# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Finding the right chapter book series today, especially for young first graders, can be challenging! There are so many more choices out there which can make it tough to determine which series are really worthy of sharing with your students.

That's why I have explored and researched all the appropriate chapter book series for your first graders and come up with a comprehensive list below. These chapter book series are great for reading aloud with your little ones or assigning for silent or take-home reading. I hope you find this list helpful and it inspires you to start sharing some of these series with your first-graders!

Although this list is geared towards first-grade readers, we all know that many different reading levels can exist within a single grade level. So, to help you narrow down which series might be the right fit for certain students, I have also included a recommended grade/age range under each book description.

1. The Jackson Friends Series by Michelle Edwards

The Jackson Friends series by Michelle Edwards currently has 4 easy reader books with multicultural characters. In Pa Lia's First Day, the readers meet a HMONG female character as she faces first day nerves at school, easily relatable for all students facing first day jitters. The Talent Show introduces a young, African American girl who initially is thrilled to perform in the show until the time approaches where she actually needs to be in front of others on stage. Readers will enjoy seeing how these characters work through their nerves and overcome their fears.

2. Henry and Mudge Series by Cynthia Rylant

Henry and Mudge Collector's Set by Cynthia Rylant will warm the hearts of your kids as they join Henry and his 182-pound English Mastiff, Mudge, through all of the trials and tribulations of life! This series not only beautifully illustrates the bond between a child and their pet but also shows readers that there are many different types of friendships in the world.

Try out the first book in the series before purchasing the collector's set above with Henry And Mudge First Book .

Grade Range: K-2

3. Lulu by Hillary McKay

In the Lulu series by Hillary McKay, readers meet Lulu, a 7 year old bi-racial girl with an enormous love of animals. Through the 6 books in the series, readers experience all of the adventures Lulu has with her best friend and cousin Millie and some animals along the way.

4. Mr. Putter and Tabby Series by Cynthia Rylant

Mr. Putter & Tabby Series by Cynthia Rylant is an endearing series that features an elderly man, Mr. Putter, who has been feeling lonely. He decides that getting a cat will help his loneliness and finds, Tabby, an older shelter cat, to help his loneliness! The series follows the elderly pair through all of the adventures that they get into. A series about friendship and companionship, your students will love the heartfelt nature and the hysterical situations that Mr. Putter and Tabby get involved in!!

Try out the first book in the series before purchasing the collector's set above with Mr. Putter & Tabby Pour the Tea .

Grade Range: 1-4

5. Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park

Junie B. Jones's Series by Barbara Park is adored by students of all ages. The series follows a witty, strong-willed little girl who is constantly getting herself into all kinds of mishaps and slapstick situations! Your kids will love following Junie B. Jones through the crazy adventures of her life with school, family, and friends.

Try out the first book in the series before purchasing the series above with Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (Junie B. Jones, No. 1)

Grade Range: 1-4

6. Poppleton Series by Cynthia Rylant

The Poppleton Series by Cynthia Rylant is a great way to introduce chapter books to your first graders! This beloved series is about Poppleton the pig, with each book featuring three sweet stories about kind-hearted Poppleton and the animal friends and characters in his life. The easy-to-read short stories will definitely help to build your new reader's confidence and keep them engaged!

Grade Range: PreK-3

7. Sam and Charlie by Leslie Kimmelman

Sam and Charlie series by Leslie Kimmelman follows the friendship of two new neighbors, now best friends, and a little sister too. The fact that the characters are Jewish is woven into the stories as the two friends have big adventures such as going to camp, while they bond over their love of various Jewish traditions.

8. Ramona and Beezus Series by Beverly Cleary

I've been a fan of this series since I was a kid, and I'm sure your kids will love The Complete Ramona Collection by Beverly Cleary as much as I did. The series follows the life of funny, charismatic third-grader Ramona as she experiences all the ups and downs of life in elementary school. Ramona's curiosity and spunk will have your students begging you to read every single book in this heartwarming series.

9. Nikki and Deja Series by Karen English

The main characters in the Nikki and Deja series by Karen English are two best friends that explore real-life school situations such as school cliques and disagreeing with your best friend. The main characters are African American 3 rd graders who show kids how to manage some tricky social skills while maintaining your friendship.

10. Magic Tree House Series by Mary Pope Osborne

Your students will LOVE The Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne . Join siblings, Jack and Annie, as they venture to different historical places and periods in time with a magical treehouse that they find near their home. These books are not only highly entertaining for early readers but the offer a fun spin on history that will have your kids learning how to read while learning about history!

Try out the first book in the series: Magic Tree House, No. 1: Dinosaurs Before Dark

Grade Range: 1-4

11. Simply Sarah Series by Phyllis Reynolds

The Simply Sarah series by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor follows Sarah, a young girl who is tired of being ordinary. This series takes place in Chicago with several multicultural characters dwelling in an urban apartment building. Kids will enjoy the misadventures Sarah has in her attempts at school, at home, and her community to be seen as extraordinary.

12. Babysitter's Little Sister Series by Ann M. Martin

A spin-off of one of my personal favorite series as a child, the Babysitter's Club, Baby-Sitters Little Sister Series by Ann M. Martin focuses on seven-year-old Karen Brewer, stepsister to the main character in the Babysitter's Club series, and all of the adventures that Karen and her classmates encounter. Your first graders will not only relate to Karen and her friends but they will be entertained until the last page of every book in this series!

Try out the first book in this series with Karen's Witch (Baby-Sitters Little Sister, No. 1)

Grade Range: K-2

13. The Cam Jansen Series by David A. Adler

The Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler is the perfect chapter book series for all those little detectives in your classroom. The series follows fifth-grade detective, Jennifer "Cam" Jansen, who got her nickname for having a photographic memory! Each book focuses on a different mystery that Cam and her best friend, Eric, must figure out and solve! Your students will love trying to figure out the mystery as they read each book in this exciting series! Start with book #1 in the series, Cam Jansen and the Mystery of the Stolen Diamonds by David A. Adler .

Grade Range: 1-5

14. Amelia Bedelia Series by Herman Parish

The Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book series , originally written by Peggy Parish, then taken over by her nephew, Herman Parish, after her passing, and reimagined into a chapter book series focusing on the childhood of the much-loved housekeeper who takes everything literally, Amelia Bedelia. The young Amelia Bedelia will have readers laughing non-stop with her constant misinterpretation of various word plays. Plus, these books are a great way to get your students familiar with idioms and literal versus figurative meanings.

Try out the first book in the series: Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book 1: Amelia Bedelia Means Business

Grade Range: 1-5

15. Nate the Great Series by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat

Nate the Great series by Marjorie Weinman Sharat are wonderful chapter books for emerging readers. The text features simple vocabulary and the various plots revolve around everyday things that kids can relate to like a missing picture or a lost cat. Students will love trying to solve each mystery with Nate, his dog, Sludge, and all of the other humorous characters that join in on their adventures.

Grade Range: 1-4

16. Ivy and Bean Series by Annie Barrows

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows is an award-winning series that both you and your students will adore. The books tell the tale about two very different girls who become friends despite their differences. You will love the positive messages that these books boast and your students will love the humor involved with all the mischief these two unlikely friends find. The oversized print and simple illustrations make these a perfect pick for emerging readers.

Try out the first book in the series with Ivy & Bean: Book 1

17. Katie Woo Series by Fran Manushkin

The Katie Woo series by Fran Manushkin is excellent for young readers thanks to all of the positive messages expressed throughout each book. Katie Woo and her friends are normal kids dealing with everyday life lessons, like not getting the part in the school play or doing poorly on a test. The concepts are simple but that makes it really easy for young readers to relate. Plus, the characters featured in the books are engaging and humorous, which will keep your kids wanting to read every book in the series!!

Grade Range: K-2

18. Keena Ford

Keena Ford by Melissa Thompson, is an adventurous 2 nd grade African American girl who lives with her divorced mom and an older brother. Young readers will enjoy the humor of the sticky situations Keena gets herself into as she settles in to 2 nd grade.

19. Judy Moody Series by Megan McDonald

The Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald has students everywhere relating to main character Judy's ever-changing moods and hysterical antics. Your class will love Judy's perspective on life as a third-grader and relate to all of the emotions and obstacles that she faces on a daily basis. Judy's wit and humor will entertain your students and the interesting facts sprinkled throughout the series on everything from algebra to the American Revolution will teach your kids tons of new things!

Try the first book in the series with Judy Moody Book 1: Judy Moody Was in a Mood

Grade Range: 1-4

20. Sofia Martinez by Jacqueline Jules

Sofia Martinez is a stubborn, mischievous young girl in the series written by Jacqueline Jules. These stories also imbed Spanish words and phrases, highlighted in pink, that exposes readers to another language while offering esl students an opportunity to feel included. The book also includes some stop and think moments where readers can guess what ideas Sofia may be coming up with as she problem solves through her adventures.

21. Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew by Carolyn Keene

The Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew by Carolyn Keene are the perfect chapter books for those wannabe sleuths in your classroom. Inspired by the original Nancy Drew books, this series features a younger, third-grade Nancy Drew, who follows clues to solve mysteries appropriate for your first-grade readers - nothing too scary or complicated. But don't be fooled by the easy-to-follow and not too scary mysteries, these stories are incredibly interesting and will have your emerging readers captivated right from the start!

Try the first book in the series with Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew: Sleepover Sleuths

Grade Range: 1-4

22. Alien in My Pocket Series by Nate Ball

Kids will love the silliness and sci-fi feel of the Alien in My Pocket series by Nate Ball . The series begins when a four-inch-tall alien crashes through Zack McGee's bedroom window and follows Zack and his new alien friend, Amp, through all kinds of crazy adventures that they face together. Your students will love the illustrations on every page, the interesting science facts, and the unexpected plot twists as they make their way through each book in this fun series!

Grade Range: 1-5

23. Jaden Toussaint by Marti Dumas

Jaden Toussaint by Marti Dumas is a series of books following a smart (super smart) 5 year old African American boy bursting with confidence and some ninja dance moves. All kids will love watching him solve real kid problems like convincing his parents he needs more TV time and less time reading.

24. Eerie Elementary Series by Jack Chabert

The Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line which is aimed at new and emerging readers, making it perfect for your first graders! Especially if they love a bit of mystery and spookiness in their reading material! The Eerie Elementary series features fun illustrations and fast-paced plots that will keep your readers building thier reading confidence as they learn all about the school that comes alive and all the spooky adventures that occur as a result!

Grade Range: 1-3

25. Jigsaw Jones Series by James Preller

The Jigsaw Jones series by James Preller is a campy series of Scooby Doo-esque mystery books that your kids won't be able to put down as they try to crack the codes and figure out the puzzles along with private detective, Jigsaw Jones. With relatable characters and humorous scenarios, it's no wonder that this series has over 33 books and remains a favorite among new readers.

Grade Range: 1-5

26. Stink Series by Megan McDonald

If your students like the Judy Moody series, they will love the Stink series by Megan McDonald that focuses on Judy's little brother, Stink. Your first-graders will love the hilarious antics of Stink Moody and his friends, not to mention all of the random facts and cool science adventures that are packed into each book! These are especially appealing for young boys and may just turn a reluctant reader into an avid on!

Try the first book in the series with Stink Book 1: The Incredible Shrinking Kid

Grade Range: K-3

27. The Frog and Toad Series by Arnold Lobel

Part of the I Can Read book list, the Frog and Toad series by Arnold Lobel is a classic first-grade chapter book series that has stood the test of time with its beautiful illustrations and life lessons about friendship and loyalty that is inherent to each story. With simple and easy-to-follow plot lines, students will feel accomplished as they finish each chapter book with ease.

Try the first book in the series with Frog and Toad Are Friends

Grade Range: K-3

28. The Mercy Watson Series by Kate DiCamillo

Written by acclaimed author Kate DiCamillo, the Mercy Watson series will entice all those animal-lovers in your classroom with the charming story about a childless couple who randomly end up purchasing an 'unusual' pig named Mercy. The series will entertain your students as they explore all of the hysterical and heartwarming adventures that Mercy gets herself and her adopted parents, the Watsons, into. The series is perfect for beginning readers as it features jovial illustrations and familiar plotlines with a fun pig-centered twist.

Grade Range: 1-4

29. Amazing Grace by Mary Hofmann

Amazing Grace chapter books by Mary Hofmann pick up with Grace, the same young, free-spirited girl, found in the picture book, Amazing Grace. Definitely enjoyable, this book series does contain some higher, more challenging vocabulary that would be good for higher readers or as a class read aloud.

Guest post by Margot Carmichael from Carmichael's Class

"Teaching 4th grade for four years has helped shape me as a teacher who is passionate about creating a classroom that engages and inspires my students, integrates technology-driven learning, offers real-world experiences, and breeds creativity. I have taught highly diverse classes with high populations of ESL learners, Special Ed learners, and behavior challenges-granting me a deep understanding on the importance of personalizing learning for each and every student. As a teacher, I am constantly learning and evolving, but the one constant is always putting my students first!"

Edication to the Core is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. All opinions and recommendations are my own and shared from my free will and not part of any promotion.

Comments

comments

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
29 Chapter Book Series to Read with Your First Grade Students

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Finding the right chapter book series today, especially for young first graders, can be challenging! There are so many more choices out there which can make it tough to determine which series are really worthy of sharing with your students.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Picture books give students a context for the concepts they are exploring in the science classroom. They often have interesting storylines that can help students understand and remember concepts better than they would by using textbooks alone, which tend to present science as lists of facts to be memorized.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Favorite books. Fairy tales. Curious kids. Kids on adventures. STEM picture books.

Picture books always have a way of delighting young kids. Simple stories can have so many meanings. I have combed through our library and recommendations from friends to put together a list of STEM inspired picture books that will inspire your kids and ignite a passion for creating and for everything STEM!

STEM PICTURE BOOKS KIDS WILL LOVE TO READ.

This post contains Amazon Affiliate links for your convenience.

MY LATEST VIDEOS
MAKES URE TO BOOKMARK THIS AWESOME STEM RESOURCE.
All month long teachers, parents, and bloggers will be working together to put together an awesome STEM resource for families and educators. This STEM guide will help you better understand STEM and how to use STEM in your setting.

BOOKS ARE INSPIRING

BOOKS CREATE WONDER.

BOOKS SHARE A WHOLE NEW WORLD FULL OF POSSIBILITIES.

It's all those possibilities that are so important to the foundation of STEM or science, technology, engineering, and math. You can even add art and make STEAM.

Kids who wonder, invent. tinker, create will eventually help build a brighter tomorrow for everyone.

What about books that encourage the most valuable of STEM's life lessons. I bet you would want them on your shelf too. But more than that, our selection of STEM picture books is simple fun for kids and their adults.
STEM PICTURE BOOKS TO DELIGHT AND INSPIRE
Click on the images below to read more about each book. My son's specific favorites include Iggy Peck, Architect, the Three Little Pigs: An Architectural Tale, If I built a House and If I Built a Car, Rosie the Riveter, and Roberto the Insect Architect.
What can you do with these great STEM picture books to emphasize the lessons learned?
Building structures of various materials is great fun for your little engineers. Challenge your budding inventors to build bridges or skyscrapers. Check out famous buildings and bridges around the world. Get outside and build a fort.

Set up a tinker station with loose parts for kids who love to putter and invent. Anything from bottle caps, to paper clips, to straws, popsicle sticks, painter's tape and boxes really stretches the imagination and gets kids thinking about new inventions.

Set up a Three Little Pigs STEM challenge and see who can build the strongest house. Can you huff and puff and blow it down. Which design is the best, what materials are the strongest?

Make your own blue prints for your dream house. Plan, design, draw, and write what you wish your house or even just your bedroom would look like. Get out graphing paper, blue paper and white pencils, add color and texture!

Set up a science lab at home and put together a science kit for your kids filled with easy kitchen science activities. Or check out this list of simple science kits. We also love a potion mixing set up where kids can check out fun chemical reactions between common kitchen ingredients.

THE BEST, MOST AWESOME STEM PICTURE BOOKS FOR KIDS

Click on the images below to see more awesome STEM activities and ideas to set up with your kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
STEM Picture Books Kids Will Love to Read Over and Over

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Favorite books. Fairy tales. Curious kids. Kids on adventures. STEM picture books. Picture books always have a way of delighting young kids. Simple stories can have so many meanings. I have combed through our library and recommendations from friends to put together a list of STEM inspired picture books that will inspire your kids and ignite a passion for creating and for everything STEM!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.authors[].name
National Science Teachers Association - NSTA

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Outstanding Science Trade Books for Students K-12

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Click here to read my full disclosure.
One of the earliest writing styles I remember teaching my kids is letter writing. I wonder, as we become more and more technologically dependent, if this will eventually become obsolete. I mean, how often do we sit down and write out a letter instead of a text or email?

Regardless of technology, I still feel it's important to know the foundation of writing a friendly letter. Our grammar program teaches the formula in early elementary. Emma, now in seventh grade, writes several friendly (fan) letters each month to the creator of her favorite YouTube channel about husky dogs. Last week, she found out the creator of the My Little Pony cartoon has a fan club, and she promptly wrote a letter to him/her (I can't remember).

Teach Friendly Letter Writing

There are lots of picture books that you can use to demonstrate the parts of a friendly letter. I like to use Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin. The letters are short and sweet. Kids find the story funny. And, it's part of a series of books that the kids will want to explore. I even wrote an author study last year featuring more of her books.

Once you've read one or more books that feature friendly letters, talk to your kids about the parts of a friendly letter. Use the anchor chart and labels I included in today's free printable. Then, read another story (or reread their favorite), and see if they can identify the parts of a letter within the story you're reading.

After that, have them write a letter of their own. They can write to Farmer Brown, a favorite artist, or their best friend. Whether they write to a real person or not doesn't matter. It's all about learning the process of writing a friendly letter.

Friendly Letters Mini Pack

Inside this free mini-pack, you will find an anchor chart, parts of a friendly letter labels, a cut-and-paste page, and two writing pages.

To download your free printable pack, you must sign up to receive my emails. Enter your contact information below. You should receive your download link within the hour. If, after an hour, you have not received your link, please and we'll figure it out together.

Please note that your link will expire in 3 days, and it can only be downloaded twice. Be sure to download and save it once it arrives in your inbox. Also note, these files will not open on a tablet or smart phone. You will need to open them from a PC or laptop. Enjoy!

[wp_eStore_free_download_squeeze_form id=85 button_text="Download Now"]

This post is part of my 31-day Teaching with Picture Book series. Be sure to check out the rest of the posts.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Teach Friendly Letter Writing with Picture Books

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Picture books bring academic lessons to life. Use this list (and my free printable mini-pack) to further illustrate the friendly letter in your homeschool and classroom lessons.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Need some narrative, opinion/persuasive, and informational mentor texts for your Kindergarten, 1st grade, or 2nd grade students?

I've got LOTS of book recommendations for you - you can use these books to teach students about writing genres and specific writing skills!

In this post, I'm sharing 50 great mentor texts, as well as 5 important "how to" tips for using mentor texts in the primary grades!
Photo credit: Tiplyashina Evgeniya, Shutterstock
The books listed below are best for use with Kindergarten, first, or second grade. The ones that are most appropriate for Kindergarten are *starred* (not to say that any of the books would be inappropriate for Kindergarten, but having taught this grade, I know that some books are a little too long for the little ones!).

Within the lists, I've linked to these books on Amazon, so you can quickly and easily add them to your cart or wishlist!

Narrative or Personal Narrative Writing Mentor Texts:

Salt Hands (Picture Puffins) (Jane Chelsea Aragon) - personal narrative

* Fireflies (Julie Brinckloe) - personal narrative

* Bigmama's (Donald Crews) - personal narrative Shortcut (Donald Crews) - personal narrative

Oliver Button Is a Sissy (Tomie dePaola)

Roller Coaster (Maria Frazee) - can be used to teach personal narratives, but not told from 1st person perspective

* Kitten's First Full Moon (Kevin Henkes) - fiction

* Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman) - narrative

* The Leaving Morning (Angela Johnson) - personal narrative

* Peter's Chair (Picture Puffins) (Ezra Jack Keats) - can be used to teach personal narratives, but not told from 1st person perspective

The Snowy Day (Ezra Jack Keats) - can be used to teach personal narratives, but not told from 1st person perspective

* Whistle for Willie (Ezra Jack Keats) - narrative

* Kitchen Dance (Maurie J. Manning) - personal narrative

One Morning in Maine (Picture Puffins) (Robert McCloskey) - narrative

Mirette on the High Wire (Emily Arnold McCully) - narrative

My Rotten Redheaded Older Brother (Patricia Polacco) - personal narrative

Thank You, Mr. Falker (Patricia Polacco) - narrative / personal narrative

Thunder Cake (Patricia Polacco) - personal narrative

The Relatives Came (Cynthia Rylant) - personal narrative

When I Was Young in the Mountains (Cynthia Rylant) - personal narrative

Too Many Tamales (Gary Soto) - narrative

* Can I Play Too? (An Elephant and Piggie Book) (Mo Willems) - fiction

* Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale (Mo Willems) - realistic fiction

* A Chair for My Mother (Vera Williams) - personal narrative

* Owl Moon (Jane Yolen) - personal narrative; great for teaching descriptive details

Opinion or Persuasive Writing Mentor Texts:

* One Word from Sophia (Jim Averbeck)

* Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type (Doreen Cronin) - can also be used to teach letter writing

The Best Part of Me: Children Talk About their Bodies in Pictures and Words (Wendy Ewald)

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School (Mark Teague) - can also be used to teach letter writing

Hey, Little Ant (Phillip Hoose)

Should We Have Pets?: A Persuasive Text (Sylvia Lollis)

I Wanna Iguana (Karen Kaufman Orloff) - can also be used to teach letter writing

I Wanna New Room (Karen Kaufman Orloff) - can also be used to teach letter writing

The Perfect Pet (Margie Palatini)

Earrings (Judith Viorst)

* Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! (Mo Willems)

* Don't Let the Pigeon Stay Up Late! (Mo Willems)

Informational / How-To / Nonfiction / Expository Writing Mentor Texts:

* All About Sharks (Jim Arnosky)

* Surprising Sharks (Nicola Davies)

Solids, Liquids, And Gases (Rookie Read-About Science) (Ginger Garrett)

* How a House Is Built (Gail Gibbons) - how-to book

The Bicycle Book (Gail Gibbons)

* The Pumpkin Book (Gail Gibbons) - one page has a how-to

* Make a Valentine (Book shop) (Dale Gordon) - how-to book

All Kinds of Habitats (It's Science!) (Sally Hewitt)

Chameleons Are Cool (Martin Jenkins)

The Abcs of Habitats (Abcs of the Natural World) (Bobbie Kalman)

Boy, Were We Wrong About Dinosaurs! (Kathleen Kudlinski)

* What Is Weather? (Ellen Lawrence)

* How to Make Salsa (Jamie Lucero) - how-to book

What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld)

All of these texts can be used with my Kindergarten, first, or second grade writing units or writing bundles. These bundles have lesson plans that show you exactly how to use mentor texts to teach writing! (However, not all of the lessons use mentor texts - many do not. I think it's important to have a balance of both.)

In addition to complete writing lesson plans, the bundles also include:

Writing rubrics / assessments

Printable posters

Kid-friendly writing checklists

Printable writing paper

Read more about the bundles here:

Five Tips for Using Mentor Texts

Now that I've shared some of my favorite mentor texts, let's talk about how to use them effectively in the classroom! Here are five things that I do when working with writing mentor texts:

1. Before utilizing a book as a mentor text, I read it aloud to students for purposes of enjoyment and comprehension. Students need an opportunity to understand, enjoy, and discuss a text before they are asked to think about it as writers. I always read aloud the mentor text a day or two before I use it in a writing lesson.

2. I use modeling and clear, explicit language to teach students how to "read as writers." I explain that people read books for many purposes - for pleasure, to learn, and to grow as writers. I like to read a familiar book aloud to students and think aloud as I "read it as a writer." I comment on what I notice about character development, how the author introduces a problem, the author's word choice, the author's use of punctuation marks, how the illustrations complement the words, and so on.

3. I use the same mentor text for multiple writing lessons. While it's helpful to expose students to many different mentor texts, you can also use a single text for multiple minilessons. In my second grade writing workshop curriculum, for example, I use the book Amazing Grace (Mary Hoffman) to teach students how to include a problem in a story, write a strong ending, and incorporate dialogue. This saves us time, because students are already familiar with the text so we can dive right into the teaching point of the minilesson.

4. I use mentor texts to guide my own planning. When I sit down to plan a writing unit, I sometimes struggle to determine what, exactly, I want my students to be able to do as writers of the genre we're working on. When this happens, I spend some time carefully examining mentor texts on my own. For example, if I'm planning a nonfiction unit, I take out a couple of children's nonfiction books and pay attention to how the authors convey information. Are examples given? Does the author provide definitions of important works? Is the information organized into categories - and if so, how? These are all strategies that I can teach students to use as they learn nonfiction writing.

5. I teach students to learn about writing from the books they read independently. I show students that, as they read, they can also grow as writers. You might have students keep a list of interesting words they find in books, and then encourage them to share these words with the class and try them out in their own writing.

Last but not least, if you'd like to grab some FREE writing printables that include alphabet charts, kid-friendly checklists, and more, get my writing folder tools freebie here!

Do you have any favorite mentor texts or tips for using them? Please comment below - I'd love to hear your thoughts!
Disclosure: Amazon affiliate links are included in this post.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Writing Mentor Texts for Kindergarten, First, and Second Grade - Learning at the Primary Pond

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
In today's post, I'll share a list of outstanding writing mentor texts, grouped by genre. I'll also share five important tips for using mentor texts to teach writing in the primary grades, so be sure to read to the end of the post!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
As Confucius said, "you cannot open a book without learning something."

Books are awesome, aren't they? They open a whole new world of imagination, letting the reader travel to a distant land or accomplish otherworldly feats without leaving the comfort of their home. They stimulate the mind, increase knowledge, expand the vocabulary - and also teach important life lessons. In honor of International Literacy Day on September 8, here are 25 quirky, colorful children's books that are ingrained with fundamental values - for every child to discover and enjoy.

1. GRATITUDE

2. GENEROSITY

3. HONESTY

4. KINDNESS

5. INDIVIDUALITY

Mirele writes about everything related to doing good, with a particular interest in volunteering and social entrepreneurship, informed by her background in eco tourism.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
25 Children's Books to Teach Your Kids Meaningful Values - Goodnet

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Books are awesome, aren't they? They open a whole new world of imagination, letting the reader travel to a distant land or accomplish otherworldly feats without leaving the comfort of their home. They stimulate the mind, increase knowledge, expand the vocabulary - and also teach important life lessons.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The recent onslaught of anti-bullying books has been rubbing me the wrong way. Many anti-bullying books focus on what kids should not do rather than what they should do. Many intentionally or unintentionally encourage kids to label each other as "bullies" and "victims," which, in my opinion, does neither those bullying nor those being bullied any good.

Furthermore, the pat solution to bullying seems to be: "Tell a trusted adult when you see someone being bullied." This advice was sound when "bullying" was defined narrowly as "habitually affecting by means of force or coercion." However, this advice seems shaky with the definition of "bullying" rapidly expanding to include taking a friend's toy, not including someone in a game, talking about someone behind their back etc. By encouraging kids to "tell a trusted adult" in these instances, anti-bullying books discourage kids from attempting to resolve conflicts themselves.

In lieu of an anti-bullying booklist, I share this list of books about friendship and kindness. The books below encourage kids to develop positive social skills. They encourage kids to share, communicate, be kind, include kids in their play and develop empathy. This booklist includes many of my favorite stories about friends and many of my favorite stories period. Enjoy!

Friendship-Themed Stories

Days With Frog and Toad includes five short stories - or fables - about two best friends: Frog and Toad. Arnold Lobel is a wonderful storyteller. Lobel's stories have quirky plots, authentic characters and humor. They are held together by the affection depicted between the two main characters. In Days With Frog and Toad, Frog gently encourages Toad to clean, the two work together to fly a kite, Frog gives Toad a birthday present that does not fit and Toad feels rejected when Frog decides to spend some time alone. Ages 3+

A Sick Day for Amos McGee is a very sweet book about a friendship between a zookeeper named Amos and the animals he cares for. When Amos gets sick, his friends elephant, tortoise, penguin, rhinocerous and owl come to his house to comfort and care for him. Ages 3+

Readers will feel for the main character in this story, who mistakenly dresses up for crazy hair day when it is picture day, and appreciate his classmates' super, compassionate response. A wonderful story. Ages 3+

Horace and Morris but Mostly Dolores by James Howe. An entertaining story about three spunky mouse friends who mistakenly succumb to the lure of the Mega-Mice (No girls aloud!) clubhouse and The Cheese Puffs (No boys allowed!) clubhouse. In the end, Dolores speaks up and starts an inclusive club devoted to activites that Horace, Morris, and Dolores all enjoy. Ages 4+

Mo Willems series of early readers are not to be missed, whether you are looking for books for emerging readers to read themselves, humorous books to entertain or stories about friendship. Those looking for stories about friendship should check out Should I Share My Ice Cream?, Can I Play Too? and My Friend is Sad. Any messages about friendship flow naturally from the stories Willems tells about best friends Elephant and Piggie. Ages 5+

The Name Jar is a story about Korean immigrant Unhei's first few days at school. Unhei decides to embrace her Korean name, and a boy Joey reaches out to and befriends Unhei. A wonderful story about difference and about reaching out to the new kid at school.

Each Kindness by Jacqueline Woodson and E. B. Lewis. In Each Kindness, a new girl Maya moves to town. It is clear from Maya's old and ragged clothes that Maya's family does not have as much money as do her classmates' families. Maya's classmates refuse to talk to or play with her. Each Kindness is told from the perspective of one of Maya's classmates. When Maya leaves school, the narrator regrets not being kind to Maya. Ages 6+

Instructional Books About Being a Good Friend

The Best Friends Book by Todd Parr. In this upbeat and humorous book, Todd Parr describes best friends as friends who accept you as you are, forgive you, share, visit you when you are sick, make you laugh etc. Ages 3+

This book - Do Unto Otters - and the following book - How Full Is Your Bucket? - are both excellent books to read at the start of the school year. Do Unto Otters offers readers a humorous introduction to the golden rule. In this story, three otters move into Mr. Rabbit's neighborhood. Mr. Rabbit is worried that he and the three otters will not get along. Mr. Rabbit recalls an old saying: "Do unto otters how you would have otters do unto you." He then brainstorms all of the ways he hopes the otters will treat him. Ages 5+

How Full Is Your Bucket? introduces kids to the concept of an invisible bucket. Readers learn that everyone has an invisible bucket that holds good thoughts and feelings. When a person's bucket is full, they feel good. When a person's bucket is empty, they feel bad. How Full Is Your Bucket? encourages kids to be bucket fillers. Ages 5+

You may also be interested in:

About Amy Broadmoore

Amy is a life-long runner and newbie cross country skier and gravel biker. She lives in Duluth, Minnesota, with her husband and three kids.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The recent onslaught of anti-bullying books has been rubbing me the wrong way. Many anti-bullying books focus on what kids should not do rather than what they should do. Many intentionally or unintentionally encourage kids to label each other as "bullies" and "victims," which, in my opinion, does neither those bullying nor those being bullied any...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Aloud America Composite Book List - Ageless

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Infant_Toddler |PreSchool | PreKindergarten |Kindergarten - 1st Grade | 2nd - 3rd Grades 4th - 5th Grades | 6th - 8th Grades | 9th - 12th Grades |Adult | Ageless |Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Aloud America Composite Book List - Grades 2 and 3

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Infant_Toddler |PreSchool | PreKindergarten |Kindergarten - 1st Grade | 2nd - 3rd Grades 4th - 5th Grades | 6th - 8th Grades | 9th - 12th Grades |Adult | Ageless |Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Read Aloud America Composite Book List - Kindergarten - First Grade

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Infant_Toddler |PreSchool | PreKindergarten |Kindergarten - 1st Grade | 2nd - 3rd Grades 4th - 5th Grades | 6th - 8th Grades | 9th - 12th Grades |Adult | Ageless |Resources

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Listed below are the best fall books for kids. We just love books about fall. It's such a fun time of year to teach about---so multi-sensory! And apparently, authors like to write fall books for children because there are quite a few of them!

We've tried to trim down our list to just include what we feel are the best autumn books, but we are definitely open to your input. If you have some favorite books about fall that we have not listed, please let us know.

(a simple story about a

lone leaf that doesn't want
by Carin Berger
to let go of the branch--
a story of courage)
Preschool - Grade 2

(a beautiful photo-essay

on autumn leaves featuring
a life-size photograph
of the tree it came)
by Ken Robbins
Kindergarten-Grade 3

(cut-paper illustrations

and simple text about every-
thing you see, smell,
hear, and touch in fall)
by Linda Glaser
Preschool - Grade 2

(an informative book that

explains what happens to leaves
in fall as they change colors )
by Betsy Maestro
Kindergarten - Grade 4

life of a tree
(intro to the
using watercolor collage
plus seeds, fabric, roots...)
by Lois Ehlert
Kindergarten - Grade 2

(when a woman buries an unwanted pumpkin, she

then gets a HUGE
bumper crop the next fall)
by Linda White
Preschool - Grade 3

There Was An Old
Lady Who Swallowed
Some Leaves
PreSchool - Grade 2

Enjoy the books!

Betsy, Cindy, and Virginia
(the teachers/sisters behind this website)

If this list was helpful, please press
the like button:

And follow us on Pinterest to hear
about cute book-related activities:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Fall Books for Children--Best Picture Books About Fall (Autumn)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Listed below are the best fall books for kids. We just love books about fall. It's such a fun time of year to teach about---so multi-sensory! And apparently, authors like to write fall books for children because there are quite a few of them!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Posted by

One of my favorite parts of the school day is reading aloud to my students. It allows me to share my LOVE of reading and instill a love of books in my students. It is a time where we can connect, share experiences, and build a classroom community. I pause often throughout the reading to ask questions, share thoughts, and allow students to add their opinions and ask questions.

In the beginning of the school year books are a great way to discuss nervous feelings, expectations, how to be a good friend, behaviors, etc. I feel it is important to put these books in your library or book area for children to read at their leisure. Even though kindergartners may not be able to read all the words in a book, they can still "read" by looking at the pictures and retelling the story in their own words.

Listed below are some of my favorite read aloud books for the first weeks of school (I couldn't list all of them as this post would be too long lol). I hope this helps you stock your library area for the hectic beginning of the year.

First Day Jitters / Feeling Accepted

Books About School

Behavior / Rules

Friendship
Back to School, Open House, Meet the Teacher Student Gift Tags Student Birthday Gift Ideas Setting Up Your Early Childhood Classroom for Success First Week of School Activities & Classroom Decor (Dog Theme)
You may also like:

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kindergarten Books / Read Alouds for the Beginning of the School Year - Lessons for Little Ones by Tina O'Block

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Posted by One of my favorite parts of the school day is reading aloud to my students. It allows me to share my LOVE of reading and instill a love of books in my students. It is a time where we can connect, share experiences, and build a classroom community.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you want to read some great chapter books to your kindergarteners this year? Would you like a plan of which book to read each month? I've got you covered. Below are some chapter books for kindergarteners that will be a good fit.

Just a little side note- chapter books are not meant to replace picture books. We should still read lots and lots of picture books to kindergarteners for many years to come.

The books on this list contain classics along with some newer gems. Try these selections as a whole group read-aloud or recommend them to families who are looking for book suggestions.

Month by Month Chapter Books for Kindergarteners
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
Some books listed are part of a series. If you find your kids love a particular series, you can then recommend the other books to families to enjoy at home too.

September

A Bear Called Paddingtonby Michael Bond is the story of a bear who has traveled a great distance from his home in Peru to England where he meets the Brown family. The lovely family invites him into their home where he has many adventures. Paddington sure does find himself in lots of mishaps which cause lots of chuckles for young listeners. (there are more Paddington adventure books)

October

Zoey and Sassafras Dragons and Marshmallows by Asia Castro is the first book in a series. Listeners quickly learn about Zoey's special ability to see magical creatures in need of help. It's a skill that she shares with her mom. Zoey and her cat, Sassafras, are called by the doorbell on the barn to help a struggling dragon. Zoey uses her thinking goggles and scientific reasoning to help the creature. This is a great series for STEM learning. (part of a series)

November

In Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina, we meet a young girl and her dog navigating everyday life in Bogotá, Colombia. Learn about all of her likes and dislikes. There are also lots of pictures to share with the students. Kindergarteners will love relating to this young girl. ( part of a series)

December

A Mouse Called Wolf by Dick King-Smith is the story of a little mouse named Wolfgang Amadeus Mouse who just happens to be destined by his name to have musical talent. Turns out he is living in a house with a gifted pianist. A friendship between animal and human begins and Wolf even saves Mrs. Honeybee's life.

Of course, you will need to play some of Mozart's music for the kids during December.

January

Did you know the author of Knuffle Bunny and the Elephant & Piggie books wrote a chapter book? Yep! Mo Willems also wrote The Story of Diva and Flea. Diva is a dog and Flea is a cat that both live on different sides of town. They two become unlikely friends in Paris. Mo Willems actually lived in France for awhile to draw inspiration for this book.

February

February is generally filled with lots of chocolate so Charlie & The Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl is a great pick. The descriptive language will have kids drooling for a yummy treat while listening to the story of five kids who get to enter Willy Wonka's chocolate factory for a very special tour.

March

Head to the farm and in Charlotte's Web by E.B. White where we meet the beloved characters- Wilbur and Charlotte. Though this book may be read again in other grades, there is something magical about enjoying it in kindergarten.

As a bonus, watch the original 1972 cartoon version of Charlotte's Web after you read it to the kids.

April

Ragweed by Avi is full of adventure as we travel with a mouse who has set out to see the world. Ragweed soon learns that there is a lot of danger that awaits him in the form of cats. He has many close encounters with the felines and works to save the mouse population in town. (part of The Tales of Dimwood Forest)

May

Magic Tree House by Mary Pope Osborne is a very large beginning reader series. They make a great kindergarten read-aloud series for a couple of reasons. First, they are full of adventure. Second, they appeal to both girls and boys and will most likely become one of the first series they read when they begin reading chapter books.

I would select one of the books from the series that covers a topic your class is particularly interested in knowing more about. Topics range from the Amazon Rainforest to dinosaurs to mummies. If you are not sure which book to select, A Perfect Time for Pandas was one of our favorites. (part of a series)

June

The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron is the story of a young storyteller. Julian especially loves to try to convince his younger brother, Huey, of different things. Often, his stories can land him in just a bit of trouble. (there is also More Stories Julian Tells and other spinoff books)

July

Runaway Ralph by Beverly Cleary is a book you might remember from your own childhood. Ralph is a mouse who loves adventures on his motorcycle. He decides to leave home and finds himself at a camp. There are lots of challenges being a mouse at a human camp.

This is a great summer book choice. (there are more books starring Ralph)

August

Zapato Power Freddie Ramos Takes Off by Jacqueline Jules takes on lots of adventures with Freddie Ramos. After discovering a new pair of shoes at his house, his life is changed forever. These special "zapatos" give him speed and confidence to perform lots of tasks. (part of a series)

If there is ever a month when you don't care for a selection or perhaps have time for another chapter book, here are some alternate titles.

26 Fairmount Avenue by Tomie DePaola

8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel ÷ 1 Dog = Chaos by Vivian Vande Velde (coolest author name ever)

Henry and Mudge, Poppleton, or Mr Putter and Tabby which are all series by Cynthia Rylant

The Fantastic Feats of Doctor Boox by Andrew Davies

Get Your Printable List of Kindergarten Read-Alouds

Would you like a list of these books that you can print and keep in your lesson plan binder? I have a FREE printable list for email subscribers.
Are you ready to meet the needs of all your growing readers? Become a part of the Growing Book by Book community and receive emails full of time-saving resources and offers. As a thank you, you'll receive the printable book list.

RELATED POSTS Chapter Books to Read to Preschoolers Chapter Books to Read to 1st Graders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Printable List of Kindergarten Month-by-Month Read-Alouds

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you want to read some great chapter books to your kindergarteners this year? Would you like a plan of which book to read each month? I've got you covered. Below are some chapter books for kindergarteners that will be a good fit. Just a little side note- chapter books are not meant to replace picture books.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Do you want to read some great chapter books to your 1st graders this year? Would you like a plan of which book to read each month? I've got you covered. Below are some chapter books for first graders that will be a good fit.
Chapter books are not meant to replace picture books. We should still read lots and lots of picture books to our young children for many years to come.
These selections can be read to a whole group or recommend them to families who are looking for book suggestions.

Month by Month Chapter Books for 1st Graders
Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.
September

Start the new school year with a book of adventure in Pippi Longstocking by Astrid Lindgren.

There is a new neighbor in town and her name is Pippi Longstocking. She has wild red pigtails, no parents to tell her what to do, a horse that lives on her porch, and a flair for the outrageous that seems to lead to one adventure after another! (there are more Pippi adventure books)

October

Dominic by William Steig is the story of a dog on a journey to see more of the world and to see where life takes him. Along the way, he encounters many new animals all in need of some help. He even encounters the Doomsday Gang. Throughout the story, we learn about many admirable traits that Dominic carries with him on his exploration of the world.

This book is packed with vocabulary to enrich your kids listening and speaking vocabulary.

November

My all-time favorite chapter book is The Cricket in Times Square by George Selden. It was a 1961 Newbery Honor Book. (there are more cricket adventure books)

A cricket from Connecticut finds himself shuffled to New York via a picnic basket. It's there that he meets some great friends and takes in the sites of Times Square. He also brings a great gift to a hard-working family.

Since the story takes place in New York, it will be fun to talk about the Macy's Day Parade that happens each November in the same city.

December

The Very Very Far Northby Dan Bar-el has a Winnie-the-Pooh vibe to it. Duane, the polar bear, likes to explore his surroundings and in the process meets lots of new friends that he creates names for. And, each of his artic friends has a very unique personality. (part of a series)

January

Mr. Popper's Penguins by Richard Atwater is the story of a house painter named Mr. Popper. He is given a penguin as a gift from a polar explorer. His house begins to fill with penguins and he has to figure out what to do. Penguin upkeep is expensive and Mr. Popper decides to create a penguin show and take his brood on the road. Will the new lifestyle fit the penguins and Mr. Popper? You just have to read to find out. (Newbery Honor Book)

February

The Chocolate Touch by Patrick Skene Catling is a sweet treat for February.

John Midas adores chocolate. He's happy to eat any time of the day. Then one day, John finds a special candy store where he receives the most unusually delicious chocolate he has ever eaten. From that moment, things really begin to change. Turns out everything that touches his lips tastes like chocolate from his toothpaste to his morning bacon. Is it really true that there can be too much of a good thing?

March

The Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner is the story of four orphaned siblings who find an old boxcar to live in for a short time. The kids are extremely resourceful and do well taking care of themselves. Eventually, they are reunited with their kind grandfather who brings them to his house to live. But, he also has the boxcar moved to the backyard so the kids can play in it whenever they want. ( part of a series)

April

This one isn't a chapter book, but does provide enough material for the whole month. Since April is National Poetry Month, read Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein. The kids will be giggling daily at the poems.

It's fun to have the kids illustrate the poems as you read too. And, you might even have your class memorize one of the poems. We liked memorizing "Boa Constrictor."

May

Ribsy by Beverly Cleary is a timeless classic about a dog and his owner named Henry. Ribsy travels to the shopping mall with the Huggins family and mistakenly ends up in the wrong station wagon. He ends up going home with a different family and that is when things become very adventurous. Ribsy travels all over trying to make his way home. (there are more Ribsy books)

June

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes is the story of a young girl who tells her classmates that she has 100 dresses in her closet. Yet, she wears the same dress every day. The kids begin to tease her at school. From there, lots of lessons are learned. (Newbery Honor Book)

A great book for talking about empathy and kindness. Here are just a few questions you could discuss with the book.

What is discrimination?

How do you think it feels to be teased?

How should we treat others?

What should we do if we see someone being teased or bullied?

July

James and the Giant Peach by Roald Dahl is an entertaining tale about a boy named James who is sent to live with his two mean aunts. He discovers something when he accidentally drops magical crystals on a peach tree. A giant peach forms at the top of the tree. When James goes to explore, he meets all sorts of creatures at the peach. Then, the fruit detaches from the tree and the real adventure begins.

August

The Year of Billy Miller by Kevin Henkes was a 2014 Newbery Honor Book. Billy is a second grader dealing with common second grade issues- siblings, friends, and school. It's a fun read at the end of first grade before the kids head to second grade.
Alternates
If there is ever a month where you don't like the suggested title or you have time to read another book, here are a few more to try.

Freckle Juice by Judy Blume

The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald

Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
To Get Kids Excited About Reading Early Chapter Books on Their Own
If you have some students who are ready to begin reading early chapter books on their own, I like to do a whole class read-aloud from a series I think they may be interested in reading. You will often find that new chapter book readers will want to read other books in the series after you have read one to them. And, if you find your kids love a particular series, you can then recommend the other books to families to enjoy at home too. Here are a few series to try.-> Beginning Reader Chapter Books

1st Grade Read-Alouds Printable List

Would you like a list of these books that you can print and keep in your lesson plan binder? I have a FREE printable list for email subscribers.
Are you ready to meet the needs of all your growing readers? Become a part of the Growing Book by Book community and receive emails full of time-saving resources and offers. As a thank you, you'll receive the printable book list.

RELATED POSTS Chapter Book Read-Alouds for Kindergarten Chapter Book Read-Alouds for Preschool

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Favorite Chapter Book Read-Alouds for 1st Graders

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Do you want to read some great chapter books to your 1st graders this year? Would you like a plan of which book to read each month? I've got you covered. Below are some chapter books for first graders that will be a good fit. Chapter books are not meant to replace picture books.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
First Grade Read Aloud Chapter Books

first grade read aloud chapter books

[1]

Bearn, Emily

illus. Price, Nick

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

Tumtum and Nutmeg are mice who live in a mansion that happens to be located the the cupboard of a human house. The writing is clear and to the point, and I like it much more than most British works which I feel often ramble on a bit. The vocabulary is a little sophisticated, though I didn't need to take out my dictionary in order to define the words for my child.

[2]

Birney, Betty G.

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended
audiobook CD

Another good book about rodents. This time a class pet hamster, Humphrey. This one is semi-realistic: the hamster is intelligent but he can not communicate with humans. He does have a talent for helping humans out. In fact, his purpose seems to be to solve the problems of all the humans around him.

[3]

Byars, Betsy; Myers, Laurie; Duffey, Betsy

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

A collection of short stories. Each child in a first grade class writes a story about an emergency that they had. All of the stories were pretty good, but one struck me. It was about a girl who was left in a dumpster at birth, was rescued, and when she was older went looking for her rescuer.

[4]

Cameron, Ann

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended

Everyone of Cameron's books we have read are excellent. Parents who like good role models will especially like her books. Gloria is a little girl who wants to be an astronaut. The main conflict is between Gloria and her fourth grade teacher, who is the epitome of strict, old style way of teaching.

[5]

Colfer, Eoin

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

Each book of this series has a legend that gets debunked. In Spud, two brothers are punished by being forced to spend the summer in the library, with the meanest librarian on earth. Well, she is pretty mean but it all turns out good in the end.

[6]

Coville, Bruce

illus. Coville, Katherine

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

A boy buys a ring from a strange shop which turns him into a dragon whenever he turns the ring. He gets back at the school bully. However, things don't work out when he can't turn back into a boy.

[7]

illus. Blake, Quentin

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up
audiobook CD

A great book for beginning read-aloud chapter books. Charlie wins a ticket to visit the most spectacular chocolate factory in the world.

[8]

illus. Blake, Quentin

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up
audiobook CD

A great book for beginning read-aloud chapter books. James escapes from a wretched life (being raised by his two aunts) in a giant peach, along with some rather large, but friendly, insects.

[9]

Donaldson, Julia

illus. Swearingen, Greg

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up
audiobook CD

A twist on Jack And Bean Stalk, but written from the point of view of a young female giant. The book is action-packed, but an interesting feature is the use of language. Donaldson created a giant language (with a dictionary at the back of the book) that kids will have loads of fun deciphering from context.

[10]

Fellowes, Julian

illus. Schindler, S.D.

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

A story about abandoned stuffed animals who end up in a garbage dump. The story is familiar: a lost toy tries to find its owner, other toys try to deal with being thrown out. The writing is british. The vocabulary is extraordinarily complicated for an illustrated novel. So be prepared to define a lot of words, often 2 or 3 words in a single sentence. It is a great opportunity to increase your child's vocabulary. The illustrations are good, almost every page has one.

[11]

Henry, Marguerite

illus. Dennis, Wesley

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

This is a famous Newberry award wining novel about a legendary race horse named Godolphin Arabian. One of the enduring traits of this book is that is tackles the prejudice that accompanies non-noble birth. Godolphin is not a purebred, and even though he is the fastest horse in the universe, he can not compete in the European races, because of his origins.

[12]

Howe, Deborah; Howe, James

illus. Daniel, Alan

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

Bunnicula is a vampire bunny who sucks the juice right out of vegetables.

[13]

Kimmel, Eric A.

illus. Trueman, Matthew

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

A child biography of Marc Chagall. This really explains what art is all about, why it is important, and why artists do it.

[14]

King-Smith, Dick

illus. Rayner, Mary

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended

Babe is a pig who desperately tries to avoid the slaughter house. He is adopted by a mother sheep dog, and is determined to become useful on the farm by herding sheep. Though you can read this book to a preschooler, it is a little longer and more complicated then most of our other choices, so choose this book after your child is already comfortable listening to 100 page chapter books.

[15]

Look, Lenore

illus. Pham, LeUyen

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended

Alvin Ho has severe anxiety. He has never talked at school. Not even to answer a question, and not to any other kids. Outside of school he talks fine, though he is anxious about quite a few things.

[16]

Martin, Ann; Godwin, Laura

illus. Selznick, Brian

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended

There are many toy stories out there, but for some reason I don't get sick of them. Just because toys are alive, does not determine the story, especially when the toys really stand for people. The novel under review is 255 pages long with many of Selznick's great illustrations. There isn't all that much text on each page, but nevertheless, this is a very long read aloud. I would only recommend it to an advanced listener. The book is also deep: when dolls are made, they must take an oath of secrecy to stay alive. If a human suspects they are alive, they fall into doll state, 24 hours of immobility. If they are reckless, they can fall into permanent doll state: death. Parents will enjoy it.

[17]

McDonald, Megan

illus. Reynolds, Peter

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

Judy Moody is a third grader that often gets into strong moods. She has a little brother, Stink, who also has a series of chapter books (see the preschool chapter book list). In fact, Stink is often the butt of some hilarious practical jokes. Overall, the books are humorous for kids, and to the adult, thanks to some clever puns.

[18]

illus. Millard, Kerry

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

A father leaves his daughter alone on a tropical island while he goes off to study plankton. Well, she is not completely alone: a sea lion, iguana, and sea turtle keep her company.

[19]

Sachar, Louis

illus. Mccauley, Adam

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

This is a collection of loosely tied short stories that take place in school. All the stories are interesting. Most are strange; some have lessons; some poke fun at society. Both the young and old will enjoy these stories, though at different levels.

[20]

Selznick, Brian

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended
audiobook CD

I call this book: the worlds thickest picture book. The book measures roughly 526 pages, with something like 200 illustrations. When one does the subtraction one comes up with roughly 300 pages of text; however many text pages have only a few lines, and many pages are blank. What I am trying to say is that the book looks formidable, but it is quite possible to read the book to a preschooler. You can do it in 3-4 days, even. The illustrations are wonderful, and the story is complex and suspenseful. The writing is clear. It tells the story of an orphan who lives inside the walls of a Paris train station in 1931, fixing clocks and an automaton.

[21]

Winthrop, Elizabeth

chapter book
read-aloud first grade and up

highly recommended
audiobook CD

A young boy is given a miniature castle by his beloved nanny who is returning to England. The castle turns out to be magical, containing a live knight. A classical quest adventure ensues. The book is a little dated, but it is a nice happy, non-scarey adventure, suitable for young ones.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
First Grade Read Aloud Chapter Books [1] Bearn, Emily illus. Price, Nick chapter book read-aloud first grade and up Tumtum and Nutmeg are mice who live in a mansion that happens to be located the the cupboard of a human house.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
by: Doreen Cronin - (Joanna Cotler Books, 2003) 40 pages.

Doreen Cronin has done it again with this first person narrative told from the point of view of a boy worm. This book introduces the concept of a diary in a fun way. Young readers will identify with all the escapades of a worm, as he interacts with family members, goes to school and vacations at Compost Island. Children will laugh and learn facts in a fun way while learning to appreciate living creatures.

Want to see the movie? Check out the Scholastic video collection Diary of a Worm... And Four More Great Animal Tales, which also includes favorites like Anatole and Frog Goes to Dinner.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find Diary of a Worm at your local library.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Favorite books for 1st graders Book lists | GreatSchools.org

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
by: Doreen Cronin - (Joanna Cotler Books, 2003) 40 pages. Doreen Cronin has done it again with this first person narrative told from the point of view of a boy worm. This book introduces the concept of a diary in a fun way.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
When you've curated over 100 book lists, there is bound to be some overlap. Although some of these books may appear on other lists, I have purposefully not included books on my two most popular lists, Read Aloud books for 4-6 year olds and Chapter Books for 3 year olds and Preschoolers. If you are looking for first grade read aloud books, please visit those lists, too! They contain my number one recommendation for a first chapter book read aloud.

The following titles are books that either I have read to my 1st grader this past year, or that his first grade teachers have read aloud in class. We have read others, too, but since I try to find books my 10 year old will also enjoy, I've included only the ones I think were particularly suited to my 6 year old. There is a wide range of subjects here, from mysteries, to realistic fiction, friendship stories, humor and fantasy. (Note: covers and titles are affiliate links.)

Dont' forget! You can find all our book lists indexed here.

MY LATEST VIDEOS

Gooseberry Park. My son's teachers read this to the class and my 6 year old loved it so much he wanted me to read it at home.So of course I did! This charming story follows the adventures of a bat with a taste for junk food, a kind dog and a wise hermit crab as they try to save their friend Stumpy the Squirrel and her new babies. Recently we also read the sequel, Gooseberry Park and the Master Plan, and enjoyed it just as much. If you haven't read any of the books on this first grade read aloud list, start with this one.

Ginger Pye is also a very recent favorite of ours. My son loved this classic book about a boy who saves up for a puppy ( one whole dollar!). Once Ginger Pye is part of the family, he mysteriously disappears and the kids are convinced he's been stolen. The whole neighborhood gets in on the action to look for him. A classic, heartwarming tale.

Little Dog, Lost. I recently included this book in my list of chapter books in verse. A novel written in verse may not be high on your read aloud agenda, but I encourage you to try this one. Little Dog, Lost is an utterly charming story. Three plot points: a boy who needs a dog, a dog who needs an owner and a neighbor who needs a friends come together in an extremely satisfying story. For me, the cadence of the free verse made this book easier to read aloud than prose. The story is heartfelt and engaging while still providing kids ( and parents!) the opportunity to contemplate and discuss ideas like the importance of community and companionship. I read it aloud to my 6 and 10 year olds and we all throughly enjoyed it.

McBroom's Wonderful One-Acre Farm: Three Tall Tales.These humorous tales can be read as stand alone stories so they are perfect for kids who may not have the attention span for longer novels, or who don't like the idea of pausing the action at the end of a chapter. These quite hilarious tales feature McBroom and his 11 children, bamboozles, tricksters and lots of wit and wisdom.

This very popular duo star in an early chapter book series for young readers but the books also make great short chapter book read alouds for the first grade set. Ivy and Bean become fast friends, despite their differences and their intrepid spirits take the readers on all sorts of amusing adventures from trying to find dinosaur fossils in the backyard to getting through the dreaded ballet recital very, um, creatively. Sophie Blackall's black and white illustrations are just as good as the writing. Simply wonderful.

Bobby the Brave (Sometimes). I first wrote about this in my list of multicultural early chapter books. I brought it home from the library and started reading it aloud to my younger son. My older son started listening in, even though he had already read it so that's a good recommendation for you! Bobby Ellis-Chan struggles the fact that he is not interested in football even though his dad is a retired professional. "The Freezer", as his dad is known, is now a stay-at-home dad and while the siblings have their usual back-and-forths, it is a functional, loving family. Bobby's family is bi-racial and his friends come from different ethnic backgrounds but it is not a focus of the book at all. In fact, I couldn't help thinking it reflected my own sons' diverse classrooms. This is a funny, charming book with non-stock characters and I'm looking forward to reading more books in the series.

The Great Cake Mystery: Precious Ramotswe's Very First Case. Precious Ramotswe of the No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency book series for grown-ups solved her very first case in Botswana when she was just a girl. When her friends' lunchtime treats go missing Precious is on the job and when she discovers the surprising thief a nice chuckle is had by all. This book is nice way of exposing young readers to other cultures and includes a reading guide, glossary, activity ideas and even a recipe! My son loved figuring out the clever and amusing mystery.

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang: The Magical Car. My son loved this book, too. Do not judge a book by its movie! This humorous tale by the author of James Bond is great fun. The crazy Pott family purchases a car that can fly as well at catch criminals. ( Don't bother watching the movie! Ugh.)
MORE USEFUL LISTS:

Like this list? I publish a new book list every Monday. Sign up for our newsletter so you don't miss a single one.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
When you've curated over 100 book lists, there is bound to be some overlap. Although some of these books may appear on other lists, I have purposefully not included books on my two most popular lists, Read Aloud books for 4-6 year olds and Chapter Books for 3 year olds and Preschoolers.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
An amazing lineup of first grade books goes a long way to making your year a great one. Of course you have plenty of well-loved titles, but freshening up your shelves always feels good. Here are 60 notable and recent titles we suggest for your first grade classroom library.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1.& 2. When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L. B. Deenihan

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree' s riff on "When life gives you lemons ..." has a childlike perspective on everything: cheerful, lively illustrations, and themes galore to discuss with first graders. Just like Grandma's lemon tree, it's a gift that keeps on giving.

Buy it: When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree on Amazon

2. When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox by Jamie L. B. Deenihan

When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox features a child who wishes for a dollhouse but receives a toolbox instead. (After the initial disappointment, it actually turns out to be perfect for building a dream doll castle!) Though it's not the focus of the story, this title gives classrooms the chance to gently discuss avoiding gender assumptions and practice using non-binary pronouns when talking about a book character.

Add both witty Deenihan titles to your mentor texts for how-to writing too!

Buy it: When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox on Amazon

3. The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Add this first-time camping story to your collection of books portraying kids of color having joyful, everyday experiences. Or use it to launch a discussion of themes like overcoming fears and having new experiences. It also makes for an awesome personal-narrative writing mentor text with ALL the mini-lesson inspiration, from labels to detailed event sequences, sensory details to speech bubbles, and even characters' emotions.

Buy it: The Camping Trip on Amazon

4. The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho

Learn about the historic tradition of female divers in South Korea, the haenyeo, through this narrative account of a young girl's first experiences diving with her grandmother. We love how this book encourages kids to ask questions and make inferences-it's truly captivating!

Buy it: The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story on Amazon

5. The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos

This lovely personal narrative affirms the experiences of kids whose parents work the night shift, and adds to discussions about homes, family life, friendship, and being part of a community. Mami keeps a cot in the living room for neighborhood kids who need a place to spend the night when their parents are working, and her daughter always wishes for a turn to use it. When she finally gets a chance to try it, she learns some unexpected lessons about empathy.

Buy it: The Cot in the Living Room on Amazon

6. Carpenter's Helper by Sybil Rosen and Camille Garoche

Papi and Renata are busy renovating the bathroom together when a wren flies in the window and makes a nest. This stalls the project, but it creates an unforgettable chance to watch nature at work. Add this one to your first grade books to encourage thoughtful discussions about helping, respect for nature, problem-solving, and more.

Buy it: Carpenter's Helper on Amazon

7. When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz

This celebration of the seasons pairs Lenape Indian traditions past and present. So many first grade curriculum connection possibilities.

Buy it: When the Shadbush Blooms on Amazon

8. Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin

Lily must make a long drive across her state to move in with her Gram. When Gram suggests they pass the time by looking for 10 beautiful things, Lily's sure there won't be any. She learns that beauty can penetrate even deep sadness. This is one of the most tender first grade books (or any grade book) we've read recently.

Buy it: Ten Beautiful Things on Amazon

9. It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton

Another clever story about mail reminds us to be careful what we wish for. Delightful word choices (e.g., diddley-squat and squibble wibble whoop) make this a fun one to read aloud over and over.

Buy it: It Came in the Mail on Amazon

10. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

When Julián sees a group of women dressed as mermaids on the subway in Julián and the Mermaid, he's transfixed. He wonders if Abuela will be angry when he dresses up as a mermaid, but her response is perfect. Not only is this book stunning, it also opens up important discussions about acceptance.

Buy it: Julián Is a Mermaid on Amazon

11. Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love

Prepare to fall in love with Julián all over again in Julián at the Wedding. The text proclaims a wedding "a party for love." The resplendent illustrations convey not only love between the brides, but love for yourself and your choices too.

Buy it: Julián at the Wedding on Amazon

12. Bird Boy by Matthew Burgess

Connecting with others at school doesn't come easily to Nico-but he loves to sit quietly and watch nature, especially birds. When classmates dub him "Bird Boy," it feels like teasing, but it turns out Nico was just meant to make friends in his own time. Add this to your first grade books about friendship and identity; we also like the representation of wheelchair use in the illustrations.

Buy it: Bird Boy on Amazon

13. Truman by Jean Reidy

When a tortoise's beloved owner unexpectedly disappears on the bus, he's determined to see her again. For back-to-school or any time of year, big themes of devotion, perseverance, bravery, and friendship come perfectly packaged for first graders' consideration in this sweet story.

Buy it: Truman on Amazon

14. Calvin by JR and Vanessa Ford

Over summer vacation, Calvin bravely tells his parents that even though they've always thought of him as a girl, in his "heart and brain," he's a boy named Calvin. They support him in starting his new school year as his true self. The joyful illustrations and straightforward, positive language make this a helpful book for so many kids.

Buy it: Calvin on Amazon

15. Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

What do you do when you beg your mom to buy glow-in-the-dark underwear and they turn out to be super scary? This follow-up to the crowd-pleasing Creepy Carrots! is hysterical and good for discussions about expectations, growing up, and managing fears.

We are pumped to share the newest Creepy Tales book, Creepy Crayon!, with students too-especially since it's school-themed!

Buy it: Creepy Pair of Underwear! on Amazon

16. Amira's Picture Day by Reem Faruqi

Amira is excited to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with her family-until she realizes it falls on the same day as school picture day. This is one of our favorite new first grade books for studying characters' emotions. We also love adding more representation of Muslim families to our libraries.

Buy it: Amira's Picture Day on Amazon

17. If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

First graders are old pros at the whole school thing, making them perfect candidates for appreciating C hris Van Dusen's utopian imaginary upgrade.

Buy it: If I Built a School on Amazon

18. Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

A girl finds herself in her dad's office and just can't resist diving into ALL of the office supplies. Pretty soon it's a hilarious mess of paper clips, tape, sticky notes, and more. Yikes! Well, everyone goes overboard sometimes. This is one of our new favorite first grade books for talking about author's message.

Buy it: Off-Limits on Amazon

19., 20. & 21. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn; Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter; and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

Engaging introductions to class nature-observation walks or to study descriptive writing, this trio of gorgeous titles encourages kids to tune in to the changes each season brings.

Buy it: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter, and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring on Amazon

22. Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang

Amy Wu is one of the most endearing picture book characters. Add her newest adventure to your first grade books about welcoming new students. When Lin joins Amy's class, he hardly talks at all, but he's totally different when he's talking in Chinese with his family. Amy uses her big heart to make Lin feel comfortable.

Buy it: Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome on Amazon

23. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed

Bilal's buddies don't understand why his dad asks him to come inside to help cook dinner so early in the day-until they learn how to make daal. The day ends with a delicious tasting and new appreciation for this South Asian culinary tradition. This story has all the ingredients for a fun read-aloud and narrative-writing mentor text.

Buy it: Bilal Cooks Daal on Amazon

24. Lizzy and the Cloud by The Fan Brothers

Every one of the Fan Brothers books is gorgeous, and we particularly love this one for first grade dreamers. Lizzy visits the cloud seller at the park and comes home with her very own cloud, Milo. She must follow the instructions that came with it, even if that means making difficult choices. This is a whimsical standalone read-aloud or fun to contrast with informational books about clouds during a weather unit.

Buy it: Lizzy and the Cloud on Amazon

25. Rules of the House by Mac Barnett

Ian loves rules. (Remind you of any first graders you know?) On a family vacation, both he and his anti-rule sister, Jenny, get a lesson in stepping outside their comfort zones.

Buy it: Rules of the House on Amazon

26. Ways to Make Friends by Jairo Buitrago

First grade books about friendship are essential for starting the school year. Toad has lots of quirky ideas for making friends that are great for class discussion. We appreciate that this book also acknowledges that working on making friends can be tiring sometimes; time alone can feel good too.

Buy it: Ways to Make Friends on Amazon

27. Welcome to Bobville: City of Bobs by Jonah Winter

Add this to your first grade books about names. In Bobville, everyone is named Bob. Along with their shared names, they look, think, and act the same way. That is until one Bob decides to challenge the norm and change his name to Bruce! This story manages to be discussion-worthy while also tickling first graders' sense of humor.

Buy it: Welcome to Bobville: City of Bobs on Amazon

28. Too Many Pigs in the Pool by Hinote Lanier

Mr. Jenkins wants some company in his swimming pool, but he doesn't expect a steadily growing pig pool party. This math story gets kids thinking about doubling in a hysterical way.

Buy it: Too Many Pigs in the Pool on Amazon

29. How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? by Dev Petty

"How old are you?" is a crucial question for first graders! No one is sure how many candles to put on Mr. Tortoise's birthday cake, but they all have suggestions. Add this fun title to your first grade math books about representing and ordering number amounts to 1,000.

Buy it: How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? on Amazon

30. The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! by Christina Soontornvat

There are supposed to be 10 Blunder siblings, but what will Mom say when they report that one is missing? This story's silly illustrations get first graders thinking about counting strategies and ways to make 10.

Buy it: The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! on Amazon

31. Pigeon Math by Asia Citro

Counting pigeons seems easy, but this group of unpredictable birds keeps coming and going. Share this playful "birds on a wire" scenario when you're teaching about writing addition and subtraction number sentences.

Buy it: Pigeon Math on Amazon

32., 33. & 34. Triangle, Square, and Circle by Mac Barnett

Inject both humor and critical thinking into your 2D geometry unit with this smart trilogy that gets students thinking about shapes' features in new ways.

Buy it: Triangle, Square, and Circle on Amazon

35. Mr. Watson's Chickens by Jarrett Dapier

The story follows Mr. Watson as he figures out what to do with the 456 chickens overcrowding the home he shares with his partner, Mr. Nelson. The sneaky birds find a way to escape, but even after he's rounded them all back up, Mr. Nelson isn't sure he's ready to let them go. Filled with fun onomatopoeia and rhythmic writing, this book makes for a great read-aloud.

Buy it: Mr. Watson's Chickens on Amazon

36. Firefighters' Handbook by Meghan McCarthy

Meghan McCarthy always serves up top-notch informational read-alouds, but this one might be our favorite yet. From training to tools, it covers all things firefighting. Use it to teach students about informational text comprehension strategies and as a mentor text for writing their own.

Buy it: Firefighters' Handbook on Amazon

37. Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez

Here's a tasty narrative nonfiction topic! This engaging account of the "invention" of this popular snack (and cafeteria staple) offers a satisfying bite of food history, and may even inspire additional snack research or experimentation of kids' own.

Buy it: Nacho's Nachos: The Story Behind the World's Favorite Snack on Amazon

38. What's in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature's Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery

Scientists (especially first grade ones!) are always collecting interesting things they find. This clever book presents famous scientists using anecdotes about how they found nature items as kids. Encourage scientific inquiry and introduce types of scientists with this awesome addition to your first grade books about science!

Buy it: What's in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature's Treasures on Amazon

39. Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know by Brittany Luby

How do you know when summer, or fall, or winter, or spring really arrive? This beautiful bilingual book is written in Anishinaabemowin (the language of the Ojibwe) and English.

Buy it: Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know on Amazon

40. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark

Share this story as an example of persistence and also to help your students appreciate the origin of the tablets, laptops, and desktops they use today.

Buy it: Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code on Amazon

41. Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan's Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal by Karyn Parsons

The traffic signal is such a concrete example for first grade minds of how an invention can solve a problem. This rhyming story brings Garrett Morgan's work to life. It will definitely get kids thinking and wondering about other inventions too.

Buy it: Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan's Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal on Amazon

42. The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley

When first graders see a problem, they want to fix it-which makes this true story about a determined crew of soccer-loving friends extra fascinating. Prasit Hemmin and his buddies live on a small Thai island, meaning they only have room to play soccer occasionally at low tide on a sandbar. So they decide to build themselves a floating soccer field! Add this to your first grade books about perseverance.

Buy it: The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field on Amazon

43. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids From Around the World by Matt Lamothe

Every elementary classroom needs a copy of this book, which sends a powerful message about the things that connect kids across the globe.

Buy it: This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids From Around the World on Amazon

44. A Peek at Beaks: Tools Birds Use by Sara Levine

A fun text structure turns learning about different types of bird beaks into a guessing game. What kind of bird has a beak that works like a knife? A net? Needle-nose pliers? A straw? We love first grade books that let us dig into science standards through reading aloud.

Buy it: A Peek at Beaks: Tools Birds Use on Amazon

45. Seedlings series by various authors

Engaging topics, great photos, clear informational text features? Check, check, check. If you need to beef up your collection of informational books your firsties can tackle independently, you'll want to click through the many (many!) options in this series.

Buy it: Seedlings on Amazon

46. Giggle and Learn books by Kevin McCloskey

The Giggle and Learn series takes on high-interest topics in their readable, comic-style nonfiction texts. Explore the whole series.

Buy it: Giggle and Learn books on Amazon

47. Seeing Into Tomorrow by Richard Wright

This collection of haiku highlights common childhood experiences of children, like noticing shadows, playing outside, and watching trains. The unique photo collage artwork is a much-needed, everyday portrayal of African American boys.

Buy it: Seeing Into Tomorrow on Amazon

48. Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers' Market by Michelle Schaub

This collection has a shopping list's worth of creative rhymes, fun illustrations, and great vocabulary, all while celebrating healthy, local food.

Buy it: Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers' Market on Amazon

49. Thunder and Cluck series by Jill Esbaum

Thunder and Cluck are different in many ways. Is friendship possible? First graders will love the odd-couple hilarity. This series is part of the Ready to Read Graphics collection, which are all fantastic. Each book starts with an amazing tutorial about how to read graphic novels, perfect for class mini-lessons or small-group work.

Buy it: Thunder and Cluck series on Amazon

50. World of Reading: Mother Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins

Hooray for early readers starring one of our all-time favorite picture book characters! Mother Bruce is just as funny as ever and new readers will be proud to be able to read about his antics on their own.

Buy it: World of Reading: Mother Bruce books on Amazon

51. Unicorn and Yeti series by Heather Ayris Burnell

Fun creatures and classic friendship themes are a great combo in this fun series. The short chapters, color-coded speech bubbles, and supportive pictures are awesome for first grade readers. This series is part of the Acorn Books early reader collection-a must-look for updating your first grade books for independent reading. (For more advanced readers, you'll also love the Branches collection of transitional chapter books.)

Buy it: Unicorn and Yeti series on Amazon

52. The Mo Jackson Series by David A. Adler

What Mo lacks in size and athleticism he makes up for in determination and love of the game. Young sports enthusiasts will be eager to read the play-by-play accounts of his experiences with soccer, baseball, swimming, and more.

Buy it: The Mo Jackson Series on Amazon

53. The Confetti Kids Series by various authors

With their diverse cast and portrayals of varied childhood experiences, the Confetti Kids allow students to see themselves in books.

Buy it: The Confetti Kids Series on Amazon

54. Pee, Bee, & Jay series by Brian "Smitty" Smith

This series had us at its clever title. Kids love the wacky combination of characters in these pun-filled emergent-reader graphic stories.

Buy it: Pee, Bee, & Jay series on Amazon

55. The Charlie & Mouse books by Laurel Snyder

Books about sibling conflicts make for great discussion, but these vignettes about two brothers who love to be together are so refreshingly sweet.

Buy it: The Charlie & Mouse books on Amazon

56. King & Kayla series by Dori Hillestad Butler

These gentle but engaging mysteries, told from King's lovable and funny canine perspective, are perfect for readers not quite ready for chapter books.

Buy it: King & Kayla series on Amazon

57. Magic Tree House Graphic Novels by Jenny Laird and Mary Pope Osborne

Striving toward being able to read Magic Tree House books is a rite of passage for so many kiddos. These new graphic novel adaptations introduce all the treasured details from the original books with amazing fresh artwork and new energy. You'll definitely want to add these to your first grade books for advanced readers or to read them aloud as part of introducing this iconic series.

Buy it: Magic Tree House Graphic Novels on Amazon

58. Zoey and Sassafras books by Asia Citro

With sick magical animals in need of help and an inspiring, relatable girl-scientist hero, this is a series to collect for your classroom.

Buy it: Zoey and Sassafras books on Amazon

59. Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo

When Hedgehog loses his cherished stuffed dog Mutty in a storm, he's beside himself, but a series of meetings with other forest residents brings hope, resilience, and new friendship. This gorgeous illustrated chapter book makes for a sweet classroom read-aloud to pair with conversations about what it means to be a friend. It's also an age-appropriate choice for advanced first grade readers.

More great news: This sweet story has a sequel to enjoy. Check out Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home.

Buy it: Our Friend Hedgehog on Amazon

60. Rabbit & Bear series by Julian Gough and Jim Field

These illustrated chapter books are prime first grade books that work as both appealing classroom read-alouds and independent reading choices for your more advanced readers. Bear and Rabbit are forest neighbors, but their friendship includes plenty of hilarious twists and turns. (FYI: There's some bathroom content in the first installment, but in our opinion, it's not a deal-breaker.)

Buy it: Rabbit & Bear on Amazon

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
60 First Grade Books To Add to Your Collection

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
An amazing lineup of first grade books goes a long way to making your year a great one. Of course you have plenty of well-loved titles, but freshening up your shelves always feels good. Here are 60 notable and recent titles we suggest for your first grade classroom library.