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Best Easy Readers for New Readers

Best Easy Readers for New Readers

Posted on November 4, 2011May 28, 2024 by Pragmatic Mom

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

Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss

Time for Bed by Mem Fox

Time for Bed Board Book
by Mem Fox and Jane Dyer

My Car by Byron Barton

My Car by Byron Barton

Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Eric Carle

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!

Hi! Fly Guy

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.

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.

Cat at Bat by Susan Schade

Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

My middle child loved these sweet and very simple stories.

Biscuit Goes to School

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!

Five Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins

Another classic that can be a full-body, percussion experience.

Hand, Hand, Fingers Thumb by Al Perkins

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!

Frogs in Clogs by Sheila White Samton

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 Good Bad Cat

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.

The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss

Daddy Makes the Best Spaghetti by Anna Grossnickle Hines

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.

Max's Dragon Shirt by Rosemary Wells

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!

There Is a Bird On Your Head!-An Elephant and Piggie Book

 

To examine any book at Amazon more closely, please click on image of book.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualified purchases.

instead of Bob books, best early readers for kids, best easy readers for kids, first books kids can read by themselves.

 

p.s. Related posts:

My Easy Reader Book Lists

New Great Easy Readers

Top 10: Best Multicultural Easy Readers

Great New 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.

 

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6 thoughts on “Best Easy Readers for New Readers”

  1. Lynette Mattke says:
    January 23, 2010 at 2:11 pm

    A nice list of classics and newer treasures. Thanks for sharing the list!

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 25, 2010 at 6:10 pm

      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!!!

      Reply
  2. baby pistachio says:
    February 1, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Thanks for all of this great information. These are wonderful suggestions. Also, I never heard of Explode the Code and it look great.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      October 25, 2010 at 6:11 pm

      You are so welcome. Thanks for stopping by.

      Reply
  3. Rosemary Evergreen says:
    October 29, 2011 at 2:14 pm

    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.

    Reply
    1. Pragmatic Mom says:
      November 3, 2011 at 9:56 pm

      To Rosemary,
      Thank you for the wonderful recommendations! I will add to the list!

      Reply

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