This week I’ve been doing a lot of “beach reading.”  I’ve been reading books that are parts of series that I think beginning 3rd graders might like.  I think you’ll like them too.  You’ll just flip the pages and before you know it – done!  If you look at the bookshelf in the sidebar you can see some of the other titles.  Check them out too.  Happy Reading!

Project Peep and Sweet Peas and Honey Bees by Jenny Meyerhof  are books 3 and 4 of The Friendship Garden series.  These books center around third graders, Anna, Kaya and Reed, who have come together at the school bed at their community garden.  They each have their own passions for growing.  In book 3, Anna figures out a way to bring the classroom chicks into the garden project – though she nearly loses a best friend in the process.  Sneaking and secrets aren’t usually a good choice and they aren’t in this story either.  In book 4 Anna, with the help of her younger brother Collin, works to increase community awareness of the importance of honey bees and the reasons for their declining population.  Did you know that only bee larva eat honey?  Worker bees eat nectar and pollen and the queen bees eat royal jelly.  On top of that, did you know that in its lifetime one honey bee makes only 1 teaspoon of honey?  That’s it!  Think of the jars and bottles of honey people eat.  Standing up for a cause is important – but it isn’t always easy.  You’ll find that out when you read this book.  It’s a fun series to explore.

Lulu’s Mysterious Mission by Judith Viorst is funny.  This is the third book where we meet the obnoxious, Lulu.  Yes, she has gotten better.  She doesn’t always throw a massive tantrum to get her way anymore, but she is still one annoying human being.  That is until Sonia Sofia Solinsky, a trained professional, arrives.  Lulu decides her mission is to get rid of this babysitter asap so her parents  will return from their vacation pronto.  But somehow… though is seems impossible… Sonia Sofia Solinsky is always one step ahead of Lulu.  How is that possible?  You’ll be giggling through the pages as you find out.  I wonder if Lulu has finally changed, or if the next tantrum is just around the corner.  What do you think?

Outback All-Stars by Krisitn Earhart is the 5th in the Race the Wild series. In the books Race the Wild is a reality show where teams of kids, with a show chaperone, race the globe in a giant nature treasure hunt.  The teams are given clues and puzzles to solve.  They have to beat the other teams by using what they know and see to share information about the animals of the world through their ancam device.  Teamwork can be hard, especially when there are strong personalities involved.  But everyone brings something to a team if we allow them to share it and contribute.  What would you bring to a team in the Race the Wild competition? It’s fun to read these books and learn more about the world – its habitats and amazing animals.

That’s what I’ve been reading this week.  How about you?  Let us know in your own post, or leave a comment with a book suggestion.  Next week I’m going to try a couple video posts.  Happy Reading!