The Junebug can READ!!!! We're so excited.

So - what are some good beginner books that I can get her to really take off on? She currently has quite a few Dr Seuss, like Hop on Pop and Go Dog Go and some beginning sight reader books my MIL got her. I have a Dick & Jane treasury in my Amazon cart, along with some Henry & Mudge books. What else is good for the new reader? [I have a long list for when she's more accomplished, it's the transitional stuff I'm looking for.]

TIA!

My kids loved the Mercer Mayer Little Critter books. They're really short and lots of fun to take turns and have her read one page and you read the next. My daughters favorite was "I Was So Mad" while my sons favorite was "Me Too". My favorite was "Just Go To Bed".

Dr Suess

My granddaughter just loved the Little Critter books. I think we have them all. Her brother should be interested now. I think I'll take them with me the next time I visit (and forget to bring them home!).

"The Audacity of Hope"

My kids enjoyed the Eric Carle books when they were beginning readers. The pictures are vivid, the word patterns reinforce reading through repetition, and they're just plain fun.

Here's his website

I have to agree that the Little Critter books are wonderful for beginning readers. We have them all and my boys will still pick them up to reread and look for the spider and mouse in the pictures.

Some of the Spot books are good too. You may ask her teacher to see if there are any that they recommend or that they may be reading later.

Very Hungry Caterpillar

Good Night Moon

Any book with a Sesame Street character in it (or a character from a show or movie she likes--my son reads Pokemon, my daughter likes to read book from Disney shows -- Hannah Montana, H.S. Musical. It isn't great literature, but at least they are reading.)

Franklin (We have a book full of Franklin the turtle stories)

Yes, Dr. Suess, Dr. Suess, Dr. Suess (they do have some that are more difficult than others...my 1st grader, who is reading at a 3rd grade level, headed off to bed the other night with Go Dog Go--much lower than his reading level, but he still loves it.)

My son has also been reading Garfield comics, which is good because they use some big words.

Do buddy reading where you are reading a book that is beyond their ability, but have them read along with you as you trace the words with your finger. Then, change it and have her read one line and you read the next. You want a book with words she doesn't know so you can help her.

We have a book with a character called Froggie (where he goes to a restaurant and eats pasta with flies in it) that they love and it is easy to read. Also, they love the Skippy John Jones books.

The Biscuit (the dog) books are really good for early readers.

Once you get past that "See Jane Run" step, the Magic Tree House books are really good.

The Berenstein Bears are good for little kids. They learn about sharing and being nice. You know, all the things they quickly forget about once they turn into teenagers!

Curious George -

Flat Stanley - I loved this book as a kid...

The godkiddies and nieces/nephew love the Skippy Jon Jones books and the Llama books.

good thing you clarified. i don't think The Biscuit (the BOL poster) books would be appropriate for kids...

Do you have access to Scholastic book programs? Our school district offers their books for sale. They have an age/level appropriate program that makes it easy to pick and choose.

I grew up reading the back of cereal boxes and look how I turned out.

Curious George and the Wood Chipper is a fun family read.

I like to start them out with Atlas Shrugged.

I agree with the Eric Carle books, the Little Critter books and Henry & Mudge, which I think was mentioned.

It may be a bit soon for her to tackle these, but I recommend the Junie B Jones books.

I can't think of the author, but there is a book called "If You Give a Pig a Pancake"--there is actually a series of these--and my son loved them.

I agree with Z about the idea of buddy reading. My son and I used to trade off--I'd read a page, then he'd read a page. It worked well and kept him involved in the process.

My son is really into nature and animals. Something that worked great for us to help build his vocabulary was to give him, at a very young age, books about animals that are not "kid" books. He has a huge book about animals--probably over 500 pages--that has photos and then descriptions of the animals, their habitat, maps of where they live, etc. He looked at that book by the hour from the time he was maybe 4 years old. Next thing we knew, he could read the passages to us about his favorites.

Where the Wild Things Are
Harold and the Purple Crayon
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (a personal fav)
The Giving Tree
Chicka Chicka Boom Boom

And don't forget Mr. Peeper's personal favorite

Everyone Poops

Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day (a personal fav)
The Giving Tree


Two great books. Shel Silverstein is great, but may be a bit old for her yet. How old is she?

Is his name Stanley??

Thanks for all the ideas, y'all! (For the record, she is 5 1/2.)