20 Excellent Books for 1st Graders
There is no shortage of fun books for 1st graders out there, but I’ve compiled a list of my absolute favorites. Pop your email in below, and I’ll send the printable book list straight to your inbox.
Recently, I shared the independent reading lists I’d put together for my 3rd and 5th graders this year (you can see the 3rd grade list here and the 5th grade list here).
These lists were WILDLY popular and so many people asked if I could do ones for other grades too.
Well, it’s not a burden for me to come up with books I’d love my kids to read!
Here’s what I would put on a reading list for my 1st grader!
Note that first grade readers vary WILDLY! Some are still working on decoding simple words (here’s a list of some of my favorite decodable books) while others are diving headfirst into chapter books that are multiple hundreds of pages long!
This first grade book list starts with easy readers and beginning chapter books (usually 3-5 chapters with illustrations on every page) and also includes a few early chapter books that are still under 100 pages long.
20 BOOKS FOR 1ST GRADERS
Don’t Throw It to Mo! by David A. Adler
Okay, this one is so sweet and heartwarming! Mo might be the smallest player on the field, but his heart is definitely the biggest! The other team teases him for being a “butterfingers,” but Mo’s coach has a clever plan that just might turn his size into the team’s secret weapon.
Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel
When Ella was little, I checked out a whole stack of Frog and Toad books for her and she hopped into bed with us and had Bart read her a couple of them. By the end of one story, Bart was laughing so hard he almost couldn’t speak. Not a bad reading motivator.
Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin
These stories about identical twin girls are so funny and sweet. They get along and they love being twins, but they are NOT exactly the same from making birthday cakes to how they spend their free time, they are both true individuals.
Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant
Aside from Frog & Toad, this is the classic easy reader chapter book series in my opinion. There are SO MANY of them, and the adventures of this young boy and his massive somewhat-ill-behaved dog never get old.
Pedro’s Big Goal by Fran Manushkin
If you have ever read the Katie Woo book series, you will love this series about her loveable friend Pedro. Pedro is learning all about how to solve problems, all the while, filling his day with some pretty laughable adventures. This early reader chapter book is organized by four chapters, each chapter being a different story. At the end of the book there are four pages of jokes in the riddle format that are a delight for young readers.
George and Martha by James Marshall
If there was ever a book that could make me laugh, it’s a George and Martha book. These two hippo friends are hilarious and their stories and (mis)adventures make me chuckle out loud. The stories aren’t too long and each book has 2-3 little stories.
Minnie and Moo: The Case of the Missing Jelly Donut by Denys Cazet
Minnie’s jelly donut has disappeared, and Moo is convinced there’s a donut thief on the loose! These two silly cows are on the case, determined to catch the culprit and save snack time. This one is so delightful and absolutely hilarious!
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat
Some books stick around for decades for good reason. The Nate the Great series was originally published in the 70s and it’s just as popular today. How can you resist Nate as he solves mysteries (and demonstrates lots of problem-solving skills!).
Mouse Soup by Arnold Lobel
I adore Arnold Lobel, and this book always makes me laugh. A clever mouse is captured by a hungry weasel who plans to make mouse soup, but the mouse insists it needs stories to taste right. He tells four funny tales and then sends the weasel off to gather “ingredients” from the stories – giving himself just enough time to escape. Classic Arnold Lobel charm – I only wish he’d written a hundred more.
Fox on the Job by James Marshall
When Fox’s bike breaks, his mom tells him it’s time to earn the money for a new one. He gives a few jobs a try – selling shoes, running rides, even delivering pizzas – but none of them are quite right. Then he finds the perfect job for him: testing beds! Now that’s a job he can really sleep on.
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
Narwhal and Jelly don’t have much in common but they do both LOVE waffles and they’re always up for an adventure together as the explore the ocean. This easy reader chapter book series leans more toward graphic novel format, so they’re a nice option for young readers who gravitate toward those.
King & Kayla and the Case of the Missing Dog Treats by Dori Hillestad Butler
These beginning mystery books are perfect for a child who loves cracking the case. Told from the perspective of King, the dog, each story has 5 chapters as King and his human, Kayla, try to find clues and solve the mystery together.
Juana & Lucas by Juana Medina
These delightful books about Juana and her beloved dog Lucas are peppered with Spanish words and full color illustrations. My 5.5 year old has LOVED having me read these with her.
Bumble and Bee by Ross Burach
Bumble and Bee are BURSTING with energy and excitement. Their friend Froggy? Just wants some peace and quiet. He also doesn’t mind lending his voice when he knows an answer that his friends don’t. These are laugh-out-loud funny.
The Infamous Ratsos by Kara LaReau
I checked this series out when I was looking at books that had won the Geisel Award and Ani blew through them, but I didn’t realize that Star hadn’t read them to until she requested that I check them out from the library for her. At 64 pages long, with lots of illustrations and big text, these are perfect for readers just starting to try out chapter books on their own.
The Golly Sisters Go West by Betsy Byars
The Golly Sisters are taking their show on the road, and they’re bringing plenty of laughs with them! Dressed in their finest and ready for adventure, these two sisters are heading west to share their one-of-a-kind act. Of course, getting along isn’t always easy (and things don’t always go according to plan…but that’s half the fun).
Owl Diaries: Eva’s Treetop Festival by Rebecca Elliott
Who wouldn’t want to be an owl and live in a treehouse and keep a diary of all the fun you have at school and with your friends? If 12 books in the series is any indication, EVERYONE wants to be an owl! I especially love that it’s made to look like it’s written on lined-paper.
Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqi
These books each have four delightful stories about Yasmin, a spunky Pakistani American girl who loves spending time with her family and creating and building (after we read the first one, my girls all wanted to make their own maps of the neighborhood). One extra fun thing about this book is that, after the four chapters, there is a little glossary, plus craft and recipe ideas. Some of the books are published with just one story, while there are also 3 books with 4 stories each, so if you’re ordering them online keep an eye on the page numbers to see if you’re ordering a single story or the 4 chapter collections (the full ones will be around 96 pages instead of 32).
Press Start by Thomas Flintham
Animal Town is home to Super Rabbit Boy who is super fast and brave and also? Is a video game character. Which means that when things get dicey, he needs to save the day. But only if the player, Sunny, can manage to stop losing each level.
The Chicken Squad by Doreen Cronin
When you think chickens, you might think of birds pecking in the dirt. What you SHOULD be thinking is crime fighters and mystery solvers.
And if you’d like a printable copy of this list of books for 1st graders that you can take to your library or screenshot on your phone for easy access, just pop in your email address below and it’ll come right to your inbox!
