Picture Books for Beginning Readers (Pre K - Grade 1)

Children beginning to read need books that grab their attention and make reading fun. Pick books about topics that interest your child, both fiction and non-fiction are great. Books with simple words, large and clear fonts, rhyming and lots of repetition will help kids begin to recognize words and understand the different sounds that make up language.

Updated May 29, 2025
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Lambton County Library Summer Reading Challenge 2025
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The adventures of Beekle : the unimaginary friend
Santat, Dan
Paper Book
Winner of the Caldecott Medal #1 New York Times bestselling and award-winning creator Dan Santat combines classic storytelling with breathtaking art in an unforgettable tale about friendship, imagination, and the courage to find one's place in...
Ahoy!
Blackall, Sophie.
Paper Book
Join a child captain and parent first mate as they embark on a wild high seas adventure...all without leaving the living room! This imaginative romp of a picture book is filled with glorious illustrations from a beloved Caldecott Medalist and New York Times bestselling creator.
Amazing oceans : the surprising world of our incredible seas
Roth, Annie.
Paper Book
Go on an underwater adventure in this detailed look at our oceans' most fascinating places, plants and animals. This fascinating book will take children beyond the seaweed, sharks, and shells that you have seen many times before, and show you the secret world that lies in and...
Bear came along
Morris, Richard T.
Paper Book
A cheerful and action-packed adventure about the importance of friendship and community from a successful author and illustrator duo! Once there was a river flowing through a forest. The river didn't know it was capable of adventures until a big bear came along. But adventures...
Because
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Mo Willems, a number one New York Times best-selling author and illustrator, composes a powerful symphony of chance, discovery, persistence, and magic in this moving tale of a young girl's journey to center stage. Illustrator Amber Ren brings Willems' music to life, conducting a...
Beneath
Doerrfeld, Cori.
Paper Book
In this stunning story from New York Times bestselling creator Cori Doerrfeld, a child and their grandfather take a walk in the woods and discover more about themselves. Finn is in a horrible mood and doesn't want to talk about it. After some persuading, though, they...
Big truck little island
Van Dusen, Chris.
Paper Book
That big truck is stuck! How will the island residents get where they're going? A tale of community and ingenuity from the celebrated Chris Van Dusen, inspired by a true story. When a big truck and its big load get stuck on a narrow road, traffic on the little island comes to a...
Blue Bison needs a haircut
Rothman, Scott.
Paper Book
Blue Bison tries his best to be patient in this humorous picture book from the #1 New York Times bestselling illustrator Pete Oswald. Blue Bison prides himself on always looking clean and neat. But he has a growing problem--his hair. With the barber shops and just about...
The book that almost rhymed
Abed Omar.
Paper Book
Every great adventure needs a hero--or two! This playful take on storytelling and equity proves that two tellers can make a rhyming tale twice as nice. What do you do with an interrupting sibling? Especially when she's stepping all over your story with wild ideas that don...
Chez Bob
Shea, Bob.
Paper Book
"A perfect book." -Sandra Boynton, bestselling author From the hilarious author of Who Wet My Pants?, Unicorn Thinks He's Pretty Great, and the Dinosaur Vs. series comes a kid pleasing favorite about a devious alligator who learns to love! ...
The day the crayons quit
Jeffers Oliver.
Paper Book
The hilarious, colorful #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon that every kid wants! Gift a copy to someone you love today. A Kirkus Reviews Best Picture Book of the Century Poor Duncan just wants to color. But when he opens his box of crayons, he...
Dragons love tacos
Rubin, Adam
Paper Book
A #1 New York Times bestselling phenomenon, this deliciously funny read-aloud is an unforgettable tale of new friends and the perfect snack that will make you laugh until spicy salsa comes out of your nose. Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big...
Evergreen
Cordell, Matthew
Paper Book
A picture book by Caldecott medal winner Matt Cordell about a timid squirrel who makes a brave journey to help a relative who is ill. Evergreen the squirrel is afraid of many things: thunder, hawks, and the dark paths of Buckthorn Forest. But when her mother tasks Evergreen...
Eyes that kiss in the corners
Ho, Joanna.
Paper Book
A New York Times Bestseller and #1 Indie Bestseller · A Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year · A School Library Journal Best Book of 2021 · Included in NPR's 2021 Books We Love List · Featured in Forbes, Oprah Daily, The Cut, and Book Riot · Golden Poppy Book Award...
In a jar
Marcero, Deborah.
Paper Book
Here's a marvelous picture book, charmingly written and beautifully illustrated, about the power of memory and the magic of friendship. Llewellyn, a little rabbit, is a collector. He gathers things in jars--ordinary things like buttercups, feathers, and heart-shaped stones. Then...
Last stop on Market Street
de la Pena, Matt.
Paper Book
On Sundays, CJ and his nana ride the bus across town to their stop on Market Street. But today, CJ's not happy about it. Today, he's wondering out loud why they have to wait in the rain and why they don't have a car like his other friends. But it's Nana who opens young CJ's eyes and shows him the...
The legend of Rock Paper Scissors
Rex, Adam.
Paper Book
New York Times Bestseller! 5 Starred Reviews! "Will have listeners in stitches." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "Purely absurd, sidesplitting humor." --Booklist (starred review) "Demands bombastic, full-volume performances." --Publishers Weekly (starred review) ...
The library fish learns to read
Capucilli, Alyssa Satin
Paper Book
The man who didn't like animals
Underwood, Deborah.
Paper Book
Who was Old MacDonald before he had a farm A New York Times bestselling duo brings us this freshly imagined origin story about the storied farmer and his animal friends. Brilliantly illustrated by Caldecott Honor artist LeUyen Pham.  There once was a man who loved his...
Mindful Mr. Sloth
Hudson, Katy
Paper Book
Orris and Timble : the beginning
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
From beloved storyteller Kate DiCamillo comes the first book in a warm and funny early-reader trilogy about a misanthropic rat and a naive owl--and the beginning of a beautiful friendship. Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures, until the day his...
Owl moon
Yolen, Jane.
Paper Book
CALDECOTT MEDAL WINNER * A soothing, poetic picture book that lovingly depicts the relationship of a young child and her father alongside humankind's relationship to the natural world. A verbal and visual treasure for the whole family! I had been waiting to go...
The proudest blue : a story of hijab and family
Muhammad, Ibtihaj
Paper Book
THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER!   A powerful, vibrantly illustrated story about the first day of school--and two sisters on one's first day of hijab--by Olympic medalist and social justice activist Ibtihaj Muhammad.   With...
The rough patch
Lies, Brian
Paper Book
A Caldecott Honor Book An ALA Notable Book A breathtakingly beautiful and luminescent book that is pitch-perfect for anyone of any age who has experienced any type of loss or disappointment, from New York Times-bestselling picture book creator Brian Lies. New...
The slime book
Paper Book
Over 30 delightfully gloopy, gooey, colourful DIY recipes will mesmerise youngsters by showing them how to make slime. Play, poke, push, pull, and pop fabulous easy-to-follow slime recipes. They are all tried and tested by our slime experts, so you don't have to search the...
Swashby and the sea
Ferry, Beth
Ebook
★ "An exceptionally satisfying picture book." --Booklist, STARRED review ★ "This readaloud is sweetly told as Swashby overcomes his bitter habits to welcome new, friendly, and energetic people into his quiet life."...
Tap tap boom boom
Bluemle, Elizabeth
Paper Book
When a thunderstorm hits a city street, children and grown-ups dash to the subway for shelter -- and an impromptu friendly gathering. The clouds are gathering above a city street and soon -- tap, tap, boom, boom! As a thunderstorm rolls in, people of all stripes race down...
Tomorrow I'll be kind
Hische, Jessica.
Paper Book
In a follow-up to Tomorrow I'll Be Brave, award-winning illustrator Jessica Hische brings to life another series of inspirational words and scenes with her lovely hand-lettering and adorable illustrations. This uplifting and positive book encourages kids to promise that tomorrow, they will be...
The tree and the river
Becker, Aaron
Paper Book
A spectacular time-lapse portrait of humankind--and our impact on the natural world--from a Caldecott Honor-winning master of the wordless form In an alternate past--or possible future--a mighty tree stands on the banks of a winding river, bearing silent witness to the flow of...
The umbrella
Ferry, Beth.
Paper Book
From the New York Times bestselling creators behind Stick and Stone comes an inspiring story of persistence, kindness, and curiosity--a perfect read-aloud, rain or shine. In a dreary town where it always rains, a little girl and her dog discover an unexpected way to spread...
The very impatient caterpillar
Burach, Ross.
Paper Book
This clever send-up of every child's biggest challenge--being patient!--is a STEM-friendly, laugh-out-loud comedy about metamorphosis. "Will delight fans of Mo Willems's "Pigeon" series... absolutely charming." -- School Library Journal "Super-charged." -- The...
We are water protectors
Lindstrom, Carole
Paper Book
From author Carole Lindstrom and illustrator Michaela Goade comes a New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Medal winning picture book that honors Indigenous-led movements across the world. Powerfully written and gorgeously illustrated, We Are Water Protectors,...
Where to hide a star
Jeffers Oliver.
Paper Book
Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture book creator of Lost and Found Oliver Jeffers! "Jeffers has not lost his lovely knack for weaving fantastical elements into depictions of everyday life ......
The yellow bus
Long, Loren.
Paper Book
An Instant #1 New York Times Bestseller A #1 Indie Bestseller From #1 New York Times bestselling and beloved creator Loren Long, The Yellow Bus is a tender and hopeful new classic about embracing change and celebrating service to...

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