Here we go! This section of the list is for children beginning to read on their own. As you could see from the past few days, many of the books in the first three categories of the continuum were selected because they are good read alouds. When writing book lists for very young children my first priority is that the stories are engaging. Summer is the best season to read for pleasure!
Today’s list is for the Beginning Reader. You know these kids – once the light switch has been turned on, there’s no stopping them! Generally, the kids who will most enjoy these books are between five and seven years old.
According to Bonnie Campbell Hill’s Reading Continuum, the characteristics of the Beginning Reader are:
– developed storyline with little or no use of patterns
– texts include simple plots and only a few characters
– illustrations often represent sequence of events
– vocabulary primarily consists of familiar words
Again, I have a mix of books for independent reading and stories that would be fun to hear after a day at the beach/lake/pool/sprinkler!
Goldilocks and the Three Bears by Jim Aylesworth
Slow Down for Manatees by Jim Arnosky
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
The Golly Sisters series by Betsy Byars
Little Rat Rides and Little Rat Sets Sail by Monika-Bang Campbell
Luke on the Loose by Harry Bliss
The Tub People by Pam Conrad
Red Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Cowley
Dodsworth in New York by Tim Egan
“Dodsworth is convinced to live life to its fullest and have an adventure inNew York City. But a crazy duck stows away in Dodsworth’s luggage, and Dodsworth spends his time in hot pursuit of the wily creature. Young readers will laugh out loud at this easy-to-read chapter book.” (Politics and Prose, Favorite Children’s Books, 2007)
Dodsworth in London by Tim Egan
Clever Jack Takes the Cake by Candace Fleming
Poetrees by Douglas Florian
Benny and Penny: Just Pretend by Geoffrey Hayes“Sammy the Seal by Syd Hoff
City I Love by Lee Bennett Hopkins
Houndsley and Catina by James Howe
Construction Zone by Cheryl Willis Hudson
My Father’s Shop by Satomi Ichikawa
The Ugly Ducking retold and illustrated by Rachel Isadora
Dogs and Cats by Steve Jenkins
“Jenkins introduces trustworthy human companions, touching on evolution, domestication, behavior and physical characteristics. Filled with fascinating facts and lovely, lifelike cut-paper collages, this vivid volume will captivate pet enthusiasts, who can read about one species and then flip it over to read about the other.” (School Library Journal, Best Books of 2007)
Moon, Have You Met My Mother? The Collected Poems of Karla Kuskin
Bats at the Beach by Brien Liesin this grand adventure. (School Library Journal)
Bats at the Library by Brien Lies
Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same! by Grace Lin
Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel
Cinderella, retold by Barbara McClintock
Trickster tales from Gerald McDermott
Coyote: A Trickster Tale from the American Southwest
Jabuti the Tortoise: A Trickster Tale from the Amazon
Raven: A Trickster Tale from the Pacific Northwest
Zomo the Rabbit: A Trickster Tale from West Africa
Kate and the Beanstalk by Mary Pope Osborne
Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parish
The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney
Wabi Sabi by Mark Reibstein
Silly Lilly and the Four Seasons by Agnes Rosenstiehl
Poppleton books by Cynthia Rylant
Mr. Putter and Tabby books by Cynthia Rylant
Henry and Mudge books by Cynthia Rylant
Bug Are Insects by Anne Rockwell
Stars Beneath Your Bed: The Surprising Story of Dust by April Pulley Sayre
Dog and Bear: Two’s Company by Laura Vaccaro Seeger
Won Ton: A Cat Tale Told in Haiku by Lee Wardlaw
All the Way to America: The Story of a Big Italian Family and a Little Shovel by Dan Yaccarino
“Yaccarino’s family is proudly Italian, but their immigration story is universal. Readers of varied backgrounds will be able to identify with the search for a better life in a new country, the passing along of values and heirlooms, and the addition of new family members. The story will make an excellent family-history discussion starter.” (starred review, School Library Journal)
Sommer Reading 