10 Books First Graders Like
Over at the blog Reflect & Refine, you'll find "August 10 for 10," a roundup of posts by teachers about ten picture books they always want in their classrooms. What a fun idea! I especially like the suggestions for "Ten Picture Books That Boys Can't Live Without," at Creative Literacy.
While I'm not a teacher, I do tutor first graders on an informal basis, and here are ten picture books my reading buddies and I have enjoyed together. (They read aloud; I help when they're stuck on a word.)
1. Richard Scarry's Cars and Trucks and Things That Go. Everyone loves looking for the tiny Goldbug in the illustrations. We talk about this book as much as read it.
2. The Great Gracie Chase, written by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Mark Teague.
3. Who's Hiding? by Satoru Onishi. This has to be the first-graders' favorite book ever. They adore figuring out who's missing, or turned around—the jokes are in the illustrations.
4. Go, Dog, Go! by P.D. Eastman. The kids are always so proud of reading a "long" book.
5. Ten Apples Up On Top, by Dr. Seuss.
6. The House in the Night, written by Susan Marie Swanson and illustrated by Beth Krommes.
7. "Pardon?" Said the Giraffe, by Colin West. The plot hinges on a ginormous sneeze.
8. My Friend Is Sad, by Mo Willems, which inspired this funny discussion between two guys.
9. "Hi, Pizza Man!," by Virginia Walter.
10. The Three Cabritos, written by Eric Kimmel and illustrated by Stephen Gilpin. Kimmel's version of the Three Billy Goats Gruff features a chupacabra instead of a troll.
If you're looking for nonfiction for younger elementary schoolers, a couple of years back I posted about "50 Easy Readers with a Wow! Factor: Exciting Nonfiction for 1st and 2nd Graders."
Thanks for the inspiration for the post, teaching friends! I hope your new school years are off to an excellent start.