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!
Paddington plays on
Bond, Michael
Paper Book
Paddington's vacation starts with a bang! When he is enlisted into a marching band, Paddington saves the day--and the parade--with his charming sense of adventure. ...
Clifford the small red puppy
Bridwell, Norman.
Paper Book
Meet Clifford before he was the big red dog in this board book edition of a storybook classic! This sturdy board book edition of Clifford the Small Red Puppy brings readers along as Clifford grows into the big red dog we all know and love! When Emily Elizabeth first meets Clifford,...
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.
I spy blue in the ocean
Culliford, Amy
Ebook
Do you know what lives under the sea? Read along with our spy as he discovers all kinds of underwater creatures that are blue! The perfect book for emerging readers, I Spy Blue in the Ocean uses simple sentences and colorful illustrations to help early readers practice their reading skills. Includes...
I spy yellow in the desert
Culliford, Amy
Ebook
Attention agents: our spy needs your help! Read along and explore a vast desert with hidden treasures. If you can help our spy discover all the things that are yellow, there might even be a reward waiting for you! I Spy Yellow in the Desert uses easy-to-read sentences and colorful illustrations to...
Bink & Gollie
DiCamillo, Kate.
Ebook
I want to be a doctor
Driscoll, Laura
Ebook
Gossie : a gosling on the go!
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!...
Otter: Let's Go Swimming!
Garton, Sam.
Paper Book
Otter--the irrepressible picture book character sure to be adored by fans of Llama Llama--learns how to swim. Otter: Let's Go Swimming! is a My First I Can Read book, which means it's perfect for shared reading with a child. Read about more of Otter's adventures in I...
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...
Clark the shark and the big book report
Hale, Bruce
Paper Book
Be bold, be smart, and speak from the heart! Clark the Shark is ready to present his book report to the class. But at the last minute, Clark gets stage fright and clams up in front of everybody. With a little help from his teacher, Mrs. Inkydink, will Clark be able to...
Syd Hoff's Danny and the dinosaur : too tall
Hale, Bruce
Paper Book
The dinosaur thinks he's much too tall. It's not easy being different! When Danny decides to cheer his friend up, they discover that being tall might not be so bad after all!
Bruce's big fun day
Higgins, Ryan T.
Paper Book
An original World of Reading story starring Bruce, the curmudgeonly bear of the New York Times best-selling Mother Bruce series by Ryan T. Higgins. Nibbs the mouse wants to give Bruce a BIG FUN DAY! But Bruce does not like BIG FUN DAYS. Not one bit. Ryan...
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.
Paper Book
The Good Egg discovers his true talent in this Level One I Can Read by the #1 New York Times bestselling duo Jory John and Pete Oswald! The talent show is today and the Good Egg is so excited. There's just one problem. He doesn't have an act! When the talent show...
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. ...
Going to the Sea Park
Mayer, Mercer
Paper Book
Little Critter is going on a class trip There isn't a dull moment when Little Critter(R) and his classmates go on a trip to the Sea Park They see and learn about exciting and strange sea creatures--from crabs and octopuses to whales and sharks. A day at the Sea Park proves to be full of fun...
Time for puppy school
O'Connor, Jane.
Paper Book
Ooh la la--school starts soon! Fancy Nancy can't wait to go back, but she'll miss Frenchy very much. Nancy's loved playing with her favorite puppy all summer, but sometimes Frenchy can be a bit naughty. When she gets into trouble one too many times, the Clancys decide that it's time...
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
The first book in the acclaimed Ready-to-Read series from Newbery Medalist Cynthia Rylant featuring Henry and his lovable 180-pound dog, Mudge. 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 : the second book of their adventures
Rylant, Cynthia.
Paper Book
Henry and his 180-pound dog Mudge are best friends forever. And when spring arrives, they're ready for some puddle trouble!
Aang's epic adventures! : a collection of three early readers
Spaziante, Patrick.
Paper Book
Relive the adventures of Aang and his friends from Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender in this collection of three Step into Reading levelled readers! Young readers will love venturing into the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender with this Step 4 Step into...
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...
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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