First Grade Reading List

Please take a few minutes to review this list of books that will fill your child’s summer with adventure, humor and amazing facts. A few are identified by level. The goal is for each student to choose and read at least six of these books. If your child is an early or emergent read, I invite you to partner read with him/her. Remember to invite your child to talk about the books with you. Below you will find “5 Hot Tips for Richer Reading Fun” at the bottom of this list.

Happy Reading!

Leveled Reading List

I Was Walking Down the Road, Sarah E. Barchas (Level H)
Jan Brett books, Jan Brett
Norman Bridwell books, Norman Bridwell (Level E-J)
Goodnight Moon, Margarest Wise Brown
Biscuit series, Satin Capucilli (Level F-H)
Do You Want To Be My Friend, Eric Carle (Level A)
Tiny Seed, Eric Carl (Level L)
Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle (Level J)
The Magic School Bus series, Joanna Cole
Click, Clack, Quackity-Quack, Doreen Cronin (Level D)
Pancakes for Breakfast, Tomie De Paola
Olivia, Ian Falconer (Level R)
This is the Teacher, Gowler Greene, Rhonda (Level D)
Bailey Goes Camping, Kevin Henkes (Level H)
Whose Mouse Are You, Robert Kraus (Level H)
Alphabet Tree, Leo Lionni (Level K)
A Kiss for Little Bear, Else Holmelund Minarik
Hattie and the Fox, Meni Fox (Level I)
Sky Fire, Frank Osch
The Carrot Seed, Ruth Krauss (Level G)
Zen Shorts, Jon J Muth (Level K)
If You Give a . . . series, Laura Numeroff (Level G)
Yo! Yes?, Chris Raschka
Curious George series, Margaret and H.A. Rey (Level J-K)
Mouse Mess, Linnea Riley (Level J)
Hello Ocean/Hola Mar, Pam Munoz Ryan
Mice and Beans, Pam Munoz Ryan
Dr. Seuss books, Dr. Seuss
David Shannon books, David Shannon
Noisy Nora, Rosemary Wells
Hans Wilhelm Stories, Hans Wilhelm (Level F-I)

Five Hot Tips for Richer Reading Fun

By Lesley Mandel Morrow, PhD, Literacy Expert

1. Talk about it!
   Research shows that children get the most out of reading with parents if they discuss the text. Talk about the pictures and the text and relate it to your own life situation.
2. Read it again…and again…and again.
   Repetition is crucial. Hearing the same story over and over builds the child’s fluency and comprehension, and children flourish from that.
3. Have children read things that are hard for them.
   In addition to all the familiar books, encourage your child to try a book that’s a little difficult for him or her. Reading a little above the child’s level can motivate the child to move on.
4. Read books with classic characters.
   Great children’s literature is timeless and classics offer children something special. Children like series boos, so if your child has a favorite character, it’s good to seek out other books with that character.
5. Try different kinds of reading.
   Experiment with your child. Try partner reading-you read a line and I read a line, or you read a paragraph and I read a paragraph. Listening to you and then trying on his or her own helps your child become more fluent. Choral reading is also recommended-you and your child read a few lines together, with expression. It’s fun and useful.