Growing readers are likely on the look for books with great stories and information that will keep them enthusiastic about reading. To face their new environment as first graders, make the most of their first ‘real’ year in school by letting them read the best children’s books for 1st graders. Check out these attractive and engaging early reader books that your beginning readers will surely enjoy.
Comparison Chart
IMAGE | PRODUCT | DETAILS | PRICE |
---|---|---|---|
OUR TOP PICK | The Boxcar Children Books | If you’re looking for the best children’s books for 1st graders, the Boxcar Children is a popular series of chapter books that have been attracting readers for ages with its fun and easy to read storylines. | |
RUNNER UP | Magic Tree House Boxed Set | Handpicked by Amazon as the Prime Book Box and one of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this series is perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter readers. | |
ALSO GREAT | First Little Readers Parent Pack: 25 Irresistible Books for Beginning Readers | One of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this amazing pack for young children, motivates reading, especially for beginning readers. | |
Ivy and Bean’s Treasure Box | One of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this New York Times bestselling Ivy & Bean (Books 1 – 3) series is the perfect introduction books for beginning readers. | ||
School Zone – Addition & Subtraction Workbook | Trusted by parents and teachers, this Addition and Subtraction Workbook by School Zone is one of the best children’s books for 1st graders. | ||
Junie B. Jones’s First Boxed Set Ever | Barbara Park’s #1 New York Times bestselling, this chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite that has been keeping kids laughing and reading for more than two decades and counting. | ||
What Should Danny Do? School Day (The Power to Choose Series) | If you’re looking for the best children’s books for 1st graders, this book by Adir Levy, What Should Danny Do? School Day (The Power to Choose Series) won’t disappoint. |
A Detailed Review on the 7 Best Children’s Books For 1st Graders
The Boxcar Children Books
If you’re looking for the best children’s books for 1st graders, the Boxcar Children is a popular series of chapter books that have been attracting readers for ages with its fun and easy to read storylines.
Product Highlights
Originally published in 1942, the Boxcar Children series has remained a favorite for your readers. Perfect for 7 to 10-year-old children, this 160-page book features a tight-knit group of children having fun adventures and solving mysteries together. This set comprises the first four books of Gertrude Chandler Warner’s classic series, adjusted for beginning readers—The Boxcar Children, Surprise Island, The Yellow House Mystery, and Mystery Ranch.
The Good
Most parents love these books as they have an excellent and engaging storyline that young readers love. It is also easy to read, especially for kids who are into simple plots and engaging stories.
The Bad
Although most moms love this book, others have noted that the book’s quality is not good. Others also noted that there are some missing books upon the delivery.
PROs
- Perfect for 7 to 10 years old
- 160-page book
- Engaging storyline
- Set of four
CONs
- Poor book quality
- Missing books upon delivery
Magic Tree House Boxed Set
Handpicked by Amazon as the Prime Book Box and one of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this series is perfect for readers who are just beginning chapter readers.
Product Highlights
This chapter book series features new covers and new, easy to use numbering system. The books in this set include Dinosaurs Before Dark (#1), The Knight at Dawn (#2), Mummies in the Morning (#3), and Pirates Past Noon (#4). The book series is perfect for kids 8 to 9 years of age.
The Good
Parents love the engaging storyline of the series. Plus, it’s easy to comprehend for 1st to 2nd graders. The story revolves around Jack and Annie, who are whisked back in time upon discovering a treehouse in the woods.
The Bad
Although this book is one of the best selling ones, some parents shared that the book is too wordy, and there are more words than pictures or illustrations. Others also reported that the books are cheaply made.
PROs
- New covers
- Easy-to-use numbering system
- For kids age 8 to 9 years old
- Engaging storyline
- Easy to understand
CONs
- Too wordy
- More words, less pictures
- Cheaply made
First Little Readers Parent Pack: 25 Irresistible Books for Beginning Readers
One of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this amazing pack for young children, motivates reading, especially for beginning readers.
Product Highlights
Featuring 25 motivating storybooks with Guided Reading Level D, these are the best things going for parents who want to help their beginning readers start the right track. It has a few words per page with pictures to help figure out words. The books are also short, which lets your readers finish without getting frustrated.
The Good
Parents love that the books contain simple text, strong picture cues, decodable words, and just two or four lines of text per page. Children will learn, laugh, and build confidence with their favorite topics like dogs, princesses, dinosaurs, and others. The set also includes a four-page parent guide.
The Bad
While some parents love this short-story books, others noted that the books are very tiny. They also reported the flimsy physical quality of the books where some spines are coming apart.
PROs
- Includes 25 books with Guided Reading Level D
- Simple text
- Strong picture cues
- Decodable words
- Motivates reading
- Easy to understand
CONs
- Very tiny books
- Flimsy physical quality
- Spines are coming apart
Ivy and Bean’s Treasure Box
One of the best children’s books for 1st graders, this New York Times bestselling Ivy & Bean (Books 1 – 3) series is the perfect introduction books for beginning readers.
Product Highlights
With the story revolving around two spunky second graders, this book is very funny and has relatable characters and storylines. The books are perfect for independent readers ages 6 to 9, and 1st to 4th graders. Book editors and critics noted that these books kept kids laughing and reading for more than a decade already.
The Good
Moms love that their kids find books funny, refreshing, and full of lessons. Some parents also shared that the books promote active reading among their kids. The words are easy to understand, and the characters are relatable.
The Bad
While some parents love this series, others don’t like it and share that the books promote bullying and ‘mean-girl’ culture. Some noted that the books are full of sassy language.
PROs
- Funny book
- Relatable characters and storyline
- Perfect for independent reader ages 6 to 9
- Promotes reading in kids
- Easy to understand words
CONs
- Some parents think it promotes bullying and ‘mean-girl’ culture
- Full of sassy language
School Zone – Addition & Subtraction Workbook
Trusted by parents and teachers, this Addition and Subtraction Workbook by School Zone is one of the best children’s books for 1st graders.
Product Highlights
This book features 63 activity pages and 1 award certificate for your kids. It contains addition, subtraction, place value, fact families, regrouping, and many more. It also has clear examples with step-by-step instructions so kids can work at their own pace. This workbook is designed to strengthen the basic math skills of your little ones.
The Good
Parents love that the pages of the workbook are perforated and are easy to tear out for individual worksheets. The easy directions plus visual clues also promote self-directed learning. It also promotes good memory and retention among 1st graders.
The Bad
While most parents love this, some noted that the workbook is too easy and has almost the same answers per page. Plus, there are also some erroneous pages on the workbook.
PROs
- Contains addition and subtraction, and other activities
- Has step-by-step instructions
- Strengthen math skills of your kids
- Perforated pages for individual worksheet
- Easy directions and visual clues
- Promote good memory and retention
CONs
- Too easy/too basic
- Has erroneous pages
Junie B. Jones’s First Boxed Set Ever
Barbara Park’s #1 New York Times bestselling, this chapter book series, Junie B. Jones, is a classroom favorite that has been keeping kids laughing and reading for more than two decades and counting.
Product Highlights
With over 60 million copies, this bestselling book is the perfect gift for the young readers in your family. Featuring the world’s funniest kindergarten, this boxed set includes: Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus (#1), Junie B. Jones and a Little Monkey Business (#2), Junie B. Jones and Her Big Fat Mouth (#3), and Junie B. Jones and Some Sneaky Peeky Spying (#4).
The Good
Parents love that their kids find the character funny and refreshing and convinces beginning readers that reading is fun. Some parents also noted that the books promote active reading among young readers.
The Bad
Although this series is a favorite among parents and young readers, some moms, however don’t like the book’s inappropriate tone and word usage for little kids. Other parents also received incomplete box set.
PROs
- Perfect gift for young readers
- Funny character
- Refreshing stories
- Book convinces/promotes reading
CONs
- Inappropriate tone and word usage
- Incomplete box set
What Should Danny Do? School Day (The Power to Choose Series)
If you’re looking for the best children’s books for 1st graders, this book by Adir Levy, What Should Danny Do? School Day (The Power to Choose Series) won’t disappoint.
Product Highlights
Featuring eight stories in one set, this series features bright illustrations that follow a fun and compelling lead character with relatable scenarios. The series is also full of life lessons that kids would surely relate to with its interactive illustrations. The words are easy to understand, and the book is an absolute best gift for beginning readers.
The Good
Parents love this series as it covers several important topics like kindness, empathy, persistence, growth mindset, bullying, friendship, and more. It’s a fun, interactive, and empowering way to get your little ones to enjoy reading.
The Bad
Although some parents love the concept of this book, others noted that the contents are limited. While others said that the book is cumbersome and overpriced.
PROs
- Features bright illustrations
- 8-in-1book
- Relatable and compelling lead character
- Full of life’s lessons
- Interactive illustrations
- Fun and empowering
CONs
- Limited contents
- Too cumbersome
- It is overpriced
Conclusion
Reading with your beginning readers is so much fun. And choosing the best children’s books for 1st graders can be challenging and overwhelming. With so many amazing new books hitting the shelves every so often, you will most likely choose your tried-and-tested first-grade favorites, which other parents also recommend. However, there are also some things to consider when choosing books for your little one. Thus, we hope that this list of best children’s books for 1st graders will help you choose the perfect one for your young reader. Know more about children’s books.