36 Must Have 1st Grade Books

Get your 1st graders ready to stretch their reading muscles! In this blog post, I have hand selected a list of first grade books! This is a great resource to build your first grade classroom library!

We are using the Lexile Measure to level book selections and help your student find books that fit them just right! First grade readers range from 190L to 530L and books from this post range from 80L- 699L. You may have students higher or lower than this, however, just note as the year progresses students are expected to move closer to the 530L range, ending the year at this level (or as close as they can get).

One way to help boost reading proficiency is with daily practice! Consistently reading just 20 minutes per day helps build reading skills and promotes good reading habits. What better way to get kids reading more than to introduce them to a wonderful new series?!

First Grade Books in a Series:

Some of the books on this list are branded with a series label like the I Can Read or Step into Reading Series others are just a classic tale that sparked a series.

Elephant and Piggy series by Mo Willems is about two best friends; an elephant and a pig. They share laughs, adventures, and life lessons together in this 25-book series. This is hands down my favorite series to read with emergent readers. Mo Willems skillfully writes simple sentences that are easy to read but packs a powerful punch of laughter. Night after night my son and I laughed and empathized with these characters while he was learning to read. I like how well these multi-level books lend themselves to teachable moments like reading with expression and writing when children are learning how to punctuate dialogue. Lexile Measure 140 to 210L

Charlie and Mouse Series by Laurel Snyder These are endearing short stories and beginning chapter books about Charlie and his baby brother nicknamed Mouse. Lexile Measure 360L- 420L

Ready to Read Series

D.W. Board Book Series Lexile Measure 50L- 350L

Puppy Mudge by Cynthia Rylant includes 5 books Puppy Mudge Takes a Bath, Puppy Mudge Wants to Play, Puppy Mudge loves his Blanket, Puppy Mudge Has a Snack and Puppy Mudge Finds a Friend. Lexile Measure 130L L- 220L

Jon Scieszka’s Trucktown Ready-to-Read Level 1 Series: Pete’s Party, Zoom, Boom! Bully, Snow Trucking, Uh-Oh Max, The Spooky Tree, Kat’s Mystery Gift, Melvin’s Valentine, Dizzy Izzy, Trucksgiving, Trucks Line Up, Kats Maps. Lexile Measure 170L L- 380L

Dr. Seuss I Can Read It All By Myself Beginner Book Series Lexile Measure 190L- 520L

I Can Read Series

This series offers simplified versions of some pretty popular books that may otherwise be too tricky for first graders. I like to stick with the popular children’s literature because the Lexile Measure has such a diverse range even within the Level 1 band. Please double-check the reader to ensure new readers are getting a good fit. To independently read these books your students must first have a solid grasp on the basic foundational reading skills or introduce these in your reading groups.

Biscuit My First I can Read books are a really great first independent reader series. They have a simple repetitive structure with predictable patterns and sight words that young children really adore. Reading a Biscuit book is always a heartwarming story about a day in the life of a sweet little pup. Lexile Measure Range 80L- 260L

Frog and Toad The Frog and Toad series is the epitome of children’s books about friendship, The first book or two may be better suited for first graders as independent readers or you can always read this series aloud. Lexile Measure 320- 480L

Little Bear There are several little bear books that are really great. This series is a little more difficult to read independently with several sentences per page and is a Lexile Measure 370L

Danny and the Dinosaur The main character Danny is a young boy who loves dinosaurs! He makes a prehistoric playmate and they turn everyday experiences into adventures. I recommend the 5 book set. These books have simple words and a playful structure. This is a really old book series, in 2008 was the 50th anniversary of printing. Lexile Measure 400L

Mac And Cheese These funny books are based on two cats; Mac & Cheese who couldn’t be more different and yet are still the best of friends. Lexile Measure 430L

Harry the Dirty Dog is a great book that has been made into a series! The first book is a fun story about a Harry the dog who doesn’t want to take a bath. Lexile Measure 520L. If you enjoy digital read alouds check out Betty White reading Harry the Dirty Dog.

Fly Guy Series. This is another popular kids’s series. I tend to lean towards the nonfiction ones of these “Fly Guy Presents” versions are my favorite. They have science, animals, monster trucks and more. I would personally get the non-fiction book set. They may be a better deal and they make a great buddy book for kids who aren’t yet able to read these independently, Lexile Measure 270- 530L

Ranger Rick (nonfiction animal books) – animal books are hands down the most popular books read in classrooms and school libraries. Most of the newer editions have included academic language (aka big fancy science words that are not always easily decodable). Know that vocabulary and sight word previews may be necessary for these books. Kids gravitate toward this fun series!

STEP Into Reading Series Level 1

I like Bugs Lexile Measure BR20L

Arthur’s Big Race Lexile Measure 140L

Go, Go Trucks Lexile Measure 160L

Big Shark, Little Shark Lexile Measure 190L

DC Superhero Friends: Flying High Lexile Measure 190L

Ice Cream Soup Lexile Measure 260L

Aruther’s Back to School Surprise Lexile measure: 270L

Tooth Fairy’s Night Lexile Measure 280L

I can Read Splat The Cat: I Scream for Ice Cream Lexile Measure 300L

Triceratops Lexile Measure 430L

I Can Read Level 2

This level is more challenging but still simplifies popular series books so that young readers can enjoy a book that may be otherwise too difficult to read on their own.

Clark the Shark: Too Many Treats Lexile Measure 450L

LuLu Goes to Witch School Lexile Measure 460L

Splat the Cat and the Lemonade Stand Lexile Measure 500L

My Favorite Spooky Stories Box Set: 5 Silly, Not-Too-Scary Tales! A Halloween Book for Kids Lexile Measure 470L

Amazing Tigers Lexile Measure 520L

Amelia Bedelia Lexile Measure 600-699L

Picture Books for a great read-aloud (or read together)

Share this statistic from Ferst Readers with your parents at back to school night along with a printed book list of books to read together at home.

“Children who are read to at least three times a week by a family member are almost twice as likely to score in the top 25% in reading compared to children who are read to less than 3 times a week. Denton, Kristen and Gerry West, Children’s Reading and Mathematics Achievement in Kindergarten and First Grade (PDF file), U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Washington, DC, 2002.”

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems This is a very silly and fun story. Sometimes its nice to read a story aloud that some of your students can pick up and read to their classmates later, Lexile Measure 280

Walter Does His Best by Ava Pilgrim This is a super cute story about Walter a mischievous dog who runs around New York City. Lexile Measure 370L

The Book with No Pictures by BJ Novak. Ok, honestly my first thoughts were “who wants to read a book with no pictures?” The answer is you do. This book was written by BJ Novak (from the office) and is a great way to practice onomatopoeia, alliteration, and vocabulary. Super fun book, your kids will be rolling on the floor laughing. Lexile Measure 490

Ada Twist, the Scientist by Andrea Beaty Lexile Measure 550L

Strega Nona Lexile Measure 730L

Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak Lexile Measure 740

Actual Size by Steve Jenkins Lexile Measure 1080