Best Books For Beginner Readers
10 Books That Beginning Readers Will Love Reading Over and Over
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Choosing the right book for a beginning reader can be a challenge. The story can't be so difficult that your budding bookworm gets discouraged, but it also shouldn't be so simple that your child can memorize the pages. Plus, the story has to be entertaining enough to maintain your little one's interest. Here, Circle of Moms members suggest 10 books that fit the bill — stories that will capture your child's curiosity and lay the foundation for an eternal love of reading.
1 Green Eggs and Ham
Jennifer S. recommends the perennial favorite Green Eggs and Ham ($10) by Dr. Seuss as a great book for teaching kids to read: "The repeating pattern and even books with predictable text will help."
2 The Magic School Bus
The Magic School Bus ($7) is great for kids who are interested in science. As Shantih points out, they come in different formats for different reading levels: "They have chapter books, as well as the picture-book type."
3 Frog and Toad
"I Can Read picture books detailing the adventures of best friends Frog and Toad ($17) are some good beginning chapter books," says Kerri R.
4 Diary of a Wimpy Kid
"My son is good at reading but hates to do it," shares Kristina R. "I've had the best results with Diary of a Wimpy Kid ($14). In four years' time, I've only had to say, 'stop reading, it's time to eat/go to bed' one time, and that was when he was reading one of the Wimpy Kid books."
5 Magic Tree House Series
Children will be transported through space and time in the Magic Tree House ($20) series by Mary Pope Osborne. As Jessica H. shares, "She has 43 books in the series so far, so it will take a while for [any child] to read through it. These books are great because they are adventure books so the kids enjoy them, but they also teach history. . . . I highly recommend it, and my son loves them."
6 Flat Stanley
Author Jeff Brown's beloved character Flat Stanley ($4) is a favorite among beginning readers, as Mandy S. can attest: "My daughter is in second [grade] and her class has had a lot of fun with reading the Flat Stanley books from Scholastic.
7 Junie B. Jones
Girls especially will get a kick out of the Junie B. Jones ($5) series. Lisa E. explains, "They are funny and there are a lot of them. The girl is in kindergarten and then they have a series of her in first grade."
8 Henry and Mudge
Tisha recommends Henry and Mudge ($16) as another series of "good beginner chapter books." Cynthia Rylant is no stranger to children's books, having authored more than 100 books for young people. Yet the cartoon-style illustrations of only child Henry and his mastiff Mudge will further help to capture your child's interest.
9 The Boxcar Children
Lindsay H. recalls when she was beginning to read, she "really enjoyed" witnessing mysteries unfold in The Boxcar Children ($6) books.
10 Captain Underpants
What kids wouldn't love a good laugh reading about underwear and "poopy pants"? That explains why Captain Underpants ($6) is a "favorite" in Kate M.'s house. "I make a rule that I read a page, they read a page," she shares.
