For me, it was a bittersweet moment when my daughter started reading on her own. I LOVED that she was excited about reading and improving her fluency. But, I was a bit sad that from now on there would be books that she would enjoy without me or her dad. We would have other memories we would share.
But! It is a very exciting time when your first-grader starts reading books on their own. That look of pride and accomplishment as they conquer each new book. Priceless.
We jumped to early chapter books way too soon. I completely blame myself. I noticed my daughter’s love of reading dip a bit and then I found this post.
In it, Kim talks about not rushing into chapter books too soon and robbing your child of the chance to experience the myriad of great picture books out there. That hit me square in the face! It is exactly what I did to my daughter.
Don’t assume that just because your child can read first grade books easily, that they are ready for chapter books!
So, we switched back to picture books and her love of reading came roaring back.
Getting Your Child Motivated
Most kids are excited to start reading on their own, especially when you present them with amazing books. But, sometimes children need a little motivation to get started. So, I created printable bookmarks that have the first-grade books here in a checklist format. I currently only have the picture books available in printable bookmarks, but am working on the other lists!
I made them for my daughter because she loves lists and I knew she would love to check the books off after she reads them. I’m thinking about doing a little surprise for her when she finishes a bookmark, similar to the Pizza Hut Book-It! Program, remember that?! I still remember my Dad would pick me up from school for lunch and take me to Pizza Hut. So, feel free to use the bookmarks for a fun list to check off, a motivating tool, or just a handy list to take to the library when you are looking for books.
Here is a peek at the bookmarks. I made them in two color schemes to suit different tastes, but the lists themselves are the same. I will try and update the bookmarks as I add books to this post, but they do include the first 40 books, so that should get your young reader started! (Sign up at the bottom of the post to get the bookmark download.)
I did include Amazon links for each book because a lot of the books have that “look inside” feature, which I find helpful if I’m not familiar with the book. It helps me know if the story is OK and if the amount of words will be too much or just right for my daughter’s reading stamina level.
If you’d like to see covers for all the titles, but don’t want to spend all that time typing the name of each book into Google, I created a handy Idea List, which you can view here. It’s like a customized Amazon search that will have all the titles in this list, plus a few I’ve found in my wanderings and added for later. View the Idea List here.
How to Select Books for a First-Grader
It seems that nowadays a lot of parents tend to push their young readers into chapter books too early. I mean, hello, that’s what I did! When your child is first tarting to read, it is so important to select books that challenge their reading, yes, but also to select books that allow them to experience reading success.
Experiencing reading success will increase your child’s self-esteem when it comes to reading and encourage him or her to come back for more. And that’s the ultimate goal.
Most first-graders are ready for picture books to read on their own. Some 6-, 7-, or 8-year-olds still enjoy wordless books, and then their is that set that starts reading and is ready for chapter books the next day. But, I would say every child at this age enjoys more than one type of these books. So, in this post you will find three lists: Wordless Picture Books, Picture Books for First-Graders to Read on Their Own, and Early Chapter Books. Ok, I lied, there are four lists. Reading aloud with your child is also so important at this age (and every age!) that I’ve also included a list of read aloud books that this age set really enjoys.
Finding Good First-Grade Books
There are so many good books at the library, but let’s face it, there are so many duds, too. It’s hard to know from the cover if a book will be good or if it will have some weird twist or words you don’t like. And who has time to look through each book when the baby is in the next aisle pulling all the board books off the shelf?!
So, I decided to put together a list of good, quality first-grade books that were either recommended by bloggers I trust, I had read to her when she was younger, but she doesn’t remember them, or I was able to “look inside” on Amazon and check that it was good book for first graders to read.
Books for First-Graders to Read
Wordless Picture Books
Wordless picture books are great for pre-readers and beginning readers. They usually have amazing illustrations. The beautiful pictures let your new reader tell the story their way, without getting frustrated trying to sound out words. Wordless picture books can be a great gateway to instilling a love of books and reading in your child. Even a toddler or preschooler can enjoy the magic of books with wordless picture books. Here are a few of my favorites:
1. Unspoken (This book is about the Underground Railroad, so just a heads up to be sure your child is ready for that topic)
2. Flora and the Flamingo
3. Flora and the Penguin (There is actually an entire series of Flora books)
4. Journey
5. Flashlight
6. Carl’s Summer Vacation (There is a whole slew of Carl books. These are some of my favorite!)
7. Good Dog, Carl
8. Carl Goes Shopping
9. Quest
10. Chalk
11. Spot, the Cat
12. Return
Picture Books for First-Graders to Read on Their Own
1) Bustle in the Bushes
This is a fun non-fiction book that looks like a fiction book. The illustrations are fun and colorful, but the information is factual. First graders love big bright pictures and learning new facts, so this is a great combination. Readers learn about different backyard insects in a fun rhyming prose. (This series also includes Rumble in the Jungle and Commotion in the Ocean.)
2) The Silly Tail Book
This is just a silly rhyming book about animal tails. It reminds me a little of Dr. Seuss type story telling. My kids thought it was hilarious!
3) Little Black, a Pony
Written by the same author as The Black Stallion, this book is the story of the relationship between a boy and his pony. Heart felt and appealing to young animal lovers!
4) Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon
This was one of our Dolly Parton Imagination Library books that came in the mail. It’s a great story about being comfortable in your own skin.
5) Inside a Zoo in the City
A fun rebus book (where some of the words are pictures, which lets younger siblings join in the reading fun) that follows the same pattern as “This is the house that Jack built. This is the dog who lives in the house that Jack built…”, but with a silly animal twist.
6) Farmer Brown Sheared His Sheep
We actually got this book for free during our local library annual “clean out”. It still amazes me that this wasn’t a hugely popular title because it is so fun to read. It’s a cute rhyming book about some sheep who are not happy about having their wool cut off!
7) Click Clack Moo: Cows That Type
First graders love silly books and this was an instant favorite in our house. A silly story about a crew of farm animals that make demands to the farmer through a typewriter.
8) Giraffes Can’t Dance
At first this books seems a bit sad because Giraffe can’t dance like all the other animals and even gets made fun of a bit. But, then he finds the perfect tune and becomes the best dancer in the jungle. A great book to share the idea that everyone is different and sometimes it just takes finding your own song to realize your talents.
9) The Hiccupotamus
This first grade book is (again) a humorous one! The jungle animals are singing a song, but they don’t know who to thank for starting it. This is a great first grade book because it’s easy to read and it gives your young reader practice reading “sound effect” words, which they might not be as familiar with at first.
10) Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
A classic picture book. First graders will love the silliness of this book that has food for the weather forecast! The weather is delicious at first, but then it becomes a problem when food starts piling up everywhere. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs does a great job of taking something that young readers are familiar with and making it into something unusual.
12) Little Bear
14) A Fly Went By
16) Green Eggs & Ham
18) The Best Trick
20) There’s a Wocket in My Pocket
22) Spike in Trouble
23) Monster Parade
24) Friendly Day
25) Catilda
26) Flat Stanley
27) If You Give a Mouse Cookie
29) If You Give a Moose a Muffin
31) Harold and the Purple Crayon
36) Johnny Appleseed (the David Harrison Step into Reading version)
38) The Rainbow Fish
39) Wake Up, Sun
41) Stellaluna
42) Amelia Bedilia
I am always adding to this list as I find more books for first graders. Do you have a favorite that isn’t on the list yet? Leave it in the comments below and we’ll check it out!
Be sure to sign up below to join my email list and get access to my Homeschooling Resource Library, where you will find the printable bookmarks from this post along with lots of other goodies!
Great ideas 🙂
Thank you for the great ideas
Love the list and the bookmarks.