Parents' Guide to

Big Nate on a Roll: Big Nate, Book 3

By Darienne Stewart, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 8+

Jealousy gets Nate into big trouble in third installment.

Book Lincoln Peirce Humor 2011
Big Nate on a Roll: Big Nate, Book 3 Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 6+

Based on 3 parent reviews

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owbu Parent of 8 and 8-year-old
March 25, 2023
age 6+
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Lebron12James3 Parent
December 5, 2021
age 3+

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What's the Story?

After losing his skateboard in an accident, sixth-grader Nate Wright is desperate to win the skateboard prize for selling the most Warm Fuzzies for the Timber Scouts. The only problem is lucky, perfect Artur, whom Nate blames for making him blow his attendance record at scouts and for hogging his would-be girlfriend. Nate sets out to best Artur and win the skateboard -- and hopefully the girl, too.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (9 ):

With its blend of middle school humor and comics, the Big Nate series is a great choice for reluctant readers, particularly boys. The inside covers invite readers to join in the comics-making fun -- perhaps inspiring more creative efforts after reading the book is done.

BIG NATE ON A ROLL sees antihero Nate Wright motivated to work very hard toward his goal: to win the skateboard. But he's so focused, he's blinded to the potential cost of his actions. He always takes things just a little too far and doesn't know when to quit. His frustration is easy to understand, and kids will giggle as they see him blunder time and again. Although Nate doesn't learn much from the experience, readers will be wiser.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about Nate's role in his misfortune. How much is Artur responsible for?

  • Why do you think the Big Nate series is so popular? Is it the humor, the drawings, the Nate character, the relatable situations?

  • Why do Nate's dad, his teachers, and other adults seem so hard on him?

Book Details

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Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

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