Summer is the perfect time to commit to a reading routine! When your children need some inside time to take a break from the sun, books are the perfect activity. Take advantage of local libraries, bookstores, or online ordering services to get ahold of the best books for your kindergarten, first grade, and second grade readers. Here are 30 of the best books for each reading level.
Beginning Readers
Brown Rabbit’s Shapes by Alan Baker: This is a classic picture book for early learners to encourage their curiosity and learn about different shapes.
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff: This is a classic picture book for young readers that tells the story of a little mouse and his quest for snacks.
Chicka Chicka ABC by Bill Martin, Jr., and John Archambault: This is a great book for children just learning to read! This book tells the story of alphabet letters racing up a tree and will help your little ones sound out letters.
The Little Mouse, the Big Ripe Strawberry, and the Big Hungry Bear by Audrey Wood and Don Wood: This fun story uses lots of adjectives to describe how a little mouse hides his strawberry from a hungry bear. The repeated phrasing makes this title a great book for beginning readers.
Froggy Bakes a Cake by Jonathan London: This book is one is a series about a loveable young frog named Froggy. The stories are perfectly relatable for young children with great sound effects!
Don’t Take Your Snake for a Stroll by Karin Ireland: This hilarious book will entertain children and adults with its entertaining pictures and peculiar pets!
The Perfect Nest by Catherine Friend: If your child loves funny voices, then this book will be a hit. This story chronicles the antics of a hungry cat and a new nest of eggs.
Each Kindness by Jaqueline Woodson gives an important lesson on anti-bullying through the eyes of a young girl named Chloe. Chloe and her friends refuse to play with a new girl named Maya. When Chloe’s teachers gives a lesson about the importance of small acts of kindness, Chloe is reminded of her treatment of Maya and learns an important lesson.
Duck! Rabbit! By Amy Krouse Rosenthal: This is a read-aloud book for young children and tells the story of taking different points of view to see things differently using optical illusions!
Pete the Cat’s Super Cool Reading Collection by James Dean: This collection of stories about Pete the Cat is perfect for younger readers and has stories for other reading levels, too!
My First BOB Books: Pre-Reading Skills by Lynn Maslen Kertell: This book series helps your youngest readers start to learn the alphabet, sounds, and small words!
Boot and Shoe by Marla Frazee: This Caldecott-winning book is great for read-aloud for younger children and tells the story of a hilarious pair of puppies.
Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes: This sweet story is a perfect one to cuddle up and read aloud together. The main character is a mouse named Wemberly who worries about his first day of school.
Smelly Socks by Robert Munsch: Everyone should have a least one Robert Munsch book in their child’s library. This is a funny story about a young girl and her refusal to wash her socks.
Hair Love by Mathew A. Cherry celebrates the relationship between fathers and daughters and teaches the importance of self-love. It tells the story of young Zuri and her father and how he helps her with her hair for a special occasion.
First Grade
Amelia Bedelia (I Can Read!) by Peggy Parish: This short book series is great for emerging readers who are ready to read by themselves! They follow main character Amelia Bedelia through all her crazy adventures.
Big Shark, Little Shark by Anna Membrino: This book about two sharks in the ocean is great for kids comfortable with the alphabet and ready to read! It can also be a read-aloud book.
Bird and Squirrel All or Nothing by James Burks is the perfect book for reluctant readers. This title includes illustrations and funny stories to keep children entertained and reading!
Mac and Cheese (I Can Read!) by Sarah Weeks: This is a level one reading book about two cats who are total opposites. It’s perfect for emerging readers!
The Berenstain Bears and the Messy Room by Stan and Jan Berenstain: The classic children’s books are always favorites in any teacher’s library. The series chronicles real-life lessons that a bear family learns in each book.
Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smellyl Bus by Barbara Park: This is a book series for young readers who are ready to read more advanced and slightly longer books! It is a colorful and fun series about a young girl named Junie B. Jones.
Juana and Lucas by Juana Medina: This short story is about a little girl named Juana in Colombia who is having a hard time learning English in school. This is a great story for kids to learn about other parts of the world!
Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor: The Fancy Nancy series takes first grade readers on a journey through Nancy’s adventures as she lives life as fanciful as possible.
Second Grade (or more advanced readers)
Magic Treehouse by Mary Pope Osborne: This illustrated chapter book for kids takes readers on a journey alongside Jack and Annie as they travel through time and history and visit the dinosaurs, pirates, and more!
Time Twisters: Abraham Lincoln, Pro Wrestler by Steve Sheinkin: This series for first and second graders is a great short chapter book series that brings history to life. This series puts a twist on historical figures in a fun and colorful way.
Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows: This chapter book series tells of an unlikely friendship between Ivy and Bean, who are total opposites. It’s great for advancing readers.
Alvin Ho by Lenore Look: Alvin is starting second grade, but he’s absolutely terrified of everything. His alter ego is Firecracker Man, who is scared of nothing. Readers will follow Alvin and he conquers his fears.
The BFG by Roald Dahl: The Big Friendly Giant is a classic book for young readers who love chapter books. It tells a colorful story of friendship, love, and adventure.
Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary: This colorful series follows Ramona, an energetic young girl, on her series of adventures. It’s a great chapter book for second or third grade readers!
Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder: This is the first book in the Little House on the Prairie series, an enchanting series about a family living on the western frontier.
If your little readers are progressing quickly and are looking for something a little more advanced, check out these chapter book series. (These books are also great for family read-alouds for your more advanced readers.)
Percy Jackson by Rick Riordan: This series follows 12-year-old Percy as he ventures into the world of Greek mythology…creatures, monsters, and swords!
Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: This series brings magic to life with spells, adventures, magical creatures, and more! Recommended for advanced readers, grades 4 and up.
Challenge your kids to read more this summer! If they need motivation, try offering prizes or rewards for every book they read. Check out the summer reading programs at your local library for reading incentives and prizes.
These 30 books are some of the best for elementary readers who love reading! Create a reading log with sticker charts or other tracking systems so your children can keep track of how many books they’re reading. This can also be a reward system if your children need a little extra motivation to dive into these amazing books. Evan-Moor’s Daily Summer Activities for grades PreK-8 includes a reading log for each week of summer break.
Download a free sampler of Daily Summer Activities here!
For more great activity ideas and educational lessons, subscribe to our free e-newsletter here.
Christine Wooler has experience working with children as a youth soccer coach and summer camp counselor. She is currently studying English Literature and journalism in college. She enjoys exploring educational topics that help students have fun while learning.