We just loved reading the Walter The Farting Dog series, and the Skippy John Jones books. They are both very engaging series for kids and adults. I haven’t been able to part with them even though my son is in high school now. We used to snuggle together and read those books and laugh and laugh and laugh.

sort of graphic novels, but with more text than illustrations.

It is funny, but also unobtrusively offers hope, love, friendship, bravery, and other such values. I don't particularly like the popular diary of a wimpy kid series, because it offers none of those values.

i guess 'what not to buy' might be even more useful that 'what to buy'

Wolfgang Parker, has received multiple (9) awards for his series of children's mystery/detective stories,
Crime Cats. I believe they are also available on Amazon (where you can read reviews), bookstores, or direct. Might be of interest to a 3rd grader.

https://crimecatsbooks.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Missing-Crime-Cats-Wolfgang-Parker/dp/061598469X#customerReviews

Edit for additional content: Maybe you could call our local store, Packrat Comics, for recommendations of appropriate comic books/graphic novels that have larger print, great illustrations/stories: (614) 527-8450

nice web site. i will def throw in a tshirt if i do this.

When I was 8, I read comics and it helped my reading. My father made me throw away 20 of my favorite comicbooks when I was 12. Still miss them.

my ex sure was. he had to defend them to his folks, but not that hard, as he is the youngest of 4, and #1 was a huge comics fan.
he has quite a collection. most were actually big bro's, and much venom flowed around that, but i digress.

ex is one of the biggest readers i know, and smart as all hell.

This is written as a graphic novel and I have a lot of students from 2nd grade to 4th grade who love this book.