Early Reader Books for 1st Grade
First graders are doing the hard, brave work of reading on their own. These ten early readers reward that effort with real stories and a sense of pride.
- 1
Elephant & Piggie: I Will Surprise My Friend!
by Mo Willems
Why it works: Two voices, big print, huge laughs. The series for new readers.
- 2
Frog and Toad Are Friends
by Arnold Lobel
Why it works: Classic vignettes, gentle humor, accessible reading level.
- 3
Henry and Mudge: The First Book
by Cynthia Rylant
Why it works: A boy and a big dog. Calm, sweet, perfect for 1st grade.
- 4
Pete the Cat: I Can Read Collection
by James Dean
Why it works: Predictable patterns + a chill cat = high-success reads.
- 5
Biscuit
by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Why it works: Very short sentences. A puppy. Instant win for emerging readers.
- 6
Fly Guy: Hi! Fly Guy
by Tedd Arnold
Why it works: A boy and his pet fly. Silly, short, illustrated chapters.
- 7
Little Bear
by Else Holmelund Minarik
Why it works: Quiet Maurice Sendak illustrations and gentle stories.
- 8
Owl at Home
by Arnold Lobel
Why it works: Owl is gentle, weird, and endearing. Five short tales.
- 9
Amelia Bedelia
by Peggy Parish
Why it works: Wordplay that introduces idioms while making kids giggle.
- 10
Pinkalicious
by Victoria Kann
Why it works: High-engagement story with manageable vocabulary.
Save this list to your Readloops library
Add any of these books to your child’s Readloops library in seconds — search the title, scan the cover, or barcode-scan the back. Then log every read together.
Start your free reading log