...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

The used-to-be best friend
Quigley, Dawn
Paper Book
American Indian Youth Literature Award: Middle Grade Honor Book! Hello/Boozhoo--meet Jo Jo Makoons! Full of pride, joy, and plenty of humor, this first book in an all-new chapter book series by Dawn Quigley celebrates a spunky young Ojibwe girl who loves who she is. Jo Jo...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

Grace the cove dragon
Mara, Maddy
Paper Book
We are Dragon Girls -- hear us roar! Grace, Zoe, and Sofia share an incredible secret. They can transform into powerful Sea Dragons when they travel to the Magic Forest! Each of the girls has a deep love of the water. Grace is a skilled swimmer, Zoe is an avid surfer, and Sofia is an...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

Kitty and the moonlight rescue
Harrison, Paula
Ebook
InvestiGATORS
Green, John
Paper Book
With more than three million copies in print, John Patrick Green's goofy graphic novel series is a colossal comics hit! Join super spy alligator duo MANGO and BRASH as they surf the sewers and fight the forces of evil. With their Very Exciting Spy Technology and their tried...
Game over, Super Rabbit Boy!
Flintham, Thomas
Paper Book
Super Rabbit Boy is the strongest, bravest, fastest animal in all the land. . .and he's also the star in a video game!Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest...
The Bad Guys. Episode 2, Mission unpluckable
Blabey, Aaron
Paper Book
The BAD GUYS are back with a daring plan to rescue 10,000 chickens from a high-security cage farm! But how do you rescue chickens when one of you is known as The Chicken Swallower? Join the BAD GUYS as they return for more dodgy good deeds with a new member of the team. And watch out for the super...
A new friend
Green, Poppy
Paper Book
In this first of a charming series about a little mouse and her forest friends, Sophie Mouse must convince her classmates--and herself--that a new student is nothing to fear. Even if he is a snake! Readers will delight in The Adventures of Sophie Mouse! In the first book of The...
Cute as an axolotl : discovering the world's most adorable animals
Keating, Jess
Paper Book
"Cats of Instagram" meets National Geographic in this hilarious picture book about nature's cutest weirdos from the author of Pink Is for Blobfish! The Internet pretty much runs on cute animal photos, but "cute" is so much more than clickbait kittens and insta-pups....
The truth about parrots
Eaton, Maxwell, III
Paper Book
A Chicago Public Library Best of the Best Children's Book of 2021 The eighth and final book in Maxwell Eaton III's popular series is a hilarious, kid-centered guide to the many color species, odd behaviors, and special talents (like talking!) of parrots. Did you...
The pest in the nest
Gough, Julian
Paper Book
Merhorses and bubbles
Citro, Asia
Paper Book
With magical animals, science, mystery, and adventure -- the brand new series Zoey and Sassafras has something for everyone! Easy-to-read language and illustrations on nearly every page make this series perfect for a wide range of ages. In the third book of this series, Zoey and...
Mindy Kim and the trip to Korea
Lee, Lyla
Paper Book
Fresh Off the Boat meets Junie B. Jones in the adorable chapter book series following Mindy Kim, a young Asian American girl--in this fifth novel, Mindy goes to South Korea! Mindy is super excited to go to South Korea to visit her grandparents! She has never taken...
Curse of the shadow dragon
West, Tracey
Paper Book
Drake and Worm meet a Shadow Dragon in the latest action-packed installment of this New York Times bestselling series! Pick a book. Grow a Reader! This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text...
Sunny the shark
Lai, Remy
Paper Book
Planet Earth meets Narwhal and Jelly in this funny and suspenseful early reader graphic novel series featuring heroic animals surviving in the perilous wilderness! Inspired by true events, the story includes facts about climate change, sharks, and how kids can help protect the...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

Exploring flight!
Beaty, Andrea
Paper Book
Why do airplanes look the way they do? Why can't birds fly when they're first born? And why do some paper planes fly farther than others? Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files is the perfect nonfiction resource for all these questions and more. Discover everything there is to...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly [1] : the coldfire curse
Quinn, Jordan
Paper Book
In the first installment of the exciting Dragon Kingdom of Wrenly graphic novel series, the scarlet dragon Ruskin's bravery is put to the test when a curse threatens his kingdom. As the pampered pet dragon of the Prince of Wrenly, Ruskin has never known life beyond the walls of...

*NEW TITLE TO LIST*

Award-winning books, recordings, apps, & websites for children from the American Library Association.

2nd-3rd grade reading level, but excellent ideas for all readers, students can vote on their favorite title each spring

3rd-5th category has new selections each year; students can vote on their favorite title each spring


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