Early Reader Lists?

[S]

I am desperately searching for a list of early readers. DD is ready for BOB Books ("the fat Cat sat on the mat"), but my local libraries don't stock them and I so far have not been able to find them locally. I know there are lots of early readers out there, but the few I've found at the library are too advanced for right now. Can you give me some titles/series that are comparable to the BOB Books? I'd certainly appreciate it!!!

[Jenny]

Joy Cowley has written tons of beginning readers that are quite simple. I know there are several other authors but can't think of them at the moment. I will try to remember to check when I go back to work next week and post some more titles.

[Sean]

Mo Willems' Car the Cat series is great.

[Brenda]

Go, Dog. Go! might be a fun one to read together. Some pages have fewer words then others but it contains lots of opposites etc that can be fun.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Cat the Cat, Who is That? etc., is what Sean means.

There's also a set of 26 (or maybe a few more) that each feature a letter of the alphabet. The author's last name begins with M. Sorry I can't remember more but I'll investigate a bit more.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Found it - Jane Belk Moncure.

This stage goes by so fast - you could probably write your own pages for your child, since you're already familiar with the BOB books. Also, don't forget to ask if you can get them, or something similar, through Inter-Library Loan.

[David]

In addition to the Moncure alphabet series, there is the set Alphabet Town that is similar to it.

[Michele]

My son began reading with Biscuit and Sleepy Dog.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

See Pip Point is one of a very simple series that's hilarious.

[Amy]

I usedAnimal Antics They are exactly the same style as Bob Books, however the illustrations are in color. They do grow out of these books quickly so see if your library has them.

After that, I used textbooks from Houghton Mifflin. Our library stocked them. They worked very well. I don't know the series, but it is geared to public school first graders and so on. Houghton Mifflin Reading: Adventures 2.1 is one example of them, but there are a whole line of them and you need to do them in the correct order. (Starting with 1.0, I think.)

[Garner]

A good quality (lots of classics) children's poetry book is great for early readers! Don't forget to read aloud.

Here is a link to Ambleside Online list for young ones, they also have a list for first and second grade. The idea is to avoid your child becoming accustomed to "easy readers"
http://www.amblesideonline.org/00.shtml

[Linda]

I'm buying books from the Geisel Award list - for early readers... for my grandson, age 4. The books are good for preschool to about grade two.

[Crystal]

I'm also looking for books for my daughter who is just beginning to read. I am looking for books that have 1-4 letters per word. 5 would be okay with the use of s. I know some exist. She too is currently reading the beginning reader Bob books. I am looking for others for when she is done with those. I will look at those already listed but wanted to post in case some knows of any not already listed. Thanks!

[G]

I would like to recommend Ellie's Big Laugh with lots of illustrations and easy to read (according to a seven year old who said it was very easy for her). My review is on the book title site. Thanks - Geetha Venkat

[QNPoohBear]

Any preference for early reader non-fiction books? I see National Geographic and Ranger Rick have some that look good. Nephew #2 is so proud to be able to read on his own. He loves science/nature and is crazy smart. I don't want to get him a fiction story book. I don't care for most of them and I know the library has them.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Any preference for early reader non-fiction books? I see National Geographic and Ranger Rick have some that look good. Nephew #2 is so proud to be able to read on his own. He loves science/nature a..."

The National Geographic books do not tend to have bibliographies but if you do not mind this, many of them are indeed pretty good (but yes, I do mind the lack of sources).

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

QNPoohBear wrote: " I don't want to get him a fiction story book...."

I'm confused. Please clarify what you're asking for, and especially the bit I quoted.

[QNPoohBear]

Which non-fiction books would you put on a list of recommendations for early readers? I can mostly only find story books. I'm looking for recommendations for non-fiction Level 1 reading books. National Geographic vs. Ranger Rick? Which is better for learning? Are there any other companies that publish these types of information books for beginning readers? Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Sea Turtle or Plants or What If You Had Animal Eyes?? None of the above? Any others?

Manybooks wrote: "The National Geographic books do not tend to have bibliographies but if you do not mind this, many of them are indeed pretty good (but yes, I do mind the lack of sources).



I'm fairly certain even the youngest kids today know how to ask Siri or Google for more information. In fact, my nephew has demanded "look it up!" to fact check something he wanted to know. References and bibliographies are a high priority for me in non-fiction books I read for myself because I'm academic but for the kids, I'm not going to fuss about the lack of those things right now, at least not at the Kindergarten/first grade level anyway.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

QNPoohBear wrote: "Which non-fiction books would you put on a list of recommendations for early readers? I can mostly only find story books. I'm looking for recommendations for non-fiction Level 1 reading books. Nati..."

I still think it is at best a bit lazy to not include bibliographic materials in non fiction, even for books meant for younger children. And also, it (in my opinion) might give children the impression that acknowledging one’s sources is not all that important.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Ah, leveled readers that are non-fiction. If I could go into the library and browse I could find a bunch and list the ones that I think look good.

What level is he at? I know different publishers have different coding systems, but, say, is he not yet ready for Frog & Toad, or at that level, or beyond it?

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

I talked to my son, a staff member at our library, and he says that according to their shelving system, it would be easier to narrow down the choices by telling them what the child is interested in. All their non-fiction leveled readers are in one bookcase, but sorted by Dewey Decimal, so if you can tell me what call number range he'd read from, they can pull all those, and I can sit down with the stack and investigate them that way.

[QNPoohBear]

Thanks Cheryl! He gets Ask magazine and used to get Click. I'd say Level 1 nature and science, especially space. Dinosaurs and cars and bugs. I think space is the #1 interest right now. My mom was babysitting the other day and my nephew wanted to discuss matter. "What?!" my mom asked, and he proceeded to explain it... the stuff that makes up the universe! I'm looking for a Kindergarten graduation gift for a kid who worked hard even after school buildings shut down. He was proud of himself for learning how to read and write. That's a good idea to ask the librarian. I may give them an e-mail and see if they can help me decide or call the bookstore and see if the children's specialist is in.

We have Frog and Toad Are Friends from MY childhood! They were my first book friends! The only other books at that level I enjoyed were Little Bear and Amelia Bedelia. I moved on to Laura Ingalls Wilder very quickly and have no recollection of ever reading anything else below that level.

I'm sure I'm overthinking this as usual. My brother will be appreciative of anything I give the kids and make sure they appreciate it as well.

[Almira]

Have you tried NoveList? It should be on your library's homepage, through the Kids section.

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

What about a subscription to an astronomy magazine that caters specifically to younger children? I am sure there are magazines like that and many magazines do have start up specials that last a few months or even just a few weeks.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Or if you want something he can grow into, the Science Comics books are great. He can read them now, maybe not understand everything, and read them again next year. Cars and Dinosaurs and several other things are covered.

I think, actually, most of the leveled readers are ones he'd outgrow pretty quickly. A (another) magazine subscription is a great idea, as is contacting the library. Maybe you can even contact a school librarian, too.

[QNPoohBear]

Poking around the listopias and other lists, I found Cat in the Hat's Learning Library.
Wish for a Fish: All About Sea Creatures
Clam I Am

They look informative, fun and easy to read for a new reader. I know my brother's family has a lot of Dr. Seuss books. I like the beachy ones because my parents have a beach house and the kids are always so happy on the beach. Nephew is just getting brave enough to go IN the water now.

My mom says nephew just loves BOOKS and would be happy with ANY book, especially one he can read. I'm still going to check with the children's librarian. I could probably drum up some library school classmates who focused on "school media" too.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Oh that sounds like a great source; I will look for some of those just for fun too!

Thank you for posting what you're discovering.
And best wishes to your nephew, yay for another reader!

[QNPoohBear]

I'm going to send my brother my list and they can request one or two from the library and see what suit's nephew's fancy. THEN I will see what the local indy bookstore has that the library doesn't. They have a paperback copy of Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Sea Turtle on order. I may go with that since it's something we can't get from the library yet.

One Vote, Two Votes, I Vote, You Vote sounds like it would be relevant right now.

Professor Astro Cat's Frontiers of Space looks cute for a beginning reader/read together. There's a series and a puzzle too.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Skip Inside Your Outside: All About the Human Body from the Dr. Seuss collection. It's not bad (though it does say we have five senses, which is wrong), but it's not worth buying imo. Lots of words, lots of busyness and I think most kids interested in the topic at that age know that stuff, or can find it in books that aren't cartoons (I prefer photographs and sketches for science). I do like that the 'for further reading' is annotated.

[QNPoohBear]

I decided just to take nephew to the store and choose his own book. Stores are open for limited capacity browsing now. We went to the small, local independent bookstore nearby.

Nephew chose Ranger Rick: I Wish I Was a Monarch Butterfly

It looked informative and fun. It asks kids questions about their lives to get them to compare/contrast with the animal. He said he doesn't have any books about butterflies so that's why he wanted that one. I thought sea turtle would be appealing but I can save that for his birthday if he's still at that level. I bet he'll be beyond that already by then. School is supposed to start in person August 31. Big sister was excited for little brother to have a book she doesn't have to read to him LOL! They've been home together for a LONG LONG time and tired of each other's company. Last weekend with the bff cousins was a long time ago.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

I think he made a good choice! And how nice that you could take him to the shop, that you felt safe there.

[QNPoohBear]

Aww my brother sent a video of nephew reading to big sister and Daddy! Some of the butterfly related words were tough but he figured out how to sound them out. He was proud of himself and everyone was very proud of him.

Cheryl wrote: "I think he made a good choice! And how nice that you could take him to the shop, that you felt safe there."

Yes, stores are open at limited capacity. We peeked to make sure there weren't a lot of people in the store first. They had hand sanitizer available and a basket for putting your unwanted books in. They also had gloves but only adult size. We wore our masks. No mask, no service.

The sad part was not chatting with sales associates, not seeing people socializing, or sitting and reading, not seeing dogs outside and inside. This store is a community gathering place as much as a shop. It survived the big box stores and e-books and seems to be doing well in spite of virus shut downs! They sold out of puzzles and activities in the early spring when people were stuck at home.

I usually buy the kids books online used but I couldn't order a used "I Can Read" book from a used book site without paying shipping which just brought the price of the book up to full price or nearly so. I figured I might as well buy it new and support the local bookstore. Last time I did curbside pickup because I knew what I wanted.

The irony of bookstores is that the big box store in town closed down and all we have left are the indies (including Ivy League University shop) and the used book shops! Barnes & Noble is 20 minutes away, on the other side of the Bay- which means highway and a bridge or 20 minutes north in a town we never go to, also on a highway. We don't like bridges and highways around here. It's very provincial.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

:smiles:
I absolutely love learning how different people live. Thank you.

[QNPoohBear]

Cheryl wrote: ":smiles:
I absolutely love learning how different people live. Thank you."

This is a very weird and unique place! The Rhode Island Handbook and The Rhode Island Dictionary ILLUSTRATED will tell you everything you need to know, should you ever decide to move to this densely populated little state!

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Thanks!

[Beverly, former Miscellaneous Club host]

I deleted a duplicate post by J. S., who also posted in the Picture Book Club a promotion for their book.

[QNPoohBear]

Now he's reading Animal Armor
I checked that out from the library. National Geographic has stunning photos. The text is a little easier to read than Ranger Rick and they sections zoomed in to focus on a part of the animal's body for a close-up look. There are riddles and fun little things sprinkled throughout. The vocabulary list is a better than Ranger Rick's as well. These books are too long for a beginning reader to read on their own at once but that's OK because they're non-fiction. The bookstore didn't carry them though so we didn't have the option of choosing.

[Cheryl, Host of Miscellaneous and Newbery Clubs]

Neat.

[QNPoohBear]

Hello, Hedgehog

My mom chose this for me to gift to nephew for his birthday. It's better than the Level 1 readers which have too much white space but this one too has a lot of white space under the text. Level 2 has more text than Level 1. However, the information is UK focused. Do kids of 5-7 know what the UK is and where it is and why wasn't it changed to a U.S. specific when published for a U.S. market?

[Manybooks, Fiction Club host]

For children (in my opinion) from about the age of seven to nine, Jeremy Hayes’ The Goblin Squad is a fun little fantasy novel, a bit basic and not all that deep and with not too much character development but good and very suitable for readers not quite ready for Harry Potter. Very cost effective on the Kindle, but the paperback is both considerably more expensive and not all that available.