Book Suggestions for First Grade Readers

I really like the Henry and Mudge easy reader books for this age. Cynthia Rylant is the author and she has a few other easy reader series. They are very age-appropriate, content-wise.

The "Cat in the Hat" line of easy readers are good (think Dr. Seuss and PD Eastman). I also like the Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel; sweet stories about friendship. Same for the Ivy and Bean books.

The Amelia Bedelia books by Peggy Parrish are funny and introduce synonyms.

Some kids love the Magic Treehouse books; depends on their level of reading proficiency. I steer clear of the Junie B. Jones books/Arthur books because the kids are rather mean. Cam Jansen, however, is a good solid early 'mystery' series.

And here's a list of books you might find you need to read together, but are great in any case:
http://www.greatschools.org/cgi-bin/showarticle/623

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"Little Bear" by Maurice Sendak

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You have a lot of great suggestions. I would just add the Give a Mouse... series by Laura Numeroff. My first grader loves those, especially Give a Dog a Donut. He also likes the Scaredy Squirrel books by Melanie Watt, but there are some more difficult words in those... they are probably a level L or K. He also enjoys the "Let's Read About..." weekly reader series. I know they have one about animals and one about dinosaurs. They might have more that we haven't found yet...

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"Elephant and Piggie" books by Mo Willems. I know that this is above that reading level, but for one to read to your kids, I have to put a plug in for "Half Magic" by Edward Eager. It is probably 60 years old but we just discovered it and we all enjoyed it.

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My son is really into the Cam Jansen series right now.

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I'm a first grade teacher. I suggest... Junie B. Jones and Ready Freddy chapter books. Clifford, Froggy, Curious George, Arthur, Fancy Nancy, and Franklin are always popular character books. Also, let them get books that interest them. If they can't read the books, you can read to them. Just have fun and enjoy.

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Henry & Mudge books
Frog and Toad books
Berenstein Bears books
Franklin books

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The children's librarian at our public library is fantastic and puts together these "Grab and Go Bundles" for various reading levels. It's been a great way to get my son to try some new series etc because we just check out the 5 or 7 books in the bundle and read them all.

I mention that to say... talk to the children's librarian. Don't underestimate the amazing knowledge those (usually) women have. They have degrees in children's literature and they know so many titles and authors and levels.

My son is a bit beyond your kids' reading level, but he still loves the "Elephant and Piggie" books. They're easy to read and he thinks they're hysterical and always checks out two or three :) There are many books in that series, which can be fun.

For picture books, Knuffle Bunny, is pretty cute and has a few books in the series.

The Frog and Toad books have also been big favorites in our house.

My dd liked the magic treehouse books and junie b jones. she also liked amelia bedelia (but some of the humor went over her head.

My kids really loved the Magic Schoolbus series around first grade. They also liked the Bad Kitty books which is about a misbehaving cat. My little guy who just finished first grade read a lot of Geronimo Stilton series at the end of the school year. Those are small chapter books.

Are you looking for chapter books or picture books? Some good chapter books are
Magic Tree House
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Junie B Jones
Ramona Quimby
The Mouse and the Motorcycle
Superfudge

For a longer picture book (inc some with 3-4 short chapters) we like these series:
Frog and Toad
Oliver & Amanda Pig
Arthur
Frances (Bread and Jam for Frances, etc)
Amelia Bedelia

At our library, they have a section for early readers. We can usually find great picture books like the ones mentioned above, usually with around 64 pages and a few short chapters.

I think saying it's a "first grade level" still leaves a pretty wide range of what your child can handle and comprehend. My son probably reads as well as the average first grader (he just turned 5), but he would much rather read a picture book than a 100+ page chapter book.

It's been a long time since I read aloud to my children, one of the sweet parts of parenting that was never a chore. Jim Trelease's "Read-Aloud Handbook" was my go-to book to find material for certain age-groups, not just for reading aloud. I think it's in it's 5th or 6th edition by now; it stays current. Frog and Toad were also one of their favorites and the "Little Critter" series by Mercer Mayer was my son's favorite at that age.

Cam Jansen
Nate the Great
If you give a mouse a cookie (and similar books)
books by Eric Carle

Junie B Jones is really cute. Fancy Nancy books are beautiful.