You are here because you are searching for the best books for beginning readers, am I right? If so, we suggest you read the whole article to get age-appropriate books for your kids. All the books are suggested by educational experts, curriculum makers, school psychologists, etc.
Parents are excited when a child speaks their first word. Gradually, they grow up and begin to read. Research has suggested that most children learn to read by 6 or 7 years. Some children also learn at 4 or 5 years of age. So, on average, every child should read by age five and a half. As beginning readers, they put all their efforts into learning independently.
A beginning reader can name the letters in the alphabet and tell most of their sounds. First, they try to understand the concept of words as they go through the reading path. Sometimes, they will identify a few words within text or a list. Moreover, they pronounce the word’s first and last sounds while trying to spell.
When you are a parent, you are responsible for supporting them positively. You should help them whenever they get stuck.
How do you determine the reading level of a book?
The reading level of a book can be determined in various ways. Here are some of the most natural methods which you can follow –
- Search for the reading level in the book. Children’s books will have a reading level marked somewhere in the book. It can be on the front, back, or maybe inside the book’s first few pages.
- Go through the book’s contents and examine their complexity. Scan through the first few pages of a book to determine the book’s reading level. If the words are long and sentences complex, it indicates a higher reading level. For instance, rhyming sentences indicate the book is for kids, whereas school-related terms refer to school-aged kids.
- Downloading specific apps will lessen the hassle of determining the reading level. Various mobile apps scan through the ISBN of a book and let you know the reading level. Apps like Level it and Literacy Leveler will provide Lexile scores, grade-level equivalents, and other data.
How do we determine the age range for children’s books?
The following chart will explain the age range or age level for children’s books according to School Psychologists–
Age Range / Level | Types of Books |
| Newborn to 3 years old | Board books |
| 3 – 8 years old | Picture books, Colouring, and Activity books |
| Three years old and up, depending on the content | Novelty books |
| 5 – 9 years old | Early, leveled readers |
| 6 – 10 years old | First chapter books |
| 8 – 12 years old | Middle-grade books |
| 12 or 14 years old and up | Young Adult novels |
If You Want, You Can Check This Website to Get The Age-Appropriate Books For Your Kids. For example:
- Suitable books for babies 6 to 12 months
- Best Children’s Books for 2-Year-Olds
- Suitable Books to Read for 4-Year-Olds
- Books for 7-Year-Olds to Read By Themselves
Expert-Approved Best Books for Beginning Readers
If your child is starting to read, here is a list of some of the best books for beginning readers. All of these beginning reader books are printable –
Best books to start reading habit:
As your child becomes a first reader, help them with some of the best books for beginning readers to practice reading.
First Little Reader Parent Pack, Level – C, by Liza Charlesworth: This is an illustrated chapter book with pictures. This will help your kid start reading with this 25-colorful and valuable book set. It also contains 4-page guided tips for parents to prepare their children for reading.
Bob Books, Set 1, by Bobby Lynn Maslen: This book will teach your child letter sounds with four letters in the first story. Their confidence grows by practicing short vowels and three-letter words to make simple sentences. This is a beginner reading book for 1st grade.
Sight Word Readers Parent Pack, by Scholastic et al.: Teach your kid 50 of the most frequently used words with this set of 25 little books. The inclusive mini-workbook contains fun activities and write-and-learn pages to help children practice writing. This is a beginning reader book for kindergarten kids.
Big Shark, Little Shark, by Anna Membrino: Big Shark has big teeth and can swim fast; little Shark has tiny teeth and swims slowly. Both are hungry, but the little Shark is scared of being the meal of a giant shark. This book will introduce your child to sharks and teach them valid opposite words.
Beginner reader books to develop reading and writing:
Here is a list of some of the best books for your beginning readers’ kids.
Pete the Cat, Phonics Box, by James Dean: Children will learn phonics along with Pete the Cat with the help of these 12 short, colorful books. Examples of short and long vowel sounds and common words will help your child master phonics. These short chapter books can be valuable for early readers to learn phonics.
Dr. Seuss’s Beginner Book Collection by Dr. Seuss: This book makes a perfect read-aloud book for beginner readers and their parents. Your children will be introduced to a new world of adventure with this set of 5 books.
Disney Princess Reading Adventures, Disney Book Group: This boxed set of books helps your kid transform from budding readers to independent ones. The books are designed in such a way that they will enhance their reading comprehension and vocabulary skills. It also includes stickers, parent letters, and achievement certificates.
The Backyard Bug by Lauren Davidson: Introduce your child to bugs they will see daily with this fantastically illustrated book. The stories, pictures, and fun activities will bring your child joyride into the world of bugs.
Best early reader books for curious kids:
As early readers, children are always curious about everything. Quench their thirst for knowledge with some of these best books for beginning readers.
What Should Darla Do?, by Adir Levy et al.: This “Choose Your Own Story” style book will improve your kid’s decision-making ability. Besides, they will be introduced to space and astronauts with a young in-training astronaut, Darla.
My Favourite Berenstain Bears Stories, by Stan Berenstain: This boxed set of level 1 reading guarantees to entertain your child with easy-to-read stories. Join the Bear family on their first sleepover, a trip to the aquarium, an adventure in the West, and much more.
Ice Cream Soup, by Ann Ingalls: Introduce your child to food items such as ice cream, cake, and soup with this beautifully illustrated book. It describes how an ice cream cake turns into an ice cream soup when added too much stuff.
May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer Morris et al.: Alfie loves his mother’s cookies and does many things to get one more. But his mom asks him to say “Please” for the cookie. Teach your children proper manners with this level 1 reader book.
Best kindergarten books to read:
If your children are four years old or older than that, you should be sending them to kindergarten schools. Some of the best books for beginning readers at this age are:
Meet the Sight Words Level 1, by Kathy Oxley: A boxed set of 12 books that contains the most common 16 words for a kindergarten child. The DVD provided with the set will make it easier for them to learn the sight words.
How to Catch a Unicorn, by Adam Wallace: With this book, take your child on a fantastic joyride with a rainbow and unicorn. The rhyming texts and colorful pictures will catch the attention of every kindergartener.
Pete the Kitty and the Case of the Hiccups, by James Dean: Pete, the Kitty, gets a hiccup, but he doesn’t know what to do. He asks for help from his friends but still cannot get rid of it. Children will relate Pete’s story to them and roll down laughing.
Kindergarten Math Workbook, by Modern Kid Press: Teach your child basic math skills through fun activities with this book’s help. The provided worksheets are also great for practicing.
First reading books for 5-year-olds:
Here is a list of some of the best books for beginning readers at the age of 5 years.
Big Preschool Workbook, by School Zone: This workbook teaches kids pre-writing, alphabets, colors and shapes, maths, and much more through fun activities. The increasing difficulty of each exercise also challenges kids to ace their performance.
Pinkalicious and the Flower Fairy, by Victoria Kann: Pinkalicios thinks that someday a flower fairy will visit her garden, as both love pink. This book will introduce your kids to different flowers, imaginations, and worms.
Junie B. Jones’s First Boxed Set Ever!, by Barbara Park: A boxed set of 4 excellent books, perfect for pre-school and kindergarten kids. Make your children laugh by giving them this book as a birthday or holiday gift.
My Magical Words, by Becky Cummings: Help your kids build their confidence while struggling to learn with this book. It teaches them to say “I am statements” that make them feel unique, loved, bright, and beautiful.
Some of the easy books to read for reluctant students:
If your child is a beginner reader, give them some easy-to-read books to practice reading.
How to Catch a Mermaid, by Adam Wallace: This easy reading and coloring book will introduce your child to mermaids. Your kids will undoubtedly be amazed by the rhyming texts and eye-catchy pictures.
The 20th-Century Children’s Book Treasury, by Janet Schulman le: Collects a wide range of concept books, picture books, short stories, and much more. This anthology brings together all the favorite and memorable stories of children.
Baby Beluga, by Raffi: This easy-to-read book makes a perfect tool for early learners. The inclusive songs will improve a child’s speech and listening skills. Take your kid on this adorable baby whale’s adventure at sea.
The Pigeon Has to Go to School, Mo Willems: This book is perfect for kids ready for school. Tell your kids why the pigeon has to go to school and how much fun he will have there. It will help them to get prepared for starting school life.
First-grade reading level books to start school-going children:
The following are some of the best books for beginning readers ready for first grade.
1st Grade Common Core Math, by Argo Brothers: Make your kids comfortable with the conventional standard maths with the help of this workbook. The provided techniques and strategies will help kids to develop their math skills.
Splat the Cat, by Rob Scotton: Splat and his class, are on the way to a mountain. He is thinking of how much ice cream he will eat when they reach there. But the mountain is covered by only snow. Kids will learn the “-eam£ sound with the help of this easy-to-read book.
Uni the Unicorn Uni’s First Sleepover, by Amy Krouse Rosenthal: Uni the Unicorn is excited about his first sleepover. He has seen many unicorns going for sleepovers and learning magical games. The story and colorful pictures together make a perfect bedtime story.
Clark the Shark, by Bruce Hale: Clark, the Shark’s mom, bakes some brownies for school. When Clark decides to taste one, he cannot stop eating. The accessible texts and rhymes will make the kids enjoy every reading bite.
Online best kids’ books:
If your kids are not into textbooks, here are some Kindle and audiobooks you can find online. You can also get printable books at an affordable price.
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Rodrick Rules, by Jeff Kinney: Greg joins a new school after summer vacation and doesn’t want to talk about the past three months. Unfortunately, his older brother, Rodrick, finds something in Greg’s diary. So what exactly happened to Greg during the summer vacation? This is one of the best books to get into reading your children.
The Fox Learnt by Aesop: Introduce your kids to the father of fables, Aesop, with this colorfully illustrated book. Four of his fox tales are included in this book to teach the children some high moral values. This is a short chapter book series that will give a good concept of the morality of life.
Beginner Piano Lessons for Kids, Jay Wamsted: This book has been designed to help kids learn their first piano lesson. The provided audio and video clips will make it easier to practice with easy songs. This is one of the best chapter books for 1st graders to read independently.
The Adventures of Oliver and Elizabeth: Woodville: This book perfectly matches kids attending private schools. This hilarious story of Ben’s misfortune in private school shows how he faces bullies, peer pressure, uniform, etc. So, these books can be great for beginning readers to adjust to the environment’s surroundings.
My first I can read books series:
“My First I can read books” is a series of best books for beginning readers. These are easy-to-read books with pictures that help kids to develop their reading skills.
Super Wings, by Steve Foxe: Jett visits a girl who loves stars and finds that her favorite constellation is missing. The only way to solve the problem and save the stars is to trip into space. Using primary language, repetitive sight words, and pictures makes it easier for kids to read this book.
Biscuit’s Neighbourhood, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli: This collection of five fun-filled storybooks about Biscuit’s tiny yellow puppy. Enjoy Biscuit playing with his ball, feeding pets, visiting his local library, and much more.
Fancy Nancy, by Jane O’Connor: Jojo helps her parents with the twins. But she is confused about her twin siblings and cannot tell them apart. Your children will roll down on the floor laughing at Jojo’s stories.
By Kallie George, Duck, Duck, Dinosaur: Spike loves soap, but Feather and Flap do not want to scrub. They don’t like bathing. Now Spike is looking for ways to make bathing time fun for everyone. This book will make your kids realize how much fun they can have while bathing.
Beginning reader books for adults:
Here is a list of some of the best books for beginning readers.
The Chiffon Trenches, by Andre Leon Talley: This book tells the brutal story of Andre’s struggle to survive in the fashion industry. Despite racism, illicit rumors, and other challenges in this industry, Andre rose to the top and became an influential man. This is one of the best classic chapter books for students of 2nd graders.
Near Dark, by Brad Thor: A considerable reward has been placed on America’s top spy, Scot Harvath. His only way of survival is to outwit his enemies. Fortunately, he gets support from a Norwegian spy, Solvi Kolstad. Join their thrilling journey to find the truth. This is one of the best-beginning chapter books for 2nd- and 3rd grades students.
Midnight Sun, by Stephenie Meyer: This companion novel of “Twilight” describes Edward and Bella’s love story from Edward’s perspective. You will get to know his past and the complexity of his inner thoughts that compelled him to lead Bella into danger. This is one of the best mystery chapter books for 2nd graders.
Sucker Punch, by Laurel K. Hamilton: Anita Blake flies to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula to solve a murder case. As the pressure escalates from the local cops and family members, Anita realizes that the evidence does not add up. Did the Marshals catch the killer, or is he just an innocent man?
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How to find age-appropriate books for advanced readers?
Finding age-appropriate books for an advanced reader can be very challenging for parents. Here are some strategies which you can follow to sort out the problem:
Check out book reviews: One of the easiest ways to look for your kids’ age-appropriate books is to check the book’s reviews. If your child likes a book, go to the publisher’s website for information on the reading and age levels. You can also find book reviews in various online bookstores.
Know the authors: If your child finds a favorite author, it becomes much easier to look for books. But make sure what the title says. Many writers write books for both children and adults.
Look for the content: If you do not find any review related to a particular book, you can go through the book’s first few pages. That will give you some idea about the subject matter. You can also get the context from the back cover of the book.
Besides these, there are some factors that you need to keep in mind to find age-appropriate books for advanced readers –
The Fear Factor: Knowing your child’s sensitivities is essential before looking for a book. Some children have vivid imagination power, which can cause anxiety and fear after reading a book. So, always check out the reviews and the cover pictures to know if something can make your child uncomfortable.
The Maturity Factor: Another critical thing for advanced readers is their maturity and comprehension level. A 5th grader may read a book two grades higher than him. But, he will miss out on most of the context and might not find it interesting. It is better to determine the age/grade of the book’s main character. This can be done by reading a few pages or from the back cover.
The Age Factor: Age is also significant when choosing books for advanced readers. A good rule of thumb is to keep them away from reality-based fiction before turning 10-12. You can also look for the age and grade level on the book or the internet.
2. How can I help my child to read better?
Here are some of the methods which you can follow to help your child read better:
- Look for the books that your child will enjoy more
- Read aloud to them
- Ask them to go through the headings of the book to get the context
- Re-read sections that are confusing to them or ask them to do the same
- If your child has dyslexia, ask them to use a ruler or finger to follow along the lines
- Have them make a note of the words they don’t know
- Discuss with your child whatever they have just read and try to summarise the main points
- Ask them to note down questions they don’t understand.
3. Can a 3-year-old read?
Research suggests that children, on average, learn to read at 5. Experts believe parents should test their three-year-olds to see if their language skills are developed enough to start early. According to some researchers in the USA, children who can differentiate between simple drawing and written words may be ready for reading lessons.
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Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API