3rd Grade Book List
Hebrew stories, creation myths, and tales of journey and transformation. Third grade explores how different cultures tell similar stories.
📖 A Note on Hebrew Stories
We study Hebrew scriptures as literature and cultural wisdom, not as literal truth or religious doctrine. These stories are paired with creation myths and legends from other traditions to show how all cultures grapple with similar questions about origins, meaning, and how to live.
Unit 1: Lammas (First Harvest)
- The Story of Creation (Genesis) by Various retellings
Beginning of Hebrew stories
- In the Beginning by Steve Turner
Creation poems from many cultures
- The First Strawberries by Joseph Bruchac
Cherokee creation story
- Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris
Bread around the world
- Ruth and Naomi by Various
Gleaning the harvest
Unit 2: Mabon (Fall Equinox)
- Adam and Eve / Garden of Eden by Various retellings
The fall and leaving paradise
- Cain and Abel by Various
Brothers and consequences
- Pandora's Box by Various
Greek parallel story
- The Fall of Freddie the Leaf by Leo Buscaglia
Cycles of life
- Farmer Boy by Laura Ingalls Wilder
Farm life chapters
Unit 3: Samhain (Ancestors)
- Noah's Ark by Various retellings
Flood and new beginning
- Gilgamesh the King by Ludmila Zeman
Mesopotamian flood parallel
- The Story of Jumping Mouse by John Steptoe
Native American transformation
- The People Could Fly by Virginia Hamilton
African American folk tales
- Ancestors by Various
Stories of those who came before
Unit 4: Yule (Winter Solstice)
- Tower of Babel by Various
Language and community
- Abraham and Sarah by Various
Journey and faith
- The Shortest Day by Susan Cooper
Solstice celebration
- The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg
Belief and wonder
- Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel
Jewish winter tale
Unit 5: Imbolc (Brigid)
- Isaac and Rebekah by Various
Next generation
- Jacob and Esau by Various
Brothers and blessing
- Brigid's Cloak by Bryce Milligan
Irish Brigid legend
- The Keeping Quilt by Patricia Polacco
Family traditions
- Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Community sharing
Unit 6: Ostara (Spring Equinox)
- Jacob's Ladder by Various
Dreams and visions
- Joseph and His Brothers by Various
Dreams, jealousy, forgiveness
- The Coat of Many Colors by Jenny Koralek
Joseph's story
- Rechenka's Eggs by Patricia Polacco
Eggs and new life
- The Egg Tree by Katherine Milhous
Easter traditions
Unit 7: Beltane (May Day)
- Joseph in Egypt by Various
Wisdom and leadership
- Moses in the Bulrushes by Various
Baby Moses saved
- The Prince of Egypt by Retold versions
Moses's early life
- Building a House by Byron Barton
Practical life
- Ox-Cart Man by Donald Hall
Year of work
Unit 8: Litha (Midsummer)
- Moses and the Exodus by Various
Freedom journey
- The Ten Commandments by Various
Laws for living
- Passover stories by Various
Freedom celebration
- Follow the Drinking Gourd by Jeanette Winter
Freedom journey parallel
- The Wanderings by Various
Desert journey
🌍 Creation Myths from Many Cultures
- In the Beginning by Virginia Hamilton
Creation stories from around the world
- Keepers of the Earth by Michael Caduto
Native American stories
- D'Aulaires' Book of Greek Myths by Ingri d'Aulaire
Greek creation and gods
- Norse Myths by Kevin Crossley-Holland
Norse creation stories
- Egyptian Myths by Various
Ra and creation
📚 Tips for 3rd Grade Reading
- • Compare traditions - How do different cultures tell flood stories?
- • Discuss themes - What do these stories teach about being human?
- • Connect to UU principles - Which principles appear in these stories?
- • Retell orally - Children retell stories in their own words
- • Illustrate - Draw scenes in Main Lesson Book