Books for Emerging Readers (K to Grade 2)

Kids that are starting to read short books on their own need books that are shorter with illustrations to keep them from being overwhelmed. Early Readers are great options for books that feel manageable. They can be fiction or non-fiction as long as the topic interests the child. Not all Early Readers use the same rating system, so have your child read the first page or two, and if there are more than three or four words per page that they struggle to read, find a book that is a little less of a challenge.

Updated May 29, 2025
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Bink & Gollie
DiCamillo, Kate.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! Winner of the 2011 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award! In a brilliant collaboration, best-selling authors Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, along with acclaimed illustrator Tony Fucile, introduce an outrageously funny pair of friends. Meet...
Gossie
Dunrea, Olivier.
Paper Book
The first book in the preschool-perfect Gossie & Friends series by Olivier Dunrea about a small yellow gosling who goes looking for her missing boots and finds a new friend. Gossie is a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots--every day. But one morning she can't find them!...
The dot
Reynolds, Peter
Paper Book
With a simple, witty story and free-spirited illustrations, Peter H. Reynolds entices even the stubbornly uncreative among us to make a mark -- and follow where it takes us. Her teacher smiled. "Just make a mark and see where it takes you." Art class is over, but...
El coleccionista de palabras
Reynolds, Peter H.
Paper Book
From the beloved bestselling creator of The Dot and our own Happy Dreamer. An inspiring story about the transformative and profound power of words.Some people collect stamps.Some people collect coins.Some people collect art.And Jerome?Jerome collected words . . . The...
Henry and Mudge : the first book of their adventures
Rylant, Cynthia.
Paper Book
For use in schools and libraries only. A series about an only child and his huge best friend, a mastiff named Mudge.
Fox the tiger
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
Winner of the 2019 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award Fun-loving, mischievous Fox wishes he were a tiger. Tigers are big and fast and sneaky. So he decides to become one! Soon Turtle and Rabbit are joining in the fun. But will Fox want to be a tiger forever? In Fox the Tiger, this...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.