It’s so exciting when your child first begins to really read. I don’t know why, but my kids all hit this milestone in January. I know that it’s something that has been in the works for a long time, but, like a bulb planted last Fall, the leaves have sprouted and the bud is finally in bloom!
My first had just turned 6-years-old in Kindergarten, the 2nd was 5 3/4-years-old in Kindergarten, and now my youngest is just starting to read at 5-years-old in Preschool. There must be something about 4 months of academic exposure at school that coalesces to explain the January timing.
I wanted to share some of the books that are great for the very newest of readers. And might I add how much we hated the Bob series books — a complete waste of money for us. My kids thought the Bob books were so boring with absolutely no plot.
What was the first book your child read? And what are your favorite very easy books? Please share! Thank you!
Best Early Readers: Reader Suggestions
Thank you to Rosemary for these great suggestions!
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
Time for Bed by Mem Fox
My Car by Byron Barton
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
Fly Guy series by Tedd Arnold
This series keeps winning the Geisel Award. We just discovered it in the nick of time. My son thinks these books are really funny!
Sandra Boynton — anything by her!
There are so many good ones. Here are a few of our favorites that were among the first books my kids read to me. I think the first book that my kids ever read to me was Blue Hat, Green Hat.
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Be sure to spot the mouse on every colored page. An enduring sweet classic.
Cat at Bat by Susan Schade
Out of all the books on this list, this one is slightly harder but it’s a great story about good sportsmanship.
Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
My middle child loved these sweet and very simple stories.
Five Little Monkeys series by Eileen Christelow
A repetitive plot is a good thing for brand new readers and Eileen’s Five Little Monkeys never fail to please young ones. I think kids can all relate to being naughty, little monkeys!
Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins
Another classic that can be a full-body, percussion experience.
Frogs in Clogs by Sheila White Samton
A rhyming story that uses a small number of words very effectively AND it actually has a plot!
The Good Bad Cat by Joan Hoffman
A few words go a very long way to tell a story about a cat who, in being bad, is good! At least when it comes to a mouse in the house.
The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
I used to hold my toddler in my lap and make her feet match the book. She thought it was hysterically funny.
Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti by Anna Grossnickle Hines
Max’s Dragon Shirt by Rosemary Wells
This might be the outlier book but my son says this is the first book he read. It’s true. We were reading this book and I was thinking that he had memorized it because it’s one of his favorites but he was actually sounding out the words.
Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems
*Mo Willems has been accused of sexual misconduct.
My son and I love these books. Mo Willems’ wonderful, expressive illustrations practically tell the story, and his two starring characters have a lot of personality! Here are a few of our favorites. We Are In A Book won a Geisel and it’s especially good because Elephant and Piggie talk directly to you, the reader! It’s really fun for little kids in that way!
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p.s. Related posts:
My Easy Reader Book Lists
Top 10: Best Multicultural Easy Readers
Best Easy Readers for New Readers
5 Great New Diversity Easy Readers
Best Easy Readers: Geisel Awards
Best Easy Readers & Early Chapter Books: 2015 Cybils Shortlist
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Massachusetts Book Award Long List
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award Long List
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
A nice list of classics and newer treasures. Thanks for sharing the list!
Thank you so much! We are also enjoying your iPhone/iPad ebooks! Congrats, by the way, on winning the entrepreneurial award to start your business! I root for all mompreneurs!!!
Thanks for all of this great information. These are wonderful suggestions. Also, I never heard of Explode the Code and it look great.
You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by.
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss was far and away my daughter’s favorite first by-herself read. Others: Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti by Anna Grossnickle Hines, Time for Bed by Mem Fox, My Car by Byron Barton, and, as noted above, Goodnight Moon. Many of the Eric Carle books are also very good for beginning readers, with lots of repetition: The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, etc.
To Rosemary,
Thank you for the wonderful recommendations! I will add to the list!