Good Books for Kindergarteners 
(ages 5 & 6)

• A few children may learn to read before they are in the first grade. Most learn during first grade. Many learn even later.

• For reading to or with children, select picture books with strong storylines and character development.

• For the child who is reading independently, choose a book with a straightforward story employing words that will be familiar from everyday use. Some publishers produce books, generally called "easy readers" which independent readers often enjoy.

• A lot of informational books have been published for the early grades. These books encourage children to read about topics that interest them and to satisfy their curiosity about complex subjects. .

• Quick Picks From RIF

• Classics

• Reading lists for other ages

* The following list of books was compiled by the ALSC Quicklists Committee for Reading Is Fundamental.

Albourough, Jez
Where's My Teddy?

In rhyming text, Eddie's in for a big surprise when he discovers that his teddy bear has grown much too big to cuddle. Then Eddie meets up with a real bear who's got just the opposite problem--his lost teddy bear has shrunk to a size much to small for such an enormous bear to cuddle.

Allard, Harry
Miss Nelson Is Missing!

The kids in Room 207 take advantage of their teacher's good nature until she disappears and they are faced with a substitute, Miss Viola Swamp, their worst nightmare.

Barrett, Judith
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs

In the town of Chewandswallow, the food is delicious and arrives with the Weather until the weather takes a turn for the worse.

Brett, Jan
Goldilocks and the Three Bears

A lavish retelling of an old favorite about a curious girl who makes herself at home in an empty cottage, only to be discovered by the three bears that live there.

Bridwell, Norman
Clifford the Big Red Dog

Emily Elizabeth introduces her enormous pet.

Burton, Virginia Lee
Katy and the Big Snow

Bright, vigorous pictures show Katy, a beautiful red crawler tractor, as she plows snow for the Highway Department.

Burton, Virginia Lee
Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel

Mike Mulligan proves that Mary Ann, his faithful old steam shovel, can work just as well as the fancy new machines.

Carle, Eric
The Mixed-Up Chameleon

Chameleon's life is not very exciting until the day he discovers he can change not only his colors, but his size and shape.

Carle, Eric
The Grouchy Ladybug

A grumpy ladybug challenges everyone she meets regardless of their size.

Carle, Eric
The Very Hungry Caterpillar

A beautifully, illustrated counting book about a caterpillar turning into a butterfly.

Fleming, Denise
In the Tall, Tall Grass

Rhyming text tells of the creatures to be found in the grass.

Guarnio, Deborah
Is Your Mama a Llama?

Rhyming story that allows all of friends of Lloyd, the llama, to describe their mamas.

Keats, Ezra Jack
Whistle for Willie

Peter learns how to whistle.

Lionni, Leo
Frederick

While the other mice are gathering food for the winter, Frederick daydreams the summer away. But when dreary winter comes, it is Frederick, the poet, who warms the hearts of his friends with his words.

London, Jonathan
Froggy Gets Dressed

Froggy discovers snow! He wants to go out and play but his sleepy mother tells him that frogs are suppose to sleep all winter. But Froggy insists and off he goes, but only after his mother has dressed him properly for the cold weather.

McCloskey, Robert
Blueberries for Sal

Sal and her mother set off in search of blueberries before winter comes. At the same time a cub and mother bear are searching for food for the winter. A comedy of errors ensues when the young ones wander off and trail the wrong mothers.

Sendak, Maurice
Where the Wild Things Are

A naughty little boy, who is sent to bed without his supper, sails to the land of wild things where he becomes their king.

Shaw, Nancy
Sheep in a Jeep

Rhyming tale of the adventures of a group of sheep encounters while riding a jeep.

Walsh, Ellen Stoll
Mouse Count

A hungry snake finds ten little mice and counts them into a jar for dinner. But the clever mice soon outwit the snake and "uncount" themselves--until they have all gotten away.

Williams, Vera
More, More, More Said the Baby: Three Love Stories

Williams' award-winning style captures the warmth and humor of three different babies and the adults that adore them.

Ziefert, Harriet
Bob and Shirley: A Tale of Two Lobsters

Based on a true story, Bob and Shirley are two huge lobsters caught in a net and end up in a tank in a fish store window until some concerned humans picket the store.

Classic Authors & Illustrators

ERIC CARLE — Large creepy crawlers cut from paper of vivid colors always create a happy surprise.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Grouchy Ladybug

DONALD CREWS — Realistic objects familiar to young children appear in bold graphic images artfully designed.
Freight Train
Truck

LOIS EHLERT — Stunning shapes and strong colors capture exciting views in a child's mind.
Color Zoo
Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On

ERIC HILL — Lift the flaps to play hide and seek games with Spot the dog who disappears under rugs or behind closet doors.
Where's Spot
Spot Goes to the Farm

TANA HOBAN — A photographer captures fresh visions of the world through the lens of her camera.
Exactly The Opposite
All About Where

BILL MARTIN, JR — Simple sentences and natural rhythmic language patterns (melodies) ring out in the stories that help beginning readers learn how to read.
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See?
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom (with John Archambault)

HELEN OXENBURY — Scraggly children bounce playfully and then clamber onto the comfortable laps of well-padded adults.
Monkey See, Monkey Do
The Shopping Trip

ROSEMARY WELLS — Max, an impish rabbit child, has a mind of his own when big sister Ruby tries to boss him around.
Max's Breakfast
Max's Dragon Shirt

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