Reading every day helps first graders grow into confident, independent readers. Celebrate the joy of reading by exploring different stories and authors with some engaging kids’ books. From laugh-out-loud picture books to stories that early readers can dive into independently, here are some great 1st grade books to enjoy.
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You’re Going to Love This Book
Written by Jory John, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
This unpredictable story keeps readers guessing as a narrator tries to convince them that they’re going to love the book—while surprises unfold. It’s a fun and interactive read that keeps kids entertained from start to finish!
Elephant and Piggie Series
Written and illustrated by Mo Willems
This series is great for early readers. There is not too much text on each page, helping children to develop fluency without feeling overwhelmed. Better yet, it’s also laugh-out-loud funny!
I Am Enough
Written by Grace Byers and illustrated by Keturah A. Bobo
Build children’s self-esteem with this empowering book. Through the book, kids learn that everything they need to know is already inside of them. They just need to find it, learn it, and use it.
Mary Wears What She Wants
Written and illustrated by Keith Negley
This book tells the story of 19th-century doctor Mary Edwards Walker, who was arrested many times for wearing pants. It’s an empowering read that helps children explore societal norms.
The Dot
Written and illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
This inspiring book helps children confront perfectionism and embrace creativity. It’s a great way to start conversations on the importance of perseverance.
Jabari Jumps
Written and illustrated by Gaia Cornwell
In this book, Jabari is ready to jump off the diving board—until he realizes he might not be as ready as he thought. This story celebrates courage, patience, and taking big leaps at your own pace.
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Mellon
Written by Patty Lovell, illustrated by David Catrow
Molly Lou Mellon may be small and different, but she embraces who she is—just like her grandmother taught her. This book encourages kids to be confident, kind, and proud of themselves.
The Book with No Pictures
Written by B.J. Novak
This book has no pictures, but it’s completely hilarious. Kids love reading along with silly words and goofy sounds.
The Day You Begin
Written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by Rafael López
Walking into a new place can feel scary, especially when you think you’re different from everyone else. But this book shows that when people start sharing their stories, they realize that their uniqueness is what makes them special—and brings them together.
What We’ll Build
Written and illustrated by Oliver Jeffries
In this heartwarming story, a father and daughter imagine all the wonderful things they’ll build together, from homes and memories to dreams for the future. It’s a celebration of the love, creativity, and endless possibilities of building a life together.
Explore Our Free First Grade Printables and More!
Short I Words Comprehension Story: The Pig Can Hit
- A pig who plays baseball is the star of this reading comprehension worksheet featuring the IT word family. Read the story, color the pictures, and answer the questions. Practicing different short I words is an ideal way to boost your child’s reading, spelling, and comprehension skills! [...]
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PL-GR Beginning Blend Let’s Draw
- Get your crayons and have fun drawing a picture in each box to match the PL and GR words. Can you think of other words starting with PL or GR? Write them on the back! The more you practice with blends worksheets, the more words you’ll be able to read – whether they use beginning […] [...]
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Words Ending in S Make a Match Halloween
- Your young reader will love matching spooky words to pictures while they practice reading words ending in S. It’s the perfect Halloween activity full of fun and learning! Consonant blends worksheets are a great way to master beginning blends and ending blends. [...]
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IM Word Family Word Shapes
- Let’s write words from the IM word family. Read each word, then write it in the matching block. Remember that some shapes reach up higher or down lower than others! Which word is something you can do in the water? Circle it! Learning word families helps your child recognize patterns in new words. [...]
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UT Word Family Make a Word
- Write the letter U on each line, then read aloud the words you made. Color the pictures, too! Short U words are fun – and there are so many word families to explore. Do you know other words in the UT word family? Write them on the back. Try our other letter U worksheets for […] [...]
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AG Word Family Let’s Draw
- Get your crayons and have fun drawing a picture in each box to match the AG word! Can you think of other words in the AG word family? Write them on the back for an extra challenge. The more word families your child knows, the more words they’ll be able to read. Our short vowels […] [...]
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