Keep your future 1st graders, ages 6 and 7, practicing their growing reading skills with the best and most recommended books for first graders!
These are the favorite books for beginning readers, from the easiest books with a few words per page to the beginning chapter books with one sentence per page. (for my kids, this was in first grade, but for some kids, it’s earlier and for other kids, it’s later. all growth stages are fine!) you can find harder books on my summer reading list for 2nd graders and over 5- and book recommendations for 6-year-olds here.
You are reading: First grade reading level books
Get your first graders to read a ton of books this summer break!
Remember to help your first graders figure out those hard-to-read words with word attack strategies beyond the typical (and often unhelpful) “say it.” try these word attack strategies & download the free printable bookmark.
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First Grade Books: Summer Reading List (ages 6-7)
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If your first grader loves a book, get more books from the same author or series. keep them reading as long as you can! And if you need more ideas, you can always email me.
beginning first grade readers (easy)
This list of beginning readers are first grade books with only a few words per page, perfect for children entering first grade who are just beginning to read. (Sight words are very important at this stage – download free printable sight word cards.)
If your 1st grader is looking for silly books, read:
- my toothbrush is missing by jan thomas
- what’s chasing the duck? by jan thomas
- we’re in a mo willems book (all the elephant and piggy books are great!)
- the big fat cow that kapows by andy griffiths
- ed and ted and ted fred’s dog by andy griffiths
- friends don’t eat friends (thunder and cluck) by jill esbaum
- hey jack! by mac barnett & greg pizzoli
- let’s make a cake (bobo and pup pup) by vikram madan
- that egg is mine by liz goulet dubois
If your first grader likes stories about real life and friendship, try:
- who is that cat the cat? by mo willems
- we’re growing up by laurie keller
- don’t worry bee happy by ross burach
- big cat by ethan long
- dan santat’s cookie fiasco
- jon scieszka’s trucktown
- emerson is a girl power! by meredith rusu
- kit and kaboodle take the train by michelle portice
- squirrels unlimited in i lost my tooth! by mo willems
- nick and nack fly a kite by brandon budzi
- do you like my bike? (hello hedgehog!) by norm feuti
- tina kugler’s great bunk battle
If your first grader likes animal stories, try reading:
- slow, slow sloths by bonnie bader
- little big horse by dave horowitz
- we dig worms by kevin mccloskey
- the lost kitty ( katie fry, private detective) by katherine cox
- sloth bear, crazy bear by kevin bolger
- baby monkey, private detective by brian selznick & david serlin
- flying boy by tedd arnold
- the goat wants to eat by laura gehl
Find more easy readers with reviews for first graders readers here.
first grade easiest chapter books
easy chapter books have pictures with words. the easiest chapter books have only a few sentences per page. try these first grade favorites…
(if you want to read my reviews of each of these books, go here).
FUNNY Easiest Chapter Books
- fly guy by tedd arnold
- see the cat: three stories about a dog by david larochelle
- an elephant & big piggy! by mo willems
- seeing the dog: three stories about a cat by david larochelle
- donut feeds the squirrels by mika song
easier friendship chapter books
- hi jack! (a jack book) by mac barnett & greg pizzoli
- do you like my bike? (hello hedgehog!) by norm feuti
- aggie the brave by lori ries
- mr. putter and tabby walk the dog by cynthia rylant
- frog and toad are friends by arnold lobel
- narwhal: unicorn of the sea by ben clanton
- frank and bean by jamie michalak
- doggo & katherine applegate puppet
easy first grade chapter books for summer reading
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easy chapter books have larger text with pictures every few pages. these numbered books range from the middle of first grade to the beginning of second grade reading levels.
(Go here for a list of harder 2nd grade chapter books.)
If your first grader likes animal main characters, read:
- kitty and dragon by meika hashimoto
- pug blasts off (diary of a pug) by kyla may
- kung pow chicken by cindi marko
- owly: the road home and bittersweet summer by andy runton
If your first graders like funny books, try:
- smell my foot (girl and brain) by cece bell
- moldylocks and the three beards by noah z. jones
- meet mo and jo: the boulder brothers by sarah lynn
- the infamous ratsos by kara lareau
- geeger the robot goes to school by jarret lerner
- nugget and hotdog by jason tharp
If your first graders like realistic books, read:
- meet yasmin! by saadia faruqui
- cornbread & poppy by matthew cordell
- happy paws: layla and the bots by vicky fang
- the party and other stories (fox and chick) by sergio ruzzier
If your first graders like adventures & fantasy books, test:
- bo’s new magical friend (unicorn diaries) by rebecca elliott
- the princess in black by shannon hale and dean hale
- ricky’s mighty robot #1 ricotta by dav pilkey
- doom notebook #1 by troy cummings
- the rise of the earth dragon #1 by tracey west
- kitty and paula harrison’s moonlight rescue
- mia mayhem is a superhero! by kara west
If your first grader likes non-fiction, please read:
- caterpillar to butterfly by laura marsh
- jungle animals by camilla gersh
- amazing dogs by laura buller
- fly guy presents snakes by tedd arnold
- mythical beasts: 100 fun facts about real animals and the myths they inspire by stephanie warren drimmer
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continue reading:
Summer Reading Lists for Kids
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