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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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!
Paddington's day off
Bond, Michael
Ebook
Clifford the small red puppy
Bridwell, Norman.
Paper Book
Rediscover Clifford's origin story in this vintage hardcover reissue of the original 1972 edition!This beautiful vintage hardcover edition of Clifford the Small Red Puppy features Norman Bridwell's iconic 1972 two-color artwork. Fans of all sizes will delight in discovering Clifford's...
Clifford, the big red dog
Bridwell, Norman.
Paper Book
The most popular big, red, lovable dog that ever was! Clifford books have sold millions of copies in nearly half a century - and his series airing on PBS Kids TV has been enormously popular.
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...
Gossie
Dunrea, Olivier.
Ebook
Meet Gossie, a small yellow gosling who loves to wear bright red boots--every day! One morning Gossie can't find her beloved boots. She looks everywhere for them: under the bed, over the wall, even in the barn. Preschoolers will enjoy helping Gossie find her red boots and delight in where...
Otter : let's go swimming!
Garton, Sam
Ebook
Iris and Walter and the birthday party
Guest, Elissa Haden.
Audiobook
Iris and Walter and the Birthday Party
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
There is a bad seed. A baaaaaaaad seed. How bad Do you really want to know He lies about pointless stuff. He cuts in line. Every time. And he does LOTS of other bad things too. But what happens when a bad seed doesn't want to be bad anymore Can a...
The good egg and the talent show
John, Jory.
Ebook
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...
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.
Ebook
From the beloved bestselling creator of The Dot and our own Happy Dreamer comes an inspiring story about the transformative and profound power of words.Some people collect stamps.Some people collect coins.Some people collect art.And Jerome?Jerome collected words . . . In...
Henry and Mudge in puddle trouble : the second book of their adventures
Rylant, Cynthia.
Paper Book
For Henry and his dog Mudge, spring means admiring the first snow glory, playing in puddles in the rain, and watching the five new kittens next door.
We are in a book!
Willems, Mo.
Paper Book

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