All of my children are huge book worms. We love reading both classic & new chapter books aloud at nighttime, and beloved picture books during the day. But what happens when your child is in that awkward stage where they ALSO want to read on their own…but aren’t quite there yet?
Is it just me, or are the Early Reader book section(s) at libraries hard to navigate at first? Each author/publisher/series has their own system for ranking “book levels”… and they are not standardized across the board! A “Pre-Reading” book in one category may be harder than a “Level 1” book in another series.
More than that, though, it’s tough to find books for those early early reading stages. I’m talking about when your kiddo has completed the Bob series & knows a decent amount of sight words… but isn’t ready for just any “Early Reader” book at the library. Let’s be real, even those Level 1 books can be pretty challenging for awhile! And Dr. Seuss classics aren’t really compatible with the sight word system that’s popular in schools today.
Trying to read a book that’s way too difficult can stop progress and momentum right in its’ tracks.
Luckily, that’s completely avoidable!
I really like all four of the series’ listed below. (And more importantly, so did my early reader). There are a plethora of sight words included, and most other words are largely phonetic. There’s repetition without feeling too dumbed-down. The illustrations and story lines are FUNNY, too.
Reading feels enjoyable when you find the right level! Skip the hassle of sifting through the stacks and stacks of books at your library and send your reader straight to these gems.
1. The Adventures of Otto by David Milgrim
First off, we have The Adventures of Otto! This series is perfect for an early early reader, and probably the best next step for when you’ve finished those Bob books. AKA The simplest series to read on this list!
These stories are really cute. The words aren’t too advanced, and the illustrations are darling. My son loves the robots and the animals.
2. Elephant & Piggie by Mo Willems
If you know anything about anything, you probably already love the Elephant & Piggie books. I’ve been reading them to my boys for years, but was happy to realize how accessible they are for early readers, too.
Although some of the words are admittedly longer and trickier, the overall word count per page is very low. Couple that fact with a decent amount of word repetition… and your reader is ready to go. And with the hilarious mishaps, it’s impossible not to smile during these books. Truly the gold standard of children’s literature here, folks.
3. Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
I’d seen these books from afar for years and given them a write-off. I think I mentally put them in the same category as Captain Underpants and other super silly/ borderline inappropriate elementary books. But they are great actually! My son enjoys them.
Bonus: It allows your kid to read a chapter book (whoa baby)… that’s also incredibly accessible. There are usually 3 chapters total.
4. A Jack Book Series by Mac Barnett and Greg Pizzoli
Finally, we have the Jack Books series. These books are chapter books, too! It helps break up the reading sessions naturally while still completing the story arc.
The illustrations are so visually pleasing, and the characters have very animated expressions. The sentences themselves aren’t too difficult. My son really likes them.
That’s it for today!
There are SO MANY early reader series out there. Which ones do your readers love?? Leave a comment to share your favorites!
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