Picture Books for Beginning Readers

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 20, 2026
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Lambton County Library Summer Reading Challenge 2026
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Ada Twist, scientist
Beaty, Andrea
Paper Book
Inspired by real-life makers Ada Lovelace and Marie Curie, this beloved #1 bestseller champions STEM, girl power and women scientists in a rollicking celebration of curiosity, the power perseverance, and the importance of asking "Why?" Don't miss Ada's further adventures-with her friends...
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...
Bear snores on
Wilson, Karma.
Paper Book
One by one, a whole host of different animals and birds find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up. But even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on! See what happens when he finally wakes up and finds his cave full of uninvited...
The day the crayons quit
Jeffers Oliver.
Paper Book
THE #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER WITH MILLIONS OF COPIES SOLD The blockbuster hit that kids (and grown-ups!) will enjoy reading again and again--a hilarious, colorful picture book celebrating creativity and self-expression, hailed as "fresh and funny" (The Wall...
Evergreen
Cordell, Matthew
Paper Book
Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell tackles how bravery grows in this award-winning story 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...
Fry bread : a Native American family story
Maillard, Kevin Noble.
Paper Book
Winner of the Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal An American Indian Youth Literature Picture Book Honor Winner "A wonderful and sweet book . . . Lovely stuff." --The New York Times Book Review Told in lively and powerful verse by...
Knight Owl and Early Bird
Denise, Christopher.
Paper Book
A New York Times and Indie Bestseller * In this exciting adventure and follow-up to the #1 New York Times bestselling and Caldecott Honor award-winning classic, Knight Owl makes an unlikely friend in the over-zealous Early Bird--who wants to be a brave knight,...
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...
Not a box
Portis, Antoinette.
Paper Book
CATCH NOT A BOX ON APPLE TV+! A 2026 Phoenix Picture Book Award Winner! Don't miss this wholly original celebration of the power of imagination, winner of a Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Award. This picture book with its visual humor and simple dialogue is great for fans of...
Oops, pounce, quick, run! : an alphabet caper
Twohy, Mike
Paper Book
A 2017 Geisel Honor Book In the vein of Tom and Jerry, Bugs Bunny, and other classic cartoons, Oops, Pounce, Quick, Run! is a hilariously clever alphabet caper, perfect for fans of LMNO Peas and Z Is for Moose. A little mouse is asleep until a ball suddenly bounces into his home,...
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 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...
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,...
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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