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Discover the best early easy readers for 5- and 6-year-olds in kindergarten and 1st grade including phonics books and easy readers levels 1, 2, and 3 for boys and girls.

Sometimes these books are called decorable books, emerging reader books, or beginning reader books. No matter what you call them, these are books with minimal text and picture clues perfect for beginning readers just right for kids in kindergarten and first grade.

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Best Easy Readers for 5- and 6- Year- Olds (Kindergarten and First Grade)

If you're looking for the best phonics books and easy readers for 5- year old and 6-year old boys and girls in kindergarten and first grade, this list will help.

**Go HERE for easy beginning chapter books for 6- and 7-year old boys and girls.

Keep in mind that every publisher has a little different way to level their books so some may be more or less challenging when compared with a different publishing company.

Table of Contents (Click to Jump to the Section You Want)

1. Easy Reader Books, Phonics Books, and Level 1 Readers
2. Level 2 Readers
3. Level 3 Readers

1) Easy Readers, Phonics Books, and Level 1 Readers

I am super picky about recommending easy readers and phonics books. Why? Because so many of them are really terrible. Like mind-numbing, not-a-story, insult your child's intelligence terrible. The thing is, it doesn't have to be that way. You can practice phonics and decoding words without killing a child's interest in reading. There are so many GREAT high-quality, decodable easy readers. Here are my favorite book choices for kids in kindergarten and first grade…

Pig Wig: Flip a Word Books
From Blue Apple Books, these are the most enticing early readers – colorful, bold, and absolutely perfect for learning to read and learning word families.

Learn to Read with TUG THE PUP and Friends Box Set 1 Guided Reading Levels A – C
These aren't your average dull as dirt easy readers. The little books will keep your child's attention with interesting plots, lovable characters, and engaging illustrations. Each box set contains 11 stories, 1 parent guide, and stickers.

Learn to Read with TUG THE PUP and Friends Box Set 2 Guided Reading Levels C – E

Learn to Read with TUG THE PUP and Friends Box Set 3 Guided Reading Levels E – G
Last in the phonics guided reading set… The credit for this new beginning reader series goes to the writer, Dr. Julie M. Wood, former director of the Jeanne Chall Reading Lab at Harvard Graduate School of Education. She knows all about reading and what kids like. Each box set contains 11 stories, 1 parent guide, and stickers.

Set 1 – Beginning Readers (12 books)
Set 2 – Advancing Beginners (12 books)
Set 3 – Word Families (10 books)
Set 4 – Complex Words (8 books)
Set 5 – Long Vowels (8 books)
I really like the Bob Books and how they made reading accessible for my daughter who didn't get reading support in her kindergarten so I used these at home to help. Plus, these easy reader books are short and sweet. I like that the last pages of each book tell you what the book introduced, for example inCat and Mouse from Set 4, some of the new concepts listed are: "blends: sn – snap, th – that, st – stop, lp – help, ck – back." Have you seen Bob Books? Physically, they're small. The illustrations are line drawings with only a few splashes of one color per picture. Incidentally, I wondered if the line art illustrations would be a turn-off for JJ but she liked them — and LOVED them on the iPad because reading the word correctly meant the pictures got colored in.

Curious George Math and Science Readers
10-Book STEM Reading Program (Grades K – 1)
I really like this easy reader series for kindergarten and 1st grade. It's content-rich about STEM topics like shapes, growing a garden, the weather, patterns, the number 10, healthy bodies, and more. I appreciate how readable these books are, with only simple sentences on each page accompanied by a colorful illustration on the opposite page. Each book includes a glossary at the front of STEM words, sight words, and study words. Finally, because each book has a card of information for you to help extend the learning. Buy these books! They not only help kids practice learning to read but they teach important, age-appropriate STEM concepts, I'm impressed.

In, Over and On the Farm by Ethan Long
Basic text and fun lift-the-flaps teach kids prepositions using the silly antics of farm animals.

See Pip Point by David Milgrim
Pre Level 1 Reader
Pip points at Otto's balloon. But what happens when Otto shares the balloon? Pip floats away so Otto must help. Easy-to-read and funny. (See more in the series here.)

Fox on a Box by Phil Roxbee Cox
This is a great beginning reader phonics story to read again and again. We love these Usborne phonics readers for Kinder and 1st grade reading practice.

Sam Sheep Can't Sleep by Jenny Tyler
Another beginning reader book in the Usborne Phonics Readers that we really love.

Let's Say Hi to Friends Who Fly by Mo Willems
We adore this easy reader series because they're silly and readable with a lot of repetition!

Big Cat  by Ethan Long
Adorable illustrations pair with simple, repetitive text such as, "Big Cat can hide." This is a great book for the earliest of readers with only one sentence per page.

Fish and Sun by Sergio Ruzzier
I Can Read Comics 1
Fish and Sun are two good friends who play all day together but the first day they meet, Fish is worried that Sun will never come back to play. But, the next day Sun returns! Adorable characters and a sweet friendship make this easy reader comic a great choice for beginning readers.

Let's Go For a Drive by Mo Willems
Gerald has the great idea of going for a drive! But first (and second and third), Piggie thinks of what they need to bring along. Silly fun about two best friends with big personalities. See ALL the Elephant and Piggie books.

We Are in a Book by Mo Willems
I love this Elephant and Piggie book — but they are all awesome. You'll notice the first page starts with "Thank you" which you'll only understand once you read it. It is hilarious! These are the BEST beginning reader books because they're not dumbed down; they're hilarious and they're engaging. See ALL the Elephant and Piggie books.

I'm On It (Elephant & Piggie Like Reading) by Andrea Tsurumi
Follow along as Goat and Frog try to outdo each other. You'll laugh at their goofy antics, learn prepositions, and see an important lesson — that it's okay to say no and stop playing something you don't like.

Goat Wants to Eat by Laura Gehl, illustrated by Fred Blunt
Ready to Read
Goats eats anything that Cat naps on in this playful and funny story. The predictable text will support beginning readers. "Cat will nap on the seat. // Goat will eat the seat. // Cat will nap on the coat. // Goat will eat the coat." Darling.

Flubby Is Not a Good Pet by J.E. Morris
This VERY easy reader is about a cat named Flubby who, like most cats, does no tricks or other fun pet things. But in the end, he and his owner, Kami, comfort each other in a loud thunderstorm. Darling!

Big Dog and Little Dog Wearing Sweaters by Dav Pilkey
Green Light Level 1 Readers)
Very simple text tell the story of Little Dog who helps Big Dog get his own sweater . . . vest. Parents, you'll like that the last few pages have fun activities — a maze, word search, story sequencing, and sentence to picture matching.

Little Big Horse Where's My Bike  by Dave Horowitz
Scholastic Level 1
Pablo takes Little Big Horse's bike. And breaks it! But it's only a flat tire and Little Big Horse knows what to do to fix it. Very simple text, great illustrations, and an engaging story make this a new early reader favorite.

Tiny Goes Back to School by Cari Meister, illustrated by Rich Daivs
Penguin Level 1 Reader
This is a great beginning reader with only a few words per page. It's about a dog who doesn't know commands such as "sit" and has to go back to doggy school.

Ruby and the Magic Garden (Fairy Hill) by Cari Meister, illustrated by Erika Meza
Scholastic Level 1
Ruby and her fairy friends live in Fairy Hill. They love to learn magic and dream of what their big wings will look like when they earn them. In a sweet act of kindness, Ruby helps a lost baby deer find its home.

Baby Monkey, Private Eye by Brian Selznick and David Serlin, illustrated by Brian Selznick
Kids love this delightful, humorous collection of stories about an adorable monkey who solves mysteries. Predictable text helps new readers know what to expect next in the story. Here's an example: (One sentence per page.)
"Baby monkey looks for clues.
Baby monkey writes notes.
Baby monkey eats a snack.
Baby monkey puts on his pants."
Oh, and you know what else kids will love? (Besides the stories?) It's a BIG, impressive-looking book. Kids like reading big books for street cred, right?

My Toothbrush is Missing  by Jan Thomas
Dog tells his friends that his toothbrush is missing. Donkey asks Dog to describe it. Which leads to hilarious fun! Because for every description Dog shares (bristles, long handle), Donkey thinks he's found it — but he finds other things that also fit those descriptions (Fat Cat, a broom, an egg beater, …) Entertaining dialogue, brilliant brightly-colored comic-style illustrations, and a funny, funny ending. Perfection. (Can you tell I love Jan Thomas?)

What Is Chasing Duck? by Jan Thomas
Bold graphic illustrations capture the humorous worries of the animals who describe something that they are all running away from. Which turns out to be . . . well, you'll see when you read it. Get ready to giggle!

The Doghouse by Jan Thomas
The ball goes into the doghouse. Who will get it out? Cow will. But doesn't come out. Then, Pig goes in and doesn't come out either. Finally, Duck enters. Yikes! What is going on? What happens to the friends after going into the doghouse? You'll laugh when you find out what's really going on.

Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories
The Biscuit books are classic early readers that give kids successful reading experiences. Biscuit is a cute, playful puppy who lives with his little girl and her family. See ALL the Biscuit books for kids.

LEGO City: All Aboard (Level 1 Reader) by Sonia Sander
These are a favorite for any LEGO enthusiast, especially boys! This book about trains is just one of many in this recommended easy level 1 reader series. See ALL the LEGO Easy Readers.

Snow Day by Candice Ransom, illustrated by Erika Meza
Siblings, brother and sister, watch the flakes falling outside the window. When school is canceled, they'll get to play outside with their friends. This continues their easy reader book series which also includes Apple Picking Day, Pumpkin Day, and Garden Day.

This Is My Fort (A Monkey & Cake Book) by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
Cake makes a fort but won't let Monkey play in it. Monkey really loves forts so he turns the tables with a clever twist. I love the lesson of being inclusive and also the dialogue bubbles in different colors showing which character is speaking.

Baseball Buzz by CC Joven
Sports Illustrated Kids Level 1 Readers
In this simple story with one sentence per page, Jackson likes baseball. He plays in a game. All is going well until a bee comes along! Cute and fun. Glad to see some diversity in it.

We Are Growing by Laurie Keller
Excitement abounds as the stalks realize that they are growing. But the excitement turns into comparisons (who is the crunchiest & pointiest). Just as they're brainstorming, a lawn mower arrives and mows them all down. Gasp! Now, what will they do? Funny and sweet!

Hi, Jack! (A Jack Book) by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
I LOVE this amazing early reader story because it's easy, fun, and MAKES SENSE. Read all about mischievous Jack who lives with Lady. Jack gets into trouble over and over again and it's hilarious. 🙂

Jack Blasts Off! (A Jack Book) by Mac Barnett & Greg Pizzoli
Lady sends Jack and his friend Rex on a one-way ticket to space where they crash land on an alien's spaceship. The alien gets angry so Jack and Rex leave for the dark side of the moon where they encounter a big scary monster! But the alien will save them! It's a real, suspense-filled adventure in the packaging of an early reader. Impressive!

Little Penguin and the Mysterious Object by Tadgh Bentley
Penguin welcomes you to the book and shows you the thing that he and the other penguins have found but don't understand. He describes it — it is heavy, not tasty, and not comfy. Another penguin thinks that the thing is a back scratcher — what will you think? The penguins love a mystery and there is lots of playful exploration, some deductive reasoning, and a hilarious ending.

Princess Truly I Can Build It! by Kelly Greenawalt, illustrated by Amariah Rauscher
In this positive, diverse, girl-powered, STEM story, inventor Princess Truly loves to build. So when her dog Sir Noodles tells her that the animal shelter is out of treats, Princess Truly decides to invent a snack machine for the shelter.

Don't Worry, BEE Happy by Ross Burach
Sure to give readers the giggles, this cute story in cartoon format is about two bees named Bumble and Bee and their grumpy frog friend and everything that happens in their day…told in short stories. From picture day to hiccups to a dance party, you'll love their unlikely friendship and entertaining antics.

Frog Meets Dog by Janee Trasler
While this is not a phonics book but possibly controlled text, it's simple and cute. You'll find it reminiscent of Dick and Jane with very short word sentences like, "Frogs jump. Can dog jump too?"

The Great Bunk Bed Battle ( An Acorn Book ) by Tina Kugler
When fox siblings Fritz and Franny go to bed, they don't actually go to sleep. They compare which bunk bed is best and imagine adventures through a forest with a castle, a moat and a boat, a submarine, and a volcano on their beds. Simple text in speech bubbles and a relatable topic makes this a sure-fire hit with new readers.

See the Cat: Three Stories About a Dog by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
Kids who like silly stories will want to read this story again and again! Read the story that the narrator tells then on the opposite page, read Dog's arguments disagreeing with the narrator's story. There is no "blue cat in a green dress" argues the dog! But maybe they both are right? The repetition of words and similar short text structure makes this an excellent choice for growing readers.

See the Dog: Three Stories About a Cat by David LaRochelle, illustrated by Mike Wohnoutka
In three hilarious stories, Cat helping out with the story for Dog who is sick. But when the narrator writes that Dog digs a hole, Cat doesn't want to. And when the narrator writes that Dog fetches a stick in a lake, that doesn't go well for Cat either. Let's hope Dog feels better soon!

Surf's Up (Moby Shinobi and Toby Too!) by Luke Flowers
Moby the ninja and his dog go to the beach. In these short stories, they discover that no matter what they do like building a sandcastle, it's always better if they work together. Rhyming, easy-to-read text, adorable characters, and fun stories make this a new must-read for beginning readers.

A Magic Spark ( An Acorn Book ) by Jessica Young, illustrated by Marie Vanderbemden
Readers who love magic and fairies will love these short stories about three fairies who become friends on the first day of fairy school. The new friends take a field trip to Crystal Pool to see what kind of magic they each have. After they discover their special talents, they have more magic-filled adventures like baking a cake and planning a party.

Do You Like My Bike? (Hello, Hedgehog!)  by Norm Feuti
Not only is this written in comic panels but the dialogue is in bubbles in colors unique to the character speaking making this a supportive first graphic novel experience. Hedgehog can't wait to show his friend Harry his new bike. Darling stories of friendship and bike riding.

Sparkly New Friends (Unicorn and Yeti) by Heather Ayris Burnell, illustrated by Hazel Quintanilla
Unicorn helps Yeti be grateful and confident about who he is and where he lives. Then Yeti helps Unicorn try new things like a snowball fight. Short stories of friendship between two mythical creatures, what could be better!?

Penny and Her Marble by Kevin Henkes
When Penny takes her little sister for a walk, she sees a shiny blue marble on her neighbor's lawn and puts it in her pocket. But Penny feels bad that she keeps it because it isn't hers. Penny must make a decision about what to do — keep it or give the marble back.

Nick and Nack Fly a Kite by Brandon Budzi, illustrated by Adam Record
Highlights Puzzle Readers Level 1
I LOVE these new Highlights Puzzle Readers! Nick is a boy and Nack is a robot. After a windy day, they pick up sticks and use them to make a kite. But first, they need to find all the supplies. The best part of this story is that as you read, you'll get to help them find their supplies. For example, "Find 5 bottles of glue hidden in the picture." After you finish, use the directions at the back to make your own kite. Fun, right?

Nick and Nack Build a Birdhouse by Brandon Budzi, illustrated by Adam Record
Highlights Puzzle Readers Level 1
Clever Nick and Nack eat a lot of ice pops then use their popsicle sticks to build a birdhouse. Help them find the materials they need by searching for hidden objects. I'm impressed with the combination of an interesting story with a diverse main character, the interactive hidden pictures, and the integration to STEM concepts.

What About Worms? by Ryan T. Higgins
Tiger is big and brave and not afraid of anything except readers will infer that there IS something Tiger is afraid of. As Tiger lists what he loves like flowers and apples and books, each time he starts thinking about them, he panics that there will be worms. "Worms ruin everything," Tiger says. The Worms love the apples and dirt and books that Tiger left behind. They're so appreciative of his kind gifts, they rush off to give Tiger a big worm hug. Elephant and Piggie fans will laugh at this silly ending and Tiger's crazy antics.

Gran on a Fan by Kevin Bolger, illustrated by Ben Hodson
What a fun easy reader book! Each page is like a cartoon with easy-to-read words and easy sentences using those words. Fantastic illustrations.

Lazy Bear, Crazy Bear by Kevin Bolger, illustrated by Ben Hodson
So many bears! Bear with plates. Bear on skates. And sheep. And mice. Well, you get the picture. For each long vowel sound, there's another zany adventure with eye-catching cartoons.

I Want to Be a Doctor by Laura Driscoll, illustrated by Catalina Echeverri
A story filled with helpful information about doctors, this little boy and his family go to the hospital because his brother Jack hurt his foot. They'll learn about different doctors who can help fix Jack's foot.

Ice Cream Soup by Ann Ingalls
A little boy makes an ice cream cake that turns into soup because of everything he adds. I like the rhyming text because it helps cue early readers.

May I Please Have a Cookie? by Jennifer Morris
Alfie really wants to eat the cookies but his first attempts to get a cookie aren't very polite. His mom helps him figure out that he should ask nicely.

LEGO Star Wars: A New Hope by Emma Grange
Read the exciting story of the originalStar War (Episode IV ) movie retold using mini-figures and sets. (These DK readers are a favorite at my school library!)

Steve & Wessley in The Ice Cream Shop by J.E. Morris
Scholastic Level 1 Reader
Steve cannot get into that Ice Cream Shop. He pushes and pushes the door but it doesn't work. You'll laugh when you realize Steve's mistake. These simple stories are funny and perfect for beginning readers.

Caterpillar to Butterfly by Laura Marsh
I love the informational but simple text matching each beautiful photograph. These books are bright, colorful, and factual — just perfect for any beginning reader.

Jungle Animals by Camilla Gersh
In a word, perfect. This little book packs a big punch with the perfect balance of colorful visuals (photographs) and leveled informational text. Fantastic!

Ninja on the Farm (Moby Shinobi) by Luke Flowers
Scholastic Level 1 Reader
Ninja wants to help out on the farm. But his kicks, swipes, and flips turn out disastrous with every chore which, of course, is hilarious. Just when he's about to give up on helping the farmer, he finds his perfect job . . . A very fun rhyming story.

Rat Attack  by Molly Coxe
The rats try to steal Gram's jam but Ann, Fran, and Stan have a plan. The story practices the short "a" sound but even better, there is an actual story. Plus, the photos of the stuffed animal characters and settings are fantastic. (Not all of the stories in this series are as good as this one due to the overlay of dark text on busy photos — you just can't see all the words.)

Continue to the next section… EASY READERS LEVEL 2…

2) Easy Readers/ Level 2 Readers

Moving on to Level 2 readers, remember that every publishing company has different criteria for what makes a level 2 book. These are just generally a step up from Level 1 books with a few more words and sentences on a page.

Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
Fly and the boy meet in this first book of a super hilarious series. Fly becomes the boy's pet and friend. In this story, the boy enters his fly in an amazing pet contest, dazzling the judges, and winning the show. This series is EXCELLENT!

The Lost Kitten (Katie Fry, Private Eye) by Katherine Cox, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton
It's a good thing that Katie Fry solves mysteries because she needs to use her detective skills to help a lost kitty (whom she names Sherlock) find his home. A darling, entertaining, and diverse book series for early readers.

Frank and Bean by Jamie Michalak, illustrated by Bob Kokar
What a weird and funny yet relatable book of stories! Solitary Frank can't help but be friends with Bean even though he doesn't want to at first. Bean is just such a lovable, loud, and exuberant character, Frank can't help but be friends with him.

Friends Do Not Eat Friends (Thunder and Cluck) by Jill Esbaum, illustrated by Miles Thompson
Ready to Read Graphics 1
100% hilarious fun! When a grumpy and ferocious dinosaur, Thunder, meets a positive, unafraid bird named Cluck, Thunder can NOT believe that Cluck believes they should be friends. But Cluck is determined to help Thunder believe — and before he knows it, the two of them are friends!

This Is My Fort (A Monkey & Cake Book) by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Olivier Tallec
Cake makes a fort but won't let Monkey play in it. Monkey really loves forts so he turns the tables with a clever twist. I love the lesson of being inclusive and also the dialogue bubbles in different colors showing which character is speaking.

A Giant Mess (I Like to Read Comics) by Jeffrey Ebbeler
I Like to Read Comics
In this ironic and funny early comic reader, Molly does NOT want to pick up her messy room. Roles are reversed with a giant toddler picks her up and messes up the entire town with his messy play– and doesn't want to pick up his mess either.

What Ollie Saw by Joukje Akvelo, illustrated by Sieb Posthuma
Ollie is seeing weird things. When his sister sees cows, Ollie sees water buffalos. When his sister sees cars, Ollie sees a circus parade with acrobats and a sea lion. At school, Ollie scoots up as close as he can to the board where he sees birds instead of letters. That's why, at her recommendation, Ollie gets glasses — which he only needs some of the time. Playful illustrations and an imaginative, lovable main character make this a darling easy reader story about an important topic — getting glasses.

Kendall's Snow Fort by Meredith Rusu
The WellieWishers are worried about the animals getting cold in the snow. They decide to make a fort out of snow. When they start, Kendall gets distracted by all the other fun snow activities. Friendship and teamwork help the friends get the job done.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant, illustrations by Sucie Stevenson
Henry is lonely so his parents allow him to get a dog. He picks a puppy named Mudge who becomes his best friend. Kids love reading the short, heartwarming mini-stories in each chapter that always have helpful picture clues.

Wildflowers by Liniers (Level 2 Reader)
Three sisters explore the deserted island where they discover…a terrible plane crash, a small gorilla in a tiny house, talking exotic flowers, and a ferocious dragon who attacks! But, don't worry, it's onlythe wild adventures of siblings with big imaginations. At first, you might wonder what kind of strange adventure these girls are on…and if you didn't guess it already, you'll know at the end when their mother calls them inside for dinner and they leave their toys (gorilla, dragon, tiny house) strewn out on the lawn.

Unlimited Squirrels in I Lost My Tooth! by Mo Willems
Fans of Elephant and Piggie will recognize the familiar dialogue bubbles and quirky humor as well as the many hilarious double meaningsin this new, longer book about Zip Squirrel who has lost his tooth. Luckily his squirrel friends are there to help. Misunderstandings make this dramatic toothy adventure totally hilarious. Look for the "emote-acorns" on the pages when the squirrels have BIG feelings.

Kit and Kaboodle Take the Train by Michelle Portice, illustrated by Mitch Mortimer
Highlights Puzzle Readers Level 2 Let's Read
Kids will love this interactive reading experience. Perfect for beginning readers, read the story of two good friends taking a very fun train ride to Sillyville. As you read the story, look for the hidden pictures on many of the two-page spreads.

Kit and Kaboodle Go Camping by Michelle Portice, illustrated by Mitch Mortimer
Highlights Puzzle Readers Level 2 Let's Read
These two friends pack for a camping trip then set off on a hike into the forest. They play games, eat snacks, look at clouds, and set up their camp. Help them find what they need in their backpacks by searching for the hidden pictures. What a fun book!

Curious George in Follow That Hat!by H.A. and Margret Rey
I really like this Curious George adventure told in dialogue bubbles and charming illustrations about a day in the park. While playing catch, George and Sam notice the yellow hat moving on its own. What is happening? Sam and George follow the hat, chasing it all the way up a tree, where they discover that a squirrel was underneath.

Petal and Poppy by Lisa Clough and Ed Briant (series)
A fun and funny early reader book written in comic book style. Petal and Poppy are best friends that live together in a lighthouse. When Poppy the elephant starts to practice her tuba, Petal, the rhino, hates it so much she decides to go scuba diving. Well, both friends go out on the boat, tuba and all, and worrywart Poppy can't stop thinking something bad is happening to Petal. It all works out in the end with lots of hilarious hijinks and silliness to get there. You'll love that there are more Petal and Poppy books: Petal and Poppy and the Spooky Halloween and Petal and Poppy and the Penguin .

Pass the Ball, Mo!  by David A. Adler, illustrated by Sam Ricks
In a favorite early reader series about a boy who likes to try new sports, in this story, Mo is obsessed with basketball. Unfortunately, everyone on his team is taller and he's having trouble passing the ball high enough. His dad helps him practice passing higher and higher. Their practice pays off during the next basketball game.

We Dig Worms!  by Kevin McCloskey
I love, love, love this early reader book! It's a Toon Book Early Reader with eye-popping illustrations and one sentence of text per page that explains something about the worm — sometimes he has kids asking questions which the worm answers. McCloskey painted on recycled grocery bags which makes for a gorgeous, earthy feeling throughout. I just can't say enough good things about this short little book! (This book is on my BEST CHILDREN'S NONFICTION BOOKS OF 2016 list.)

Monkey and Elephant Get Betterby Carole Lexa Schaefer, illustrated by Galia Bernstein
Hooray, another early reader that doesn't stink! Clever adventures of friends, monkey and elephant, with bright, bold illustrations.

Guinness World Records Daring Dogs by Cari Meister
I Can Read 2
Impressive dogs and their feats will grab animal lovers' attention and keep them reading in this engaging early reader book.

Slow, Slow Sloths by Bonnie Bader
Level 2 Penguin Young Reader
I LOVE the photographs in this informational beginning reader. They make the nonfiction text pop so your child will learn while he or she is reading and viewing the photos. Even I learned a lot about sloths from this little book! Highly recommended.

Emerson Is Mighty Girl! by Meredith Rusu
Emerson and her WellieWisher friends are playing pretend in the garden, searching for The Wicked Wellie of the West. Emerson enthusiastically catches the Witch but her behavior ruins their fun. She'll need to figure out a way to fix things with her friends but she's up to the task.

Fly Guy Presents Sharks by Ted Arnold (series)
Visit the aquarium with Buzz and Fly Guy to learn about sharks in this terrific easy non-fiction reader. I LOVE how Arnold combines cartoons with photographs!

Ed and Ted and Ted's Dog Fred by Andy Griffiths, illustrated by Terry Denton
Easy Reader Level 2
Kids will love this silly caper written in rhyme with simple words about Ed, Ted, a dog called Fred, and a whale named Ned — well done!

Mr. Putter & Tabby Drop the Ball by Cynthia Rylant and Arthur Howard (series)
Would your 5- and 6- year olds enjoy this book? So many kids love these sweet stories about Mr. Putter and his "fine" cat named Tabby.

The Party and Other Stories (Fox and Chick)  by Sergio Ruzzier
Charming watercolor illustrations in comic-panels accompany three stories of friendship that are filled with dry humor. I love how Ruzzier's artwork captures nuances of emotion and personality which accompany the stories. Brilliant. Sure to be a favorite easy reader book for 5- and 6-year-olds.

Scribbles and Ink Out of the Box  by Ethan Long
In this easy adventure, Scribbles and Ink (a cat and mouse) find that a box is a really cool thing to play with — it can become so many things (a race car, a mask, overalls). Unfortunately, the duo begins arguing about who gets the box and the box rips in half. After working out their differences, they think of a boxtastic solution.

Aggie the Brave by Lori Ries, illustrated by Frank Dormer
Colorful illustrations match the basic sentences which tell the story of Aggie the dog who must go to the vet to get spayed, stay overnight, and heal at home.  The story teaches about the process at the vet as well as what to expect – like the stitches and cone she must wear post-surgery. I love the way the little boy owner imagines that Aggie is not a cone-head but a LION.

Days with Frog and Toad by Arnold Lobel (series)
Giggle and share in the daily life of two best but very different friends. An enchanting and a first-grade favorite!

Elephant Joe, Brave Firefighterby David Wojtowycz
Step into Reading Comic Reader 2
Dragon gets stuck in a tree but his friend, Elephant Joe saves him. This is a decent story with unique paper cutting and cartoon dialogue bubbles.

Lunch, or WHAT'S THAT? Freckleface Strawberry by Julianne Moore, illustrated by LeUyen Pham
Kids will easily relate to this book about the curious (gross, terrifying) foods served in the school cafeteria. I'm impressed with this funny story.

Snails Are Just My Speed!  by Kevin McCloskey
McCloskey begins this book with one large sentence of factual information per two page spread "With mucus, they can travel on any surface." Then, the cartoon illustrations have dialogue bubbles of speech with more details. "My mucus can be like oil…" and "or like glue!" Later pages in the book are set up a bit differently with a bit more text. If you're looking for a high-quality nonfiction easy reader, this is an excellent choice.

The Protest (Confetti Kids) by Samantha Thornhill, illustrated by Shirley Ng-Benitez
Dive Into Reading Emergent / blue level
Lily and friends organize a protest to stop a parking lot that would destroy their neighborhood garden. I like this series because the stories make sense, have a message, and represent differences. About one sentence per page.

Fish Are Not Afraid of Doctors (Maud the Koala) by J.E. Morris
Maud is nervous about seeing the doctor. She wishes she were a fish then imagines it — that she has two floppy fins and a swooshy tail. Soon, she's swimming in the deep blue sea in her daydream. Before she knows it, the appointment is over. When her mom compliments Maud on her bravery, she replies, "…fish are not afraid of doctors." Appealing comic-style panels invite readers into this relatable childhood experience and hopefully will help kids with a strategy for nerves at the doctor's office. I think it's a great topic, don't you!?

Bat and Sloth Hang Around by Leslie Kimmelman, illustrated by Seb Braum
Level 2 Reader
Bat makes a new friend when Sloth joins him on the tree branch. Their friendship is spent playing, eating, and even disagreeing, but always spending time together. Interesting and relatable.

Easy Readers Level 3+

Level 3 readers give readers paragraphs to read, sometimes 2 or more, on each page. Again, like the other levels of early readers for kindergartners, 1st graders, and 2nd graders, the level 3 difficulty varies by publishing company.

CeCe Loves Science: Push and Pull by Kimberly Derting and Shelli R. Johannes, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Cece's teacher, Miss Curie, explains to the class about the opposing forces of push and pull. She divides the class into two teams. The teams are tasked with making a dog treat dispenser using either pushing or pulling forces. Readers will appreciate the diversity, the STEM themes, and the growth mindset.

Snowball Run by Lisa Harkrader, illustrated by Lynne Avril
It's a snow day so Emmie, her little brother Owen, and Booker are sledding at Booker Hill. But Owen easily tires of climbing back up the steep hill and he's too heavy for Emmie and Booker to pull him up more than once. But, Emmie has a great idea. With her mom's help, they make a pulley — and it works! Now they can sled all day long, even when Owen gets tired.

The Outside Dog by Charlotte Pomerantz, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas
Marisol lives a quiet life with her grandfather in Puerto Rico. One day, she finds a stray dog near her house and names it Pancho. Like the other stray dogs she sees, Marisol wants to keep Pancho. However, her Grandfather worries about fleas and ticks. Maybe this time Grandfather will reconsider when he sees what a good dog Pancho is.

Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same by Grace Lin
Six short stories about twins, Ling and Ting, show their unique personalities, even though they look identical. From getting their hair cut or making dumplings, kids will find their daily adventures to be funny, sweet, and relatable. This diverse easy readers series is a favorite with many kindergarten and 1st-grade students.

Rafi and Rosi Pirates! by Lulu Delacre (level 3, early fluent)
Set in Puerto Rico with Spanish words mixed into the text, tree frogs and siblings Rafi and Rosi with big imaginations. These three stories take place at Morro Fort in San Juan. The children explore and play — pretending to be pirates, finding real gold coins, and imagining a sea monster attack. This book is also in Spanish: Rafi y Rosi Piratas

Twinky: The Dinky Dog by Kate Klimo, illustrated by Michael Fleming
A darling rhyming story about Twinky, a dog who dislikes that his owner carries him around in a purse and dresses him up. How will Twinky show his owner (and the world) who he's really a big, brave dog?

Yin-Yang Sisters and the Dragon Frightful by Nancy Tupper Ling, illustrated by Andrea Offermann
Destined to fight the dragon, twins Mei and Wei each have their own ideas of how to thwart the dragon when he attacks. Nothing works until they learn to work together…and that kindness wins.

Hamster Chase by Anastasia Suen, illustrated by Allan Elzen
Oh, no! Peter takes the class hamster out of the cage and it scurries away. He and his friends try to capture it but every time they get close, it escapes again. Will they ever get it back in its cage?

Also Read:

Gifts for 5 Year Old Girls

Gifts for 5 Year Old Boys

Beginning Chapter Books for 1st Grade 6 Year Olds

Good Books for Kids Who Like Dog Man

Word Attack Strategies (Beyond Sound It Out)

Good Coloring Books for Kids

Literati Book Subscription Box for Kids

More Book Lists By Age:
Books for 7-year olds
Books for 8-year olds
Books for 9-year olds
Books for 10-year olds
Books for 11-year olds
Books for 12-year olds
YA Books

Big Build 13 Year Oldboy 5 6 Pictures

Source: https://imaginationsoup.net/best-easy-reader-books-5-6-year-olds/

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