Grade: Grade 3

Sir Givret may be small, but he is a powerful force! After protecting Queen Guinevere from unflattering remarks, King Arthur names Sir Givret a knight! In this chapter book, you and your child will follow Sir Givret and a hilarious bunch of characters through several quests. Your family will laugh together as Sir Givret dishes out clever insults and bravely tackles numerous challenges with his sharp thinking. Your child will be fully engaged as Sir Givret and his friends face sword fights, giants, and bandits. This book is the second in the series: The Knights Tales. Check this book out and get your child hooked on a new and exciting series!

Can you imagine being a magician, movie star, pilot, and hero? Harry Houdini was all of these things and much more! In this book, you will read all about Houdini’s interesting childhood as an immigrant from Hungary. From a young age, it was clear that Houdini was multi-talented. As he grew older, Houdini’s love for the stage and a need to provide for his family led him to develop into a successful entertainer. You and your child will not only learn about Houdini, but many other historical figures and events that had an impact on Houdini’s life. You’ll love all the interesting graphics and insider tips on Houdini’s escape acts and life. After reading this book, your family will have deeper respect for this inventive and hard-working man.

Wilma Rudolph has faced incredible challenges since the time she was a baby. Wilma had polio as a young child and many doctors thought she would lose the ability to walk. Wilma pushed through this problem and practiced walking, ultimately developing enough strength in her legs to be able to walk without the support of a brace. Wilma went on to become a great athlete and compete in the 1960 summer Olympics in Rome. Despite many obstacles, she won the gold medal in several track and field events. Wilma Rudolph’s life, as told through striking multimedia images and masterful storytelling, is an inspirational journey that will encourage everyone in your family to keep working hard to achieve their goals!

Parrots have a long and interesting history living in Puerto Rico. Since the time that people arrived in Puerto Rico, parrots have faced many challenges to stay alive and continue living in Puerto Rican rainforests. By the mid-1900s, parrots in Puerto Rico were almost extinct! After the parrot population dropped to twenty-four, scientists took action. Through a lot of problem solving, this species has been protected and can still be found flying over Puerto Rico. You and your family will love the beautifully crafted illustrations in this book. Your child will want to spend hours studying these intricate images that masterfully support the text. This book will lead your family to have rich conversations about the consequences of human and natural forces in ecosystems and the interesting history of the parrots in Puerto Rico.

Pink and Say is an important story about two soldiers in the Civil War: Sheldon Curtis (Say), a Union soldier, and Pinkus Aylee (Pink), a Union soldier in the 48th colored regiment. Pink finds Say wounded on a battlefield and pulls him to safety at his mother’s home. During Say’s recovery, Pink and Say spend more time learning about each other and developing a deep friendship. Eventually, the boys are caught and separated, unsure and concerned about the other’s fate. This heartwrenching story will remind families of the brutalities that took place during the Civil War. As your family experiences the account of these soldiers, you will be reminded of the great sacrifices that were made during the war. You and your child will learn more about the conditions of the Civil War, sharing rich discussions about racism, war, service, and friendship.

If you love baseball’s legend Jackie Robinson, you’re going to love this story. Sharon Robinson grew up with a great father: Jackie Robinson, the first African American baseball player in the Major Leagues. In Testing the Ice: A True Story About Jackie Robinson, Sharon shares a story about her dad that reveals the deep bravery of his character. She begins by reminding you of Jackie’s courageous move to enter the Major Leagues. But then she describes a time when, despite his deep fear of the water, Jackie went out on the frozen lake by their home to make sure the ice was safe for Sharon and her friends. As you read this book full of warmth and love, you and your child will share a more intimate view of this national hero, from the perspective of his daughter. After reading this story, your family will gain deeper respect and admiration for this great man.

When the relief workers are handing out clothing in Lina’s refugee camp, she is excited when she spots a shoe! Unfortunately, the other shoe already belongs to another girl, Feroza. Lina and Feroza work out a deal to share the shoes. This agreement turns out to be the beginning of a deep and important friendship. As you read this story, you and your child will not only learn an important message about friendship, but you will also learn about the challenging conditions inside a refugee camp. Together, you and your child will find that children in all situations share the same needs: friendship and love.

Your family will love this illustrated tale of martial arts and teambuilding. Inspired by her favorite actress Brandy Wu, Julie wants to learn Kung Fu. The more she practices, the more she loves it. A new boy named Brandon shows up to the School of Martial Arts, and impresses Julie’s teacher, Sifu. Both Julie and Brandon want to be considered the very best and, as a result, lose their focus in class. A special visitor Master Chou teaches Julie and Brandon how to work together, and helps them learn that it is better to focus on improving themselves than impressing others. You and your child will have a great time learning alongside Julie in this action packed picture book. Readers will love the
focus on martial arts and will relate to Julie’s ambition to be like her favorite actress from her favorite movie: The Belt of Fire.

Carlitos and Charlie live far away from each other – one in Mexico, the other in a big US city – but they love to keep in touch by writing letters. As these cousins swap letters, each describes his life and community. Charlie explains what it is like to live in a big city in America, and through his letters, Carlitos teaches Charlie about living in Mexico. Your family will learn lots as Carlitos shares his Mexican culture and you’ll be interested to compare it to lifestyles in an American city. The author includes Spanish words throughout the book so you can add to your vocabulary and learn a new language! Dear Primo will remind you of the power of familial connections – even though the boys live far apart, their Mexican heritage ties them together.

This is a wonderful story to learn about treating everyone kindly. When a new student, Maya, shows up at school with worn clothes and broken shoes, the other kids in class only seem to be able to pay attention to her differences. Maya tries to make friends but Chloe and her friends push her away. Ms. Albert teaches the students about the importance of kindness and Chloe starts to think about the effect of her unkind behavior, but it is too late; Maya’s family moves away and Chloe is never given the opportunity to repair her unkind choices. The breathtaking illustrations and heartbreaking story create a somber, reflective mood that will remind your family of the importance of showing kindness to everyone.