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
L
Lambton County Library Summer Reading Challenge 2026
Drag items up and down to your preferred order then select the "Save Order" button.
Ada Twist, scientist
Beaty, Andrea
Ebook
From the New York Times bestselling creator of the Questioneers, Andrea Beaty, and author Theanne Griffith, Exploring Flight! (Ada Twist, Scientist: The Why Files) is the first in a full-color nonfiction early-reader series based on the Netflix series!   Why do...
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
Bear's cave fills with animal friends as he sleeps in this classic book from New York Times bestselling team of Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman. In a cave in the woods, in his deep, dark lair, through the long, cold winter sleeps a great brown bear....
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...
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...
The day the crayons quit
Jeffers Oliver.
Ebook
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.
Ebook
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
Caldecott Medalist Matthew Cordell tackles how bravery grows in this award-winning story 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...
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 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.
Ebook
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...
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.
Ebook
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...
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...
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...
Pete the cat and his magic sunglasses
Dean, James
Ebook
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...
Rex wrecks it!
Clanton, Ben
Paper Book
"A warm and wacky story that feels both fresh and familiar. This enchanting, quirky quartet will entertain children with what are sure to be repeat readings." -- Booklist Uh-oh! Here comes Rex! Every time Gizmo, Sprinkles, and Wild build something with their blocks,...
The very impatient caterpillar
Burach, Ross.
Ebook
This clever send-up of every child's biggest challenge -- being patient! -- is a STEM-friendly, laugh-out-loud comedy about metamorphosis.* "Super-charged." --The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review"Will delight fans of Mo Willems's "Pigeon" series... absolutely...
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...

Library staff! You can create and contribute to lists. Contact your catalog administrator or log in here.