Has your child reached their first grade and is starting to read? First grade students are beginning to decode more words and add more sight words to their reading storage bank. In order to improve their skills, they should practice reading about 30 minutes a day. You may wonder which books with beautiful wholesome stories you can present them so that they would be excited to keep reading. Following are our tips for a few first grade titles that are worth sharing:
[Note: Some of the book descriptions below are copied directly from the publisher.]
Are you wondering how to encourage your not-so-keen-on-reading child to spend time in the world of books? We have you covered! Check out our
8 Ways to Encourage Your Children to Read.
We Learn About God (Unit 1) – Rod & Staff Publishers Bible Nurture and Reader Series
This book contains the first unit of a 1st grade reader in the Bible Nurture and Reader Series by Rod & Staff Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes seven days of creation, Adam and Eve, picture reading, and much more.
We Learn More About God (Units 2 & 3) – Rod & Staff Publishers Bible Nurture and Reader Series
This book contains the second and third units of a 1st grade reader in the Bible Nurture and Reader Series by Rod & Staff Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes stories about what God gave us, what He likes and doesn’t like, how He took care of Noah, and a number of poems about God.
We Learn About God’s People (Units 4 & 5) – Rod & Staff Publishers Bible Nurture and Reader Series
This book contains the fourth and fifth units of a 1st grade reader in the Bible Nurture and Reader Series by Rod & Staff Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes stories from the Bible about the people of God, like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Esau, Joseph, and Jesus.
Captain Cat by Syd Hoff
Captain Cat has whiskers and paws but he has joined the army! He also has more stripes than the soldiers have ever seen. But most important, he has a best friend who can make an army barracks feel like home.
First Steps (1 of 3) – Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers
This book contains the first volume of a 1st grade reader in the Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes a combination of parent-child reading and provides many wholesome stories from the world around us.
Days Go By (2 of 3) – Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers
This book contains the second volume of a 1st grade reader in the Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes many wholesome stories about Rachel and Susan, a dog and a puppy, and stories from around the farm.
More Days Go By (3 of 3) – Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers
This book contains the third volume of a 1st grade reader in the Pathway Reading Series by Pathway Publishers. If you do not use this series for your reading program, I highly recommend it as an additional independent reading. It includes many wholesome stories about Peter, Rachel, their family, their farm, and their friends.
In John’s Back Yard by Esther K. Meeks
John and his parents encounter many adventures as they explore their backyard in the warm sunny weather.
Little Dog Lost by Monica Carnesi
On a cold winter day, a curious dog wanders onto a frozen river. Suddenly, the ice starts breaking up, and soon the dog is adrift and traveling/the unwilling passenger on a fast-moving sheet of ice. The dramatic rescue of this little lost dog, which traveled seventy-five miles in two days, is a true story that will warm readers’ hearts.
Baby Pandas by Bethany Olson
Little pandas look like gymnasts in training. They tumble around on the ground, and they try to keep their balance on tree branches. Begin reading to watch fluffy panda cubs fumble around bamboo-rich habitats.
Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
Whether by foot, boat, car, or unicycle, P. D. Eastman’s lovable dogs demonstrate the many ways one can travel in this condensed, board-book version.
Berenstain Bears Ride the Thunderbolt Jan & Mike Berenstain
Climb in and hold on tight! Kids will love spending a day at the Bear Country Amusement Park, where they’ll experience the stomach-dropping, heart-stopping thrills of a giant roller coaster right along with the Berenstain Bears.
Honey Helps by Laura Godwin
Meet Happy and Honey two loveable new friends for children just beginning to recognize words on their own. Happy is a big, friendly dog. Honey is a little, playful kitten. Happy is digging a hole for his bone. Honey wants to help him. But Honey’s kind of “help” is not what Happy needs.
We Play on a Rainy Day by Angela Shelf Medearis
Children pout when the rain begins, but, soon, properly dressed, they enjoy playing outdoors in the rain.
Biscuits Day at the Farm
Woof, woof! Come along, Biscuit! Join Biscuit at the farm. Biscuit is going to help out on the farm today and can’t wait to feed all of the farm animals. He makes friends with the hens, the geese, and even an eager little piglet who wants to follow him everywhere!
Play with Me by Marie Hall Ets
Out in a meadow, a little girl just wants to play, but the animals keep running away. Until she sits still by the pond, and they all come back to her. Teaching patience and gentleness this classic story is wonderful for children of all ages.
A Trip to the Zoo from DK Reading
Join Billy and Matt for a day at the zoo. It’s a chance to see and learn about all kinds of animals—from a hungry giraffe to performing sea lions!
Bob Books by Bobby & John Marlen
Many early readers contain words that are too difficult for a child who has just learned the sounds of the alphabet. Not these books! Using only the letters M, A, T and S, children can read their first book. Kids love the stories and funny pictures, and can’t wait to read them to everybody they know.
Big Dog and Little Dog Going for a Walk by Dav Pilkey
Canine companions Big Dog and Little Dog are always getting into sticky situations. Their second adventure is about a particularly muddy situation! But friends who endure baths together are friends ’til the end–or, at least until their next muddy walk.
Berenstain Bears: Dinosaur Dig by Jan & Mike Berenstain
When Brother and Sister visit the dinosaur museum, they luck out. A real dinosaur dig is taking place! What sort of fossils will they find? A Stegosaurus? The mighty Tyrannosaurus? Dig in with the Berenstain Bears to find out.
Do you have any 1st grade books recommendations? Please let us know in the comment section below. We would love to hear from you!
