Finding Diverse Books 2026 | Grades 3-5

Updated January 16, 2026
LINCC (Libraries in Clackamas County) Oregon City Public Library
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Almost sunset
Algarmi, Wahab
Ebook

A young soccer player feels torn between commitments to his teammates and to his family & faith when the Ramadan fast overlaps with soccer season in this engaging, appealing graphic novel.

Also available as an e-book.

Creaky Acres
Brill, Calista
Ebook
A heartwarming middle-grade graphic novel about being the new kid, making new friends, and learning to trust yourself through the power of horseback riding. Perfect for fans of Victoria Jamieson's Roller Girl. Nora is a prize-winning horseback rider in a suburban area,...

Competitive equestrian Nora is initially less than thrilled with her new barn after her family moves to the country, but slowly befriends her quirky fellow riding students as she helps them prepare for their first competition. Its subversion of typical middle grade tropes makes this a great choice for all readers, not just horse-lovers!

Also available as an e-book.

Mixed-up
Garcia, Kami
Ebook

A deep dive into the experience of getting diagnosed with dyslexia in upper elementary school, giving equal weight to the practical and emotional challenges--including examples of effective interventions. Hand this one to struggling readers and their book-loving peers alike!

Also available as an e-book.

The gate, the girl, and the dragon
Lin, Grace
Ebook
A gorgeously illustrated story about a lion cub and a girl who must open a portal to save the spirit and human worlds, from Grace Lin, award-winning and bestselling author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. Jin is a Stone Lion--one of the guardians of the Old...

A mischievous young dragon needs the help of a human girl and her friends to return to the spirit world before the gate he inadvertently opened closes for good. Another modern fairy tale steeped in Chinese folklore from the author of Where the Mountain Meets the Moon.

Also available as an e-book and a digital audiobook.

Outsider kids
Tang, Betty C.
Ebook

In this sequel to the Parachute Kids graphic novel, the Lins--a trio of undocumented siblings struggling to get by on their own after their parents sent them to the US--deal with a snobby cousin visiting from Taiwan who threatens to disrupt their hard-earned equilibrium.

Also available as an e-book.


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