2026 3rd-5th Grade KIDS FAVORITES
3rd to 5th Grade kids recommend these best children’s books in 2025 for other kids, educators, booksellers, librarians, and caregivers.
The Adventures of Penguin and Panda
By: Brenda Maier
Illustrated by:
Fanni Mézes
Fanni Mézes
ISBN: 9781958325445
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Social Emotional Learning
Biggest Fake in the Universe
By: Johan Rundberg; translated by
Eva Apelqvist
ISBN: 9781662532030
Fiction, 9–12, Prose, Humor
The Cake Problem: Equivalent and Simplified Fractions
By: Bill Wise
Illustrated by:
Davilyn Lynch
Davilyn Lynch
ISBN: 9798890630285
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Math
Caring
By: Kobi Yamada
Illustrated by:
Elise Hurst
Elise Hurst
ISBN: 9781957891606
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Social Emotional Learning
Chicken Predicament
By: Mary Rand Hess & Randy Preston
Illustrated by:
Marilena Perilli
Marilena Perilli
ISBN: 9798885544061
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Art / Performing Arts
Croco
By: Azul López; translated by Kit Maude
Illustrated by:
Azul López
Azul López
ISBN: 9798988749974
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Animals
Dinosaur Pie
By: Jen Wallace
Illustrated by:
Alan O'Rourke
Alan O'Rourke
ISBN: 9781915071491
Fiction, 9–12, Chapter Book, Neurodiversity
Dog Man: Big Jim Believes: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #14)
By: Dav Pilkey
Illustrated by:
Dav Pilkey
Dav Pilkey
ISBN: 9781546176183
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Humor
Duck and Moose: Moose’s Bad Hair Day!
By: Kirk Reedstrom
Illustrated by:
Kirk Reedstrom
Kirk Reedstrom
ISBN: 9781368115865
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Humor
Einstein the Penguin
By: Iona Rangeley
Illustrated by:
David Tazzyman
David Tazzyman
ISBN: 9781684648504
Fiction, 9–12, Chapter Book, Mystery / Thriller
A Family for Zoya: The True Story of an Endangered Cub
By: Debra Kim Wolf
Illustrated by:
Annalisa Durante and Marina Durante
Annalisa Durante and Marina Durante
ISBN: 9781951995294
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Social Emotional Learning
Fight for the Right to Read: Samuel Wilbert Tucker and the 1939 Sit-Down Strike for Library Reading Equality
By: Jeff Gottesfeld & Michelle Y. Green
Illustrated by:
Kim Holt
Kim Holt
ISBN: 9781954354333
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Social Activism / Equality / Feminism
Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers
By: Angela Dominguez
Illustrated by:
Angela Dominguez
Angela Dominguez
ISBN: 9781250901361
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Friendships
George Washington’s Spectacular Spectacles: The Glasses That Saved America
By: Selene Castrovilla
Illustrated by:
Jenn Harney
Jenn Harney
ISBN: 9781662680434
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, History
Growing Home
By: Beth Ferry
Illustrated by:
Terry Fan & Eric Fan
Terry Fan & Eric Fan
ISBN: 9781665942485
Fiction, 9–12, Chapter Book, Animals
How Do Seeds Grow Into Gardens?: A Hands-On Book about Gardening
By: Clayton Grider
Illustrated by:
Srimalie Bassani
Srimalie Bassani
ISBN: 9781486731091
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Science / Nature
I Am the Sun
By: Janessa Parker
Illustrated by:
Beverly Blacksheep
Beverly Blacksheep
ISBN: 9781638191339
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Cultural Diversity
Jellyfish Scientist: Maude Delap and Her Mesmerizing Medusas
By: Michelle Cusolito
Illustrated by:
Ellen Rooney
Ellen Rooney
ISBN: 9781623545819
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Biography / Memoir
Kwesi and Nana Ruby Learn to Swim
By: Kobina Commeh
Illustrated by:
Bárbara Quintino
Bárbara Quintino
ISBN: 9798888593639
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, BIPOC Characters and Creators
Let’s Get Spooky
By: Štěpánka Sekaninová
Illustrated by:
Lukáš Figeľ
Lukáš Figeľ
ISBN: 9788000074498
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
The Museum of Shapes
By: Sven Völker
Illustrated by:
Sven Völker
Sven Völker
ISBN: 9781800660595
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Concepts
Mythology Land
By: Claire Cock-Starkey
Illustrated by:
Pham Quang Phuc
Pham Quang Phuc
ISBN: 9780711294066
Fiction, 9–12, Anthology / Collection, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Operation: Cover Up
By: Tate Godwin
Illustrated by:
Tate Godwin
Tate Godwin
ISBN: 9781524890216
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Friendships
Paw & Order Vol. 1: The Grilled Cheese Caper
By: Jason Platt
Illustrated by:
Jason Platt
Jason Platt
ISBN: 9781545819937
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Humor
Rachel Carson’s Wonder-Filled World: How the Scientist, Writer, and Nature Lover Changed the Enviornmental Movement
By: Kate Hannigan
Illustrated by:
Kate Hickey
Kate Hickey
ISBN: 9781662680571
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Science / Nature
Return of the Terns: How Scientists Are Saving Island Birds
By: Jennifer Keats Curtis & Kim Abplanalp
Illustrated by:
Phyllis Saroff
Phyllis Saroff
ISBN: 9781638173298
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Science / Nature
Shadow Warrior (Spider-Man: Original Manga)
By: Shogo Aoki
Illustrated by:
Shogo Aoki
Shogo Aoki
ISBN: 9781546148494
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Superheroes
Shape Families
By: Lynn Parrish Sutton
Illustrated by:
Jake Tebbit
Jake Tebbit
ISBN: 9781649090775
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Family / Community
She Speaks: The Women of Norse Myths in their Own Words
By: Honor Cargill-Martin
Illustrated by:
Pauliina Hannuniemi
Pauliina Hannuniemi
ISBN: 9781917366083
Nonfiction, 9–12, Illustrated Prose, Folklore / Fairytales / Myths
Sketch
By: Jacques Goldstyn
Illustrated by:
Jacques Goldstyn
Jacques Goldstyn
ISBN: 9781778402777
Fiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Coming of Age
The Snips: A Bad Buzz Day
By: Raúl the Third
Illustrated by:
Raúl the Third
Raúl the Third
ISBN: 9780316528689
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Superheroes
So Rude!: Animals Behaving Badly
By: Jessica Fries-Gaither
ISBN: 9798765671047
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Animals
Supernavigators: How Animals Find Their Way (Young Readers Edition)
By: David Barrie; adapted by Rebecca Stefoff
Illustrated by:
Qu Lan
Qu Lan
ISBN: 9781962098137
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Animals
Swap-A-Word! Fun with a Sound-Alike-Words
By: Marvin Terban
Illustrated by:
Andreas Wittmann
Andreas Wittmann
ISBN: 9781478887836
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Concepts
The Ultimate Book of Silly Jokes for Kids
By: Highlights
Illustrated by:
Highlights
Highlights
ISBN: 9781639623693
Nonfiction, 9–12, Activity / Novelty, Humor
We’re All Gonna Die-nosaur!
By: Kon Tan
Illustrated by:
Kon Tan
Kon Tan
ISBN: 9781368101912
Fiction, 9–12, Graphic Novel, Humor
When a Tree Falls: Nurse Logs and Their Incredible Forest Power
By: Kirsten Pendreigh
Illustrated by:
Elke Boschinger
Elke Boschinger
ISBN: 9781797218670
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Science / Nature
Why We Eat Fried Peanuts: A Celebration of Family and Lunar New Year Traditions
By: Zed Zha
Illustrated by:
Sian James
Sian James
ISBN: 9780760395523
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Holidays / Seasons / Celebrations
The Witches of Anderson House: A Spell for Disaster
By: Jennie Poh & Dave Lowe
Illustrated by:
Jennie Poh
Jennie Poh
ISBN: 9780593971475
Fiction, 9–12, Chapter Book, Action / Adventure
Zero! The Number That Almost Wasn’t
By: Sarah Albee
Illustrated by:
Chris Hsu
Chris Hsu
ISBN: 9781623544324
Nonfiction, 9–12, Picture Book, Math
