According to Jacob Cohen, a teacher in Brooklyn, theFly Guybook series is crazy popular among first-graders (and some second-graders too) these days. Her teacher frames it and puts it by her desk. The special friendship and loyalty of Minou, the cat, is heartwarming. by: Required fields are marked *. Rays simple prose and Frazees playful illustrations combine to create a lovely stream-of-consciousness feel that encourages a childs mind to wander and wonder. Who can resist these lovable winter birds? Find Margaret and Margarita: Margarita y Margaret at your local library. She gets her nickname, Cam, because she has a photographic memory, like a camera. Answering your youngster's questions about plants, animals, water, and just about anything else having to do with nature is easy with this reference book in hand. by: by: A tug of war stretches her snub-nose into a useful trunk that all elephants have to this day, or so the story goes. Parents need to know the award-winning book is about making a new friend, learning about differences and sharing an adventure. Add this to your first grade books about names. Now, its up to the townspeople to stop the food from falling. A drum and a conga line solve Lilys leadership quandary. 13 Fantastic Read-Aloud Books for 1st Grade Classrooms! Neal Layton - (Candlewick Press, 2004) 32 pages. Share this playful birds on a wire scenario when youre teaching about writing addition and subtraction number sentences. Make an ALL ABOUT ME! Impressively illustrated and comically written, this book inspires children to draw some of their own scientific conclusions by showing how paleontologists have pieced together facts about dinosaurs over the years. Picture books are always great book choices for 1st graders because they can be read independently or read as read alouds. Buy it: When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree on Amazon. saving. by: Levine, Welsh Kruger, Fox, and Lemire recommended this title by Steve Jenkins, an author they say is known for his nonfiction childrens books. by Norm FeutiNot only is this early reader book series for 1st graders written in comic panels but the dialogue is in bubbles in colors unique to the character speaking, making this a supportive book series for 1st grade. Devoid of illustrations and designed to be read aloud or in groups, this book is popular because its full of onomatopoeia and alliteration, forcing the person reading it to say silly things. by: The Toad: The Disgusting Critters Seriesby Elise GravelVisually captivating with interesting, just-right, easy text that is informative and sometimes hilarious. Shakeeta is the new girl and like all new kids since schools were first invented she feels out of place. Julia Gran - (Scholastic, 2007) 32 pages. Many teachers ask that children read aloud with their parents, siblings, or others in first grade and then read silently thereafter. Told in the first person by Mia, wise in the ways of school politics, this gentle story of adjustment and budding friendships carefully sticks to a child-eyed perspective to make its point: its not so much what you say that makes a difference, its that you say it at all. In particular, he explains how he trains his neighboring humans to give him the food he likes. I want to get her a bunch of books like the ones above do you have a package deal I can get these? This book works best as a read-aloud for first-graders because of its third-grade reading level. What kids will learn: This classic Christmas story will surely get your child in the holiday spirit. I am a former teacher turned homeschool mom of four kids. Buy it: World of Reading: Mother Bruce books on Amazon, Fun creatures and classic friendship themes are a great combo in this fun series. Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories. Perfect for: Appreciating a friends differences. by: The paintings come from ancient to modern times, demonstrating the universality of some subjects, such as apples, cats, games, and light. beginning chapter book recommendations, go here, Fox + Chick #2: The Party and Other Stories, King and Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth. by: by: And no matter how well-stocked their school library might be, its never too soon to expand their horizons even further by choosing books that depict children of many different ethnicities and cultures, says Kazz Alexander Pinkard, executive director of Hit the Books, an after-school nonprofit in Harlem. They compare which bunk bed is best and imagine adventures through a forest with a castle, a moat and a boat, a submarine, and a volcano on their beds. Time to share some new books with your favorite first graders! The True Account of the 1938 War of the Worlds Radio Broadcast at your local library. Reading Age: Ages 5-9 Clifton L. Taulbert, illustrated by: E.B. I love the idea of the crayons and the rainbow reflecting the differences between people and attitudes and roles in society, he says. Your kids will read all about mischievous Jack who lives with Lady and all the trouble he gets intoover and over again. If this book is a hit with your child, there are seven more in the Eye Wonder series: Big Cats, Birds, Bugs, Explorer, Mammals, Ocean, Rain Forest, Rivers and Lakes, Space. Darling stories of friendship and bike riding. Phonics: decoding words and recognizing patterns and word families. Catherine Ripley, illustrated by: Scot Ritchie - (Maple Tree Press, 2004) 192 pages. Fun with an edge of scary. by: Add this to your first grade books about perseverance. This original, mystical, mountain story tells of a boy who dreams and hears a leopard, once human, that sang the stars to life. When intruders invade their hidden valley, the leopard passes on both his protective song and his animal form to the boy. Words, of course, lead to story and pretty soon all three brothers are happily engaged in creating a tale about a brown worm, a green snake and a mean crocodile. When Julin sees a group of women dressed as mermaids on the subway in Julin and the Mermaid, hes transfixed. This picture book is a great choice for 1st graders as it teaches them the importance of being accepting and understanding of others. Encourage scientific inquiry and introduce types of scientists with this awesome addition to your first grade books about science! Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura MarshI love the informational but simple text matching each beautiful photograph. on Amazon. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Its broken into bite size categories, such as Bath-time Questions (e.g., Why is soap so slippery?) When Wilbur learns he will be slaughtered, Charlotte comes up with a plan to save him. Jean Fritz, illustrated by: Trina Hyman - (Penguin Putnam, 1974) 48 pages. The language is simple and repetitive enough for beginning readers to enjoy. Fly becomes the boys pet and friend. Privacy. And, as a final loving touch, she adds that the true enjoyment comes in sharing the pie with all the creatures on the farm. But that makes the book sound heavy when indeed these are witty, moving poems that skip, sink, soar and take unexpected twists, along with the little boys emotions. This stalls the project, but it creates an unforgettable chance to watch nature at work. The hook: Did you know that Christopher Robin and his bear, Winnie-the-Pooh, are inspired by the author's son and his teddy bear? The house is happy in its location, but one day the city starts to grow, and the house is in danger of being torn down. Very rarely do absolutely gorgeous picture books like this come along. And they draw lots of them after reading this book, so have some paper and crayons handy! In terms of subject matter, our experts generally agreed that the best books for any first-grader are the ones they love the most no matter how silly the story may seem. From the moment Alexander wakes up, with gum in his hair, to the disappointment of not getting a surprise in his cereal box, Alexander keeps you laughing as he complains about his horrible day. Here are 60 notable and recent titles we suggest for your first grade classroom library. Find Diary of a Worm at your local library. SplashLearn inspires lifelong curiosity with its game-based PreK-5 learning program loved by over 40 million children. a senior writer at the Strategist covering kids toys and mens style. One day he discovers an image in a book that speaks to his heart: It showed pictures of the most beautiful shapes and colors, and called them flowers. He searches the city for traces of this beauty and discovers a pack of seeds at a junk shop. If you need to beef up your collection of informational books your firsties can tackle independently, youll want to click through the many (many!) Do You Like My Bike? David Domeniconi - (Sleeping Bear Press, 2002) 40 pages. Nuria Roca, illustrated by: Rosa M. Curto - (Barron's Educational Series, 2007) 36 pages. Tomie De Paola - (Holiday House, 1981) 32 pages. Dirt is playing with worms. And the humor will hold their interest while they struggle with the harder parts. Some activities that 1st graders can do to enhance their reading include: You can find books for first graders at your local library or an independent bookstore. Wolf, who until this point has never thought out his actions, is at a loss about what to do. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); My daughter just became a 1st Grade Teacher. However, once he sees his friends and hears everyone having a good time, he quickly changes his mind. You may see a child start the year reading easy readers but move to read beginning chapter books by the end of the year. by: Henry and Mudge become fast friends and Mudge follows Henry everywhere. Will the emperor be able to see his earnest spirit? 18 Best Books for First-Graders 2021 - New York Magazine Phonics and Decoding: Activities for Your First Grader - NEA, "Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America . I love sharing good books & fun learning resources. Look inside and a surprise is waiting for you. What kids will learn: This is a great book for teaching kids about change. Buy it: Nachos Nachos: The Story Behind the Worlds Favorite Snack on Amazon. Will Cam be able to use her photographic memory to help solve this mystery? In simple language that is also poetic and true, Thompson tells the heartwarming story of how the apple pie comes to be, including a quick introduction to the whole ecological web of life. Look for startled fish and harassed birds! by: David McPhail - (Harry N. Abrams, 2007) 32 pages. Find Elenas Serenade at your local library. A girl finds herself in her dads office and just cant resist diving into ALL of the office supplies. Doreen Cronin - (Joanna Cotler Books, 2003) 40 pages. This is a classic picture book about a town where food falls from the sky. Throughout the book, your child will laugh and learn along with Frog and Toad as they go through various ups and downs together. This homage to the writing life gives new meaning to the educational precept known as language acquisition. Maxs brother Benjamin collects stamps; his other brother, Karl, collects coins; and Max wants a collection of his own. Widget, a homeless dog, wanders into a delightful house filled with food and warm beds. This picture book is about a mother duck who leads her eight ducklings on a journey from the Boston Public Garden to the Charles River. Aunt Eater is a detective who loves to solve mysteries. Any book that a kid likes to read is one that is going to help make them a lifelong reader, explains Maggie Levine, a childrens librarian with the Boston Public Library. Theres a definite gross-out element to the book, but Odanakas rhyming text and enthusiastic look at an important job make this entirely suitable for small children. She's a mother, teacher, author, and freelance writer. $12. This is a special book. Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by: Michael Emberley - (Little Brown, 2004) 32 pages. Barbara Odanaka, illustrated by: Will Hillenbrand - (Simon & Schuster, 2006) 32 pages. Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories. And, hes right in the middle of everything, especially after he finds an old notebook of drawings and facts about monsters. Find Miss Smiths Incredible Story Book at your local library. by: A net? Explore the whole series. Ambivalent emotions, perfectly depicted. Reptiles are endlessly fascinating to kids, so this book should be appealing to young non-fiction lovers. This book is so much fun that even struggling readers will want to read it over and over again, especially if they are able to share parts with another reader. The brief text of the book is supplemented by notes on the creature and how the photos were taken. Meghan McCarthy always serves up top-notch informational read-alouds, but this one might be our favorite yet. Youll love their combined adventures forming a pod, having parties, eating waffles, and imagining. Before she read it, the students voted on a variety of books Rinderle offered and overwhelmingly chose My Shadow is Purple, which was nominated for a 2023 Australian Book Industry Award.After the reading, the class discussed the book's message of acceptance of oneself and others . Find Frankie Stein at your local library. Fluency: reading more quickly from word to word. What kids will learn: The story is a great way to teach kids about the life cycle of a worm. Naik loves the books fluid, colorful illustrations, and Serrano says she uses it during story time because of the way it defies male expectations and stereotypes., For 6- and 7-year-olds who are fascinated by anything for older kids, the Dog Man series by Pilkey the author of the wildly popular Captain Underpants franchise is a great set of books to grow into, according to Lemire, Serrano, Fox, and Lisa Goldstein, another librarian with the Brooklyn Public Library. This book is part of the Discover America State by State series, including E is for Evergreen (Washington), M is for Mayflower (Massachusetts), S is for Sunshine (Florida), and so on, one for each of the 50 states. The key here is to help students understand that their first choice is the book they most want to read . What kids will learn: This graphic novel is great for kids who love mysteries as they get an opportunity to exercise their brain and solve the case along with Agent Moose and Owlfred. Poor Henry is lonely and is yearning for a pet, so his parents allow him to get a huge, loveable dog named Mudge. on Amazon. Luckily for him, his big sister Stella has a seemingly endless supply of imaginative answers. by: 21 Best Growth Mindset Books for Kids to Prepare Them for the Toughest Challenges, 15+ Best Book Clubs or Subscription Box for Kids, 30 Funny Childrens Books to Read With Your Kids That Will Have Them ROFL. Find The Apple Pie That Papa Baked at your local library. Mo Willems - (Hyperion Books for Children, 2007) 64 pages. They will also love the illustrations. Teacher Recommended: First Grade Books - Teach Beside Me Buy it: Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers Market on Amazon. The first page of this book reads: Baseball. Karla Kuskin, illustrated by: Betsy Lewin - (Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2005) 32 pages. Trying to convince his parents and the judges at a pet contest is another story. In this book, two good fruit friends experience tasty adventures such as riding bikes and going to the beach. Not only will kids learn that blister beetles are used for medicine and that honey pot ants make delicious snacks, but discerning readers will also notice that this is an ABC book in reverse, beginning with one zebra swallowtail butterfly and ending with 26 army ants. This is a classic Christmas story about a boy who takes a magical train ride to the North Pole. Get the WeAreTeachers First Grade Ideas Newsletter right to your inbox. Silly fun about two best friends with big personalities are popular book for 1st graders. by: This book is an excellent resource for any classroom, school or home library! If your little one is mesmerized by animals of the jungle, then this book is a must have. Find Lillys Purple Plastic Purse at your local library. Lindsy Serrano, a librarian at St. Francis School in Kentucky, credits Willemss use of catchy graphics paired with minimal text in different sizes to display different emotional levels.. All Votes Add Books To This List. The illustrated verses, repeated sentence structures, and controlled vocabulary make this lively story accessible to beginning readers. There Goes the Trash! Surfs Up (Moby Shinobi and Toby Too!) Add her newest adventure to your first grade books about welcoming new students. The Day You Begin by Jacqueline Woodson, 4. by: Have you ever had a day that youd rather forget? One day, Wanda doesnt come to school, and her classmates realize how mean theyve been. They all say first-graders love Dog Man because of its big-kid feel and subversive humor. In this story, the boy enters his fly in an amazing pet contest, dazzling the judges, and winning the show. Keiko Kasza - (G. P. Putnam, 2003) 32 pages. We are pumped to share the newest Creepy Tales book, Creepy Crayon!, with students tooespecially since its school-themed! by: Hedgehog cant wait to show his friend Harry his new bike. Add this to your first grade books about friendship and identity; we also like the representation of wheelchair use in the illustrations. Jules Feiffer does the impossible! 25+ 1st Grade Books Every Child Should Read - The Teach Simple Blog What kids will learn: This is a fun and unique story that your child will surely enjoy and learn a bit about weather patterns and the environment. This is one of the most tender first grade books (or any grade book) weve read recently. Perfect for: Celebrating differences and finding similarities. Lemire says she cant keep them on the shelves, and Fox says kids love the fun-filled antics between the beloved Gerald and Piggie. Serrano specifically recommended this book from the series because its designed to introduce all kinds of good reading habits to kids, including predicting outcomes and the concept of reading a book more than once therefore encouraging reading for pleasure. What do you do when you beg your mom to buy glow-in-the-dark underwear and they turn out to be super scary? by: The books wonderful artwork, sprinkled with pictures of Irish metalwork, gives plenty of personality to the main characters and both charm and Celtic blarney to the tale. Find The Adventures of a Plastic Bottle: A Story About Recycling at your local library. by: Lewis - (PuffinDial Books for Young Readers, 2001) 32 pages. 1. With their diverse cast and portrayals of varied childhood experiences, the Confetti Kids allow students to see themselves in books. This is a book that will appeal to the quiet, inquiring, and introspective child who sees or seeks mystery and magic in the everyday world. That is until one Bob decides to challenge the norm and change his name to Bruce! Kids love reading each chapters short, heartwarming mini-stories. by: Now I grin from ear to ear when my first-grader reads it to me. I dont sell books, just recommend good ones. Owen sends Granny a hug. Buy it: When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox on Amazon. Brian Lee is a writer and parent of 3 spirited children. By the 41st day, she is thoroughly disgruntled, and her family is thoroughly dirty. 1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars. This delightful rhyming book with beautiful full-page illustrations and an unforgettable ending will capture your childs interest. Each page-spread is a poem, and together the poems tell the story of a bi-racial, blended family overcoming the trials and tribulations of learning to live and love together. Find The Little House at your local library. This rhyming alphabet book provides young readers with facts about every facet of the state of California its natural history, famous people and interesting landmarks. (An Elephant and Piggie Book) by Mo Willems, The Best (Strategist Approved) Childrens Books, The 15 Best Board Books for Babies, According to Booksellers, The Only Toy Gift Guide for a 10-Year-Old Youll Ever Need, The Only Gift Guide for a 9-Year-Old Youll Ever Need, 16 Books That Will Help Turn Kids Into Young Environmentalists, The Best Books on How to Raise Toddlers, According to Child-Development Experts, The Best Family-Friendly Board Games, According to Experts, The Best Gifts for 11-Year-Olds, According to Experts, The Only Gift Guide for an 8-Year-Old Youll Ever Need.