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...
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...
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...
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...
The girl who thought in pictures : the story of Dr. Temple Grandin
Mosca, Julia Finley
Paper Book
NSTA Best STEM Books for K-12 Selection. NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books Selection. Dolly Gray Children's Literature Award. Recipient A Mighty Girl Book of the Year. If you've ever felt different, if you've ever been low, if you don't quite fit in, there's a name you should know. Meet Dr....
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 German submarine in the early 1940s,...
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...
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 or not the sandwich must be their...
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 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...
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 ...
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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