Research has shown that the single greatest factor in predicting reading success is whether a child is read to when young. Below is a list of titles to get you started on summer reading but please feel free to read whatever you and your child enjoy the most. Record any additional book titles and authors on the Reading Record Form (pdf). Happy Reading!
Books About Me
The Mixed Up Chameleon by Eric Carle
I Like to Be Little by Charlotte Zolotow
It’s Hard to Be Five: Learning How to Work my Control Panel by Jamie Lee Curtis
Incredible You! 10 ways to let your greatness shine through by Dr. Wayne Dyer
When I Get Bigger by Mercer Mayer
Leo the Late Bloomer by Robert Kraus
Family Stories
Just Me Books by Mercer Mayer
Berenstain Bear Books by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Are You my Mother? by P.D. Eastman
Predictable Stories
Curious George by H.A. Rey
Alligator Baby by Robert Munsch
50 Below Zero by Robert Munsch
Stephanie’s Ponytail by Robert Munsch
The Mitten by Jan Brett
Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown
Gregory the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
The Gingerbread Boy by Paul Galdone
Beginning, Middle, End Concepts
3 Billy Goats Gruff by Glen Rounds
A Bad Case of the Stripes by David Shannon
Click Clack Moo: Cows the Type by Doreen Cronin
Duck for President by Doreen Cronin
Giggle Giggle Quack by Doreen Cronin
It’s Mine by Leo Lionni
The Runaway Bunny by Margaret Wise Brown
Rosie’s Walk by Pat Hutchins
Color and Counting/Math Books
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert
Inch by Inch by Leo Lionni
Each Orange Had Eight Slices: A Counting Book by Paul Giganti Jr.
Rooster Off to See the World by Eric Carle
Painting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert
The Greedy Triangle by Marylin Burns
Ten Little Fish by Audrey Wood
26 Letters and 99 Cents by Tana Hoban
A Color of His Own by Leo Lionni
Bunny Money by Rosemary Wells
Caldecott Winners and Honor Books
The Little House by Virginia Lee Burton
Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
Mirette on the High Wire by Emily McCully
Make Way for Ducklings by Robert McCloskey
Frog and Toad are Friends by Arnold Lobel
Stone Soup by Marcia Brown
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
Nursery Rhymes
James Marshall’s Mother Goose by James Marshall
Tommie dePaola’s Favorite Nursery Tales by Tommie dePaola
Folktales and Fairy Tales
John Henry by Julius Lester (Caldecott book)
Rumplestiltskin by Paul Zelinsky
Caps for Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina
Cinderella by Marcia Brown
The Three Little Bears by Paul Galdone
The Three Billy Goats Gruff by Peter Christen Asbornsen
The Three Little Pigs by Rodney Peppe
The Ugly Duckling by Hans Christian Andersen
The Hare and the Tortoise by Brian Wildsmith
Friendship stories
Who Will Be My Friends? by Syd Hoff
We Are Best Friends by Aliki
Benjamin and Tulip by Rosemary Wells
Non-fiction and Science Books
My Five Senses by Aliki
Cars and How They Go by Joanna Cole
Eyewitness Juniors Amazing Frogs and Toads by Barry Clake
Non-fiction books are highly recommended for rising kindergarteners. Look for books with pictures and photographs of real things, i.e. animals, cars and trucks, airplanes, countries and culture, nature, sports, etc. Most libraries have a large selection of DK books which most children love to read and look at. Check with your librarian for recommendations.
