1st Grade Summer Reading List of Books

Keep your soon-to-be 1st (first) graders, ages 6 and 7, practicing their growing reading skills with the best, most highly recommended first grade books!

These are favorite books for beginning readers from the easiest books with a few words per page to beginning chapter books with a sentence per page. (For my kids, this was first grade but for some kids, it’s earlier and for other children, it’s later. All stages of growth are fine!) You can find harder books on my summer reading list for second graders and more 5- and 6- year old book recommendations here.

Keep your first grade kids reading lots and lots of books this summer vacation!

Remember to help your 1st graders figure out those hard-to-read words with word attack strategies beyond the typical (and often useless) “sound it out.” Try these word attack strategies & download the free printable bookmark.

SHOP this Book List

Get Your FREE Summer Reading Printable Packet

Free Summer Reading Programs

ALL SUMMER READING LISTS BY GRADE

All Recommended Easy Readers

All Recommended Beginning Chapter Books

1st Grade Books: Summer Reading List (Ages 6 – 7)

If your 1st grade child loves a book, get more books by the same author or in the same series. Keep them reading as much as you can! And, if you need more ideas, you can always email me.

First Grade Beginning Readers (EASY)

This list of beginning readers are first grade books with only a few words per page, perfect for kids who are entering first grade and just beginning to read. (Sight words are really important at this stage – download free printable sight word cards.)

If your 1st grader is looking for silly books, read:

• My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas
• What is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas
• We Are in a Book by Mo Willems (all Elephant and Piggie books are fantastic!)
• The Big Fat Cow That Goes Kapow by Andy Griffiths
• Ed and Ted and Ted’s Dog Fred by Andy Griffiths
• Friends Do Not Eat Friends (Thunder and Cluck) by Jill Esbaum
• Hi, Jack! by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
• Let’s Make Cake (Bobo and Pup Pup) by Vikram Madan
• That Egg is Mine by Liz Goulet Dubois

If your 1st grade child likes stories about real life and friendship, try:

• Who Is That, Cat the Cat? by Mo Willems
• We Are Growing by Laurie Keller
• Don’t Worry, BEE Happy by Ross Burach
• Big Cat by Ethan Long
• The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
• Trucktown by Jon Scieszka
• Emerson Is Mighty Girl! by Meredith Rusu
• Kit and Kaboodle Take the Train by Michelle Portice
• Unlimited Squirrels in I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems
• Nick and Nack Fly a Kite by Brandon Budzi
• Do You Like My Bike? (Hello, Hedgehog!) by Norm Feuti
• The Great Bunk Bed Battle by Tina Kugler

If your 1st grader likes animal stories, try reading:

• Slow, Slow Sloths by Bonnie Bader
• Little Big Horse by Dave Horowitz
• We Dig Worms by Kevin McCloskey
• The Lost Kitten (Katie Fry, Private Eye) by Katherine Cox
• Lazy Bear, Crazy Bear by Kevin Bolger
• Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick & David Serlin
• Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
• Goat Wants to Eat by Laura Gehl

Find MORE easy readers with reviews for first grade age children readers HERE.

First Grade Easiest Chapter Books

Easy chapter books have pictures with words. The easiest chapter books have just a few sentences per page. Try these first grade favorites…

(If you want to read my reviews of each of these books, go here.)

FUNNY Easiest Chapter Books

• Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold 
• See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle 
• An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! by Mo Willems
• See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle
• Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song

FRIENDSHIP Easiest Chapter Books

• Hi, Jack! (A Jack Book) by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
• Do You Like My Bike? (Hello, Hedgehog!) by Norm Feuti
• Aggie the Brave by Lori Ries 
• Mr. Putter and Tabby Walk the Dog by Cynthia Rylant 
• Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel 
• Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton
• Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak
• Doggo & Pupper by Katherine Applegate

First Grade Easy Chapter Books for Summer Reading

Easy chapter books have bigger text with pictures every few pages. These books listed range from middle of 1st grade to beginning of second-grade reading levels.

(Go here for a harder 2nd-grade chapter book list.)

If your first grader likes animal main characters, read:

• Kitty and Dragon by Meika Hashimoto
• Pug Blasts Off (Diary of a Pug) by Kyla May
• Kung Pow Chicken by Cindi Marko
• Owly: The Way Home and The Bittersweet Summer by Andy Runton

If your 1st grade children like funny books, try:

• Smell My Foot (Chick and Brain) by Cece Bell
• Moldylocks and the Three Beards by Noah Z. Jones
• Meet Mo and Jo: The Boulder Brothers by Sarah Lynn
• The Infamous Ratsos by Kara Lareau
• Geeger the Robot Goes to School by Jarret Lerner
• Nugget and Hot Dog by Jason Tharp

If your 1st grade kids like realistic books, read:

• Meet Yasmin! by Saadia Faruqui
• Cornbread & Poppy by Matthew Cordell
• Happy Paws: Layla and the Bots by Vicky Fang
• The Party and Other Stories (Fox and Chick) by Sergio Ruzzier

If your 1st graders like adventure & fantasy books, try:

• Bo’s Magical New Friend (Unicorn Diaries) by Rebecca Elliott
• The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale 
• Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot #1 by Dav Pilkey
• Notebook of Doom #1 by Troy Cummings
• Rise of the Earth Dragon #1 by Tracey West
• Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue by Paula Harrison
• Mia Mayhem Is a Superhero! by Kara West

If your first grader likes nonfiction, read:

• Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh 
• Jungle Animals by Camilla Gersh
• Amazing Dogs by Laura Buller
• Fly Guy Presents Snakes by Tedd Arnold
• Mythical Beasts: 100 Fun Facts About Real Animals and the Myths They Inspire by Stephanie Warren Drimmer

DON’T MISS THESE: Summer Reading Printable Packet, Free Summer Printable for Kids, Activity Books for Kids, Summer Writing Ideas

KEEP READING:

Summer Reading Lists for Kids