1st Grade Books for Summer Reading

Keep your soon-to-be or leaving 1st (first) graders, ages 6 and 7, practicing their growing reading skills with the best 1st grade books for summer reading. I’ve curated a list of 1st grade books for your students and kids that they’ll love — and that will keep them reading all summer long. I’m a former teacher and literacy trainer, mom of two, writer, and book blogger who reads over 1,000 books a year. I know the best new releases and the not-to-be-missed timeless classics, too. Based on my teaching background, I can tell you what books for kids are appropriate for growing readers.

These are favorite early reader books for beginning readers, from the easiest books with a few words per page to beginning chapter books with a sentence per page. (For my kids, this was first grade, but for some kids, it’s earlier and for other children, it’s later. All stages of growth are fine!)

You can find harder books on my summer reading list for 2nd graders and more books and reviews for 5- and 6- year olds here.

Keep your first grade kids reading lots and lots of books this summer vacation!

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1st Grade Books for Summer Reading List
(Ages 6 – 7)

If your 1st grade child loves a book, get more books by the same author or in the same series. Keep them reading as much as you can!

Early Reader Books for 1st Grade Summer Reading

This list of easy readers is 1st grade books with only a few words per page, perfect for kids who are entering first grade and just beginning to read.

Sight words and high frequency words are important at this stage. Read 8 strategies for how to teach sight words beyond memorization.

If your 1st grader is looking for funny early reader books, try these good book recommendations:

• My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas
• What is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas
• Figgy and Boone: Best Brother Ever by Janee Trasler
• Pig Makes Art by Laura Gehl
• Friends Do Not Eat Friends (Thunder and Cluck) by Jill Esbaum
• We Are in a Book by Mo Willems (all Elephant and Piggie books are fantastic!)
• I’m On It (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading) by Andrea Tsurumi
• Ed and Ted and Ted’s Dog Fred by Andy Griffiths
• Hi, Jack! by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
• That Egg is Mine by Liz Goulet Dubois
• Let’s Make Cake (Bobo and Pup Pup) by Vikram Madan

If your 1st grade child likes stories about daily life and friendship, try:

• I Did It! by Michael Emberley
• Ruby and the Magic Garden (Fairy Hill) by Cari Meister
• We Are Growing by Laurie Keller
• Don’t Worry, BEE Happy by Ross Burach
• Frog Meets Dog by Janee Trasler
• Big Cat by Ethan Long
• The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
• Trucktown by Jon Scieszka
• Peach and Plum Here We Come! by Tim McCanna (graphic novel)
• Emerson Is Mighty Girl! by Meredith Rusu
• Kit and Kaboodle Take the Train by Michelle Portice
• Unlimited Squirrels in I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems
• Nick and Nack Fly a Kite by Brandon Budzi
• Pass the Ball, Mo! by David A. Adler
• Do You Like My Bike? (Hello, Hedgehog!) by Norm Feuti
• The Great Bunk Bed Battle by Tina Kugler

If your 1st grade reader likes animal stories, try these 1st grade books:

• Slow, Slow Sloths by Bonnie Bader
• Am I a Frog? by Lizzy Rockwell
• Little Big Horse by Dave Horowitz
• We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey
• The Lost Kitten (Katie Fry, Private Eye) by Katherine Cox
• Lazy Bear, Crazy Bear by Kevin Bolger
• Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick & David Serlin
• Goat Wants to Eat by Laura Gehl
• Guinness World Records Daring Dogs by Cari Meister
• Snails Are Just My Speed! by Kevin McCloskey

Go here for want MORE easy readers with reviews for first grade age children.

Picture Books for 1st Grade Readers

Picture books are always great book choices for 1st graders because they can be read independently or read as read alouds. Hopefully, you are still reading aloud to your 6 year olds 10 – 20 minutes a day. If you’re not, summer is a great time to start this important literacy practice.

• Izmelda The Fairest Dragon of Them All! by Joan Marr
• Wombats Are Pretty Weird: A (Not So) Serious Guide by Abi Cushman
• How to Get Your Octopus to School by Becky Scharnhorst
• Stinkbird Has a Superpower by Jill Esbaum
• 100 Mighty Dragons All Named Broccoli by David LaRochelle
• A Bucket of Questions by Tim Fita
• Octopuses Have Zero Bones by Anne Richardson
• Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
• Pineapple Princess by Saina Hahn
• Poo-Dunit? A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson
• Ways to Make Friends by Jairo Buitrago
• Gibberish by Young Vo
• Dodos Are Not Extinct! They’re Just in Disguise by Paddy Donnelly
• Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Mike Boldt
• Pizza with Everything on It by Kyle Scheele
• Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste
• Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
• El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! by Donna Barba Higuera
• Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell
• The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach
• Connor Kissed Me written by Zehava

Easiest Chapter Books for 1st Grade

Easy chapter books have pictures with words. The easiest chapter books for 1st grade readers have just a few sentences per page. Try these fantastic 1st grade books with chapters…

(If you want to read my reviews of each 1st grade book, go here.)

• Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold 
• See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle 
• An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! by Mo Willems
• See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle

First Grade Easy Chapter Books for Summer Reading

Easy chapter books have bigger text with pictures every few pages. These books listed range from middle of 1st grade to beginning of second-grade reading levels.

(Go here for 2nd-grade chapter book list.)

If your first grader likes animal main characters, read:

• Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto
• Pug Blasts Off (Diary of a Pug) by Kyla May
• Owly: The Way Home and The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton
• Fenway and the Bone Thieves by Victoria J. Coe
• Doggo & Pupper by Katherine Applegate
• Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
• The Cozy Home written by Ame Dyckman
• Orris and Timble The Beginning written by Kate DiCamillo
• Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

Looking for 1st grade books about superheroes and magic? Try one of these choices…

• Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale
• Bo’s Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries) by Rebecca Elliott
• Rise of the Earth Dragon by Tracey West
• Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue by Paula Harrison
• Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero by Kara West
• Kung Pow Chicken by Cindi Marko

If your 1st grade children like funny books, try:

• Smell My Foot (Chick and Brain) by Cece Bell
• Monkey Me by Timothy Roland
• Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z. Jones
• The Infamous Ratsos by Kara Lareau
• Geeger the Robot Goes to School by Jarret Lerner
• Nugget and Hot Dog by Jason Tharp

If your 1st grade kids like realistic books, read:

• Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui
• Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew Cordell
• Owl Diaries by Rebecca Elliott
• Happy Paws: Layla and the Bots by Vicky Fang
• The Party and Other Stories (Fox and Chick) by Sergio Ruzzier

If your 1st graders like adventure and mystery books, try:

• Press Start! Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy! by Thomas Flintham
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot #1 by Dav Pilkey
• Notebook of Doom #1 by Troy Cummings
• King and Kayla and the Case of the Lost Tooth by Dori Hillestad Butler

If your 1st graders like nonfiction books, try:

• Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh 
• Jungle Animals by Camilla Gersh
• Amazing Dogs by Laura Buller
• Fly Guy Presents Snakes by Tedd Arnold

DON’T MISS THESE:

Summer Reading Printable Packet

Free Summer Printable for Kids

Activity Books for Kids

Summer Writing Ideas

Get the 1st Grade Summer Reading List!

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