Reading List for Grades K-2

Recommended by the American Library Association for Children. For more reading ideas or to find books to match a particular reading interest, talk to a children‘s librarian. Call 217/403–2030 or e-mail librarian@champaign.org

Updated December 18, 2024
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All are welcome
Penfold, Alexandra
Paper Book
Join the call for a better world with this New York Times bestselling picture book about a school where diversity and inclusion are celebrated. The perfect back-to-school read for every kid, family and classroom! In our classroom safe and sound. Fears are lost and...
All the animals where I live
Stead, Philip Christian
Paper Book
The author used to live in the busy city where there were buses and trains, and people waiting for buses and trains. Now he lives in the country and jubilantly takes us on a tour of his home, pointing out all the animals that share his space. There are stuffed bears and quilted...
Alma and how she got her name
Martinez-Neal, Juana
Paper Book
A 2019 Caldecott Honor Book "A beautifully illustrated, tender story to be shared with all children, sure to evoke conversations about their names." --School Library Journal (starred review) If you ask her, Alma Sofia Esperanza José Pura Candela has way too...
Another
Robinson, Christian
Paper Book
An NPR Favorite Book of 2019 A New York Times Best Children's Book of 2019 An NYPL Best Book of 2019 A Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2019 A School Library Journal Best Picture Book of 2019 A BookPage...
Auntie Luce's talking paintings
Latour, Francie
Paper Book
A Haitian American girl finds connection to generations of family lore in this story of identity, heart and home. Every winter, a young girl flies to Haiti to visit her Auntie Luce, a painter. The moment she steps off the plane, she feels a wall of heat, and familiar sights soon...
Camp tiger
Choi, Susan
Paper Book
Six Starred Reviews! Shelf Awareness Best Children's Book of 2019 A 2019 New York Public Library Best Book for Kids Imagination meets reality in this poetic and tender ode to childhood, illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner, John Rocco.<...
Carl and the meaning of life
Freedman, Deborah
Paper Book
From the often Caldecott-buzzed Deborah Freedman, a sweet and funny story about finding your place in the world. Carl is an earthworm. He spends his days happily tunneling in the soil until a field mouse asks him a simple question that stops him short- "Why?" Carl's quest takes...
Dreamers
Morales, Yuyi
Paper Book
We are resilience. We are hope. We are dreamers. Yuyi Morales brought her hopes, her passion, her strength, and her stories with her, when she came to the United States in 1994 with her infant son. She left behind nearly everything she owned, but she didn't come empty-handed.<...
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...
Hey, water!
Portis, Antoinette
Paper Book
Splash! A spunky little girl plays a spirited game of hide-and-seek with water, in this gorgeously illustrated nonfiction picture book. A Robert F. Sibert Honor Book An ALA Notable Children's Book Hey, water! I know you! You're all around. ...
Jabari jumps
Cornwall, Gaia
Paper Book
Working up the courage to take a big, important leap is hard, but Jabari is almost absolutely ready to make a giant splash. Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He's finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he's a great jumper, so he...
Just in case you want to fly
Fogliano, Julie
Paper Book
A message of love, support, and empowerment, from bestselling author Julie Fogliano and Christian Robinson, Caldecott Honoree and creator of the New York Times Bestseller You Matter. just in case you want to fly here's some wind and here's the...
Llama destroys the world
Stutzman, Jonathan
Paper Book
Meet Llama, the next great picture-book megastar, who has most definitely driven a bus and who loves tacos way more than you. He also loves cake, and that's where our story begins. On Monday, Llama discovers a pile of cake, which he promptly eats. On Tuesday, Llama...
Meet Yasmin!
Faruqi, Saadia
Paper Book
Meet Yasmin! Yasmin is a spirited second-grader who's always on the lookout for those "aha" moments to help her solve life's little problems. Taking inspiration from her surroundings and her big imagination, she boldly faces any situation, assuming her imagination doesn't get too big, of course! A...
Mia Mayhem is a superhero!
West, Kara
Paper Book
Meet Mia Macarooney, an ordinary eight-year-old who finds out she has an extraordinary super-secret in this first chapter book in the brand-new Mia Mayhem series! Mia Macarooney is a regular eight-year-old girl who finds out that she's A SUPERHERO! Her life literally goes...
My papi has a motorcycle
Quintero, Isabel
Paper Book
A celebration of the love between a father and daughter, and of a vibrant immigrant neighborhood, by an award-winning author and illustrator duo. When Daisy Ramona zooms around her neighborhood with her papi on his motorcycle, she sees the people and places she's always known....
Our celebración!
Elya, Susan Middleton
Paper Book
A delightful rhyming romp through the festivities of a small town's summer parade and celebration, written in English with Spanish words sprinkled throughout. It's a sunny summer day. Come join the crowd headed for the parade! Marvel at the people riding motorcycles, bicycles,...
The patchwork bike
Clarke, Maxine Beneba
Paper Book
It has a bent bucket seat, bashed tin-can handlebars, and wood-cut wheels -- and riding the patchwork bike that you and your crazy brothers made is the best fun in the whole village. When you live in a village at the edge of the no-go desert, you need to make your own fun. That's...
Peter & Ernesto : the lost sloths
Annable, Graham
Paper Book
From Box Trolls director Graham Annable comes Peter & Ernesto: The Lost Sloths, the immensely charming sequel to his brilliant debut graphic novel about the endearing friendship between two sloths. Peter and Ernesto loved their tree. Then a hurricane...
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...
Saturday
Mora, Oge
Paper Book
In this warm and tender story by the Caldecott Honor-winning creator of Thank You, Omu!, join a mother and daughter on an up-and-down journey that reminds them of what's best about Saturdays: precious time together. Today would be special. Today would be splendid. It...
Skulls!
Thornburgh, Blair
Paper Book
Debut picture book author Blair Thornburgh and award-winning illustrator Scott Campbell put their heads together to celebrate one of the most important bones in your body: the skull! You probably don't think much about skulls. So what's the big deal about them? ...
Summer
Cao, Wenxuan
Paper Book
Summer is a poetic, inspirational picture book about the power of kindness from two of China's most acclaimed creators--and children will discover a surprise as they turn the pages! During a hot summer day in the grasslands, a group of animals race to claim the single...
We are grateful : otsaliheliga
Sorell, Traci
Paper Book
The Cherokee community is grateful for the blessings and challenges that each season brings. This is modern Native American life as told by best-selling Cherokee author Traci Sorell. This award-winning seasonal picture book is for 3-7-year-olds interested in contemporary Indigenous...
Where are you from?
Méndez, Yamile Saied
Paper Book
This resonant and award-winning picture book tells the story of one girl who constantly gets asked a simple question that doesn't have a simple answer. A great conversation starter in the home or classroom--a book to share, in the spirit of I Am Enough by Grace Byers and...

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