Early Reader Book Recommendations

When starting to read longer books independently, it's so important to find something ENJOYABLE! We love to help find books to build confidence and a love of reading. 

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Sir Ladybug By Corey R. Tabor, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Corey R. Tabor, Corey R. Tabor (Illustrator)
$12.99
ISBN: 9780063069060
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Balzer + Bray - March 29th, 2022

Hark! Sir Ladybug, with his bold royal plumage (a dandelion puff), his adventure tennies, his snack pouch, and his proud-as-punch pillbug herald, Pell, and his trusty squire, sterling the snail, are ready to become champions of your heart! This is a hilarious graphic novel with short, engaging chapters. Panels don't have too many words, but what they have include some great vocabulary. You get to peek inside a snail's shell, think differently about the food chain, and read some modern heraldic poetry. It's a hoot! --Tegan


Word Travelers and the Taj Mahal Mystery By Raj Haldar, Neha Rawat (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Raj Haldar, Neha Rawat (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9781728222059
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Sourcebooks Explore - October 5th, 2021

This is a very clever and fun early reader! If kids like traveling through time and space with Jack and Annie, they should love adventures with MJ and Eddie! Geography, history, and etymology combine in a surprisingly compelling story. I love, love, love the glossary at the end. that's perfect for curious kids (and adults). It can be rare to find an early reader that everyone in the family will enjoy, but I think this works. so this is perfect to help developing readers build confidence by taking turns reading aloud.  -Tegan


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Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest By Phoebe Wahl Cover Image
$19.99
ISBN: 9780735264892
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Tundra Books - September 21st, 2021

This reminds me of all the fairy and gnome books I loved in elementary school. I think young readers who appreciate the magic in nature will love spending time in these pages. It is a long picture book, with seasons as chapters. Every season brings new challenges and delights, and I relished seeing Hazel navigate it all! (Speaking of navigating, don't miss the endpapers-- a glorious map of Hazel's world!) -Tegan


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Maybe Maybe Marisol Rainey By Erin Entrada Kelly, Erin Entrada Kelly (Illustrator) Cover Image
$7.99
ISBN: 9780062970435
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Greenwillow Books - May 3rd, 2022

Precious! I thought it was cool that Marisol's dad lives apart from the family much of the time because he works on an oil rig. Marisol herself is delightfully weird-- she loves silent movies, has four stuffed animal cats named after her favorite foods (Nacho, Lumpia, Banana Split and Pot Roast), and has a real gen of a best friend in Jada, who is fun and supportive of her in every way. In this book, Marisol works up her courage to climb the tree in her pack yard (which she names "Peppina") by the end. Very sweet! --Tegan


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Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-to-Be Best Friend By Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert (Illustrator) Cover Image
By Dawn Quigley, Tara Audibert (Illustrator)
$5.99
ISBN: 9780063015388
Availability: Available - On our shelves now
Published: Heartdrum - May 11th, 2021

Lots to learn and enjoy, from Ojibwe and Michif words and culture to the importance of vaccinations! Jojo's best friend at home is her cat, Mimi, and at school, Fern. But she practices being friendly to all her classmates and finds friendships all around. Cute and fun. --Tegan