The last few weeks I’ve been excitedly starting to plan for the next school year. Why now? Because I like to plan for the following school year during the final 9 weeks of the current school year so I remember where my girls are and where I want them to go. Besides that, when I complete my planning by summer I can enjoy the summer break too!
This year is no exception and as such I’ve begun organizing a list of student readers for Peanut to read next year. As a Pre-K student she completed Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons by Siegfried Engelmann and is reading on a solid first grade level. Next year she will be a Kindergartner and our hope is to round out her reading skills by completing Phonics Pathways by Dolores G. Hiskes and reading some classic picture books every day. While we will just have to wait to see how fast she progresses through Phonics Pathways, the program boasts a solid 4th grade reading level by the end of the book so I’ve begun making plans to that end.
Recently I also discovered Scholastic’s Book Wizard in which you can search for books based on reading level, interest level, lexile measurement and more. This source is great if you don’t know what your child’s reading level is or if you are searching for other books at a similar reading level for your child that is age appropriate. Just type in a book your child recently read and click search. The search results will not only tell you what the book’s reading and interest level are, but you can also search for other books with a similar interest and reading level. It’s great!
With this wizard as a guide and Amazon review’s for customer ratings, I came up with the following list of readers appropriate for my upcoming Kindergartner. Knowing that there are other parents out there searching for books to read and/or have their Kindergartner read this summer or next year, I thought I’d share. Feel free to scroll through the list below or download a pdf of the list at the end for you to keep and browse later. The choice is up to you.
Not sure where to start with this list? The books with an asterisk are where we plan to start next year as most are classics that have stood the test of time and boast high reviews (often by more than 50 reviewers) . Whatever you choose I’m sure you’ll find several keepers in this 5 star list ranging from a 1.0 to a 4.5 reading level.
Criteria for This Reading List
No Twaddle (meaning no books created as a result of movies or TV shows or what Charlotte Mason may have otherwise considered fluff)
Only the first book of a series is included (even if others in the series would also qualify)
Books must have a 4 1/2 or 5 star rating on Amazon with a minimum of 10 reviews
Books must claim a Kindergarten or Pre-K interest level on Scholastic Book Wizard (meaning, it’s appropriate content for kindergartners to read and/or understand but also a great read for older elementary students as well)
No books in the “Horror and Supernatural” Genre (yes, they have some even for this age)
Only books with a year-round subject (no holiday books)
The Ultimate Guide to 5 Star Books for Kindergartners by Reading Level
1.0
Chrysanthemum by Henkes*
I Am the Artist! by Anderson
The Pigeon Finds a Hot Dog by Willems*
Ten Black Dots by Crews
Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale by Willems*
1.1
One Fish, Two Fish by Dr. Seuss*
Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss*
No, David! by Shannon*
Mice Squeak, We Speak by Shapiro
Pancakes for Breakfast by dePaola
Mean Soup by Everitt
Grumpy Gloria by Dewdney
1.2
The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss*
Good Night, Gorilla by Rathmann*
Do You Want to Be My Friend? by Carle
The Cat Comes Back by Dr. Seuss
Sheep in a Jeep by Shaw*
I Love You Sun, I Love You Moon by Pandell and dePaola
Yo! Yes? by Raschka
Diary of a Wombat by French
Just Like Daddy by Asch
Flying by Crews
1.3
I Like Me by Carlson
Best Nest by Eastman*
Wacky Wednesday by LeSieg*
My Friends by Gomi
Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten by Slate*
I Love Trucks! by Sturges
Big Fat Hen by Baker
The Eye Book by LeSieg
Dim Sum for Everyone! by Lin
Tweet This
1.4
Put Me in the Zoo by Lopshire*
Go, Dog, Go by Eastman*
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Martin*
Hondo and Fabian by McCarty
I Love Trains! by Sturges
A Hat for Minerva Louise by Stoeke
I Went Walking by Williams and Vivas
Lost! by McPhail
Mouse Makes Words by Heling and Hembrook
We Have a Baby by Falwell
How Do Dinosaurs Learn Their Colors? by Yolen
1.5
Are You My Mother? by Eastman*
Rosie’s Walk by Hutchins*
Bread, Bread, Bread by Morris
One Duck Stuck by Root*
Three Bears by Barton
Goodnight Moon by Brown
Dinosaurs Roar! by Strickland
Pumpkin Pumpkin by Titherington
Whose Mouse are You? by Kraus
The Enormous Potato by Davis
More Spaghetti I Say! by Gelman
Piggies by Wood
Freight Train by Crew*
Mouse Mess by Riley
Today is Monday by Carle
My Crayons Talk by Hubbard
1.6
Is Your Mama a Llama by Guarino*
The Cow That Went Oink by Most
Silly Sally by Wood*
Miss Mary Mack by Hoberman
Clap Your Hands by Cauley*
Off We Go! by Yolen
Hi! Fly Guy by Arnold*
Draw Me a Star by Carle
1.7
Barnyard Banter by Fleming
Inch by Inch by Lionni
On Market Street by Lobel
Little Blue and Little Yellow by Lionni*
Leo the Late Bloomer by Kraus*
Shape of Things by Dodds
Dream Snow by Carle*
Charlie Parker Played BeBop by Raschka
Polar Bear, Polar Bear, What Do You Hear? by Carle*
1.8
Super Fly Guy by Arnold*
Little Bear by Minarik*
Sammy the Seal by Hoff*
Circle Dogs by Henkes
Quilt by Jonas
Gone Fishing by Long
Dog Who Cried Wolf by Kasza
I Love You Because You’re You by Baker*
1.9
Surprises by Hopkins*
Mama, Do You Love Me? by Joosse*
Big Red Barn by Brown*
Happy Birthday, Moon by Asch*
Who Took the Farmer’s Hat by Nodset
Flower Garden by Bunting
Jessica by Henkes
Charlie Needs a Cloak by dePaola
Joseph Had a Little Overcoat by Taback
Listening Walk by Showers
2.0
I Love You Always and Forever by Emmett*
Fancy Nancy and the Posh Puppy by O’Conner*
So Few of Me by Reynolds
Teddy Bear by McPhail
Llama, llama Red Pajama by Dewdney*
2.1
How Much is a Million by Schwartz
Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! by Barner*
The Doorbell Rang by Hutchins*
Bread and Jam for Francis by Hoban*
Apple Pie Tree by Hall
King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub by Wood*
Rap a Tap Tap by Dillion
2.2
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss*
Fire Cat by Averill*
Frog and Toad All Year by Lobel*
Time to Sleep by Fleming
Tumble Bumble by Bond*
Big Max by Platt
Little Train by Lenski
2.3
Frog and Toad Together by Lobel*
Sheila Rae, the Brave by Henkes
Princess Penelope by Mack
My Friend Rabbit by Rohmann*
A Tree is Nice by Udry*
Magic Thinks Big by Cooper
Oh My Baby, Little One by Appelt
Albert by Napoli
How I Became a Pirate by Long
A Fish Out of Water by Palmer*
Petunia by Duvoisin
Oh, the Thinks You Can Think by Dr. Seuss*
A Porcupine Named Fluffy by Lester*
2.4
Frog and Toad are Friends by Lobel*
Curious George by Rey
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Johnson*
Zen Shorts by Muth*
One Nighttime Sea by Rose
Diary of a Worm by Cronin*
Hattie and the Fox by Fox
Grasshopper on the Road by Lobel
Today I Feel Silly and Other Moods That Make My Day by Curtis*
Fancy Nancy by O’Conner*
2.5
The Bravest Dog Ever by Standiford*
A Fly Went By by McClintock*
Owl at Home by Lobel*
Chicken Soup with Rice by Sendak*
Seasons of Arnold’s Apple Tree by Gibbons
Yoko by Wells
Jamberry by Degen*
Quilt Story by Johnston
In the Small Small Pond by Fleming
Owl and Pussycat by Lear
Each Peach Pear Plum by Ahlberg*
One of Each by Hoberman
The True Story of the Three Little Pigs! by Sciezka*
Tweet This
2.6
Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss*
Mouse Tales by Lobel*
Peter’s Chair by Keats*
Lon Po Po by Young*
Very Hungry Caterpillar by Carle*
Duck for President by Cronin*
Coming Home Soon by Woodson
A Hole is to Dig by Krauss*
Alligator’s All Around by Sendak
Rocks in His Head by Hurst
How a Seed Grows by Jordan
Flash, Crash, Rumble, and Roll by Branley
Arrow to the Sun by McDermott*
Hazel’s Amazing Mother by Wells
Niccolini’s Song by Wilcoxen
Always and Forever by Durant
Dahlia by McClintock
2.7
Danny and the Dinosaur by Hoff*
Apples and Pumpkins by Rockwell
Ask Mr. Bear by Flack
If You Give a Mouse a Muffin by Numeroff*
A Very Special House by Krauss
Pinkalicious by Kahn
Skeleton Inside You by Balestrino
A Rainbow of My Own by Freeman*
Peter and the Wolf by Mikolaycak*
Snowballs by Ehlert*
One Monkey To Many by Koller
What Time Is It, Mr. Crocodile? by Sierra
2.8
Angel Child, Dragon Child by Surat
Quick as a Cricket by Wood*
Mama Cat Has Three Kittens by Fleming
Noisy Nora by Wells*
First Dog by Brett*
House Mouse, Senate Mouse by Barnes
Meanest Thing to Say by Crosby
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Numeroff*
Poppleton by Rylant*
2.9
Big Balloon Race by Coerr*
Hill of Fire by Lewis*
Caps for Sale by Slobodkina*
Magic Fish by Littledale
Big Al by Clements
It’s Mine by Lionni
Berlioz the Bear by Brett
Very Clumsy Click Beetle by Carle
House is a House for Me by Hoberman*
Jesse Bear, What Will You Wear? by Carlstrom*
Giving Tree by Silverstein*
Crictor by Ungerer
Goggles by Keats
Little Drummer Boy by Keats*
America the Beautiful by Bates
Magic Nesting Doll by Ogburn*
3.0
Amelia Bedelia by Parish*
Problem with Chickens by McMillan
Sick Day for Amos McGee by Stead*
Busy Tree by Ward
Three Little Fish and the Bad Shark by Geist*
Snowflake by Earhart*
3.1
Miss Nelson is Missing by Allard*
Chester’s Way by Henkes
ABC by Dr. Seuss*
A New Coat for Anna by Ziefert
Whistle for Willie by Keats
Big Orange Splot by Pinkwater*
Very Quiet Cricket by Carle*
Make Way for Ducklings by McCloskey*
Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Lovell*
Important Book by Brown*
Harry, the Dirty Dog by Zion*
3.2
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Numeroff*
Corduroy by Freeman*
Owl Moon by Yolen*
Cloudy with a Change of Meatballs by Barrett*
Anansi the Spider by McDermott*
Napping House by Wood*
Mitten by Brett*
Place to Grow by Pak
Frida by Winter
When the Root Children Wake Up by Wood
Daisy Comes Home by Brett
Three Questions by Muth*
Bookshop Dog by Rylant
Old Turtle and Broken Truth by Wood
3.3
Babushka’s Doll by Polacco*
Kissing Hand by Penn*
Seven Blind Mice by Young*
Fish is Fish by Lionni
Wind Blew by Hutchins
Chair for My Mother by Williams
Milly and Macy’s Parade by Corey
Red Blanket by Thomas
Popcorn Book by dePaola
On Top of Spaghetti by Johnson
Prayer for a Child by Field*
3.4
Pocket for Corduroy by Freeman*
Ming Lo Moves the Mountain by Lobel
One Fine Day by Hogrogian*
Birthday for Frances by Hoban
Black is Brown is Tan by Adoff*
No Roses for Harry! by Zion*
There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mayer*
When Lightning Comes in a Jar by Polacco
3.5
Woodrow the White House Mouse by Barnes
Cloud Book by dePaola
Paperboy by Pikey*
Best Friends for Frances by Hoban*
Hey, Little Ant by Hoose*
If You Were My Bunny by McMullan*
Many Luscious Lollipops by Heller
Swimmy by Lionni
Thunder Cake by Polacco*
Raising Dragons by Nolen
Ribbon Rescue by Munsch*
Extraordinary Egg by Lionni
Friends by Heine
I Love You the Purplest by Joosse*
Tweet This
3.6
Horton Hatches the Egg by Dr. Seuss*
Aunt Flossie’s Hats by Howard
Millions of Cats by Gag*
Ben’s Trumpet by Isadora
Dandelion by Freeman
Doctor De Soto by Steig*
Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones by Heller
Smelly Socks by Munsch*
Jambo Means Hello by Feelings
Whale’s Song by Sheldon
Uncle Andy’s by Warhola
A Story for Bear by Haseley*
Flight of the Dodo by Brown
Radio Rescue by Barasch
Alphabet Tree by Lionni
Me First by Lester*
3.7
Tikki Tikki Tembo by Mosel*
Amos and Boris by Steig*
From Seed to Plant by Gibbons
When I Was Young in the Mountains by Rylant*
Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Noble*
Legend of the Bluebonnet by dePaola
Pirate Girl by Funke
Philharmonic Gets Dressed by Kustin*
Miss Smith’s Incredible Storybook by Garland
Pinduli by Cannon*
Moses Goes to a Concert by Millman
3.8
Blueberries for Sal by McCloskey*
Madeline by Bemelmans*
Rapunzel by Zelinsky*
Dinosaur Bob and His Adventures with the Family Lazardo by Joyce
Some Smug Slug by Edwards
One Morning in Maine by McCloskey*
Lentil by McCloskey
Day the Goose Got Loose by Lindbergh
Coolies by Yin
If I Ran the Zoo by Dr. Seuss*
Yertle the Turtle by Dr. Seuss*
Frederick by Lionni*
3.9
Alphabears by Hague
Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Viorst*
Hooray for Diffendoofer Day! by Dr. Seuss*
Cat Heaven by Rylant*
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0590331256?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creativeASIN=059033125