1st Grade Books for Summer Reading

Keep your soon-to-be or leaving 1st (first) graders, ages 6 and 7, practicing their growing reading skills with the best 1st grade books for summer reading. I’ve curated a list of 1st grade books for your students and kids that they’ll love — and that will keep them reading all summer long. I’m a former teacher and literacy trainer, mom of two, writer, and book blogger who reads over 1,000 books a year. I know the best new releases and the not-to-be-missed timeless classics, too. Based on my teaching background, I can tell you what books for kids are appropriate for growing readers.

These are favorite early reader 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 2nd graders and more books and reviews for 5- and 6- year olds here.

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

SHOP this Book List

Get Your FREE Summer Reading Printable Packet

Free Summer Reading Programs

ALL SUMMER READING LISTS BY GRADE

All Easy Reader Books

All Beginning Chapter Books

Download the free printable of this summer reading list. NOTE: If you don’t see the printable sign-up below, please clear your cache and try again.

1st Grade Books for 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!

Early Reader Books for 1st Grade Summer Reading

This list of easy readers is 1st grade books with only a few words per page, perfect for kids who are entering first grade and just beginning to read.

Sight words and high frequency words are important at this stage. Read 8 strategies for how to teach sight words beyond memorization.

If your 1st grader is looking for funny early reader books, try these good book recommendations:

My Toothbrush is Missing by Jan Thomas
What is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas
Figgy and Boone: Best Brother Ever by Janee Trasler
Pig Makes Art by Laura Gehl
Friends Do Not Eat Friends (Thunder and Cluck) by Jill Esbaum
We Are in a Book by Mo Willems (all Elephant and Piggie books are fantastic!)
I’m On It (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading) by Andrea Tsurumi
Ed and Ted and Ted’s Dog Fred by Andy Griffiths
Hi, Jack! by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
That Egg is Mine by Liz Goulet Dubois
Let’s Make Cake (Bobo and Pup Pup) by Vikram Madan

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

I Did It! by Michael Emberley
Ruby and the Magic Garden (Fairy Hill) by Cari Meister
We Are Growing by Laurie Keller
Don’t Worry, BEE Happy by Ross Burach
Frog Meets Dog by Janee Trasler
Big Cat by Ethan Long
The Cookie Fiasco by Dan Santat
Trucktown by Jon Scieszka
Peach and Plum Here We Come! by Tim McCanna (graphic novel)
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
Pass the Ball, Mo! by David A. Adler
Do You Like My Bike? (Hello, Hedgehog!) by Norm Feuti
The Great Bunk Bed Battle by Tina Kugler

If your 1st grade reader likes animal stories, try these 1st grade books:

Slow, Slow Sloths by Bonnie Bader
Am I a Frog? by Lizzy Rockwell
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
Goat Wants to Eat by Laura Gehl
Guinness World Records Daring Dogs by Cari Meister
Snails Are Just My Speed! by Kevin McCloskey

Go here for want MORE easy readers with reviews for first grade age children.

Picture Books for 1st Grade Readers

Picture books are always great book choices for 1st graders because they can be read independently or read as read alouds. Hopefully, you are still reading aloud to your 6 year olds 10 – 20 minutes a day. If you’re not, summer is a great time to start this important literacy practice.

Like by Annie Barrows and Leo Espinosa
Knight Owl by Christopher Denise
Pineapple Princess by Saina Hahn
Poo-Dunit? A Forest Floor Mystery by Katelyn Aronson
Ways to Make Friends by Jairo Buitrago
Gibberish by Young Vo
Dodos Are Not Extinct! They’re Just in Disguise by Paddy Donnelly
Mina by Matthew Forsythe
Don’t Eat Bees (Life Lessons from Chip the Dog) by Mike Boldt
Pizza with Everything on It by Kyle Scheele
Looking for a Jumbie by Tracey Baptiste
Eyes That Kiss in the Corners by Joanna Ho
El Cucuy Is Scared, Too! by Donna Barba Higuera
Except Antarctica! by Todd Sturgell
The Little Butterfly That Could by Ross Burach

Easiest Chapter Books for 1st Grade

Easy chapter books have pictures with words. The easiest chapter books for 1st grade readers have just a few sentences per page. Try these fantastic 1st grade books with chapters…

(If you want to read my reviews of each 1st grade book, go here.)

Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle
An Elephant & Piggie Biggie! by Mo Willems
Meet Mo and Jo: The Boulder Brothers by Sarah Lynn
See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle
Surfs Up by Luke Flowers
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel

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 2nd-grade chapter book list.)

If your first grader likes animal main characters, read: