I love easy reader books. Not because they are a quick read and there’s a less likely chance that this tired mom will doze off during story time while reading them, but because hands down one of my favorite milestones to witness as a parent is when one of my children starts reading. The sheer amazement and pride that exudes from them as they recognize the sight words (or popcorn words) on the pages makes me tear up every time.
And I must confess that, if I have a shopping addiction at all… it would be books (some may argue it’s purses, but that was a long time ago!). When those book order forms come home every week (seriously, 4 kids, every week… okay, at least 1 book order form a month), I cannot say no. I have a separate line item in my budget just for children’s books; there could be worse vices. Now, this isn’t to say that we do not get a fair share of our reading material from the library, because we do, but I also like to keep a healthy supply at home because, just like their mother, my children like to have a minimum of 10 books on their nightstands at any given time.
Your local library will most likely have the easy reader books categorized by reading level; ours has a handy colored dot system. But if you are looking online for books, here is a quick overview of the main of easy reader books from a few mainstream publishers.
Scholastic Early Reading Guide
- First Reader – Pre Level 1 – 30-100 words
- Beginning Reader – Level 1 – 50-250 words
- Developing Reader – level 2 – 350-750 words
- Growing Reader – level 3 – 700-1500 words
Scholastic also gives appropriate grade level, Guided Reading Level, Lexile Level and word count.
I Can Read! Books
- My First – for reading together with a parent
- 1 – Simple sentences, new readers
- 2 – High interest, developing readers
- 3 – Complex plots, confident readers
- 4 – Bridge to chapter books
Step Into Reading
- Step 1 – Ready to Read – Prek – Kindergarten
- Step 2 – Reading with help – Prek – 1st grade
- Step 3 – Reading on your own – Grades 1-3
- Step 4 – Reading Paragraphs – Grades 2-3
- Step 5 – Ready for chapters – Grades 2-4
Page Two – 20 Must-Read Easy Reader Books
