Beginner Books
All children just beginning to read benefit from using several approaches. The phonics method assigns a sound to each letter; children may also memorize words (called sight words) that cannot be sounded out easily. Some children will also recognize and “read” words by using the illustrations as clues. Also, the content of the story may sometimes lead to the recognition of new words. Another helpful way to make reading easier is to look at a vocabulary list before reading so that when the word appears in the text it may be recognized. For some, this might help to make reading smoother instead of a stop/start-again routine. By using various techniques or a combination of them, most children and their parents will find learning to read a positive and rewarding adventure.
The books on the following lists have limited vocabularies and some have word lists in the back of the book. These books are appropriate for children just beginning to read independently. Many authors listed have more titles suitable for this reading level.
Items below with an asterisk and in bold font are items New Hartford Public Library owns. All
other items are in the Mid-York System.
You can log into your Mid-York account here to place a hold on any books or please call 315-733-1535 for assistance. To place a hold over the phone you will need your library card number. Online holds will require your PIN number which is usually set as the last 4 digits of your home phone number.
Antle, Nancy | The Good Bad Cat. |
Armstrong, Jennifer | The Snowball. |
Arnold, Marsha Diane | Quick, Quack, Quick! |
Arnold, Tedd | Hi! Fly Guy! |
Baker, Keith | Sometimes. |
Berenstain, Stan | Old Hat, New Hat. |
**Blues Clues | Hello, Spring! |
Bono, Mary | Ugh! A Bug! |
Bonsall, Crosby | Mine’s the Best. |
Brimner, Larry Dane | Cats! |
Brown, Margaret Wise | I Like Bugs. |
**Capucilli, Alyssa Satin | Biscuit. |
Cobb, Annie | Wheels! |
Cohen, Caron Lee | How Many Fish? |
Coxe, Molly | Hot Dog. |
Eastman, P.D. | Go, Dog. Go! |
Ghigna, Charles | Mice are Nice. |
**Gill, Janie Spaht | Monster Stew. |
**Godwin, Laura | Happy and Honey. |
Greene, Carol | Snow Joe. |
Gregorich, Barbara |
The Gum on the Drum. |
Hall, Kirsten | A Bad, Bad Day. |
Hamsa, Bobbie | Fast Draw Freddie. |
**Haskins, Lori | Ducks in Muck. |
**Howard, Reginald | The Big, Big Wall. |
Jensen, Patricia | The Mess. |
Johnson, Mildred D. | Wait! Skates. |
Jordan, Taylor | Hiccup. |
Kanno, Wendy | Holey Moley Cow. |
Karlin, Nurit | I See, You Saw. |
Keller, Holly | What I See. |
**Knudsen, Michelle | Cat Hat. |
Koontz, Robin Michal | Why a Dog? By A. Cat. |
Krensky, Stephen | What a Mess! |
Lascaro, Rita | Down on the Farm. |
Levinson, Nancy Smiler | Say Cheese! |
**Lopshire, Robert | Put Me in the Zoo. |
Lucas, Sally | Dancing Dinos. |
Maccarone, Grace | “What Is That?” Said the Cat. |
MacDonald, Steven | Just Clowning Around: Two Stories. |
Mayer, Mercer | No One Can Play. |
McKissack, Pat | Bugs! |
Medearis, Angela Shelf | We Play on a Rainy Day. |
**Meister, Cari | Tiny’s Bath. |
Moffatt, Judith | Who Stole the Cookies? |
Moncure, Jane Belk | Word Bird’s No! No! Word Bird. |
**Moran, Alex | Come Here, Tiger. |
**Morris, J. E. | May I Please Have a Cookie? |
Most, Bernard | Catch Me If You Can! |
Packard, Mary | The Pet That I Want. |
**Perkins, Al | Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. |
Petrie, Catherine | Joshua James Likes Trucks. |
Rau, Dana Meachen | Feet. |
**Ring, Susan | Polar Babies. |
**Rylant, Cynthia | Puppy Mudge Takes a Bath. |
Seuss, Dr. | Hop on Pop. |
Shebar, Sharon Sigmond | Milk: 10 Words. |
Thiesing, Lisa | All Better. |
Thomas, Jan | Rhyming Dust Bunnies. |
Vinje, Marie | Hanna’s Butterfly. |
We Both Read | Lulu’s Lost Shoes. |
Wilhelm, Hans | I Am Lost! |
Wolcott, Patty | Pickle Pickle Pickle Juice. |
Young, James | The Cows are in the Corn. |
Ziefert, Harriet | Sleepy Dog. |
Phonetic Books
Cox, Phil Roxbee | Ted in a Red Bed. |
**Foster, Kelli C. | The Tan Can. |
**Heling, Kathryn | Mouse Makes Words: A Phonics Reader. |
Moncure, Jane Belk | Word Bird Makes Words with Pig: A Short “i” Adventure. |
Redbank, Tennant | Rug Bug. |
Stamper, Judith Bauer | The Red Hen. |
**Weston, Martha | Jack and Jill and Big Dog Bill. |
Winder, Jack | Who’s New at the Zoo? 10 Words. |
Rebus Books
**Backyardigans | A Royal Valentine. |
**Blue’s Clues | Meet My Family. |
Cocca-Leffler, Maryann | Silly Willy. |
Diego | Diego Saves the Tree Frogs. |
Herman, Gail | Otto the Cat. |
Hooks, William H. | The Gruff Brothers. |
**Inches, Alison | Piggley Helps Out. |
Santomero, Angela C. | Blue is My Name. |
Schecter, Ellen | The Boy Who Cried “Wolf”. |