Kindergarten reading books
Recommended reading books for elementary school children in Kindergarten ages 5-6
Explore the world of reading together with your child with fun stories great for read-alouds. The following books have been chosen to light up their imagination, help develop emotional awareness, and promote bonding with your child.
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Ideally, children should be exposed to a variety of genres, themes, and writing styles. Many early reader books also use animals as focal characters, both to make stories appealing to early elementary kids and to make the more characters gender friendly.
During Kindergarten, most children will look forward to revisiting favorite books, and adults can reinforce phonetic awareness when repeating familiar words and word parts.
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Bob Books - Set 1: Beginning Readers
by Bobby Lynn Maslen
Bob Books - Set 1: Beginning Readers is a collection of simple, phonics-based books designed to help young children build confidence as they take their first steps into reading. This set includes 12 short, engaging books with simple words and gradually introduces new phonetic sounds to help children decode words on their own. Each book builds on the skills learned in the previous ones, making it a progressive and gentle approach to reading that focuses on mastery of foundational skills.
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An iconic must-have series for adults preparing their child for school-level reading.
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Language Building, Read-Aloud
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Drop It, Rocket!
Tad Hills
Drop It, Rocket! is a charming early reader book that follows Rocket, an eager and lovable dog, as he learns new words with his friend, a little yellow bird. When Rocket finds various objects like a boot and a book, he doesn't want to drop them, much to the bird's frustration (and many younger readers' delight!). Through playful repetition and gentle encouragement, Rocket eventually learns to obey the command “drop it” and is rewarded with a fun game of fetch.
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Rocket books uses age appropriate text and phonics throughout—each word is carefully chosen and there are no stray words a few grade levels above the intended reading age).
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Good Behaviors, Endearing, Humor
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Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School
Herman Parish
Amelia Bedelia's First Day of School is a delightful story about the lovable and literal-minded Amelia Bedelia as a young girl on her very first day of school. From the moment she steps into the classroom, Amelia misunderstands her teacher's instructions in the most hilarious ways—whether it's "hitting the books" or "gluing herself to her seat," she takes everything literally!
Amelia Bedelia books offer entertaining introductions to puns and idioms in everyday speech. For children with learning differences, the series also portrays that feeling different or sometimes confused is okay and that a positive attitude can help overcome everyday mishaps.
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Language Building, Humor, ASD-friendly
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The Book with No Pictures
B. J. Novak
The Book with No Pictures is such a fun book for adults to read to kids because it creates an interactive, laugh-out-loud experience for both the reader and the listener. Since the book is filled with silly phrases and goofy sounds that the adult has to read out loud, it turns storytime into a playful, unpredictable performance.
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Kids love the idea that they can make grown-ups say ridiculous things, and this book is an incredible way for adults to connect with children through humor. You’re both in on the absurdity, which makes for an awesome bonding moment.
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Language Building, Humor, Read-Aloud
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Frog and Toad Are Friends
Arnold Lobel
Frog and Toad Are Friends is more than just a collection of stories—it’s a celebration of the small, meaningful moments that make friendships special. A beloved classic, the stories and illustrations remains a favorite among early readers and educators alike for its timeless appeal, gentle humor, and valuable life lessons.
Through their everyday adventures, Frog and Toad teach readers about patience, kindness, and the joy of being there for one another. The stories are simple but full of charm, making them perfect for early readers and read-alouds.
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Endearing, Friendship, Positive Behaviors, Classic
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