Contemporary Easy Reader Titles
While I’ve got a slew of easy reader book lists on my blog like Fly Guy Read Alikes, Read Alikes for Elephant & Piggie Fans, and Diverse Easy Readers, I know it can be difficult to find those easy reader titles that make kids want to read. And let’s face it, getting kids sucked into reading needs to happen at an early age, so that kids choose to read in their free time, rather than being forced to read as part of homework.
If classic easy readers, like the ones on this list, aren’t really working for your new reader, why not try something a little more contemporary. These books, with bright, engaging illustrations, may very well be the ones that hook your kid and make them a reader.
So, whether you’ve got a beginner reader on your hands or you love reading children’s literature, this list of books should be on your TBR to check out. And a number of these titles are the first in a series, so if you love the characters, you’ll find them again in subsequent books!
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Contemporary Easy Readers
Don’t Throw it to Mo! by David A. Adler
Mo is the youngest kid on the Robins football team. The kids on the rival team tease him for being a “butterfingers” who’s too tiny to catch the ball. But Mo’s coach has a plan up his sleeve to turn Mo’s little size into a big win for the Robins.
Duck, Duck, Porcupine by Salina Yoon
Big Duck likes to boss around her younger brother, Little Duck, and she fancies herself the leader of their trio–when joined by their gentle friend Porcupine. Little Duck doesn’t speak yet, but through his expressions and his actions, he shows that he has a better grasp on any situation than his older sister. Told entirely through dialogue and visual storytelling with subtle humor throughout, Little Duck ends up getting the trio out of whatever jam they are in.
Fish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier
When a tiny wave grows bigger and bigger, what’s a fish to do? Fish and Wave by Sergio Ruzzier is a playful exploration of what it really means to go with the flow.
Fox the Tiger by Corey R. Tabor
Fun-loving, mischievous Fox wishes he were a tiger. Tigers are big and fast and sneaky. So he decides to become one! Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun. But will Fox want to be a tiger forever? In Fox the Tiger, this winning trickster character and his animal friends learn that the best thing to be is yourself.
Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
A fly goes out looking for something to eat. A boy goes out looking for something to catch for the Amazing Pet Show. Boy and fly meet and a beautiful friendship begins! But flies can’t be pets… or can they? Will they be able to convince others that flies and boys can be friends?
Pete the Cat: Play Ball! by James Dean
Pete the Cat is ready to play baseball! Pete’s team, the Rocks, is playing the Rolls. But when the game doesn’t go Pete’s way, what will Pete do?
See the Cat: Three Stories About Dog by David LaRochelle
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!
Today I Will Fly! by Mo Willems
Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.
Gerald and Piggie are best friends.
Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters. Piggie is determined to fly. But Gerald the elephant knows that’s impossible–isn’t it?
The Totally Secret Secret by Bob Shea
Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests—making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade—goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles’s leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what’s wrong. Sparkles doesn’t want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won’t want to hear. What Sparkles doesn’t know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?
Up! Tall! and High! by Ethan Long
In three laugh-out-loud situations, an irresistible cast of colorful birds illustrate the concepts of “up,” “tall” and “high.” First, a short peacock proves that he may not be tall, but he definitely isn’t small. Then, a resourceful bird helps his penguin friend find a way to fly. Finally, two birds want to live in the same tree, but what goes up must come down! Each short story features a flap that reveals a surprise twist.
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?
What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas
What is chasing Duck? Is it something wild and hairy? Does it have big teeth? Who will help protect Duck? Featuring Jan Thomas’s wonderfully wacky humor, rowdy repetitions, and hilarious characters, this book is sure to have young readers laughing out loud!
