Are you looking for the best books for beginning readers? Happily Ever Elephants has the ultimate list of early reader books for your kids that are just starting to decode and read. Check it out below!
- Early reader books are perfect if your kids are mastering sight words and decoding text!
- What makes a story become one of our best books for beginning readers?
- Is your child ready for this list of early reader books?
- When it comes to books for beginning readers, quality matters!
- The best books for beginning readers will help foster your child’s love of stories!
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Our Favorite Books for Beginning Readers
- The Ultimate List of the Best Books for Beginning Readers!
Early reader books are perfect if your kids are mastering sight words and decoding text!
My five-year-old and my twin nieces are in kindergarten. They are mastering sight words, decoding text, and are well on their way to reading.
My boy loves that he can pick up books now and read some of the words on his own. Even better? When he can pick up a book and read nearly all of the words on his own, with very little help from me.
This only happens, however, when he has just the right books.
What makes a story become one of our best books for beginning readers?
Here’s the deal.
Early reader books are VERY different from beginning chapter books. Early readers (also known as “beginning readers,” “emerging readers,” “easy readers” or, quite simply “kindergarten books,” all of which are used interchangeably here and elsewhere) have some distinct characteristics.
For example, the font in these early reader books is large, and the sentences are short. Additionally, the pictures provide supportive clues to the reader. Finally, the text has a lot of repetition when it comes to structuring (often containing word families and rhyme), with simple and easily decodable words.
Is your child ready for this list of early reader books?
How do you know if your little one is ready for our list of books for beginning readers?
Your kids may benefit from beginning reader books if they are doing the following:
- (1) mastering sight words
- (2) beginning to decode unknown words, often through chunking the text (breaking words up into smaller components)
- (3) building their fluency to make their reading smoother and less robotic, and
- (4) self-correcting when the word they are reading doesn’t make sense.
Most importantly, remember that each publisher has a different system for “leveling” their early reader books. Thus, a “level 1” published by one imprint may be slightly easier or more challenging than a different publisher’s series of books. That being said, no matter the publisher, when the numbers progress, so too does the complexity of the text.
When it comes to books for beginning readers, quality matters!
Before we get to our list of the best books for beginning readers, there’s one thing you should know. A lot of these books — I’ll say this as nicely as possible — just aren’t very good. Because they have to be so simple, the stories are often lacking. The problem with that? A dull story won’t typically fulfill the very critical function of engaging your beginning reader.
My son and I tested out a BUNCH of early reader books, and in our minds, these are the very best easy readers — the ones he always comes back to because they are engaging, silly, and fun.
And coming back to them is a GOOD thing.
When it comes to easy readers, the more times your child reads a book, the more he will hone and sharpen his skills, and the more his fluency improves. Since practice is key when it comes to reading, repetition is awesome. So what does this mean?
The best books for beginning readers will help foster your child’s love of stories!
A good early reader book is vitally important to help foster an early love of reading! We hope you love this list of easy-to-read books for beginners as much as we do!
Happy reading!
RELATED: Do you want to check out all of our children’s book lists in one place? This is the link you need!
Frequently Asked Questions
Early reader books have several important characteristics that lend themselves well to early readers. These books include large fonts, short sentences, and pictures that often provide supportive clues to the readers. Additionally, the text typically contains a significant amount of repetition, often containing word families and rhyme. Finally, the best books for beginning readers contain simple words that are easily decodable.
Every child is different! Some children may begin sounding out words in pre-kindergarten when they are only four years old. Others learn to read in kindergarten, typically around five or six. Some countries don’t even begin teaching kids to read until they are seven years old! The most important thing you can do is read to your child as frequently as possible. When he or she is ready, they will be sure to let you know. Children become readers at different ages, and that is a-ok!
I will forever love Fox the Tiger because it teaches a phenomenal lesson in addition to being a great easy reader. I also love the Mo series of books (beginning with Don’t Throw it to Mo), because so many of my reluctant readers at school get hooked on this adorable series. Finally, See the Cat and See the Dog crack me up, every single time! There are so many wonderful early reader books, but these three will forever have special places in my heart!
Our Favorite Books for Beginning Readers
I have to start off with the Bob Books because this is such a wonderful foundational set. The first book begins with just four letters, and each story builds upon the last with new sounds added gradually. These beginning books contain short vowels and three-letter words (think consonant vowel consonant), making this a perfect first set for your newest readers. As the Bob books say, “with little books comes big success!” These are the perfect early reader books for your child. We read Set 1 and Set 2 for months and months!
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If ever an early reader book can make you laugh out loud, snatch it up for your kiddo immediately! That’s exactly what happened with this darling book and its companion, See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat. We adore these funny early readers! In See the Cat, the reader is continually instructed to “see the cat.” But Max isn’t a cat – he’s a dog! How can he make both the audience and the narrator aware that he’s a dog, after all? These easy readers are clever, delightful, and fun spoofs on classic early readers. And any book that bashes the fourth wall and speaks directly to the readers? Those are wins by me!
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This is my favorite of all the early reader books we’ve checked out to date, about a fox who really wishes he were a tiger instead. Clever, fun, and with an awesome message to boot, it’s no wonder this great book won the 2019 Theodore Seuss Geisel Award for the most distinguished book for beginning readers. For our full review of Fox the Tiger, click here!
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When it comes to getting kids to love reading, you’ve gotta get them books they will be interested in, right? My eldest son is sports-obsessed, and this fabulous series about a tiny, sports-loving boy named Mo is his favorite. If you have a sports fanatic at home, he will be eager to put down his ball and pick up a book when you try out these adorable stories about little Mo with a big heart. Make sure also to check out Pass the Ball, Mo!, Get a Hit, Mo! and Kick It, Mo! We love this series of early books!
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The Ultimate List of the Best Books for Beginning Readers!
We love this set of six early reader books about Otto the Robot and all of his great adventures! This is the perfect starter collection for new readers who are beginning to master sight words and decode words all on their own. Several books in this set have won Theodore Seuss Geisel Award Honors for being distinguished books for beginning readers. We can’t rave about this starter set enough!
When Hen wakes up to find a massive egg in her nest, she has no idea who it belongs to. Is it from the cat? The cow? The dog? Big Egg will keep your littles guessing until the end and then leave them with giggles. And the best part? It’s a wonderful first book for beginning readers that conveys a message of love and acceptance.
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Everyone’s favorite pup from How Rocket Learned to Read is the star of this early reader about Rocket and his eagerness to learn new words! Rocket loves learning the words for all of his favorite objects, and then putting the words on his special word tree. But, uh-oh! When it comes to the word “boot,” Rocket loves the red boot in his mouth so much, he won’t let it go — and if he won’t let it go, he can’t learn new words! There’s only one special object Rocket loves more than boots, but will it convince him to drop his prized possession? We love this book for beginning readers for its ease, but also for the way it champions books!
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Poor dog is so very, very hot, but no one wants to share the things they have that might cool him off! He can’t have some of mom’s lemonade, and cat won’t share her perfect spot in the shade. Will this hot little dog ever feel cold again? This is a darling early reader book and one of the easiest on our list!
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This dynamic duo can do no wrong, and this book for beginning readers is the sweetest! Ty is so excited to ride his new scooter at the park, but all he does is wobble while others zip and zoom past him. Will he give up, or will his new friend be able to help him find the will to keep going? We love early reader books with sweet characters that celebrate persistence!
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What child doesn’t love bedtime shenanigans, especially when a dinosaur is involved? This silly early reader book showcases all the trouble that arises when trying to put a kid to bed – especially a kid who imagines he’s a devilish dino who can’t find anything that fits! This pitch-perfect rhyming early reader book will have your kids laughing out loud- and eager to begin deciding some of the simple words.
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This entire early reader book is a riddle, one that will puzzle and challenge your kids the whole way through. Why does Miss Milly like what she likes? This one makes our list of best early readers for the way it gets kids thinking and problem-solving, and for its lively, detailed illustrations that kids can pore over for hours!
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I love nothing more than a book about manners, especially an easy reader that reminds kids to say please and thank you with humor! We love anything that reminds children they won’t get what they want by grabbing, whining, or tricking their way into it. And this early reader book for beginning readers conveys that message in a silly and authentic way that your kids will love!
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I mean, an easy-reader joke book? Yes, please! This one is definitely a bit more challenging, but I have no doubt your kids will be just like mine – they will walk around your house or classroom with the book in hand, telling anyone who will listen their new hilarious jokes! Gotta love a book that makes children laugh!
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Centipede has 100 feet, which means she needs 100 shoes! How on earth does a centipede choose shoes? If you have a little math lover at home, she will love this book and how it emphasizes numbers and pairs, all told in a fun, easy-to-read rhyme. This is an adorable book for beginning readers!
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This Geisel Honor book tells the story of two goofy friends, a pig, and a fox, and the shenanigans they get into with one cardboard box. Humorous? Check! Illustrations that help tell the story? Check! Comic bubbles? Check! In other words, your kids will love both this one and its sequel, A Pig, A Fox, and Stinky Socks!
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Anything illustrated by Jarvis is a winner in our home, and this easy-reader book has it all! Pig lives on a farm with many other animals, but the little guy has no friends! Until Pug comes along. They look similar and act similar, but Pug is definitely not a pig! From its message of friendship, acceptance, and inclusiveness to its adorable pictures, we adore Pig and Pug!
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A pig in a wig, a boat in a moat with a frog, and a dog… need I say more? This adorable, cumulative early reader book incorporates word families, terrific rhyme, and vibrant illustrations, all of which make for one awesome easy reader. Kids will love this one, the first in the Pig in a Wig series which contains several books!
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In this book within a book, readers are first welcomed by Willems’ Elephant & Piggie who perfectly draw them into the story about one dramatic problem: there are four friends… but there are only three cookies! Whatever will they do? Will they find a way to share? Humor, problem-solving, and math skills make this a slam dunk on our list of best books for beginning readers!
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Poor Walt! Though the grass is growing, he is not the tallest, the curliest, or even the silliest. But as the great lawnmower approaches, Walt discovers he has a special quality too. We love how this beginning reader inspires readers to embrace and love themselves, even when they think they have nothing special to bring to the table.
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A Geisel Honor and the first in an awesome series, these are some of our favorite early reader books because they are chock full of humor and fun! When boy meets fly, a beautiful friendship blossoms. Or does it? Boy takes Fly to The Amazing Pet Show, which will leave your children laughing and begging for more. My students are in love with the Fly Guy books, and the whole series is always on heavy rotation in our library! This is also a great easy chapter book for new readers.
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Ling and Ting are twins. They look alike, do everything together, and even have the same happy smiles. But do their similarities extend beyond their looks, or are they more different than meets the eye? The first book in a great series by award-winning author Grace Lin is a total winner! This series also spans both the best books for beginning readers and the easy chapter book category!
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Well? What are you waiting for? Grab some of these books, and watch your kiddos thrive! And be sure to check out our other great lists of books for beginners: beginning books for 6 year olds and kindergarten books!
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This is such a valuable post – it’s so hard to find the right kindergarten books for my new reader. Thank you so much!
My son is almost in kindergarten and this list of books rocks! Thank you, thank you!
Thank You for this list ! Love the books 🙂
This is such a valuable post and I Love the books
Thank you so much! My 5 year old daughter is just beginning to read and I know your suggestions will capture her attention. Thank you!