Great Books for Year 3

Title Author Summary

It was a Dark and Stormy Night

Janet Ahlberg A small boy who has been kidnapped by brigands, passes a dark and stormy night in their cave weaving for them incredible stories of their own exploits. Through the stories he solves his own problem and manages to escape.

The Railway Cat Phyllis Arkle A collection of five adventures in the life of Alfie, the irrepressible railway cat. He gets snow-bound, he saves a life from an out-of-control train, he is kidnapped and taken to London, and he has his usual scrapes and run-ins with Hack, the leading railman at the station

Magic Kitten Series Sue Bentley

The World According to Humphrey

Betty G. Birney You can learn a lot about life by observing another species. That’s what Humphrey was told when he was first brought to Room 26. And boy, is it true! In addition to having FUN-FUN-FUN in class, each weekend this amazing hamster gets to sleep over with a different student, like Lower-Your-Voice-A.J. and Speak-Up-Sayeh. Soon Humphrey learns to read, write, and even shoot rubber bands (only in self-defense, of course). With lots of friends to help, adventures to enjoy, and a cage with a lock-that-doesn’t- lock, Humphrey's life is almost perfect. If only the teacher, Mrs. Brisbane, wasn’t out to get him!

Harry and the Poisonous Centipede

Lynne Reid Banks

Here comes a third adventure to make you squirm. Harry and George, the incident-prone centipede buddies who have had fans laughing through two hilarious sagas of accidental derring-do, Harry the Poisonous Centipede and Harry the Poisonous Centipede's Big Adventure, are back in their third and final escapade—and this time our two favorite arthropods are in really over their heads!

The Indian in the Cupboard

Lynne Reid Banks

At first, Omri is unimpressed with the plastic Indian toy he is given for his birthday. But when he puts it in his old cupboard and turns the key, something extraordinary happens that will change Omri's life for ever. For Little Bull, the Iroquois Indian brave, comes to life...

The Naughtiest Girl in the School

Enid Blyton Elizabeth Allen is spoilt and selfish. When she's sent away to boarding school she makes up her mind to be the naughtiest pupil there's ever been! But Elizabeth soon finds out that being bad isn't as easy as it seems...

Secret Seven series Enid Blyton

Famous Five series Enid Blyton

Flat Stanley Jeff Brown When Stanley Lambchop wakes up one morning, his brother, Arthur, is yelling. A bulletin board fell on Stanley

during the night, and now he is only half an inch thick! Amazing things begin happening to him. Stanley gets rolled up, mailed, and flown like a kite. He even gets to help catch two dangerous art thieves. He may be flat, but he's a hero. This is the very first Flat Stanley adventure, updated with crisp new art.

Fungus the Bogeyman

Raymond Briggs eep down underground, in the dark, dripping tunnels of bogeydom, live the bogeys, a vile collection of slimy, smelly creatures who revel in everything revolting. Fungus is a bogeyman-a particularly foul and fetid specimen. As he goes about his bogey business, the full horrors of bogeydom are revealed.

Rowan Oakwing A London Fairy Tale

E.J.Clarke Seven years ago, Rowan's mother left their London home and never returned. Now, Rowan is struggling to keep the family together. On the anniversary of her mum's disappearance, Rowan goes to the last spot she saw her. She sits beneath the same tree in the same park, and cries herself to sleep. But when she wakes, Rowan isn't the same at all... She is about to discover hidden realms, fearsome enemies and new friends. With their help, Rowan is determined to find the person she misses more than anyone. But how will they ever get home?

The Secret World of Polly Flint

Helen Cresswell Polly Flint, a girl who sees things other people can't, finds herself involved with the "time gypsies" of Grimstone, inhabitants of a lost village who have become trapped in a time not their own.

Mystery Winklesea Helen Cresswell Dan and Mary find the perfect present for their mother in the shop at the seaside, an egg-shaped stone with "A Gift from Winklesea" written on it. One day it hatches and out comes an amazing creature. This book contains a story about the adventures that Dan and Mary have with him.

The Twits Roald Dahl How do you outwit a Twit? Mr. and Mrs. Twit are the smelliest, ugliest people in the world. They hate everything -- except playing mean jokes on each other, catching innocent birds to put in their Bird Pies, and making their caged monkeys, the Muggle-Wumps, stand on their heads all day. But the Muggle-Wumps have had enough. They don't just want out, they want revenge.

Charlie and Chocolate Factory

Roald Dahl Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a delectable classic about a child's dreams and the eccentric chocolate-maker who makes them come true. When Willy Wonka's hallowed chocolate factory holds a worldwide contest awarding tours to the lucky, five children emerge as winners, including a glutton, a gum- chewing nitwit, a spoiled brat, and a TV addict. Only Charlie Bucket, the story's earnest hero, stands to win the exotic riches of Wonka's empire-if he avoids the pitfalls of his fellow contestants and stays true to his heart. Ingenious and entertaining, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is a true modern classic.

Matilda Roald Dahl Matilda is a little girl who is far too good to be true. At age five-and-a-half she's knocking off double-digit

multiplication problems and blitz-reading Dickens. Even more remarkably, her classmates love her even though she's a super-nerd and the teacher's pet. But everything is not perfect in Matilda's world. For starters she has two of the most idiotic, self-centered parents who ever lived. Then there's the large, busty nightmare of a school principal, Mrs. ("The") Trunchbull, a former hammer-throwing champion who flings children at will and is approximately as sympathetic as a bulldozer. Fortunately for Matilda, she has the inner resources to deal with such annoyances: astonishing intelligence, saintly patience, and an innate predilection for revenge. She warms up with some practical jokes aimed at her hapless parents, but the true test comes when she rallies in defense of her teacher, the sweet Miss Honey, against the diabolical Trunchbull. There is never any doubt that Matilda will carry the day. Even so, this wonderful story is far from predictable. Roald Dahl, while keeping the plot moving imaginatively, also has an unerring ear for emotional truth. The reader cares about Matilda because in addition to all her other gifts, she has real feelings.

Danny The Champion of the World

Roald Dahl Danny’s life seems perfect: his home is a gypsy caravan, he’s the youngest car mechanic around, and his best friend is his dad, who never runs out of wonderful stories to tell. And when Danny discovers his father’s secret, he’s off on the adventure of a lifetime. Here’s Roald Dahl’s famous story about a 9-year-old boy, his dad, and a daring and hilarious pheasant-snatching expedition. Just as important, it’s the story of the love between a boy and his father who, in Danny’s own words, is “the most marvelous and exciting father a boy ever had.”

James and the Giant Peach

Roald Dahl When James accidentally drops some magic crystals by the old peach tree, strange things start to happen. The peach at the top of the tree begins to grow, and before long it's as big as a house. When James discovers a secret entranceway into the fruit and crawls inside, he meets wonderful new friends--the Old-Green-Grasshopper, the dainty Ladybug, and the Centipede of the multiple boots. After years of feeling like an outsider in his aunts' house, James finally found a place where he belongs. With a snip of the stem, the peach household starts rolling away--and the adventure begins!

Fantastic Mr Fox Roald Dahl Fantastic Mr. Fox is on the run! The three meanest farmers around are out to get him. Fat Boggis, squat Bunce, and skinny Bean have joined forces, and they have Mr. Fox and his family surrounded. What they don’t know is that they’re not dealing with just any fox–Mr. Fox would never surrender. But only the most fantastic plan ever can save him now.

The BFG Roald Dahl Captured by a giant! The BFG is no ordinary bone-crunching giant. He is far too nice and jumbly. It's lucky for Sophie that he is. Had she been carried off in the middle of the night by the Bloodbottler, the Fleshlumpeater, the

Bonecruncher, or any of the other giants-rather than the BFG-she would have soon become breakfast. When Sophie hears that they are flush-bunking off in England to swollomp a few nice little chiddlers, she decides she must stop them once and for all. And the BFG is going to help her!

Puppy Patrol Jenny Dale First in Series – Teacher’s Pet. Comprising boarding kennels, a dog training school, as well as a rescue mission for stray and mistreated canines, the Kennels provides the ideal venue for doggy adventures and misadventures of all kinds. Here the owners' children - Neil, Paul and Sarah - rescue, care for and love a host of adorable animals. In Teacher's Pet, Dotty the Dalmatian (owned by Neil's new teacher) fails all her tests at the King Street Kennels' training school. Dotty's been thrown out of dog schools all round the country. Can Neil turn Dotty into a star pupil - and get on his teacher's good side?

Willa and Old Miss Annie

Berlie Doherty When she moves with her parents to a new home far away, Willa is convinced that she'll never have friends again until she meets Old Miss Annie who introduces her to a lonely goat, a forgotten pony, and an orphaned fox

Animal Ark series Lucy Daniels

My Naughty Little Sister Collection

Dorothy Edwards

This is an enchanting complete collection of stories about the most famous little sister in the world. My Naughty Little Sister - My naughty little sister is stubborn and greedy and full of mischief. She tries to cut off the cat's tail and eats all the trifle at Harry's party! How much bother can one little sister be? More Naughty Little Sister Stories - My naughty little sister is always getting into trouble. This time she refuses to have her photo taken and shows off in front of Harry. Will she ever learn to be good? My Naughty Little Sister and Bad Harry - Together they are double trouble ...my naughty little sister and Bad Harry make friends with a mouse and find a hiding place for their bread crusts! When My Naughty Little Sister Was Good - Sometimes my naughty little sister can be good ...when she helps Grannie to make a Christmas Pudding and even teaches Bad Harry a lesson or two. Has my little sister given up her naughty ways? My Naughty Little Sister's Friends - More trouble from my naughty little sister - she goes exploring up a chimney

and learns how to make sweets.

Mango and Bambang Tiny Tapir Trouble

Polly Faber Adventure stories

The Diary of a Killer Cat

Anne Fine Poor Ellie is horrified when her cat, Tuffy, drags a dead bird into the house. Then a mouse. Before long, another apparent victim arrives though the cat-door. Can softhearted Ellie get her beloved pet to change his wild, wild ways before he ends up in even deeper trouble? Especially when Tuffy can't understand what all the fuss is about?

Picasso Perkins – The Cats of Cuckoo Square

Adele Geras Perkins is a wise old tabby cat with a problem: His 8-year-old owner insists on doing his picture for a " Paint Your Pet" competition. Perkins is very fond of Lexie, but really! All he wants in life is a little peace and quiet. Perkins doesn' t expect to find a surprising talent of his own. . . .

The reluctant Dragon Kenneth Grahame

n this beloved classic story, a young boy befriends a poetry-loving dragon living in the Downs above his home. When the town-folk send for St. George to slay the dragon, the boy needs to come up with a clever plan to save his friend and convince the townsfolk to accept him.

The Charlie Moon Collection

Shirley Hughes A beautifully bound gift edition containing two lively stories about the irrepressible Charlie Moon and his family and friends.

Cool Michael Morpurgo

One day Robbie is hit by a car while running after his dog, Lucky. Unconscious, Robbie lies in hospital, unable to speak, move or eat. But he can hear; he is aware. His friends and family try desperately to reach him – even Zola, his favourite Chelsea footballer, comes to see him. And still Robbie can’t ‘wake up’. Until one day, against hospital rules, Dad brings Lucky into the hospital. Can Lucky bring Robbie back to life?

Mrs Cockle’s Cat Philippa Pearce The three things that Mrs Cockle's cat, Peter, loves best are sitting in the sun, Mrs Cockle and fresh fish. One rainy day, Peter is cross because there are no fish. Finally, he can stand it no longer and goes to do something about it.

Wilf the Mighty Worrier Saves the World

Georgia Pritchett Things Wilf was worried about before:

1) Stuffed animals. 2) Peanut Butter. 3) Creepy crawlies that have waggly feeler things instead of eyes.

Things Wilf is worried about now:

4) The most evil man in the world. 5) The most evil man in the world living next door. 6) Anyone called Alan.

When Alan, a self-styled Evil Lunatic, moves in next door with his grumpy robot sidekick and his silent right-hand-

dog, Kevin Phillips, Wilf knows he will have to find a way to overcome his fears. And soon he realises: only he can

stop Alan's ridiculous yet still Quite Evil plan to destroy the world..

Mrs Pepperpot Stories

Alf Proysen Mrs Pepperpot can't choose when she will shrink to the size of a pepperpot - it just happens! But whatever she encounters, whether it be a monstrous mousetrap, a crafty fox or a gigantic mountain of ice cream, little Mrs Pepperpot will always come out on top.

Jinks and the O’Hare Funfair Repair

Phillip Reeve Emily loves living on Funfair Moon - especially when she gets to help Jinks & O'Hare, the extraordinary repair team. But when chaos strikes during a crucial funfair inspection, Emily has to act fast. Can she deal with a violent fudgesplosion, a gravity inversion, and a marauding candyfloss creature? Or does this spell doom for Funfair Moon?

The Secret Cooking Club

Laurel Remington

Twelve-year-old Scarlett is the star and victim of her mum's popular blog - the butt of school jokes, she's eager to stay firmly out of the spotlight. But one evening, she finds a gorgeous kitchen in the house next door, left empty by an elderly neighbour in hospital. As Scarlett bakes, she starts to transform her life, discovering new friends and forming the Secret Cooking Club. But can she fix her family, seal her friendships and find the mysterious secret ingredient?

The Hundred Mile an Hour Dog Return of the Hundred Mile and Hour Dog

Jeremy Strong The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog by Jeremy Strong has become a children's classic! From The Hundred-Mile-an-Hour Dog to karate princesses and hot cross bottoms, there's a Jeremy Strong story to suit every child's sense of humour. Jeremy's readers range from 7 to teen, perfect for fans of Roald Dahl and Andy Stanton. Streaker is a mixed-up kind of dog...with quite a bit of Ferrari and a large chunk of whirlwind. Streaker is no ordinary dog. She's a rocket on four legs with a woof attached, and Trevor has got until the end of the holidays to train her. If he fails, he'll lose his bet with horrible Charlie Smugg, and something very, very yucky involving frogspawn will happen... Award-winning Jeremy Strong has written many wacky books for children aged 7-teen, including My Dad's Got an Alligator and My Brother's Famous Bottom. Most of which are illustrated by Nick Sharratt, who also illustrates for Jacqueline Wilson! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog is back causing more chaos and getting into more trouble in Return of the Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog, Lost! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog, Wanted! The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog, Christmas Chaos for the Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog and The Hundred-Mile-An-Hour Dog Goes for Gold

- guaranteed to have you laughing your socks off!

Unusual Day Sandi Toksvig When Jessica brings her granny into school for 'Unusual Day' Miss Johnson thinks she's got muddled up with 'Family Day'. Her granny may be wearing a tracksuit and trainers, but she still looks like a fairly ordinary granny. However, when 'Unusual Day' is disrupted by a fire next door, everybody discovers just how unusual Jessica's granny is...