A Place to Start
"First Reads" for Beginning Readers
Click a title to check the Skokie Public Library catalog for the status of the book in the Youth Services collection. Titles marked with * are available on audio.
| Series books that help teach letters and letter sounds |
| Books with pictures in the story’s text to aid in pre-reading |
| More "good reads" for beginning readers |
Series Books That Help Teach Letters and Letter Sounds
- Moncure, Jane Belk. Sound Box.
J Easy Reader MON - This series emphasizes the letter sounds by using many words that start with the featured letter.
- Moncure, Jane Belk. Word Bird.
J Easy Reader MON - Word Bird makes learning to read fun!
- Rookie Reader.
J Easy Reader - These books use tried-and-true stories and methods.
- Wonder Books.
J Easy Reader - These books use actual photographs with which children can easily identify.
Books with Pictures in the Story’s Text to Aid in Pre-reading
- Cocca-Leffler, Maryann. Silly Willy. 1995.
J Easy Reader COC - Willy is trying to get dressed but cannot help being silly about where each item of clothing is meant to go.
- Cole, Joanna. Monster and Muffin. 1996.
J Easy Reader COL - Easy words and rebus pictures tell the story of two dogs and their adventures.
- Dubowski, Cathy East and Dubowski, Mark. Picky Nicky. 1996.
J Easy Reader DUB - Nicky has his own idea of what he should eat. A humorous book that both children and adults will enjoy.
- Edwards, Roberta. Dot Has Spots. 1996.
J Easy Reader EDW - Dot gets the chicken pox and has to stay at home. Find out what Dot and her mom do while she is sick.
- Edwards, Roberta. Space Kid. 1996.
J Easy Reader EDW - Children and adults will enjoy reading about the daily activities of a space kid.
- Herman, Gail. Otto the Cat. 1995.
J Easy Reader HER - Can Otto the cat get used to the new puppy in the house? Read together and find out.
- Lewison, Wendy Cheyette. Don’t Wake the Baby. 1996.
J Easy Reader LEW - Baby is a sound sleeper. Many noisy things happen and the baby sleeps soundly until a fly buzzes by and wakes the baby.
More "Good Reads" for Beginning Readers
- Berenstain, Stan and Jan. Old Hat, New Hat. 1970.
J Easy Reader BER - Can Bear find a new hat that will be as good as his old hat?
- Brown, Margaret Wise. I Like Stars. 1998.
J Easy Reader BRO - Enjoy reading this poem about stars with your child. The pictures are beautiful.
- Coxe, Molly. Cat Traps. 1996.
J Easy Reader COX - Cat is hungry so he decides to set a trap but he ends up catching the wrong thing.
- Eastman, P.D. Go, Dog, Go!. 1961.
J Easy Reader EAS - Dogs certainly can go! Enjoy this bouncy adventure.
- Foster, Kelli C. and Erickson, Gina C. The Bug Club. 1991.
J Easy Reader FOS - A close group of bugs have an adventure while investigating the contents of a jug.
- Foster, Kelli C. and Erickson, Gina C. A Mop for Pop. 1991.
J Easy Reader FOS - A boy brings his rabbit to an ice cream shop and chaos ensues.
- Gikow, Louise. Red Hat! Green Hat!. 2000.
J Easy Reader GIK - Who would have thought that with just three words a whole story could develop? Use the pictures to tell this fun story.
- Greene, Carol. Rain! Rain!. 1982.
J Easy Reader GRE - Clouds overhead signal to two children that it will rain -- and then it does!
- Haskins, Lori. Ducks in Muck. 2000.
J Easy Reader HAS - A group of ducks escapes from a truck that is stuck in the muck.
- Hulme, Joy N. Bubble Trouble. 1999.
J Easy Reader HUL - Bubbles can be fun, until they pop. Not to worry, you can make more!
- Seuss, Dr. Hop on Pop. 1963.
J Easy Reader SEU - Engaging Seuss fun with words and pictures.
- Stamper, Judith Bauer. Boom! Zoom!. 1997.
J Easy Reader STA - Follow young Ray as he takes off in his ship, lands on another planet, and deals with an alien.
- Wildsmith, Brian. Cat on the Mat. 1982.
J Easy Reader WIL - Cat is happy just sitting on the mat, until it gets crowded by other animals.
- Ziefert, Harriet. Sleepy Dog. 1984.
J Easy Reader ZIE - This is a wonderful bedtime story.