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This book list of our favorite 15 read alouds for first grade (and beyond!) is full of wonderful literature, poetry, and early readers that your family will be sure to enjoy.

We all love reading aloud for fun, but did you know that reading aloud to children has incredible benefits besides fun? Here are a few:

• reading aloud increases their attention span
• it helps them build a stronger vocabulary
• hearing stories strengthens cognitive abilities
• it provides wonder and enjoyment
• and reading aloud strengthens your parent-child bond.

Keep reading to check out our 15 favorite books for poetry, literature, and early reading that we discovered and enjoyed as a family during my daughter’s first grade year. Any of them would make an excellent addition to your bookshelves at home- check out the book list at the end of the post to shop!

Quality Literature to Read Aloud to Your First Grader

Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald (Harper Collins, 2007)

Full of learning opportunities for children, this book is about a child-filled neighborhood and their favorite neighbor Mrs. Piggle Wiggle. Mrs. PW knows all there is to know about children and how to fix all sorts of ailments in very creative ways: selfishness, never-want-to-go-to-bedders, slow-eater-tiny-bite-takers, and so on.

In Grandma’s Attic: Book One by Arleta Richardson (David C. Cook, 2011)

The back cover states that this is a book of “true stories of yesteryear with timeless lessons for today” and I couldn’t agree more. My kids enjoyed this first book so much that we read through the whole series!

The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer (Puffin Books, 1979)

Ronnie and his aunt promise to take over lighthouse duties at Tern Rock as the keeper takes a vacation. Ronnie has a great time until the keeper doesn’t arrive (when he said he would) to take them back home…

A fantastic story with many lessons woven throughout the pages that children can take with them through their lives: working through frustration and disappointment, making the best of a tough situation, forgiveness, and preparing for the coming of Christ. It would make a great Christmas read aloud.

The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2004)

This one will tug at your heartstrings and leave your kids with a few incredible lessons to tuck away for the next time they’re dealing with a difficult situation with peers.

“This Newbery Honor classic, illustrated by a Caldecott Medalist, is a beautifully written tribute to the power of kindness, acceptance, and standing up for what’s right.”

Amazon.com

The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, Illustrated by Garth Williams (Harper Collins, 1986)

A heartwarming story of how Armand (a carefree man who lives on the streets Paris and likes his simple life) encounters a small family under his bridge and comes to realize that “he must do whatever it takes to find them a real home.” (Excerpt from the back cover.)

The Family Under the Bridge won the Newberry Honor Award and would make a great Christmastime read aloud.

Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman, Illustrated by Kate Kiesler (Clarion Books, 1997)

A wonderful biography about the life of Louis Braille. Readers learn about the accident that blinded him and how he grew and went on to be the creator of a new language: raised dots that enabled blind people all over the world to read and write.

The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff (Houghton Mifflin Company, 1979)

Would you trust someone to shoot an apple off of your head with an arrow?

The Apple and the Arrow is a gripping story that details the experiences of Walter, (the son of William Tell, the greatest bowman in the land of Uri) and how his peaceful life in the mountains was changed forever during the Swiss revolt against the Austrians in 1291.

Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop, Illustrated by William Pene Du Bois (Puffin Books, 1991)

Based on a true story, this is an incredible book that would serve as an introduction, and then lead to good discussions about WWII for young families.

“During the German occupation of France, twenty French children are sent to a refuge in the mountains with the wise Sister Gabriel. When ten Jewish children are brought to the school, hiding them seems like a game- until Nazi soldiers arrive, and ten lives depend on the courage and cunning of twenty.”

Twenty and Ten

Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend by Will Moses (Puffin Books, 2001)

A lovely story about the great American folk hero, John Chapman (commonly known as Johnny Appleseed) and the life he led that was dedicated to helping settlers across the wild frontier of Mid-America.

Poetry to Read Aloud

The Bill Martin, Jr. Big Book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin, Jr. (Simon & Schuster, compiled 2008)

This big book of poetry is a compilation of almost 200 poems. Children are bound to find poems and illustrations they’ll enjoy thanks to a wide range of topics such as Animals, World of Nature, Around the Year, People and Places, School Time, Me and My Feelings, Family and Home, Food for Me, Nonsense, and Mother Goose.

First Grade Early Readers

Thunder and Cluck: Friends Do Not Eat Friends by Jill Esbaum, Illustrated by Miles Thompson (Simon Spotlight, 2021)

This is the first in a three book series about two very different dinosaurs. Thunder is big, scary, and likes to be alone. Cluck is little, perky, and reallyreallyreally thinks it would be great to be friends with Thunder… but can they become friends? This graphic early reader will have your kiddos giggling as they find out.

Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Random House, 1988)

Sam-I-Am pesters the other main character (unnamed) to get him to try green eggs and ham. Over and over, the other character declares that he can’t stand the food, but eventually, in order to quiet Sam, he tries it- he likes it- and he thanks Sam for his persistence. Green Eggs and Ham is a classic Seuss story that does an excellent job of illustrating the phrase “Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it!”

A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock, Illustrated by Fritz Siebel (Random House, 1986)

“…I saw that fly go past, I asked him why he went so fast. I asked him why he shook with fear. I asked him why he said, ‘Oh, dear!’ He said, ‘I MUST GET OUT OF HERE!'”

A Fly Went By, McClintock, page 5

What is that fly trying to get away from? A frog! But the frog is only trying to get away from another animal… who is trying to get away from another animal. This clever story keeps kids hooked and wondering “What’s next?” with every turn of the page.

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Harper Collins, 1985)

Little Bear has been entertaining young readers since 1957. In this book, the first of the series, young readers join wholesome Little Bear on his lovely adventures that occur close to home (and his mama.)

A Big Ball of String by Marion Holland, Illustrated by Roy McKie (Random House, 1986)

What would you do with a ball of string? I suppose that depends on how big it is! This is a fun, imaginative story about all of the wonderful, clever things that can be done with a big ball of string.

FAQ About Read Aloud Time at Home

Q: How Can I Make Reading Aloud Fun?

A: The best read alouds can be made into a more engaging experience for children. Here are a few tips:

• You could try acting out the story.
• Have your child draw pictures of the characters, glue them to popcicle sticks and put on a puppet show.
• Children can draw a scene from the story as you read, or build it using blocks, Brain Flakes®, or anything that they enjoy working with. The sky is the limit!
• Make a craft together using a character or certain page as inspiration.

There seem to be endless ways to bring a story to life after reading. For inspiration, simply research the book title on Pinterest or Google with the words “activity ideas” and you’ll find plenty of great options.

Q: How Long Should a Read Aloud Last?

A: 10-20 minutes. Start with a smaller amount of time and then gradually increase your reading time as your children get used to story time.

Q: What Can Kids Do During a Read Aloud?

A: If children are the type who like to keep their hands busy encourage them to work quietly on an activity. My children like to color, work on handicrafts, or play with building sets.

Shop the Book List

• Mrs. Piggle Wiggle by Betty MacDonald (Harper Collins)
• In Grandma’s Attic: Book One by Arleta Richardson (David C. Cook)
• The Light at Tern Rock by Julia L. Sauer (Puffin Books)
• The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes, Illustrated by Louis Slobodkin (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
• The Family Under the Bridge by Natalie Savage Carlson, Illustrated by Garth Williams (Harper)
• Out of Darkness: The Story of Louis Braille by Russell Freedman, Illustrated by Kate Kiesler (Clarion Books)
• The Apple and the Arrow by Mary and Conrad Buff (Houghton Mifflin Company)
• Twenty and Ten by Claire Huchet Bishop, Illustrated by William Pene Du Bois (Puffin Books)
• Johnny Appleseed: The Story of a Legend by Will Moses (Puffin Books)
• The Bill Martin, Jr. Big Book of Poetry edited by Bill Martin, Jr. (Simon & Schuster)
• Thunder and Cluck Series by Jill Esbaum, Illustrated by Miles Thompson (Simon Spotlight)
• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss (Random House)
• A Fly Went By by Mike McClintock, Illustrated by Fritz Siebel (Random House)
• Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik, Illustrated by Maurice Sendak (Harper)
• A Big Ball of String by Marion Holland, Illustrated by Roy McKie (Random House)

Check out the wonderful read aloud book list for preschool here!

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