Kindergarten (Ages 5-6)

Reading Focus: Picture books, simple vocabulary, repetitive patterns, basic concepts

Fiction

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr.

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak

• Corduroy by Don Freeman

• The Little Engine That Could by Watty Piper

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff

Non-Fiction

• National Geographic Readers: Trucks by Cari Meister

• From Seed to Plant by Gail Gibbons

• The Important Book by Margaret Wise Brown

• My Five Senses by Aliki

1st Grade (Ages 6-7)

Reading Focus: Beginning chapter books, sight words, simple sentences

Fiction

• Frog and Toad Are Friends by Arnold Lobel

• Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant

• The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss

• Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman

• Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik

• Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo

• Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Non-Fiction

• Sharks! by Anne Schreiber

• A Tree Is a Plant by Clyde Robert Bulla

• What Is the Weather Today? by Allan Fowler

• Community Workers series by Cari Meister

2nd Grade (Ages 7-8)

Reading Focus: Longer stories, character development, basic comprehension skills

Fiction

• Junie B. Jones series by Barbara Park

• Magic Tree House series by Mary Pope Osborne

• The Stories Julian Tells by Ann Cameron

• Pinky and Rex series by James Howe

• Cam Jansen series by David A. Adler

• A Dark, Dark Tale by Ruth Brown

• Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann

Non-Fiction

• Who Was? series (beginner biographies)

• National Geographic Kids Readers Level 2

• Amazing Animals series

• The Magic School Bus series by Joanna Cole

3rd Grade (Ages 8-9)

Reading Focus: Chapter books, plot development, inference skills

Fiction

• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White

• The BFG by Roald Dahl

• Ramona series by Beverly Cleary

• Judy Moody series by Megan McDonald

• The One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

• The Wild Robot by Peter Brown

• Matilda by Roald Dahl

• Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

Non-Fiction

• Who Was? series (full biographies)

• National Geographic Kids Everything series

• The Kid Who Ran for President by Dan Gutman

• DK Eyewitness books

4th Grade (Ages 9-10)

Reading Focus: Complex plots, character analysis, varied genres

Fiction

• Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson

• Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell

• The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

• Wonder by R.J. Palacio

• Holes by Louis Sachar

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo

• Where the Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls

• The Indian in the Cupboard by Lynne Reid Banks

Non-Fiction

• Who Was? series

• I Survived series by Lauren Tarshis

• National Geographic Kids Almanac

• The Book of What If? by Matt Forbeck

5th Grade (Ages 10-11)

Reading Focus: Literary themes, author's purpose, critical thinking

Fiction

• Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

• Number the Stars by Lois Lowry

• Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

• The Giver by Lois Lowry

• Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

• Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

• The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster

• Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt

Non-Fiction

• Hidden Figures: Young Readers' Edition by Margot Lee Shetterly

• Unbroken: Young Adult Adaptation by Laura Hillenbrand

• The Boys Who Challenged Hitler by Phillip Hoose

• Charles Darwin and the Beagle Adventure by A.E.J. Morris

6th Grade (Ages 11-12)

Reading Focus: Complex themes, multiple perspectives, genre exploration

Fiction

• Percy Jackson series by Rick Riordan

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry by Mildred D. Taylor

• The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare

• Holes by Louis Sachar

• Freak the Mighty by Rodman Philbrick

• The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin

• Refugee by Alan Gratz

Non-Fiction

• March: Book One by John Lewis

• Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

• The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

• We Are the Ship by Kadir Nelson

7th Grade (Ages 12-13)

Reading Focus: Literary analysis, historical context, diverse voices

Fiction

• The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

• The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

• Ghost Boys by Jewell Parker Rhodes

• New Kid by Jerry Craft

• The House You Pass on the Way by Jacqueline Woodson

• Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

• Restart by Gordon Korman

• The Crossover by Kwame Alexander

Non-Fiction

• Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park

• I Am Malala: Young Readers Edition by Malala Yousafzai

• The Port Chicago 50 by Steve Sheinkin

• Most Dangerous: Daniel Ellsberg and the Secret History of the Vietnam War by Steve Sheinkin

8th Grade (Ages 13-14)

Reading Focus: Complex literary devices, social issues, preparation for high school

Fiction

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

• The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

• Monster by Walter Dean Myers

• The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

• All American Boys by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely

• The Poet X by Elizabeth Acevedo

• Jason Reynolds Track series

• Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas

Non-Fiction

• Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds and Ibram X. Kendi

• The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater

• Boots on the Ground: America's War in Vietnam by Elizabeth Partridge

• Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice by Phillip Hoose

Reading Tips for Parents

Creating a Reading Environment

• Set up a dedicated reading space with good lighting and comfortable seating

• Keep books accessible throughout your home

• Model reading behavior by reading yourself

• Establish regular family reading time

Supporting Different Reading Levels

• Below Grade Level: Focus on high-interest, low-level books and graphic novels

• On Grade Level: Encourage exploration of different genres

• Above Grade Level: Provide challenging books while ensuring content is age-appropriate

Discussion Questions for Any Book

• What was your favorite part and why?

• How did the main character change throughout the story?

• What would you have done differently if you were the character?

• What lesson did the character learn?

• How does this book connect to your life or other books you've read?

Building Reading Habits

• Visit libraries and bookstores regularly

• Let children choose their own books when possible

• Don't worry if they re-read favorites multiple times

• Consider audiobooks for reluctant readers or during car rides

• Celebrate reading milestones and achievements

Red Flags: When to Seek Help

• Persistent difficulty with grade-appropriate books

• Resistance to reading despite various attempts

• Difficulty retaining information from books

• Problems with basic phonics after 2nd grade

• Significant gaps between listening and reading comprehension

Remember: Every child develops at their own pace. Use these lists as guides, not rigid requirements. The most important thing is fostering a love of reading that will last a lifetime.