Check out this list for recommendations of exceptional chapter books for first graders to support developing reading skills. Books for 1st grade. This list of suggested reading books has been curated and compiled by teachers, home educators and librarians for elementary school students aged 6-7.
There is a range of picture books and short single chapter books to suit all abilities, including easy readers and more challenging stories. This list of 1st grade reading recommendations include titles by Jacqueline Woodson. Find the best easy (beginning) chapter books for 1st graders, 6-year-olds, in early elementary school.
At this stage, kids learning to read may be ready for the easiest chapter books like the titles on this list. As a former teacher and a parent of two, I know how important it is to find engaging books for kids. Keep reading to find my top picks to share with your children or students.
You. The majority of these books are books teachers can read aloud to students, though this list features some early readers. Early readers are books that are perfect to help students decode words and read on their own.
They have short sentences, and picture clues help first graders decipher words all by themselves. Books for new readers can be boring but the books for 1st graders on this list are actually funny, delightful, surprising, and 100% enjoyable. This book list is chock full of excellent books for 1st graders to try out now they know how to read! See the list of all 20 book recs here!
Best Books for First-Graders Last updated: July 17, 2025 Whether you're looking for books your early readers can devour on their own or fun read-aloud stories, you'll find a great mix of classics and recent titles in a variety of genres on our list, including fantasy, adventure, humor, mystery, poetry, science, and sci-fi, as well as family and animal tales. And they're all kid. Download our animal themes short stories for first graders and teach your little ones reading in a fun and free way.
Packed with picture books, informational texts, biographies, award winners, and more, these first grade must-haves will help you build your students' vocabulary, comprehension, and fluency as they progress throughout the year. Shop first-grade favorites below! You can find all books for all grades at The Teacher Store. Is your child starting elementary school and learning to read? Are you looking for level-appropriate stories for your first grader to read? The First Grade Reader is more than just a storybook-it's your young reader's first real chapter book experience, packed with imagination, adventure, and learning.