Inside: Kindergarten books are vitally important for early readers, and these are some of our favorites. check them out!
Kindergarten books are essential for young readers!
Watching my oldest son develop while he was in kindergarten was amazing.
You are reading: Books for kindergarten to read independently
started the year hypnotized by books but unable to read them at all. however, by June he had his own stack of amazing books for kindergarten readers (all of which he could read fluently), he knew exactly which stories were “perfect” for him in our school library (ok, ok — so I may be the librarian at his school, but it’s exciting anyway!), and he would stay up well past his bedtime reading with his special book light.
It was amazing. And of course it made my book-loving heart very, very happy.
As he grew, so did his love of reading. Much of this love I credit not only to excellent kindergarten read-alouds, but also to having the perfect books in her hands as she began her reading journey.
what makes a book “good” for kindergartners?
When our children start kindergarten, most of us usually have one thought in mind: my child will be reading this year! after all, is there anything else synonymous with kindergarten? than this singular goal?
Finding the “right” kindergarten books is therefore essential. we want to give them books that excite them, delight them, make them laugh, and boost their confidence as they begin to take on a new challenge.
So how do you know if a book is perfect for your beginning reader? what makes a great kindergarten book different from an easy chapter book? Check out these tips!
large fonts help kindergarten readers understand
Believe it or not, larger fonts really do make a difference for new readers! Larger fonts have been linked to increased decoding skills, as well as increased fluency and better comprehension. The larger text in kindergarten books is also much less intimidating to new readers, since the pages inherently have more blank space and fewer words. allows children to easily see where their eyes should go next.
short sentences in kindergarten books are essential
Simplicity is key for new readers. why? the longer the sentence, the more confused your child will feel. remember: kindergarten books are for children who are just learning to read. that means they haven’t yet mastered fluency and speed, nor do they understand the nuances of punctuation. And forget about a sentence that extends past a page turn – these are the things that do nothing but frustrate our new readers. therefore, short and simple is the key!
Repetition helps young readers grasp new concepts
Repetitive books for kindergarteners are like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. these are the best! this type of story includes both repetitive structures and vocabulary words. Repetition in early readers allows children to master new words and skills. On his first full read, a child may stumble and pause frequently as he pronounces what he sees on the page. however, the more frequently you read a passage, sentence, or word, the more fluency and fluency improves. the best part? When fluency improves, so does confidence.
kindergarten books should contain easy-to-decode words
many beginning readers and kindergarten books incorporate words that are easy to read. but what are those words these early readers contain not only high-frequency words, but also words that can be easily decoded using the rules of phonetics and “chunking” strategies (i.e., breaking words into smaller components).
Illustrations provide supporting clues for early readers
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Illustrations in kindergarten books should not only be engaging, but should also provide supporting or “context” clues for the reader. this means that a great early reader contains pictures that correspond to the text, support both the plot and mood of the book, and help readers decode unfamiliar vocabulary words.
These kindergarten books will engage and captivate your new readers!
Note that the easiest of these books are at the top of the list, and the most challenging (and longest) reads are at the bottom.
enjoy!
related: looking for the best books to start kindergarten? This list will help your children prepare for the big day.
otto’s adventures: watch pip flap by david milgrim: we love these books about otto the robot and all his great adventures! The Adventures of Otto’s Stories are perfect kindergarten books for new readers who are beginning to master sight words and decode text on their own. Several books in this set have earned Theodore Seuss Geisel Award honors for Distinguished Books for Beginning Readers. We can’t speak highly enough about this starter set! buy view pip flap & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
stop! Bot! by James Yang: A 2020 Geisel Prize winner, this is a delightful picture mystery book with simple text and fabulous illustrations that tell much of the story itself. a kid stops to show a janitor his new “bot,” but the bot suddenly slips away and floats up in the air like a balloon! As the doorman runs from floor to floor in the building, the people on each floor get crazier and crazier. Will they be able to rescue the bot before it’s too late? vibrant and attractive, we just love this one! shopping stop! bot! & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
come on, dog, come on!, by p.d. eastman: this was one of the first books my son read aloud from cover to cover, and he has so much to love! From big dogs to little dogs, dogs in and dogs out, fast dogs, red dogs, blue dogs and more, kids for years have loved this silly story that’s also perfect for beginning readers to share out loud. read it once, your kids will laugh. read it twice and your kids will always ask everyone “do you like my hat?” the best! go shopping, dog, go! & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
the cat, the rat and the hat, by em lynas and illustrated by matt hunt: this book is a delight and a lot of fun too! we love reading this out loud because it sure makes the kids laugh out loud every time. This is the story of a cat sitting on a mat when a rat with a very nice hat arrives. need i say more? between the silly text and the fun images, it’s sure to be a hit. will go especially well with children who are also learning the “at” sound family. buy the cat and the rat and the hat & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
look, by fiona woodcock: this simple book contains only one word on each page, each of which contains the diagraph “oo”. Here, a brother and sister wake up in the morning and go to the zoo to spend some time, where they see kangaroos and bring balloons home! This engaging book and its fabulous, creative illustrations make it a winner, especially since the repeated “oo” digraph is an important early literacy concept. store look & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
cat the cat, who is that? by mo willems: cat the cat loves her friends, and she’s pretty sure you will too. it’s only natural, then, that she wants to introduce the reader to all of her friends. With simple text, a repetitive structure, and Willems’ signature humor, this short early reader will build confidence in kids who want to read a story on their own but aren’t ready for longer beginner books. buy cat the cat who is that? & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
what will the fat cat sit on? by jan thomas – in this funny story, the fat cat is looking for a seat, and all the animals in this silly story hope that the fat cat doesn’t sit on them! ! with each animal hoping that he isn’t the victim, they have to find something else for the fat cat to sit on. Will a chair suffice? And if so, what will the fat cat do for lunch? this is so much fun! buy what the fat cat will sit on & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
Adventure Tales of Big Dogs and Little Dogs by Dav Pilkey: Did you know that the creator of the famous Dog Man and Captain Underpants series also writes beginner’s books for children? This collection of five easy-going stories captures the friendship – and hilarious antics – of a big dog and a small dog, entertaining your children and developing their reading skills at the same time. this collection was a huge hit in our house when my oldest son first made the leap to beginning readers. buy big dog and small dog & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
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Book Pig, by Greg Pizzoli: If you guessed that Book Pig loves books, you’ve guessed correctly! he loves everything about them, from the way they feel to the way they smell. one thing you don’t love, though? can’t read them. leave it up to a special librarian to help you unlock the magic within each story! we love this one, a 2020 geisel honor. buy the book hog & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
flubby is not a good pet, by j e morris: flubby is a big fat cat, but unfortunately, he can’t do what many other pets do. flubby can’t sing or catch, he can’t even jump! but flubby needs his owner, and his owner needs him too. and that’s enough a sweet book, with repetition, simple text and images that help tell this lovely story. another 2020 geisel honor book! buy flubby is not a good pet & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
fox the tiger, by corey r. tabor: the fox desperately wants to be a tiger. why? tigers are cunning! Quick! great! This leaves Fox with an important mission: he will turn into a tiger by painting himself some stripes! soon other animals join in the fun, but when it comes down to it, the fox quickly discovers a very important lesson: the best he can be is himself. Clever, funny, and packed with an amazing message, it’s no wonder this great book won the 2019 Geisel Prize. For our full Fox the Tiger review, click here! buy fox the tiger & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
jack at bat, by greg pizzoli – We love this new series for beginning readers, with its big pictures, big text, simple prose, and plots that are sure to make your kids laugh as they hone their new reading skills. Is there anything better than that? In this book, it’s Jack’s turn to make a winning run during a baseball game… but on the way to home plate, he sees some snacks. uh oh! between jack the rabbit, his funny dog and a grumpy old lady, this series is a delight! buy jack at bat & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
My kite is stuck! and other stories, by salina yoon: in this geisel series celebrating early readers, the big duck constantly bosses his little brother, the duckling. and this means that when the porcupine joins his crew, the big duck is definitely the leader. This charming book contains stories about making lemonade, new friends, and flying kites. we love this lively and engaging series! buy my kite is stuck & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
harold and hog really pretend, by dan santat: what happens when harold and hog pretend to be elephant and piggie? The two love Gerald and Piggie, and even dress up to get into character. But uptight pig can’t be as carefree as Little Pig, and Harold can’t be as careful as Gerald. This is so much fun, a perfect kindergarten book for the home or classroom, and a great twist on the beloved elephant and pig stories! buy harold and hog pretend for real & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
little bear, by else holmelund minarik and illustrated by maurice sendek: in this classic for early readers, little bear’s mother always seems to know exactly what she needs. something warm to wear when she’s playing in the snow, a hot lunch after she returns from a trip to the moon, and a special birthday surprise. You can never go wrong when Sendak illustrates a children’s book, and this one has staying power for all the right reasons. Repetition and easy-to-decode words give kids a confidence boost when they read this “longer” book aloud! buy bear & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
Frank and Bean, by Jamie Michalak and Illustrated by Bob Kolar: What happens when cool and quiet Frank meets Toot-toot-tooting Bean, who loves playing his trumpet? These two total opposites can be in trouble when they end up camping next to each other. Can two seemingly different characters find a way to be…friends? This fun kindergarten book is perfect for your children who want to read a longer story where they can practice their skills and laugh at the same time. shop frank and bean & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
smell my foot!, by cece bell: if you want someone to smell your foot, it doesn’t matter if you think that smell will be good or bad, better make sure you use your manners and say please! my big one couldn’t read this book without laughing hysterically. and when I first read it with him, I too was laughing so hard I couldn’t catch my breath. If you want a book that is sure to be a hit with new readers, with easy-to-read text, fun illustrations, and lots of fun, this is a must! store smells my foot! & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
tiger vs. Night by Emily Tetri: In this graphic novel for early readers, the tiger and the monster play a lot together. the monster would never scare the tiger, but he has to scare something. so what should scare? maybe he can scare away the nightmares of the tiger. it works, up to a point. until a nightmare arrives so big and so brave that the monster knows he can’t fight alone. For beginning readers ready for graphic novels, this is wonderful. it shows the value of teamwork, friendship and courage too! buy tiger vs nightmare & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
Don’t worry, bee happy, by ross burach: the bumblebee and the bee cause a lot of mischief in the pond, and their cranky best friend, the frog, is not so happy to give up his peace and quiet. He won’t smile for photos! He won’t do a wiggle dance! however, these guys are the best of friends…despite their very different personalities. This is another great graphic novel and part of Scholastic’s Acorn line that is geared toward children learning to read. we love acorn books and their various series that have been published recently! buy don’t worry, bee happy & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
Under the Bed and Other Scary Stories by Max Brallier and Illustrated by Letizia Rubenni: Another book in Scholastic’s Acorn line, this one is perfect for brave readers who love the thrill of a scary children’s book! what kind of monsters are hiding under the bed and what the hell is clawing at the window? these five stories will scare children and make them laugh. There is only one question: will they be brave enough to turn off the lights? shop under the bed & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
henry and mudge, by cynthia rylant and illustrated by sucie stevenson: meet henry and mudge, companions, friends and partners forever! Henry has no siblings or friends on the street for him, so he convinces his parents to give him a puppy, which grows into a very large dog. These delightful stories are great for kids beyond beginning readers as they feature more complex sentences, longer paragraphs, and shorter chapters. a classic series for independent readers looking for easy chapter books! shop henry and mudge & support local bookstores here! shop amazon here!
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