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.
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...
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...
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...
The big book of nature art
Zommer, Yuval.
Paper Book
Featuring twenty-two easy craft projects using natural and recycled materials, The Big Book of Nature Art is a fun and eco-friendly way for young children to connect creatively with nature. From best-selling author Yuval Zommer, The Big Book of Nature Art is...
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...
Big words for little paleontologists : the dino dictionary every little explorer needs
Gerry, Lisa.
Paper Book
This stunningly illustrated picture book will inspire every budding paleontologist with the impressive words that dino-crazy little kids love to learn--and show off! Featuring more than 50 wow-worthy words, with definitions and phonetic pronunciation, this info...
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...
Built to last
Le, Minh
Paper Book
Meet two friends who think they're building imaginative worlds with blocks but come to realize they've been building something far greater--a sturdy, solid friendship--in this picturebook by award-winning creators. Two kids build entire worlds out of blocks, cardboard, and...
Butt or face? Revenge of the butts
Lavelle, Kari.
Paper Book
Are you ready for round two of the hilarious guessing game picture book? Discover fascinating facts about animals while guessing if you're looking at a butt or a face! Butt or Face? Volume 2 continues the delightfully cheeky challenge with a whole new set of animals from all over the world...
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! ...
A day for sandcastles
Lawson, JonArno.
Paper Book
A dazzling wordless picture book celebrates creative problem-solving, teamwork, and the sun-splashed wonder of a day at the beach. The creators of the acclaimed Over the Shop evoke a perfect summer beach day--and themes of creativity, cooperation, flexibility, and...
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...
The Disney villains cookbook
Howard, Joy (Food stylist)
Paper Book
Inspired by the Disney Villains, this bewitching cookbook for kids makes learning how to cook everything from hearty breakfasts to delicious desserts fun and downright magical. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions and mouth-watering photos of each dish, this cookbook...
Don't trust cats : life lessons from Chip the dog
Petty, Dev.
Paper Book
Chip the dog from Don't Eat Bees is back, with more "wisdom" to share, including some hard-won life lessons about cats. From the favorite picture book comic duo of Dev Petty and Mike Boldt. Chip has been described as very smart and also a dog. And because he's a very good...
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 Winner · Featured...
Fry bread : a Native American family story
Maillard, Kevin Noble.
Paper Book
Winner of the 2020 Robert F. Sibert Informational Book Medal A 2020 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...
The girl with a mind for math : the story of Raye Montague
Mosca, Julia Finley.
Paper Book
NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2019 Selection NSTA Best STEM Trade Books for Students K-12 2019 Selection 2019 Amelia Bloomer List Selection 2019 Mathical Honor Book Meet Raye Montague - a "hidden figure" who made waves in the U.S. Navy! After touring a...
The Great Lakes : our freshwater treasure
Rosenstock, Barb.
Paper Book
A stunning picture book about the five largest lakes in North America - how they formed, the importance of their abundant freshwater, and how they've become a national treasure - in the latest book from the author of Caldecott Honor book The Noisy Paint Box. A SCHOOL...
Have you seen my invisible dinosaur?
Yoon, Helen.
Paper Book
The creator of Sheepish (Wolf Under Cover), Off-Limits, and I'm a Unicorn brings her original whimsy to the tale of a child's special friend who goes missing after a bath--or does he? Help! This little girl has lost her best friend. He's a dinosaur (not the...
How to talk like a chicken
Grandy, Charlie
Paper Book
From the duo behind How to Talk Like a Bear comes a hilarious new picture book! You may think talking like a chicken is all clucking and bawking and flapping your arms, but it's actually far more complicated than that. Like all languages, it has many intricacies. For...
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...
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...
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
Library Fish returns in this charming picture book about the unusually literary fish learning to do what everyone around her loves--read! Library Fish is very happy in her bowl on Mr. Hughes the librarian's desk. From there, she listens to story time and watches Mr. Hughes teach...
Little blue truck
McElmurry, Jill.
Paper Book
Beep! Beep! Meet Blue! Filled with truck sounds and animal noises, Little Blue Truck is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick-up--that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of...
The man who didn't like animals
Underwood, Deborah.
Paper Book
*A New York Times/New York Public Library Best Illustrated Children's Book of the Year!* *An Amazon Top 20 Children's Book of the Year!* 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...
Mars
Edson, Shauna.
Paper Book
This ultimate guide to Mars launches 7 to 9 year olds on a breathtaking journey through the past, present, and future of the Red Planet. This spectacular reference book for children aged 7-9 explores the planet Mars, exploring the evidence for past life on Mars, what's happening...
Mr. S
Arnaldo, Monica.
Paper Book
Prepare for plenty of giggles as a kindergarten class arrives for their first day of school but can't find their teacher--only a delicious-looking sandwich and the words "Mr. S" scribbled on the chalkboard. Chaos ensues as the kids argue whether the sandwich must be their teacher. A comical first...
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...
Spider in the well
Hannigan, Jess.
Paper Book
This cheeky picture book debut from author-illustrator Jess Hannigan tells the darkly dry and utterly hilarious tale of fibs, cons, and JUSTICE! Perfect for fans of Jon Klassen, Ryan Higgins, and stylized cinema--from Orson Welles to Wes Anderson. Breaking News: Wishing Well...
Swashby and the sea
Ferry, Beth.
Paper Book
★ "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." --The Bulletin of the Center for ...
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...
Taylor Swift: Wildest Dreams, a Biography
Wainer, Erica.
Paper Book
A dazzling must-have picture book biography for the rabid Taylor Swift lover. Features illustrations of the pop icon, from childhood to fearless stardom, and the story of how she broke out to share her sparkle with the rest of the world. Since the release of her self-titled...
That's my carrot!
Na, Il Sung.
Paper Book
From the acclaimed author-illustrator of A Book of Sleep comes a silly tale about a garden rivalry, a giant carrot and bunnies in construction vehicles! When two rabbits find a giant carrot growing between their yards, they do the only thing that makes sense: they argue...
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 light. Told...
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
World-renowned artist and picture book creator Oliver Jeffers brings to life an endearing story about the magic of friendship--and sharing what brings us joy. Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture...
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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