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
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Lambton County Library Summer Reading Challenge 2025
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Words are magic!
Avant-garde, Zaila.
Paper Book
Scripps National Spelling Bee champ Zaila Avant-garde shares her love of words with new readers in this level 1 Step Into Reading book. A SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR Words are magic! Have you heard? Pick a letter. Make a word!
Mars
Bauer, Marion Dane
Paper Book
Explore the planet Mars in the second book in this new, nonfiction Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about the universe that's perfect for kids who love science and space! Do you see that red dot in the night sky? It's Mars! Discover the exciting surprises about the Red Planet in this...
Paddington plays on
Bond, Michael
Paper Book
Clifford the small red puppy
Bridwell, Norman.
Paper Book
Clifford wasn't always a big red dog. . . Clifford begins life as a very small, red puppy, but once he starts growing into a very large, red dog, there seems no limit to his potential size!
CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG
Paper Book
It only takes a little to be BIG! Meet Clifford and Emily Elizabeth in the original Clifford book! Clifford is big. Clifford is red. But most of all, Clifford knows how to BE A GOOD FRIEND.
LEGO City awesome tales! : a collection of five early readers
Deutsch, Stacia.
Paper Book
Five LEGO City® Step into Reading leveled readers in one action-packed collection! This Step into Reading collection features five LEGO City® leveled readers, featuring careers including firefighters, handy persons, police, and veternarians! This book contains the...
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...
I want to be a doctor
Driscoll, Laura
Paper Book
For the child who says, "I want to be a doctor when I grow up!" And for any child who wants a gentle behind-the-scenes look at being a doctor.  Doctors help sick and hurt people feel better. When little brother Jack hurts his foot, the family gets to meet all kinds of...
Ollie
Dunrea, Olivier.
Paper Book
Friends Gossie and Gertie are waiting and waiting for Ollie to hatch. They try poking, listening, even sitting on top of his egg--but Ollie just won't come out. Ollie is Ollie and he will decide when it's time to hatch. Fans of Gossie and Gossie and Gertie will find Ollie just as charming and...
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!...
Frog can hop
Gehl, Laura.
Paper Book
From Laura Gehl, author of Dog Can Hide and Cat Sees Snow, comes another side-splitting Ready-to-Go! Ready-to-Read about an energetic frog and unhurried pig. Frog can hop. Pig likes to flop. When Frog makes a big drop, will Pig help? Perfect for kids at...
Duck, duck, dinosaur : spring smiles
George, K.
Paper Book
Little ones will enjoy this sweet and funny story featuring a sneezing dinosaur! It's wonderful springtime, and there are so many flowers, leaves, and seeds outside. Siblings Feather, Flap, and Spike want to explore on a sunny day. But will Spike's sneezes make him the odd...
Duck, duck, dinosaur. Bubble blast
George, K.
Paper Book
It's bath time for two little ducklings and one big dinosaur! Spike loves soap, but Feather and Flap don't want to scrub. What will Spike do to make getting clean fun for everyone? This short, sweet, and very bubbly story will help show kids how much fun bath time can be. Duck, Duck,...
Clark the shark and the big book report
Hale, Bruce
Ebook
Bruce's big fun day
Higgins, Ryan T.
Ebook
Houndsley and Catina at the library
Howe, James
Paper Book
The charming duo returns with a love letter to the library, good friends, the joy of learning, and self-reinvention. It's Saturday, and Houndsley, Catina, and their friend Bert are looking forward to their weekly visit to the library. But when the trio arrives, they find that...
The bad seed
John, Jory.
Paper Book
A New York Times bestseller! This is a book about a bad seed. A baaaaaaaaaad seed. How bad Do you really want to know He has a bad temper, bad manners, and a bad attitude. He's been bad since he can remember! This seed cuts in line every time, stares at everybody and...
The good egg and the talent show
John, Jory.
Ebook
Frog and Toad are friends
Lobel, Arnold.
Paper Book
Celebrate the power of friendship in these five adventurous stories starring Frog and Toad--a Caldecott Honor Book!  From writing letters to going swimming, telling stories to finding lost buttons, Frog and Toad are always there for each other--just as best friends should be. ...
Monkey-cam
Palatini, Margie.
Paper Book
Experience the world from a monkey's perspective via the video camera on its head in this fun and exciting Pre-Level 1 Ready-to-Read book in the Critter-Cam series! Through a video camera positioned on the monkey's head, readers can follow along from the monkey's point of view as...
Amelia Bedelia
Parish, Peggy.
Paper Book
Learn to read with the classic Amelia Bedelia! Ever since Amelia Bedelia made her debut in 1963, young readers have been laughing out loud at the antics of this literal-minded but charming housekeeper.   From dressing the chicken to drawing the drapes, Amelia...
Uni's first sleepover
Ransom, Candice F.
Paper Book
Uni the Unicorn is breaking out of picture book land...and entering Step into Reading! This Step 2 reader features Uni and friends on a magical fun-filled sleepover. Join Uni the Unicorn on this all-new Step into Reading adventure in the Land of Unicorns! In this Step 2 book, it...
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...
The word collector
Reynolds, Peter H.
Paper Book
From the creator of The Dot, I Am Human, and Happy Dreamer comes a celebration of finding your own words -- and the impact you can have when you share them with the world. Some people collect stamps. Some people collect coins. Some people collect art. And...
Henry and Mudge : the first book of their adventures
Rylant, Cynthia.
Paper Book
Henry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love in a big dog named Mudge.
Henry and Mudge in puddle trouble
Rylant, Cynthia.
CD
Henry and his dog Mudge venture out into the wet and happy world of spring in this second Ready-to-Read book of their adventures. Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And when spring arrives, they're ready for some puddle trouble!
Fox is late
Tabor, Corey R.
Paper Book
Fun-loving, mischievous Fox is late for lunch, so he hops on his skateboard. Go, Fox, go! What is this winning trickster character doing, zooming over and under and around on his skateboard His animal friends follow him home to find out--and get a big surprise! ...
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...
We are in a book!
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book
Mo Willems, award-winning, New York Times best-selling creator of The Pigeon, Knuffle Bunny, and Unlimited Squirrels, presents best friends Elephant Gerald and Piggie.   Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald...

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