Top 1st grade books: 14 Terrific Books for First Graders | Early Reader Books

Best First Grade Books for the Classroom

An amazing lineup of first grade books goes a long way to making your year a great one. Of course you have plenty of well-loved titles, but freshening up your shelves always feels good. Here are 60 notable and recent titles we suggest for your first grade classroom library.

(Just a heads up, WeAreTeachers may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. We only recommend items our team loves!)

1.& 2. When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree by Jamie L. B. Deenihan

When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree’s riff on “When life gives you lemons …” has a childlike perspective on everything: cheerful, lively illustrations, and themes galore to discuss with first graders. Just like Grandma’s lemon tree, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

Buy it: When Grandma Gives You a Lemon Tree on Amazon

2. When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox by Jamie L. B. Deenihan

When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox features a child who wishes for a dollhouse but receives a toolbox instead. (After the initial disappointment, it actually turns out to be perfect for building a dream doll castle!) Though it’s not the focus of the story, this title gives classrooms the chance to gently discuss avoiding gender assumptions and practice using non-binary pronouns when talking about a book character.

Add both witty Deenihan titles to your mentor texts for how-to writing too!

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Buy it: When Grandpa Gives You a Toolbox on Amazon

3. The Camping Trip by Jennifer K. Mann

Add this first-time camping story to your collection of books portraying kids of color having joyful, everyday experiences. Or use it to launch a discussion of themes like overcoming fears and having new experiences. It also makes for an awesome personal-narrative writing mentor text with ALL the mini-lesson inspiration, from labels to detailed event sequences, sensory details to speech bubbles, and even characters’ emotions.

Buy it: The Camping Trip on Amazon

4.

The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story by Tina Cho

Learn about the historic tradition of female divers in South Korea, the haenyeo, through this narrative account of a young girl’s first experiences diving with her grandmother. We love how this book encourages kids to ask questions and make inferences—it’s truly captivating!

Buy it: The Ocean Calls: A Haenyeo Mermaid Story on Amazon

5. The Cot in the Living Room by Hilda Eunice Burgos

This lovely personal narrative affirms the experiences of kids whose parents work the night shift, and adds to discussions about homes, family life, friendship, and being part of a community. Mami keeps a cot in the living room for neighborhood kids who need a place to spend the night when their parents are working, and her daughter always wishes for a turn to use it. When she finally gets a chance to try it, she learns some unexpected lessons about empathy.

Buy it: The Cot in the Living Room on Amazon

6.

Carpenter’s Helper by Sybil Rosen and Camille Garoche

Papi and Renata are busy renovating the bathroom together when a wren flies in the window and makes a nest. This stalls the project, but it creates an unforgettable chance to watch nature at work. Add this one to your first grade books to encourage thoughtful discussions about helping, respect for nature, problem-solving, and more.

Buy it: Carpenter’s Helper on Amazon

7. When the Shadbush Blooms by Carla Messinger and Susan Katz

This celebration of the seasons pairs Lenape Indian traditions past and present. So many first grade curriculum connection possibilities.

Buy it: When the Shadbush Blooms on Amazon

8. Ten Beautiful Things by Molly Beth Griffin

Lily must make a long drive across her state to move in with her Gram. When Gram suggests they pass the time by looking for 10 beautiful things, Lily’s sure there won’t be any. She learns that beauty can penetrate even deep sadness. This is one of the most tender first grade books (or any grade book) we’ve read recently.

Buy it: Ten Beautiful Things on Amazon

9. It Came in the Mail by Ben Clanton

Another clever story about mail reminds us to be careful what we wish for. Delightful word choices (e.g., diddley-squat and squibble wibble whoop) make this a fun one to read aloud over and over.

Buy it: It Came in the Mail on Amazon

10. Julián Is a Mermaid by Jessica Love

When Julián sees a group of women dressed as mermaids on the subway in Julián and the Mermaid, he’s transfixed. He wonders if Abuela will be angry when he dresses up as a mermaid, but her response is perfect. Not only is this book stunning, it also opens up important discussions about acceptance.

Buy it: Julián Is a Mermaid on Amazon

 11. Julián at the Wedding by Jessica Love

Prepare to fall in love with Julián all over again in Julián at the Wedding. The text proclaims a wedding “a party for love. ” The resplendent illustrations convey not only love between the brides, but love for yourself and your choices too.

Buy it: Julián at the Wedding on Amazon

12. Bird Boy by Matthew Burgess

Connecting with others at school doesn’t come easily to Nico—but he loves to sit quietly and watch nature, especially birds. When classmates dub him “Bird Boy,” it feels like teasing, but it turns out Nico was just meant to make friends in his own time. Add this to your first grade books about friendship and identity; we also like the representation of wheelchair use in the illustrations.

Buy it: Bird Boy on Amazon

13. Truman by Jean Reidy

When a tortoise’s beloved owner unexpectedly disappears on the bus, he’s determined to see her again. For back-to-school or any time of year, big themes of devotion, perseverance, bravery, and friendship come perfectly packaged for first graders’ consideration in this sweet story.

Buy it: Truman on Amazon

14.

Calvin by JR and Vanessa Ford

Over summer vacation, Calvin bravely tells his parents that even though they’ve always thought of him as a girl, in his “heart and brain,” he’s a boy named Calvin. They support him in starting his new school year as his true self. The joyful illustrations and straightforward, positive language make this a helpful book for so many kids.

Buy it: Calvin on Amazon

15. Creepy Pair of Underwear! by Aaron Reynolds

What do you do when you beg your mom to buy glow-in-the-dark underwear and they turn out to be super scary? This follow-up to the crowd-pleasing Creepy Carrots! is hysterical and good for discussions about expectations, growing up, and managing fears.

We are pumped to share the newest Creepy Tales book, Creepy Crayon!, with students too—especially since it’s school-themed!

Buy it: Creepy Pair of Underwear! on Amazon

16. Amira’s Picture Day by Reem Faruqi

Amira is excited to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with her family—until she realizes it falls on the same day as school picture day. This is one of our favorite new first grade books for studying characters’ emotions. We also love adding more representation of Muslim families to our libraries.

Buy it: Amira’s Picture Day on Amazon

17. If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen

First graders are old pros at the whole school thing, making them perfect candidates for appreciating Chris Van Dusen’s utopian imaginary upgrade.

Buy it: If I Built a School on Amazon

18. Off-Limits by Helen Yoon

A girl finds herself in her dad’s office and just can’t resist diving into ALL of the office supplies. Pretty soon it’s a hilarious mess of paper clips, tape, sticky notes, and more. Yikes! Well, everyone goes overboard sometimes. This is one of our new favorite first grade books for talking about author’s message.

Buy it: Off-Limits on Amazon

19., 20. & 21. Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn; Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter; and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring by Kenard Pak

Engaging introductions to class nature-observation walks or to study descriptive writing, this trio of gorgeous titles encourages kids to tune in to the changes each season brings.

Buy it: Goodbye Summer, Hello Autumn, Goodbye Autumn, Hello Winter, and Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring on Amazon

22. Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome by Kat Zhang

Amy Wu is one of the most endearing picture book characters. Add her newest adventure to your first grade books about welcoming new students. When Lin joins Amy’s class, he hardly talks at all, but he’s totally different when he’s talking in Chinese with his family. Amy uses her big heart to make Lin feel comfortable.

Buy it: Amy Wu and the Warm Welcome on Amazon

23. Bilal Cooks Daal by Aisha Saeed

Bilal’s buddies don’t understand why his dad asks him to come inside to help cook dinner so early in the day—until they learn how to make daal. The day ends with a delicious tasting and new appreciation for this South Asian culinary tradition. This story has all the ingredients for a fun read-aloud and narrative-writing mentor text.

Buy it: Bilal Cooks Daal on Amazon

24. Lizzy and the Cloud by The Fan Brothers

Every one of the Fan Brothers books is gorgeous, and we particularly love this one for first grade dreamers. Lizzy visits the cloud seller at the park and comes home with her very own cloud, Milo. She must follow the instructions that came with it, even if that means making difficult choices. This is a whimsical standalone read-aloud or fun to contrast with informational books about clouds during a weather unit.

Buy it: Lizzy and the Cloud on Amazon

25. Rules of the House by Mac Barnett

Ian loves rules. (Remind you of any first graders you know?) On a family vacation, both he and his anti-rule sister, Jenny, get a lesson in stepping outside their comfort zones.

Buy it: Rules of the House on Amazon

26. Ways to Make Friends by Jairo Buitrago

First grade books about friendship are essential for starting the school year. Toad has lots of quirky ideas for making friends that are great for class discussion. We appreciate that this book also acknowledges that working on making friends can be tiring sometimes; time alone can feel good too.

Buy it: Ways to Make Friends on Amazon

27.

Welcome to Bobville: City of Bobs by Jonah Winter

Add this to your first grade books about names. In Bobville, everyone is named Bob. Along with their shared names, they look, think, and act the same way. That is until one Bob decides to challenge the norm and change his name to Bruce! This story manages to be discussion-worthy while also tickling first graders’ sense of humor.

Buy it: Welcome to Bobville: City of Bobs on Amazon

28. Too Many Pigs in the Pool by Hinote Lanier

Mr. Jenkins wants some company in his swimming pool, but he doesn’t expect a steadily growing pig pool party. This math story gets kids thinking about doubling in a hysterical way.

Buy it: Too Many Pigs in the Pool on Amazon

29. How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? by Dev Petty

“How old are you?” is a crucial question for first graders! No one is sure how many candles to put on Mr. Tortoise’s birthday cake, but they all have suggestions. Add this fun title to your first grade math books about representing and ordering number amounts to 1,000.

Buy it: How Old Is Mr. Tortoise? on Amazon

30. The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! by Christina Soontornvat

There are supposed to be 10 Blunder siblings, but what will Mom say when they report that one is missing? This story’s silly illustrations get first graders thinking about counting strategies and ways to make 10.

Buy it: The Blunders: A Counting Catastrophe! on Amazon

31. Pigeon Math by Asia Citro

Counting pigeons seems easy, but this group of unpredictable birds keeps coming and going. Share this playful “birds on a wire” scenario when you’re teaching about writing addition and subtraction number sentences.

Buy it: Pigeon Math on Amazon

32., 33. & 34. Triangle, Square, and Circle by Mac Barnett

Inject both humor and critical thinking into your 2D geometry unit with this smart trilogy that gets students thinking about shapes’ features in new ways.

Buy it: Triangle, Square, and Circle on Amazon

35.

Mr. Watson’s Chickens by Jarrett Dapier

The story follows Mr. Watson as he figures out what to do with the 456 chickens overcrowding the home he shares with his partner, Mr. Nelson. The sneaky birds find a way to escape, but even after he’s rounded them all back up, Mr. Nelson isn’t sure he’s ready to let them go. Filled with fun onomatopoeia and rhythmic writing, this book makes for a great read-aloud.

Buy it: Mr. Watson’s Chickens on Amazon

36. Firefighters’ Handbook by Meghan McCarthy

Meghan McCarthy always serves up top-notch informational read-alouds, but this one might be our favorite yet. From training to tools, it covers all things firefighting. Use it to teach students about informational text comprehension strategies and as a mentor text for writing their own.

Buy it: Firefighters’ Handbook on Amazon

37. Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack by Sandra Nickel and Oliver Dominguez

Here’s a tasty narrative nonfiction topic! This engaging account of the “invention” of this popular snack (and cafeteria staple) offers a satisfying bite of food history, and may even inspire additional snack research or experimentation of kids’ own.

Buy it: Nacho’s Nachos: The Story Behind the World’s Favorite Snack on Amazon

38. What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures by Heather L. Montgomery

Scientists (especially first grade ones!) are always collecting interesting things they find. This clever book presents famous scientists using anecdotes about how they found nature items as kids. Encourage scientific inquiry and introduce types of scientists with this awesome addition to your first grade books about science!

Buy it: What’s in Your Pocket? Collecting Nature’s Treasures on Amazon

39. Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know by Brittany Luby

How do you know when summer, or fall, or winter, or spring really arrive? This beautiful bilingual book is written in Anishinaabemowin (the language of the Ojibwe) and English.

Buy it: Mii maanda ezhi-gkendmaanh / This Is How I Know on Amazon

40. Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code by Laurie Wallmark

Share this story as an example of persistence and also to help your students appreciate the origin of the tablets, laptops, and desktops they use today.

Buy it: Grace Hopper: Queen of Computer Code on Amazon

41. Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal by Karyn Parsons

The traffic signal is such a concrete example for first grade minds of how an invention can solve a problem. This rhyming story brings Garrett Morgan’s work to life. It will definitely get kids thinking and wondering about other inventions too.

Buy it: Saving the Day: Garrett Morgan’s Life-Changing Invention of the Traffic Signal on Amazon

42. The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley

When first graders see a problem, they want to fix it—which makes this true story about a determined crew of soccer-loving friends extra fascinating. Prasit Hemmin and his buddies live on a small Thai island, meaning they only have room to play soccer occasionally at low tide on a sandbar. So they decide to build themselves a floating soccer field! Add this to your first grade books about perseverance.

Buy it: The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field on Amazon

43. This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids From Around the World by Matt Lamothe

Every elementary classroom needs a copy of this book, which sends a powerful message about the things that connect kids across the globe.

Buy it: This Is How We Do It: One Day in the Lives of Seven Kids From Around the World on Amazon

44. A Peek at Beaks: Tools Birds Use by Sara Levine

A fun text structure turns learning about different types of bird beaks into a guessing game. What kind of bird has a beak that works like a knife? A net? Needle-nose pliers? A straw? We love first grade books that let us dig into science standards through reading aloud.

Buy it: A Peek at Beaks: Tools Birds Use on Amazon

45. Seedlings series by various authors

Engaging topics, great photos, clear informational text features? Check, check, check. If you need to beef up your collection of informational books your firsties can tackle independently, you’ll want to click through the many (many!) options in this series.

Buy it: Seedlings on Amazon

46. Giggle and Learn books by Kevin McCloskey

The Giggle and Learn series takes on high-interest topics in their readable, comic-style nonfiction texts. Explore the whole series.

Buy it: Giggle and Learn books on Amazon

47. Seeing Into Tomorrow by Richard Wright

This collection of haiku highlights common childhood experiences of children, like noticing shadows, playing outside, and watching trains. The unique photo collage artwork is a much-needed, everyday portrayal of African American boys.

Buy it: Seeing Into Tomorrow on Amazon

48. Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market by Michelle Schaub

This collection has a shopping list’s worth of creative rhymes, fun illustrations, and great vocabulary, all while celebrating healthy, local food.

Buy it: Fresh-Picked Poetry: A Day at the Farmers’ Market on Amazon

49. Thunder and Cluck series by Jill Esbaum

Thunder and Cluck are different in many ways. Is friendship possible? First graders will love the odd-couple hilarity. This series is part of the Ready to Read Graphics collection, which are all fantastic. Each book starts with an amazing tutorial about how to read graphic novels, perfect for class mini-lessons or small-group work.

Buy it: Thunder and Cluck series on Amazon

50. World of Reading: Mother Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins

Hooray for early readers starring one of our all-time favorite picture book characters! Mother Bruce is just as funny as ever and new readers will be proud to be able to read about his antics on their own.

Buy it: World of Reading: Mother Bruce books on Amazon

51. Unicorn and Yeti series by Heather Ayris Burnell

Fun creatures and classic friendship themes are a great combo in this fun series. The short chapters, color-coded speech bubbles, and supportive pictures are awesome for first grade readers. This series is part of the Acorn Books early reader collection—a must-look for updating your first grade books for independent reading. (For more advanced readers, you’ll also love the Branches collection of transitional chapter books.)

Buy it: Unicorn and Yeti series on Amazon

52. The Mo Jackson Series by David A. Adler

What Mo lacks in size and athleticism he makes up for in determination and love of the game. Young sports enthusiasts will be eager to read the play-by-play accounts of his experiences with soccer, baseball, swimming, and more.

Buy it: The Mo Jackson Series on Amazon

53. The Confetti Kids Series by various authors

With their diverse cast and portrayals of varied childhood experiences, the Confetti Kids allow students to see themselves in books.

Buy it: The Confetti Kids Series on Amazon

54. Pee, Bee, & Jay series by Brian “Smitty” Smith

This series had us at its clever title. Kids love the wacky combination of characters in these pun-filled emergent-reader graphic stories.

Buy it: Pee, Bee, & Jay series on Amazon

55. The Charlie & Mouse books by Laurel Snyder

Books about sibling conflicts make for great discussion, but these vignettes about two brothers who love to be together are so refreshingly sweet.

Buy it: The Charlie & Mouse books on Amazon

56. King & Kayla series by Dori Hillestad Butler

These gentle but engaging mysteries, told from King’s lovable and funny canine perspective, are perfect for readers not quite ready for chapter books.

Buy it: King & Kayla series on Amazon

57. Magic Tree House Graphic Novels by Jenny Laird and Mary Pope Osborne

Striving toward being able to read Magic Tree House books is a rite of passage for so many kiddos. These new graphic novel adaptations introduce all the treasured details from the original books with amazing fresh artwork and new energy. You’ll definitely want to add these to your first grade books for advanced readers or to read them aloud as part of introducing this iconic series.

Buy it: Magic Tree House Graphic Novels on Amazon

58. Zoey and Sassafras books by Asia Citro

With sick magical animals in need of help and an inspiring, relatable girl-scientist hero, this is a series to collect for your classroom.

Buy it: Zoey and Sassafras books on Amazon

59. Our Friend Hedgehog by Lauren Castillo

When Hedgehog loses his cherished stuffed dog Mutty in a storm, he’s beside himself, but a series of meetings with other forest residents brings hope, resilience, and new friendship. This gorgeous illustrated chapter book makes for a sweet classroom read-aloud to pair with conversations about what it means to be a friend. It’s also an age-appropriate choice for advanced first grade readers.

More great news: This sweet story has a sequel to enjoy. Check out Our Friend Hedgehog: A Place to Call Home.

Buy it: Our Friend Hedgehog on Amazon

60. Rabbit & Bear series by Julian Gough and Jim Field

These illustrated chapter books are prime first grade books that work as both appealing classroom read-alouds and independent reading choices for your more advanced readers. Bear and Rabbit are forest neighbors, but their friendship includes plenty of hilarious twists and turns. (FYI: There’s some bathroom content in the first installment, but in our opinion, it’s not a deal-breaker.)

Buy it: Rabbit & Bear on Amazon

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Plus, check out the best first grade art projects and anchor charts.

50 Must-Read Books For First Graders

Welcome to Amy’s Bookshelf! Here, teachers will find carefully curated book lists for each grade level from kindergarten to twelfth grade. Moving forward, new lists filled with book recommendations will be published weekly. Sometimes, these lists will be organized around a specific theme, like a holiday or seasonal event. Other times, they will feature rockstar books – books practically guaranteed to get your students reading. 

Before jumping into reading recommendations, a few words about how books are selected.

First, it is so important that teachers prioritize reading interest over reading level. Students will often choose to read well above or below their reading level if they are particularly interested in a book or topic. Teachers only hurt students by limiting them to a specific selection of titles grouped according to an arbitrary number or level. Think of the books on these lists as starting places for you and your students, but if a student wants to read up (or down), that is a-ok.

Also, please note that these lists lean heavily toward modern selections as opposed to the classics many teachers are familiar with. A true renaissance is happening in children’s literature today, and the books coming out are truly exciting. One of the factors that makes this such an exciting time for kid lit is how diverse the selections are in terms of genre, characters and subject matter. These lists will feature fiction and nonfiction selection as well as graphic novels, novels written in verse, and more.

Any book list or classroom library worth its salt includes books featuring LGBTQIA+ characters, racially diverse characters, characters with disabilities, characters in the foster care system, characters from a wide variety of socioeconomic and religious backgrounds, and so on. Importantly, the diversity of the characters doesn’t always need to be the focus of the literature – in other words, a book featuring a black character or gay character doesn’t need to be about those individuals exploring their blackness or their gayness; those characters can have kid problems that apply to all children regardless of their race or sexual orientation. Similarly, students should be encouraged to read stories featuring people of diversity all year long – not just during a month set aside to celebrate a specific heritage.

One final note:

Today’s children’s literature does not shy away from frank discussions of gender, race, sex, sexuality, abuse, mental illness, and more – nor should it. I will not censor books from these lists based on these controversial areas. What books you recommend will depend on the specific district you work in and your clientele. I encourage you and your students to read widely without fear.

First grade

First-grade readers know their alphabet and letter sounds and are beginning to sound out words. They can read simple words and need as much practice reading as possible. The majority of these books are books teachers can read aloud to students, though this list features some early readers. Early readers are books that are perfect to help students decode words and read on their own. They have short sentences, and picture clues help first graders decipher words all by themselves.

Just so you know, Bored Teachers may get a small share of the sales made through the links on this page. 

1. The Adventures of Beekle: The Unimaginary Friend

by Dan Santat

Get it HERE.

In this book, imaginary friends are born on an island where they await their turn to be chosen by a special child. In the end, of course, Beekle finds his friend and earns his name.

2. Flashlight

by Lizi Boyd

Get it HERE.

Flashlight is a wordless picture book about a young boy camping at night. He sets out from his tent to explore the night world with his flashlight but ends up getting lost. The nocturnal forest creatures he meets give him a helping hand.

3. Sam and Dave Dig a Hole written

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Get it HERE.

Sam and Dave Dig a Hole is a Caldecott Honor Book (an award given for excellence in picture book art) and the winner of the Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature. In this book, Sam and Dave literally dig a hole. Hilarity ensues. 

4. !

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrated by Tom Litchenheld

Get it HERE.

The main character in this book is an exclamation mark, and he learns the very important life lesson that it’s okay to be different. This is a picture book that could double as a graduation gift, too.

5. Actual Size

by Steve Jenkins

Get it HERE.

In collage format, artist Steve Jenkins shows animals (or parts of animals) in their actual size in relation to the page. Some animals fit entirely on the page, while all we see of the giant squid is its eye. 

6. Flora and the Flamingo

by Molly Idle

Get it HERE.

In this wordless picture book, Flora dances with her flamingo friend. At first, their dancing is not synchronized, but at the end of the story, they learn to work together. Flaps make reading the book an interactive experience.

7. And Tango Makes 3

by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell, illustrated by Henry Cole

Get it HERE.

This is the true story of two male penguins at the Central Park Zoo who are given a motherless egg that they successfully hatch into baby Tango. It’s a heartwarming story about nontraditional families.

8. Keep a pocket in your poem

by J. Patrick Lewis, illustrated by Johanna Wright

Get it HERE.

This clever poetry anthology pairs classic poems (like “Stopping By the Woods on a Snowy Evening”) with parody poems written by author J. Patrick Lewis. It’s a nice introduction to classic poets and parody, too.

9. In the land of milk and honey

by Joyce Carol Oates, illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Get it HERE.

Famous American author Joyce Carol Oates has won the National Book Award, teaches at Princeton and has been a finalist for the Pulitizer Prize. This picture book is her story – the story of her family’s journey from Oklahoma to California. It is filled with diverse characters who all seek the American Dream.

10.

The Great Big Book of Families

by Mary Hoffman, illustrated by Ros Asquith

Get it HERE.

Today’s families come in many forms, and this book is a celebration of all types of family configurations. A section of the book explores family celebrations such as Kwanza and the Chinese New Year. It’s a great title for introducing inclusivity.

11. This is not my hat

by Jon Klassen

Get it HERE.

This is a companion to Jon Klassen’s book I Want My Hat Back. In this tale, a small fish has playfully stolen a hat from a bigger fish who happened to be sleeping. The humor is deadpan and very funny. This is Not My Hat won the 2013 Caldecott Medal honoring outstanding illustration.

12. Harold and the Purple Crayon

by Crockett Johnson

Get it HERE.

This book is the classic story of a little boy with a big imagination. Harold uses his purple crayon to draw himself into all sorts of adventurous scenes. 

13.

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day

by Judith Viorst, illustrated by Ray Cruz

Get it HERE.

Alexander and his awful day have been around for a long time, but this classic picture book is still a great title for teaching the lesson that sometimes, life isn’t fair. Sometimes, we have bad days, but that doesn’t mean tomorrow won’t be brighter.

14. The Mitten

by Jan Brett

Get it HERE.

Author-illustrator Jan Brett retells a Ukranian folktale in this picture book that has become a modern classic. A young boy drops his mitten in the snow, and one by one, woodland creatures squeeze inside.

by Kevin Henkes

Get it HERE.

A little mouse named Chrysanthemum loves her unusual name until she gets to school and the other kids make fun of it. In the end, she learns to love her name and be proud of who she is.

16. Corduroy

by Don Freeman

Get it HERE.

This book is perfect for any child with a special stuffed animal friend. Corduroy tells the story of a bear waiting on a department store shelf for a child to bring him home.

17. Edwina, the Dinosaur Who Didn’t Know She Was Extinct

by Mo Willems (author, illustrator)

Get it HERE.

Edwina’s friend Reginald is determined to be right! He tries to spoil all the dinosaurs’ fun by convincing everyone they are extinct. In the end, being right doesn’t matter, and Reginald learns to relax. Willems well-known characters Knuffle Bunny and Pigeon (from the Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus series) appear as Easter eggs throughout the book.

18. La Princesa and the Pea

by Susan Middleton Elya and illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal

Get it HERE.

Winner of the Pura Belpré Award, which is given for an illustrator and writer who best celebrates the Latino cultural experience. La Princesa and the Pea is a bilingual retelling of the well-known fairy tale, the Princess and the Pea, with a fun twist at the end.

19. The Story of Ferdinand

by Munro Leaf

Get it HERE.

Ferdinand the Bull just wants to stop and smell the flowers, but because he looks fierce and tough, he is forced into a bullfighting ring. When Ferdinand refuses to fight, he winds back up where he wants to be, in his field with his flowers. The moral is clear – be yourself, not who others want you to be.

20. Extra Yarn

by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Jon Klassen

Get it HERE.

The story starts with Annabelle who lives in a black and white town and has a magic box of extra yarn. She travels around her town knitting for people and animals alike, bringing transformative color everywhere she visits.

21. My Father’s Dragon

by Ruth Stiles Gannett, illustrated by Ruth Chrisman Cannett

Get it HERE.

Elmer Elevator runs away to the Wild to catch himself a baby dragon. This delightful book is the first in a series of three, followed by Elmer and the Dragon and The Dragons of Blueland.

22. A Sick Day for Amos McGee

by Philip C. Stead, illustrated by Erin E. Stead

Get it HERE.

Amos McGee spends every day at the zoo. One day, when Amos is too sick to visit his animal friends, they decide to visit him instead.

23. Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse

by Kevin Henkes

Get it HERE.

Lilly the mouse brings her prized purple purse to show and tell in Mr. Slinger’s class, but her beloved teacher confiscates it after the purse becomes a distraction. Angry, Lilly draws a picture of her “Big Fat Mean Mr. Stealing Teacher” only to discover that Mr. Slinger has written her a kind note and slipped it into her purse. Lilly must find a way to make amends.

24. Harry the Dirty Dog

by Gene Zion and illustrated by Margaret Bloy Graham

Get it HERE.

Harry runs away on bath day because he really, really hates baths! He gets so dirty that his family doesn’t even recognize him.

25.

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

by Kimberly and James Dean

Get it HERE.

Pete is one cool cat. He strolls and sings and takes the world in as it comes. He loves his new white shoes but doesn’t mind when they turn blue when he steps in blueberries or red when he steps in strawberries. This particular Pete the Cat title teaches about colors, but there are other Pete titles to read, too.

26. Hi Fly Guy

by Tedd Arnold

Get it HERE.

Hi Fly Guy is the first in a series of Fly Guy books. The series is about the friendship between a fly and a boy. They are beginning chapter books, with each chapter consisting of a couple dozen words. These are great titles for beginning readers.

27. The Paperboy

by Dav Pilkey

Get it HERE.

The Paperboy is short on text and long on gorgeous illustrations, which explains its Caldecott Honor Book status. This is the story of a boy and his dog on their morning paper route.

28. Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea (A Narwhal and Jelly Book #1)

by Ben Clanton

Get it HERE.

Narwhal and his jellyfish friend Jelly explore the ocean and have adventures in this adorable graphic novel.

29. Of Thee I Sing: A Letter to my Daughters

by Barack Obama, illustrated by Loren Long

Get it HERE.

President Barack Obama has selected 13 virtues (strength, courage) and writes about each through the lens of American heroes who personify those virtues. It’s a wonderful introduction to American ideals.  

30. Mae Among the Stars

by Roda Ahmed and illustrated Stasia Burrington

Get it HERE.

Mae Jemison was the first African-American woman to travel to outer space, and this is her story. It’s a great read-aloud.

31. Splat the Cat

by Rob Scotton

Get it HERE.

Splat is a character just like Pete or Narwhal – he’s such fun that a whole series of books have been written about him. In this story, Splat the Cat is scared for his first day of cat school, so he sneaks his mouse friend, Seymour, into his lunch box

32. Bear Snores On

by Karma Wilson, illustrated by Jane Chapman

Get it HERE.

While Bear hiberates for winter, his animal friends escape into his cave to get out of the cold. A party ensues, complete with food. When Bear wakes up and discovers he slept through all the food and fun, he’s not happy at all.

33. Giraffes Can’t Dance

by Giles Andreae and illustrated by Guy Parker-Rees

Get it HERE.

Gerald the Giraffe wants to dance just like his other friends, but he’s gangly and awkward. Later, he discovers he can dance his own way, and young readers learn to march to their own beat, too. Excellent rhymes make this a great read-aloud

34. White Water

by Michael S. Bandy and Eric Stein and illustrated by Shadra Strickland

Get it HERE.

Michael, while growing up in the segregated south, decides that he wants to taste water from the whites only drinking fountain. This is a great introduction to civil rights and based on a true story.

35. Mango, Abuela, and Me

by Meg Medina and illustrated by Angela Dominguez

Get it HERE.

Mia’s grandmother comes to live with her family in the city. Abuela teaches Mia Spanish, and Mia teaches Abuela English. A 2016 Pura Belpré author and illustrator honor book.

36. Art and Max

by David Wiesner

Get it HERE.

Art and Max are two lizards, and this book is about their creative process. Art is an accomplished artist while Max is not. Art encourages Max to develop his creative freedom, teaching readers about art and creativity in the process.

37. Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale

by John Steptoe

Get it HERE.

This is a lovely fairy tale about a king on the search for a wife. He meets Mufaro’s daughters, one who is kind, the other who is selfish.

38. At the Same Moment Around the World

by Clotilde Perrin

Get it HERE.

This unique book teaches children about time zones. The book starts at the Prime Meridian and moves eastward, peeking inside the life of a child in each of the 24 time zones.

39. Ada’s Violin: The Story of the Recycled Orchestra of Paraguay

by Susan Hood and illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

Get it HERE.

The true story of Favio Chávez, a music teacher in Paraguay who makes musical instruments out of trash for his students. Chávez’s recycled orchestra goes on to play shows around the world.

40. One Plastic Bag: Isatou Ceesay and the Recycling Women of the Gambia

by Miranda Paul and illustrated by Elizabeth Zunon

Get it HERE.

A little girl named Ceesay sees how plastic bags are damaging her village, so she invents a way to crochet the plastic bags into purses. It’s a good teaching tool about recycling and ecological awareness.

41. Tar Beach

by Faith Ringgold

Get it HERE.

Cassie, a little girl living in 1939 Harlem, dreams that she can fly above the rooftop of her apartment building. It’s an allegorical story filled with references to African American culture. Tar Beach is a Caldecott Honor Book.

42. The Keeping Quilt

by Patricia Polacco

Get it HERE.

The Keeping Quilt is based on the author’s own great grandmother who immigrated to the United States from Russia. To remember her family, she creates an heirloom quilt made from the clothes of family relatives. The quilt is passed down through generations.

43. Swimmy

by Leo Lionni

Get it HERE.

This classic picture book was named a Caldecott Honor book in 1964. It tells the story of  a school of fish and their fearless leader Swimmy, who helps them overcome the fear of predators.

44. Henry’s Freedom Box: A True Story from the Underground Railroad

by Ellen Levine and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Get it HERE.

Henry Brown dreams of freedom his whole life. He grows up a slave. One day, as an adult, Henry decides to mail himself to the North in a wooden crate. It’s a remarkable true story.

45. Strega Nona

by Tomie DePaola (auto, illustrator)

Get it HERE.

Another classic picture book, Strega Nona is about a witch and her magic pasta pot. But when the pasta pot gets in the wrong hands, disaster ensues.

46. One Grain of Rice

by Demi

Get it HERE.

Rani, a young girl, outsmarts the raja in this “mathematical folktale” by asking the raja for one grain of rice doubled each day for 30 days. Readers learn about doubling in this clever story.

47. Unspoken: A Story from the Underground Railroad

by Henry Cole

Get it HERE.

A wordless picture book about a young child who discovers a runaway slave hidden in her family’s barn.

48. The Velveteen Rabbit

by Margery Williams (author, illustrator)

Get it HERE.

A picture book originally published in 1922, this is a timeless tale about a child’s beloved stuffed bunny who becomes real.

49. Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett

Get it HERE.

A book teachers may remember fondly from their own childhoods, Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs is about a town where food rains down from the sky, sometimes in hilariously absurd amounts.

50. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish

by Dr. Seuss (author, illustrator)

Get it HERE.

A celebration of imagination, Dr. Seuss-style, and a great book for beginning readers.

Other book lists you’ll love: 

• 50 Must-Read Books for Kindergarteners
• 50 Must-Read Books For First Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Second Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Third Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Fourth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Fifth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books For Sixth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Seventh Graders
• 50 Must-Read​ Books for Eighth Graders
• 50 Must-Read​ Books for Ninth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Tenth Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Eleventh Graders
• 50 Must-Read Books for Twelfth Graders

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Russian language which textbook to choose for grades 1-4

The choice of a Russian language textbook is dictated by the curriculum. Whether it is the School of Russia, Perspective, Planet of Knowledge, Harmony or any other – the educational and methodological package of each of them includes its own set of textbooks and workbooks.

The Russian language is a basic discipline. In many ways, a good level of proficiency in the native language also affects academic performance in other subjects.

If you have not yet decided on the choice of an educational and methodological program for your child, then perhaps a comparative analysis of Russian language textbooks given in this article will help you make a choice in favor of a particular program.

As for the objectivity of the review, then, of course, its author adheres to a simple maxim – how many people, so many opinions. However, when preparing the article, personal parental experience, feedback from teachers and parents from professional and thematic platforms were taken into account.

1. Russian language Textbook class 1-4 . Authors: Ivanov S.V., Petlenko L.V., Evdokimova A.O. This study guide is based on the concept Elementary School for the 21st Century .

Supporters of the textbook note a fairly intensive presentation of the material, designed for children with a good level of basic training. The positive aspect is, in their opinion, that most of the tasks are not designed for mechanical memorization of rules, rewriting of texts. On the contrary, there are many creative tasks in the textbook that begin with the words “What do you think”, “Think up and write down”, “Compose a fairy tale”. This way of presenting the material stimulates the child’s imagination, thinking and forms the skill of independent work.

Skeptical parents and teachers say that the material is unreasonably complex, poorly structured and not always logically justified. For example, the topic “Ranks of adjectives” in grade 3, texts that are voluminous for analysis and parsing, and so on.

• Russian language Textbook class 1-4. Authors: Klimanova L.F., Makeeva S.G., Babushkina T.V. The textbook is included in the program “Perspective” . Differs in the average level of complexity. Almost unanimously recognized as well structured and logically consistent.

Critics point out that the design of the textbook is not good enough. This is expressed, for example, in poorly readable fonts. The rule or the main idea is not distinguished from the general text, the wording of a number of tasks allows for ambiguous interpretation.

• Russian language Textbook class 1-4 . Authors: Kanakina V.P., Goretsky V.G. Concept “School of Russia”.

This textbook has a lot of supporters and, as a result, positive reviews. Visual assignments, good font, a lot of oral and written assignments are his virtues.

Parents report that the child needs little or no help with homework. The textbook program contains a lot from the traditional Soviet and Russian schools, adjusted for the new Federal State Educational Standard.

Opponents of the textbook talk about the complex formulation of the rules and tasks for the exercises.

A typo in one of the tasks – “Hurry up the text” became a kind of meme on the Runet. Many drew attention to this and spoke in the spirit of “to make spelling mistakes in the textbook of the Russian language is not comme il faut.” However, in our opinion, this is a question rather for proofreaders.

• Russian language Textbook class 1-4 . Authors Zheltovskaya L.Ya., Kalinina O.B. “Planet of Knowledge”. Many teachers and parents note the “comprehensibility” of the textbook material as a definite plus. The rules and tasks are set out in an accessible way. Children love the colorful and kind illustrations. The textbook is written in a patriotic vein. The phonetic analysis of the word is not quite traditionally presented, but if you look at it, it is simple and understandable.

As a minus of the program course, insufficient attention is paid to consolidating the material covered. A new lesson is always a new topic.

• Russian language Textbook class 1-4 . Authors: M.S. Soloveichik, N.S. Kuzmenko. “Harmony”. The material in this textbook is presented in such a way that the child can anticipate the possible place of the error. And this, according to teachers, is a very useful skill. But only a competent teacher who is fluent in Russian and loves the subject will be able to fully develop it. The structure and presentation of the material is generally understandable. Good design and illustrations. There are, however, questions about the wording of tasks.

We reviewed 4 textbooks by different authors recommended by the Federal State Educational Standards within the framework of the most popular educational programs.

Obviously, all textbooks have both advantages and disadvantages, and numerous opinions are still subjective. Which one to choose is up to you.

And in our humble opinion, a child can be taught from any textbook, if both the parent and the teacher are sincerely interested in it. And if they do it together .

Buy Russian Language Textbook for grades 1-4 of any program, as well as all workbooks, textbooks for elementary school can be here. 8 Soviet textbooks that will replace a tutor Therefore, many turn to trusted sources for help – textbooks from the Soviet period, from which they themselves have managed to learn. The Pedagogical Council prepared a selection of popular manuals from the USSR, which are still used by tutors and parents of children in family education.