30 Picture Books for Kindergarten and First Grade
This is a great reading list of Caldecott picture books, early readers, nonfiction, and more from the Newton Free Library system. If you are part of the Minutemen library system, just click on the link of the book title to reserve.
Other lists include:
Great Reading List of New Books: 2nd and 3rd Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 3rd and 4th Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 4th and 5th Grade
Great Reading List of New Books: 5th and 6th Grade
1. Arlen, Harold. Over the Rainbow. (J Pic+CD)
2. Berkes, Marianne. Over in Australia: Amazing Animals Down Under. (J Pic)
3. Brown, Peter. Children Make Terrible Pets. (J Pic)
*4. Donaldson, Julia. What the Ladybug Heard. (J Pic)
*5. Ehlert, Lois. Lots of Spots. (J Pic)
6. Elliott, David. In the Wild. (J Pic)
*7. Emberley, Rebecca. The Red Hen. (J Folk)
8. Farquharson, Polly. The Green Line: A Walk in the Park. (J Pic)
*9. Hillenbrand, Will. Mother Goose Picture Puzzles. (J 398.8 M85HI)
10. Hoffman, Mary.The Great Big Book of Families. (J Pic)
*11. Howe, James. Brontorina. (J Pic)
12. Kann, Victoria. Pink Around the Rink. (J Easy)
*13. Karas, G. Brian. The Village Garage. (J [Pic] Trans)
14. Kohuth, Jane. Ducks Go Vroom. (J Easy)
15. Krebs, Laurie. We’re Roaming in the Rainforest: An Amazon Adventure. (J Pic)
*16. Lehman, Barbara. The Secret Box. (J Pic )
17. Long, Ethan. Rick & Rack and the Great Outdoors. (J Graphic)
*18. MacDonald, Margaret Read. Too Many Fairies: A Celtic Tale. (J Folk)
19. McDonnell, Patrick. Me…Jane. (J Pic)
A very simple story of Jane Goodall with a green message too!
20. Melvin, Alice. Counting Birds. (J [Pic]123)
21. Nesbitt, Kenn. More Bears! (J Pic)
22. Nevius, Carol. Soccer Hour. (J Pic)
23. Pearson, Susan. How to Teach a Slug to Read. (J Pic)
*24. Schaefer, Lola. Just One Bite… (J 591.53 S29J [Oversize])
25. Smallcomb, Pam. I’m Not. (J Pic)
*26. Staake, Bob. Look! A Book!: A Zany Seek-and-Find Adventure. (J Pic)
My son loves this search and find book.
27. Stead, Philip C. A Sick Day for Amos McGee. (J Pic) Caldecott Winner!
I bought this book after it won the Caldecott and my son often chooses it for his bedtime story. A sweet story about an elderly zookeeper.
28. Urbanovic, Jackie. Ducks in a Row. (J Easy)
29. Willems, Mo. City Dog, Country Frog. (J Pic)
*30. Willems, Mo. We Are in a Book! (J Easy)
My little son and I love this series and this book is especially fun because Elephant and Piggie are talking to you! This book won the Geisel Award!
* Great author who has other good titles.
Click on the link to reserve through the Minuteman Library System.
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My books:
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación
- ⭐ Starred review from Kirkus
- ⭐ Starred review from Publishers Weekly
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal
- Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring 2026
Free and downloadable guide:
Barbed Wire Between Us Teacher’s Guide
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Gold Award
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
The Traveling Taco:
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Silver Award
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Reading Rockets’ Summer Reading Guide 2025
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court
- ALSC Notable Children’s Book
- 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree
- Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children
- 2024 Julia Ward Howe Prize for Children’s Literature Winner
- California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book
- Notable Social Studies Trade Books for Young People Winner (from National Council for the Social Studies and Children’s Book Council)
- Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year 2025
- Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025 (International Literacy Association)
- Pennsylvania Mountain Laurel Book Award Nominee 2026-27
- Junior Library Guild Gold Selection
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- ⭐ Starred review from School Library Journal!
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- dPICTUS 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Nautilus Silver Winner, Nonfiction Children’s Picture Book
- Sunshine State Young Readers Award Orange Blossom List for Nonfiction
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Bookshop.org / Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Bank Street College’s The Best Children’s Books of the Year
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
This is a great list. I’ll have to check out the ones I don’t already have. Some of my night-time faves include these oldies:
– Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
– Make Way for Ducklings
– A Tree is Nice
– Andrew Henry’s Meadow
To Jessica,
Thank you so much for your book recs! I will add to the list!