Recommended Books

  • Danny and the Dinosaur

    by Syd Hoff Year Published: 1958 Fiction
    First Grade:  Danny loves dinosaurs! When he sees one at the museum and says, "It would be nice to play with a dinosaur," a voice answers, "And I think it would be nice to play with you." So begins Danny and the Dinosaur's wonderful adventures together. For Danny and his prehistoric playmate, even the most everyday activities become extraordinary, like finding a big-enough place to hide a dinosaur in a game of hide-and-seek. Kids will delight in Syd Hoff's charming, comical illustrations as they read about how Danny teaches a very old dinosaur some new tricks.

    Originally published over 50 years ago, this beloved classic is a Level 1 I Can Read that is perfect for the beginning reader learning to sound out words and sentences.

    Comments (-1)
  • Fox and His Friends

    by Edward Marshall Year Published: 1982 Fiction
    Second Grade:  How can Fox have fun with his friends when his little sister tags along everywhere he goes? Your child will love finding out if Louise really does spoil all the fun.
    Comments (-1)
  • Frog and Toad Are Friends

    by Arnold Lobel Year Published: 1970 fiction
    First Grade:  This classic features the escapades of Frog and Toad, an adorable amphibious duo who are the best of friends. Your child will love these five stories about friendship that include adventures such as feeling embarrassed when wearing a bathing suit, waiting for mail, finding a lost button and waking up from hibernation in the spring. Caldecott Honor Book, 1971.
    Comments (-1)
  • Get Ready for Second Grade, Amber Brown

    by Paula Danziger Year Published: 2002 Realistic Fiction
    Second Grade:  Like all students, Amber is nervous about starting a new school year with a new teacher. Is it true that her new teacher, Mrs. Light, thinks second graders are “knee biters”? Will Amber survive the year with a bully named Hannah? Luckily, Amber’s best friend Justin is also in her class and together they can handle anything.
    Comments (-1)
  • Ira Sleeps Over

    by Bernard Waber Year Published: 1972 Humorous Fiction
    Second Grade:  When Reggie invites Ira for his first sleepover, the boy is over the moon — until his sister asks (with older sisterly malice) if he plans to bring his teddy bear. Ira always sleeps with his beloved bear, Tah Tah. He’s embarrassed to bring the stuffie &mash; but also worried about not bringing him. “Reggie will laugh,” his sister tells him. “He won’t laugh,” his parents say. In the end Ira decides for himself, and learns he made the right choice.
    Comments (-1)
  • La Mariposa

    by Francisco Jiménez Year Published: 1998 Non-Fiction Narrative
    Third Grade:  La Mariposa is a beautifully illustrated book about author Francisco Jiménez’s childhood as a member of a Mexican migrant farm family. Young Francisco prepares himself for English-only first grade, without knowing a word of this new language. As the days pass, he becomes more and more uncertain if he will ever learn English, learn to read or find a friend. However, his beautiful drawings of butterflies help him win over the class bully and begin to transcend the barrier of language.
    Comments (-1)
  • My Best Friend

    by Pat Hutchins Year Published: 1993 Realistic Fiction
    First Grade: This playful story shows that two little girls can be friends and appreciate each other even though they are good at doing different things. You child will enjoy this book over and over again.
    Comments (-1)
  • Stellaluna

    by Janell Cannon Year Published: 1993 Fiction
    Third Grade:  The hook: Stellaluna is a baby fruit bat happily flying along with her mother when an owl attacks. The poor little bat is knocked out of her mother’s grasp and lands in a birds’ nest. The mother bird accepts Stellaluna as long as she acts like a bird, not a bat. Soon enough, Stellaluna learns to eat bugs and stop hanging by her feet. When she finally has a chance to show her bird siblings, Pip, Flutter and Flap, what life as a bat is like, they are left all in a muddle: “How can we be so different and feel so much alike?” one asks. Anyone who has ever been in a position where they can’t be who they really are will relate to Stellaluna’s predicament. Cannon’s award-winning illustrations convey the nocturnal world beautifully. Readers will be enchanted by this book with its messages of acceptance, friendship and a mothers’ love.
    Comments (-1)
  • Thank You, Mr. Falker

    by Patricia Polacco Year Published: 1988 Non-Fiction Narrative
    Third Grade:  Patricia Polacco describes what it was like to be unable to read in the fifth grade. She was taunted by classmates and plagued with her own self-doubt until a teacher finally recognized that she couldn’t read and gave her the assurance and help she needed to succeed.
    Comments (-1)
  • Magic Tree House Collection

    The Magic Tree House Series

    by Mary Pope Osborne Year Published: 1992 - 2016 Children's Historical Fantasy

    The Magic Tree House is a series of children's books written by American author Mary Pope Osborne.

    The series consists of two groups. The first group consists of books 1-28, in which Morgan Le Fay sends Jack and Annie, two normal children who are siblings from Frog Creek, Pennsylvania, on numerous adventures and missions with a magical tree house in order to help free Morgan from a spell, solve four ancient riddles to become Master Librarians, and save four ancient stories from being lost forever.
    The second group, referred to as the Magic Tree House "Merlin Missions," begins with book 29, Christmas in Camelot. In the Merlin Missions, Jack and Annie have quests from the ancient wizard Merlin the Magician. These books are longer than the previous 28, and some take place in fantasy realms like Camelot
    Comments (-1)
  • There Is a Bird on Your Head!

    by Mo Willems Year Published: 2007 Fiction
    First Grade:  Bespeckled and a little stressed out, pessimistic Gerald the elephant has the look of a worried old man while his upbeat friend Piggie is much more kid-like and exuberant. Together they make a great pair, in much the same way as Frog and Toad. The language is simple and repetitive enough for beginning readers to enjoy. And the humor will hold their interest while they struggle with the harder parts. This book is so much fun that even struggling readers will want to read it over and over again, especially if they are able to share parts with another reader. And, happily, this is only one of several in the Elephant and Piggie series.
    Comments (-1)