Best Books for First Graders

Here are my favorite books to recommend to first graders, or children ages 6-7. These picture books make excellent read-alouds at home or in the classroom. Various beginning reader books are also included, as each child’s reading level is unique. The Five-Finger Rule is a helpful way for parents and caregivers to find just-right books for elementary-aged children. Plus, don’t forget to offer nonfiction to first graders to ignite curiosity and expand their vocabulary.

A quick note: As Donalyn Miller said in The Joy of Reading, a list is only as good as its maker. While these titles have been successful with the families I’ve served and my own children, I don’t expect you to share them wholesale with yours. You know your community best! I hope you discover a few new titles that foster connection with your own readers and give your readers’ advisory a boost.

Picture Books for
First Graders

Mr. Tiger Goes Wild
By Peter Brown
One day Mr. Tiger has a very wild idea – it’s okay to be different.
My Teacher is a Monster!
By Peter Brown
Bobby’s teacher is definitely a monster, but what happens when he sees her outside of school?
Snowmen at Night
By Caralyn Buehner
Find out what snowmen do at night while you’re snug in your bed.
Maybe Something Beautiful
By F. Isabel Campoy
Mira and her neighbors transform their gray neighborhood into something vibrant and beautiful. Based on a true story!
Barnacle is Bored
By Jonathan Fenske
Life attached to the bottom of a dock may not appear exciting, but it’s about to be!
Stick and Stone
By Beth Ferry
After being made fun of by Pinecone, Stone strikes up an unlikely friendship with Stick.
Cat Knit
By Jacob Grant
Cat’s best friend Yarn is taken away and turned into something new. Cat does NOT like it!
I’m From
By Gary R. Gray, Jr.
Homemade pancakes and school yard games, explore the small moments that shape where a boy is from.
Nobody Likes a Goblin
By Ben Hatke
Goblin must leave the safety of his castle to rescue his best friend, Skeleton, but it’s not easy when farmers, elves, and innkeepers don’t like you.
You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You
By Mary Ann Hoberman
From friendship to seasons, you read one side of the story and I’ll read the other.
My Lucky Day
By Keiko Kasza
Dinner shows up on Mr. Fox doorstep, but it may be pig’s lucky day instead.
The Truth About Dragons
By Julie Leung
A boy’s journey through eastern & western dragon mythologies showcasing the two cultures intertwined within him.
The Yellow Bus
By Loren Long
What fills a bus with joy once it’s no longer used to move children?
New
By Niña Mata
Being new and different isn’t easy, but new possibilities are also beautiful.
The Watermelon Seed
By Greg Pizzoli
What happens when crocodile swallows a seed? Will he turn pink or grow vines?
The Dot
By Peter H. Reynolds
Even the uncreative can make their mark.
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
By Jon Scieszka
Learn the other side of the story straight from the wolf’s mouth.
Bear Has a Story to Tell
By Philip C. Stead
Bear helps his friends prepare for winter, but will anyone still be awake to hear his story?
Interrupting Chicken
By David Ezra Stein
It’s time for a bedtime story, but little red chicken can’t help interrupting.
Flotsam
By David Wiesner
A bright boy finds a mysterious camera washed ashore in this wordless wonder.

Beginning Reader Books for First Graders

Hi! Fly Guy
By Tedd Arnold
Who says flies can’t be pets?
A Pig, a Fox, and a Box
By Jonathan Fenske
Fox likes to play tricks on Pig! Simple rhyming dialogue with a tongue in cheek plot will have readers chuckling.
Best Friends for Frances
By Russell Hoban
Frances learns that sisters can indeed be friends.
The Bad Seed: Goes to the Library
By Jory John
Will the Bad Seed seed be good and return his really cool book to the library?
Owlets and Tarts
By Cynthia Rylant
The Mouse & Spoon Bakery is open for business and baking up the perfect pastries for Mom and Dad Owl.
Nate the Great
By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Nate the Great is on the case, but give this detective some pancakes first.
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
By Erica Silverman
Saddle up for a ride on the range with pals Cowgirl Kate and her horse Cocoa.
Tate Tuber: Space Spud
By Michael Slack
Tate doesn’t want to be the first potato to grow in space; he wants to be an astronaut!
The Thank You Book
By Mo Willems
Piggie wants to thank EVERYONE, but Gerald is concerned she will forget someone.
Worm and Caterpillar Are Friends
By Kaz Windness
Worm and Caterpillar are best friends, but will they still have things in common when Caterpillar becomes a Butterfly?

Nonfiction Books for
First Graders

One World, One Day
By Barbara Kerley (305.234)
Beautiful photos follow one day in our global family.
Eruption! The Story of Volcanoes
By Anita Ganeri (551.21)
Learn about the mechanics of volcanoes and their eruptions.
A Seed Grows
By Antoinette Portis
(575.68)
Learn how a seed can grow into a sunflower.
Poo Pile on the Prairie
By Amy Hevron
(577.44)
Get the scoop on bison poop and the ecosystem & the ecosystem it creates.
Jumper
By Jessica Lanan (595.44)
Jumper is hungry and ready to hunt, but backyards are filled with so many obstacles!
Truth or Lie: Sharks!
By Erica S. Perl
(597.3)
How well do you know your favorite ocean predator?
Parrots Over Puerto Rico
By Susan L. Roth (597.709)
Fantastic true story of the green parrots of Puerto Rico.
The Book of Turtles
By Sy Montgomery (597.92)
Did you know there are turtles with glow-in-the-dark shells? Learn surprising facts about turtles and everyday ways you can help these amazing creatures.
Pierre the Penguin
By Jean Marzollo (598.47)
Pierre loses precious feathers which keep him warm, but a neoprene wetsuit designed just for him saves the day.
The Vegetables We Eat
By Gail Gibbons (635)
From glossy red peppers to pumpkins, you’ll learn how they’re grown and why they’re good for you.