30 Best Books for Beginning Readers
Learning to read is a big deal for young kids! And finding the right level of books can be difficult and frustrating for everyone. The last thing we want any child to feel is mad, frustrated, impatient, and sad when learning to read. We want kids to feel empowered when learning to read with books they love and can also learn from at the same time. And that’s why I’ve pulled together a list of the 30 best books for beginning readers just for you! And, if that’s not enough, check out this post with 10 Nonfiction Series for Beginning Readers as well!
Schools often use specific programs that can tell you the level of text difficulty, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find that information available easily out in the world whether that’s at your local library or bookstore. You might be familiar with one of the most common programs called AR or Accelerated Reader. This is not the post for me to get into how frustrating these school programs are, so let’s just move on.
Five Finger Rule
Often parents come into the library searching for easy readers (or beginning readers) for their young kids. But, depending on the publisher, these leveled readers can vary greatly. A great way for kids to find out if a book is at the right level for their reading skills is to try the Five Finger Rule. The Five Fiver Rule is quite simple and doesn’t depend on checking with a website, researching a publisher, or relying on the somewhat arbitrary level on the front of the book.
Pull a title off the shelf and hand it to a child. Have them open it to any page at all and try reading from it. For every word they can’t read, they should hold up one finger. If, by the end of the page the child hasn’t raised any fingers or only one – the book is most likely a little too easy for practicing new skills. That doesn’t make it a bad book, it just isn’t exactly right for learning to read. On the other hand, (pun intended) if the child has raised 4+ fingers, the book is too difficult at this time and would work really well as a read aloud or with a partner.
Finally, the Goldilocks level – if a child raises 2-3 fingers, the book is just right for their reading level at this time! Once you’ve found something that works, try other books by the same publisher at the same level for even more great practice.
Reading Journey
The reading journey is different for everyone. Do not feel rushed to have your child reading before Kindergarten. If they’re interested and learning as you read aloud, that’s great. If they’re nowhere near ready yet, that’s okay too. Early literacy is teaching kids the skills to be ready to learn to read which are vitally important and can be practiced at home. But, learning to read very young is not the focus.
Truly, if kids have a positive association with books – being read aloud to as a positive experience as a little one, and have access to books they will tend to have success in school. You can also teach letter knowledge, practice shapes, and sing all of which are helpful early literacy exercises that prep kids to learn to read.
Kids will learn to read when they are ready, just like most things in life. If you are concerned about the possibility of a reading or learning disability, advocate for your child with your school district to get tested. The earlier the better in most cases to provide kids with additional support to be successful!
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliate links, meaning at no additional cost to you, I will earn a commission if you click through and make a purchase.
30 Best Books for Beginning Readers
Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish, illustrated by Fritz Siebel
From dressing the chicken to drawing the drapes, Amelia Bedelia does exactly what Mr. and Mrs. Rogers tell her to do. If things get a bit mixed up, well, that’s okay. When Amelia Bedelia is involved, everything always turns out perfectly in the end!
Attack of the 50-Foot Fly Guy
by Tedd Arnold
After grabbing a snack from a radioactive trash can, Fly Guy grows to 50 feet tall! Can Buzz and the scientist figure out how to shrink him before the police and military attack?
Ballet Cat: What’s Your Favorite Favorite?
by Bob Shea
Ballet Cat and her cousin Goat are preparing a show for Grandma. Each is trying to outdo the other—Ballet Cat with an elaborate dance routine (of course), and Goat with his amazing (amazingly pathetic, that is) magic tricks. Neither act goes off quite as planned, but it doesn’t matter… because Grandma falls asleep during the performance! Oh well, at least Ballet Cat and Goat learn how to cooperate. (But Ballet Cat cooperates better!)
Baloney and Friends: Dream Big!
by Greg Pizzoli
Baloney and friends are reaching for the stars—but not without some funny obstacles along the way! Whether they’re creating a masterpiece, destroying a birthday cake, or debating online comments about themselves, these lovable characters know how to dream big! This new collection of mini-tales and three mini-comics will have you cheering and rooting for Baloney the pig, Bizz the bumblebee, Peanut the horse, and everyone’s favorite grumpy rabbit, Krabbit! And at the end, readers will learn how to make their own minibook by following clear step-by-step instructions.
Chick and Brain: Smell My Foot!
by Cece Bell
Meet Chick and Brain. And their friend Spot. Chick likes to follow the rules. Brain might not be as smart as he looks. And Spot just wants to eat lunch. In a graphic reader loaded with verbal and visual humor, Cece Bell offers a comical primer on good manners gone awry. Simple, silly, and perfectly suited for its audience, this tale of Chick and Brain’s constant misunderstandings and miscommunications proves once again that Cece Bell is a master at meeting kids where they are.
Donut Feed the Squirrels
by Mika Song
Norma and Belly would really really really really really like a donut.
With a burned breakfast and a cranky donut seller at the local food truck, they may be stuck with only nuts to eat . . . unless they can steal the biggest, most delicious donut of their tiny lives!
Mika Song gives readers something to laugh at as these squirrels try their hardest to get some donuts while just about everything goes wrong. A fun “donut caper” graphic novel that focuses on madcap action, problem-solving, and the power of working together.
Fly Guy Presents: Monster Trucks
by Tedd Arnold
Buzz and Fly Guy learn all about monster truck technology, tricks, events, and safety. These “monsterzzzz” are nothing to be scared of! Award-winning author-illustrator Tedd Arnold brings nonfiction to life for beginning readers in the next book in the kid-favorite Fly Guy Presents series. There are humorous illustrations and engaging photographs throughout. And the front cover features eye-catching holographic foil!
Fox at Night
by Corey R. Tabor
Fox is up late in the night. There are shadows and noises everywhere. Fox is sure the night is full of monsters! Then he meets the real creatures of the night and realizes they are not so scary after all.
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—just as best friends should be.
Get on the Ice, Mo!
by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks
Mo and his dad are practicing before the big ice hockey game against the Ducks later that day. Mo is having trouble staying upright as he skates across the rink, but everyone tells him to keep his head up. When the game starts, Mo sits on the bench and waits for his turn to go in. He enters the game just in time to assist the Geese’s best player, Amy, as she’s double-teamed by the Ducks. Can Mo score the game-winning shot just before the buzzer or will he lose his balance on the ice?
Guess What!?
by Mo Willems
An ensemble cast of Squirrels, Acorns, and pop-in guests hosts a page-turning extravaganza. Each book features a funny, furry adventure AND bonus jokes, quirky quizzes, nutty facts, and so, so many Squirrels. In Guess What!?, Zoom Squirrel is excited to go to the beach. But what will happen when Zoomy and pals finally get there? Do you know more about going to the beach than the Squirrels do? You will by the end of this book!
Henry and Mudge In the Green Time
by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Suçie Stevenson
Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And they’re ready to share summertime fun!
I Wish I Was a Llama
by Jennifer Bové
What if you wished you were a llama and then you became one? Could you talk like a llama, with gurgles and squeals? Could you roll in the dust like a llama, to keep bugs away? And would you want to? Find out about llamas and their wild cousins, guanacos (pronounced wah-nah-ko), as well as alpacas and vicuñas!
The Innings and Outs of Baseball
by Jordan D. Brown, illustrated by Dagney Downey
Did you know that every time you watch a baseball game, you are watching some great examples of physics in action? Why exactly does the amount of spin on a pitch determine how far a ball can be hit? And what’s the scientific reason that using pine tar on the bat makes it easier to grip? Learn all about the science behind America’s favorite pastime in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 Ready-to-Read!
Little Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik, illustrated by Maurice Sendak
Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday.
Living in South Africa
by Chloe Perkins, illustrated by Tom Woolley
Dumela! My name is David, and I’m a kid just like you living in South Africa. South Africa is a country filled with stunning cities, amazing animals, and many different cultures—that’s why they call South Africa the rainbow nation! Have you ever wondered what South Africa is like? Come along with me to find out!
My Toothbrush Is Missing
by Jan Thomas
Dog’s toothbrush is missing. Has anybody seen it? Maybe . . . But what does a toothbrush look like? Donkey wonders. Featuring Jan Thomas’s wonderfully wacky humor, rowdy repetitions, and hilarious characters, this book is sure to have young readers laughing out loud!
Nat Geo Kids: Pandas
by Anne Schreiber
The whole world loves panda bears. Everyone loves to watch them play, climb, cuddle, and chew. But careful, they can scratch too–just look at that tree! Pandas live in wild places very far away, and they are the STAR ATTRACTIONS of every zoo that keeps them safe and well, all over the world.
Narwhalicorn and Jelly
by Ben Clanton
When Jelly wonders what a unicorn is, Narwhal explains that they’re pretty much narwhals of the land (!) — and then gets carried away with a grand plan to see one. With the help of Star, Narwhal’s wish comes true in the wildest, weirdest way: Narwhal gets some land legs and takes their first step ashore. After some wibble-wobbling and a bit of practice, Narwhal is soon galloping along in search of unicorns, though Jelly is a little land sick. Before they know it, Star has the duo blasting off to a magical planet where everyone is a unicorn! But Jelly’s out-of-this-world adventure makes him feel out of his comfort zone, and he wishes he were at home . . . can Narwhal cheer Jelly up and also party down with their new unicorn pals?
Nothing Fits a Dinosaur
by Jonathan Fenske
It’s time to get ready for bed, but this silly dinosaur can’t find anything that fits! Find out what happens in this laugh-out-loud Level 1 Ready-to-Read.
Pea, Bee, & Jay: Farm Feud
by Brian “Smitty” Smith
After a heated argument sends Pea and Bee on the hunt for new friends, Jay is stuck all alone.
While Pea tries to form a new crew with Blueberry and Lenny the bee, Bee teams up with a high-strung Acorn and Pea’s batty old Gramps. (What the heck, Gramps?!) And Jay? Well, Jay takes matters into his own wings.
Can this trio figure out how to make up, or will this be the last of Pea, Bee, & Jay?
Pete the Cat’s Family Road Trip
by Kimberly Dean and James Dean
Pete the Cat and his family are ready explore all the many wonderful American landmarks on their fun family road trip! They visit many famous sights, including Niagara Falls, New Orleans, Savannah, and more.
Of course, no true road trip is complete without a flat tire! But the Cat family isn’t going to let a small setback get in the way of fun…
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog
by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
See Max. Max is not a cat—Max is a dog. But much to Max’s dismay, the book keeps instructing readers to “see the cat.” How can Max get through to the book that he is a DOG? In a trio of stories for beginning readers, author David LaRochelle introduces the excitable Max, who lets the book know in irresistibly emphatic dialogue that the text is not to his liking. Illustrator Mike Wohnoutka hilariously depicts the pup’s reactions to the narrator and to the wacky cast of characters who upend Max’s—and readers’—expectations as the three stories build to an immensely satisfying conclusion. Hooray, Max, hooray!
Stop! Bot!
by James Yang
In this very young picture book mystery, a little boy out for a walk with his family stops to show a building doorman his new “bot”: “I have a bot!” Only he doesn’t have it for long, because it floats up out of his hands like an escaped balloon. “Stop! Bot!” Springing to action, the kind doorman runs up to each floor of the building to try and catch it — along with the help of each floor’s resident. But while everything looks normal at first, every floor (and resident) is a little more wacky and unusual than the last! Musicians, baseball players, zoo animals, and finally a very large monkey all play a part — but will they rescue the Bot before it’s too late?! Children will love all the funny details and easy-to-read words in this very playful picture book!
That’s My Book! And Other Stories
by Salina Yoon
The third Duck, Duck, Porcupine book has a new trio of stories featuring loud and in-charge Big Duck, quiet and clever Little Duck, and friendly and gentle Porcupine. They use books in a whole new way, decide to throw a talent show, and play doctor. No matter what problems they get themselves into, Little Duck always finds a way to save the day!
Thunder and Cluck: Friends Do Not Eat Friends
by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Miles Thompson
Thunder is big. Cluck is small. Thunder likes to ROAR! Cluck likes to say “hello!”
Can Thunder and Cluck be friends?
Ty Travels: Beach Day!
by Kelly Starling Lyons, illustrated by Niña Mata
Ty turns an ordinary day in the sandbox into a fun beach day. He wiggles his toes in the sand, finds seashells, builds a castle, and splashes in the ocean. Splish, splash! When his neighbor’s beach ball flies into his backyard, Ty learns that a beach day is even better with a friend.
What About Worms!?
by Ryan T. Higgins
Tiger is BIG. Tiger is BRAVE. And Tiger is NOT afraid of anything . . . except WORMS! Are Tiger’s worm worries worse than worms?
Who Would Win? Jaguar vs. Skunk
by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Rob Bolster
What if a jaguar and a skunk had a fight? Who do you think would win? This nonfiction reader compares and contrasts two ferocious animals. Readers will learn about each animal’s anatomy, behavior, and more. Then compare and contrast the battling pair before finally discovering the winner! This nonfiction series is full of facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and it includes a range of mammals, sea creatures, insects, and dinosaurs to satisfy all kinds of animal fans.
Yasmin Figures It Out
by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly
Join Yasmin in four new adventures that put her courage and problem-solving skills to the test! At home, Baba’s got a mystery ailment, and Nani thinks there’s a thief afoot. At the farm, Yasmin is put in charge of the chicks–but one goes missing! And at the ice rink, Yasmin puts on a brave face and tries something new. No matter the challenge, puzzle, or mystery, Yasmin gives her all to figure it out!
If you’re interested in purchasing any of the titles above from my list of 30 Best Books for Beginning Readers, please use my affiliate links for Amazon. When you purchase from the links above, I will earn a commission as an affiliate.
