Reading Representation Grades 3-4

The books on this list have been curated for grades 3-4 by Guilford Free Library and Guilford Public Schools librarians. These titles showcase characters from a wide range of backgrounds, ethnicities, abilities, and family structures, affirming everyone’s presence and value in society while also being good stories that children enjoy! Reading stories from different perspectives inspires empathy, fostering self-love as well as a greater connection with others. This project is also presented by the Guilford Anti-Bias Anti-Racist (ABAR) Alliance, a collaborative partnership of educators, parents, and caregivers who work to further inclusion, equity, and tolerance within Guilford Public Schools. Learn more at www.GuilfordCtABAR.com .

Showing 1 - 20 of 39  There are a total of 78 valid entries on the list.
Book cover for "Book Uncle and me"
Star rating for Book Uncle and me
Description:
Every day, nine-year-old Yasmin borrows a book from Book Uncle, a retired teacher who has set up a free lending library next to her apartment building. But when the mayor tries to shut down the rickety bookstand, Yasmin has to take her nose out of her book and do something. But what can she do? The local elections are coming up but she's just a kid. She can't even vote! Still, Yasmin has friends her best friend, Reeni, and Anil, who even has a black...
Book cover for "A boy called Bat"
Star rating for A boy called Bat
Average Rating:
5 stars
Description:
When his veterinarian mom brings home a stray baby skunk that needs rehabilitation before it can be placed in a wild animal shelter, Bat, who has autism, resolves to prove that he is up to the challenge of caring for the skunk permanently.
Book cover for "Criminal destiny"
Star rating for Criminal destiny
Average Rating:
4 stars
Description:
"A group of kids discovers they were cloned from the DNA of some of the greatest criminal masterminds in history for a sociological experiment, and they must find a way to prove it to the rest of the world"--
Book cover for "Elvis and the underdogs"
Star rating for Elvis and the underdogs
Description:
All his life Benji, now ten, has been sickly and he has long been targeted by the school bully, but after a seizure Benji gets a therapy dog that is not only big enough to protect him, it can also talk.
Book cover for "Elvis and the Underdogs: Secrets, Secret Service, and Room Service"
Star rating for Elvis and the Underdogs: Secrets, Secret Service, and Room Service
Author:
Description:
It's been months since Benji's former therapy dog, Elvis, was whisked away by the Secret Service, but Benji still misses him terribly. Luckily, because Elvis is now the president's dog, Benji can keep tabs on him via all the pictures and videos that are online. While watching footage of the president's speech on the White House lawn, Benji and his friends Alexander and Taisy notice Elvis doing something very strange with his tail. Could he be trying...
Book cover for "Five fouls and you're out!"
Star rating for Five fouls and you're out!
Author:
Description:
Carmen is a great dribbler, but she gets thrown out of every game for too many fouls.
Book cover for "Flora & Ulysses"
Star rating for Flora & Ulysses
Description:
It begins, as the best superhero stories do, with a tragic accident that has unexpected consequences. The squirrel never saw the vacuum cleaner coming, but self-described cynic Flora Belle Buckman, who has read every issue of the comic book Terrible Things Can Happen to You!, is just the right person to step in and save him. What neither can predict is that Ulysses (the squirrel) has been born anew, with powers of strength, flight, and misspelled...
Book cover for "Framed!"
Star rating for Framed!
Author:
Average Rating:
5 stars
Description:
In Washington, D.C., twelve-year-old Florian Bates, a consulting detective for the FBI, and his best friend Margaret help thwart the biggest art heist in United States history.

9. Fuzzy

Book cover for "Fuzzy"
Star rating for Fuzzy
Description:
When Max (Maxine Zealster) befriends her new robot classmate Fuzzy, she helps him navigate Vanguard Middle School and together they reveal the truth behind the Robot Integration Program.
Book cover for "Fuzzy mud"
Star rating for Fuzzy mud
Average Rating:
5 stars
Description:
"Two middle-grade kids take a shortcut home from school and discover what looks like fuzzy mud but is actually a substance with the potential to wreak havoc on the entire world"--
Book cover for "Garvey's choice"
Star rating for Garvey's choice
Description:
"Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading--anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus,...
Book cover for "A handful of stars"
Star rating for A handful of stars
Average Rating:
4.5 stars
Description:
When her blind dog slips his collar, twelve-year old Lily meets Salma Santiago, a young Hispanic girl whose migrant family are in Maine for the blueberry-picking season, and, based partly on their mutual love of dogs, the two forge a friendship while painting bee boxes for Lily's grandfather--but as the Blueberry Queen pageant approaches Lily and Selma are confronted with some of the hard truths of prejudice and migrant life.
Book cover for "It's hard to dribble with your feet"
Star rating for It's hard to dribble with your feet
Author:
Description:
Carmen is a star dribbler for the Victory basketball team. She never loses control of the ball. But when she decides to try out for soccer, she learns that handling a soccer ball doesn't come nearly as easy. After Carmen hears some other girls talking about her, she feels awful. She just didn't realize that it's hard to dribble with your feet.
Book cover for "I've got the no-skateboard blues"
Star rating for I've got the no-skateboard blues
Description:
Tyler Trofee would like to spend all his time doing skateboarding tricks, but his parents are tired of his recklessness and are insisting that he pay for all the things he has destroyed around the neighborhood--will he learn to be more responsible in time to get a new skateboard for the big contest?
Book cover for "The jumbie god's revenge"
Star rating for The jumbie god's revenge
Description:
After two out-of-season hurricanes nearly destroy her island home, Corinne discovers that the god Huracan is angry and she, aided by friends and enemies alike, races to calm him.
Book cover for "The jumbies"
Star rating for The jumbies
Description:
Eleven-year-old Corinne must call on her courage and an ancient magic to stop an evil spirit and save her island home.
Book cover for "Kinda like brothers"
Star rating for Kinda like brothers
Author:
Average Rating:
4.5 stars
Description:
When his mother takes in a twelve-year-old foster boy, Jarrett is forced to share his room and his friends with the new boy.
Book cover for "Lola Levine is not mean!"
Star rating for Lola Levine is not mean!
Description:
Second-grader Lola has a wonderful family, a great teacher, and the best friend ever, Josh, and they all help her feel better after she is teased and forbidden to play team sports at recess for having accidentally hurt classmate Juan during a soccer game.
Book cover for "Macy McMillan and the rainbow goddess"
Star rating for Macy McMillan and the rainbow goddess
Average Rating:
4 stars
Description:
Olivia has been Macy McMillan's best friend ever since Macy transferred to Hamiliton Elementary from Braeside School for the Deaf. But then their sixth grade teacher assigned that embarrassing family tree project, and Olivia made a joke about Macy's father, and now neither girl is speaking--signing--to the other. It couldn't have happened at a worse time. With her mother getting married and an ugly For Sale sign jammed into their yard, Macy could...
Book cover for "Masterminds"
Star rating for Masterminds
Average Rating:
4.5 stars
Description:
"A group of kids discovers they were cloned from the DNA of some of the greatest criminal masterminds in history for a sociological experiment"--