Great Books for Beginning Readers

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

Series: Alexander

by Judith Viorst Illustrated by Ray Cruz

In this contemporary classic, veteran children's author Viorst introduces us to Alexander, a kid with an unruly crop of hair, who gets out of bed to face a day that seems to grow increasingly worse with each passing minute.

All about Frogs

Series: All About...

by Jim Arnosky

From tadpole to frog, Jim Arnosky shows and tells kids how frogs grow and live. Big bullfrogs and tiny spring peepers, vivid tropical frogs and bronze swamp frogs spring from the pages of the book.

Amazing Grace

by Mary Hoffman Illustrated by Caroline Binch

When her class decides to do Peter Pan, Grace wants to play Peter. With the support of her family, Grace learns that she can be anything she wants to be, and the results are amazing!

Amber Brown Is Not a Crayon

Series: Amber Brown

by Paula Danziger , J. Galbraith Illustrated by Tony Ross

Amber Brown and Justin Daniels are best friends. They sit next to each other in school, help each other with fractions and spelling, and always stick up for one another. But when Justin finds out that he is moving away, everything begins to change.

Anansi the Spider: A Tale from the Ashanti

by Gerald McDermott

Author Gerald McDermott has presented picture-book enthusiasts with yet another enthralling adaptation of a well-known folktale, this one from West Africa.

Chrysanthemum

by Kevin Henkes

Chrysanthemum loves her name — until she starts kindergarten, which is an unfamiliar world full of short names like Sue, Bill, Max, Sam, and Joe.

Clifford the Big Red Dog

Series: Clifford the Big Red Dog

by Norman Bridwell Illustrated by Norman Bridwell

Meet Clifford and Emily Elizabeth in the original Clifford book. Clifford is big. Clifford is red. But most of all, Clifford knows how to be a good friend.

A Color of His Own

by Leo Lionni Illustrated by Leo Lionni

Elephants are gray. Pigs are pink. Tigers have black and orange stripes. It seems that every animal has its own distinctive color except the chameleon. And that makes the little chameleon hero of this picture book very sad. Every time he moves, he changes color!

Corduroy

Series: Corduroy

by Don Freeman

Don Freeman's classic character, Corduroy, continues to stir the hearts and imagination of children and adults around the world.

Frog and Toad Are Friends

Series: Frog and Toad, Book #1

by Arnold Lobel

It's April, and Frog is looking forward to a whole year of happy times with his best friend, Toad. If only Toad would agree to wake up from his long winter nap! In the first of five short stories, clever Frog finds a way to rouse his sleepy friend.

Good Night, Gorilla

by Peggy Rathmann

In this practically wordless bedtime story, a weary zoo keeper bids good night to his charges and then goes home to bed. He doesn't notice, however, that clever Gorilla has pickpocketed his keys and is letting the animals out of their cages, one by one.

If You Take a Mouse to School

Series: If You Give , Book #5

by Laura Numeroff Illustrated by Felicia Bond

If you take a mouse to school, he'll ask you for your lunch box. When you give him your lunch box, he'll want a sandwich to go in it. Then he'll need a notebook and some pencils. He'll probably want to share your backpack, too...

Miss Nelson Is Missing

Series: Miss Nelson

by Harry Allard Illustrated by James Marshall

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher's good nature until she disappears and they are faced with a substitute.

Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

by John Steptoe

This Caldecott Medal-winning African tale evokes the Cinderella story, as well as the traditional theme of good triumphing over evil.

Pinky and Rex and the Just-Right Pet

by James Howe Illustrated by Melissa Sweet

In the 12^th book in this popular series, Pinky is upset when his family decides to get a cat instead of a dog — but soon starts to love the new pet.

The Snow Day

by Komako Sakai

A modern take on a winter classic!

Ten Black Dots

by Donald Crews

One dot can make a sun or moon when day is done. Two dots can make the eyes of a fox or the eyes of keys that open locks.

Children count all the way to ten with simple rhymes and brightly colored objects. By the author of the Caldecott Honor Books Freight Train and Truck.

The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!

by Jon Scieszka Illustrated by Lane Smith

The big bad wolf has spent ten years in pig prison for the destruction of the three little pigs, and he has quite a story to tell that just might prove his innocence!

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

by Eric Carle

A hungry caterpillar eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep.