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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
Last stop on Market Street
de la Peą, Matt.
Paper Book
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
Schertle, Alice
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...
Mindful Mr. Sloth
Paper Book
Sasha has one speed--fast. She loves to do lots of things, all at once, as fast as possible. Mr. Sloth has one speed--slow. He loves to do things one at a time, at a nice, easy pace. Can Mr. Sloth's mindful ways teach Sasha to slow down and enjoy life? Best-selling author Katy Hudson gently weaves a...
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 very impatient caterpillar
Burach, Ross.
Paper Book
This clever send-up of every child's biggest challenge--being patient!--is a STEM-friendly, laugh-out-loud comedy about metamorphosis. "Will delight fans of Mo Willems's "Pigeon" series... absolutely charming." -- School Library Journal "Super-charged." -- The...
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
Celebrate twenty years of The Boy in this highly anticipated new adventure from the internationally bestselling picture book creator of Lost and Found Oliver Jeffers! "Jeffers has not lost his lovely knack for weaving fantastical elements into depictions of everyday life ......

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