Summer Reading for Students Entering First Grade

This summer we want you to focus on enjoying reading.  One of the best ways to grow as a reader is to read various     genres of books and to read often.  Students are being asked to read at least 3 books, but we hope you will read many more!  Please write the title and author for each book you read on the enclosed leaf.  Please save the leaves and return them to school in the fall.  Feel free to make more leaves for every book you read this summer.  On the following pages is a list of recommended books, but your choice is not limited to these books. Have fun reading!

Beginning Readers

Amanda Pig and the Really Hot Day by Jean Van Leeuwen

Baa-Choo by Sarah Weeks

Big Egg by Molly Coxe

Big, Big Wall by Reginald Howard

Bones and the Dinosaur Mystery by David A. Adler

Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree

by Stan and Jan Berenstain

Boss for the Day by Tomie DePaola

Breakout at the Bug Lab by Ruth Horowitz

Busy, Busy Moose by Nancy Van Laan

Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman

Danny and the Dinosaur by Syd Hoff

Drip, Drop!  by Sarah Weeks

Emma's Strange Pet by Jean Little

Fox on the Job by James Marshall

Go Away, Dog by Joan L. Nodset

Houndsley and Catina by James Howe

Inspector Hopper by Doug Cushman

I Like Bugs by Margaret Wise Brown

I Love My New Toy by Mo Willems

Little Bear’s Friend by Else Holmelund Minarik

More Spaghetti, I Say! by Rita Golden Gelman

Mr. Putter and Tabby Write the Book by Cynthia Rylant

Peanut and Pearl's Picnic Adventure by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Poppleton in Fall by Cynthia Rylant

Rafi and Rosi by Lulu Delacre

Ruby Paints a Picture by Susan Hill

Space Cat by Doug Cushman

Tiny Goes Camping by Cari Meister

The Tortoise and the Hare by Betty Miles

The Treasure Hunt by Bill Cosby

Turtle and Snake's Day At The Beach by Kate Spohn

Young Cam Jansen and the Baseball Mystery

by David A. Adler

Great Books to Share!

Aesop’s Fables  by Jerry Pinkney

Buster and Phoebe: The Great Bone Game by Lisze Bechtold

Busy Body Nora by Johanna Hurwitz

Click, Clack, Moo : Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin

Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from Obedience School by Mark Teague

How I Became a Pirate by Melinda Long

The Jamie and Angus Stories by Anne Fine

Jamaica’s Find by Juanita Havill

Mallory Vs. Max by Laurie Friedman

Math for All Seasons: Mind-Stretching Math Riddles by Greg Tang

Owen Foote, Soccer Star by Stephanie Greene

A Second is a Hiccup: a Child’s Book of Time by Hazel Hutchins

Something Big Has Been Here by Jack Prelutsky

A Splendid Friend, Indeed by Suzanne Bloom

Surprising Sharks by Nicola Davies

Two Times the Fun by Beverly Cleary

The Ugly Duckling by Julius Lester

What Do You Do with a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins

Vulture View by April Pulley Sayre

Year of the Dog by Grace Lin

The ABC’s of Reading To And With Your Child

Ask questions while reading together. “What do you think will happen next?”

   Buy books as gifts for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, or other holidays.

      Chat about what is happening in the book and how it relates to everyday life.

Drop everything and read.  Set aside 20 minutes a day during which the whole

                            family reads.

  Examine book illustrations in detail. Select books that have large bright pictures.

      Find books that interest your child. Make suggestions, but don’t turn reading

                            into work.

Give hints when your child gets stuck on a word.

   Have fun. Smile and enjoy the story. Read with a slow, relaxed voice and be

                            expressive.

      Invite your child to the bookstore. Take time to lounge in the chairs and

                            browse the books.

Join in your child’s reading successes. Celebrate every small step with sincere

                            praise.

   Kids love to receive mail. Send your child a magazine subscription that interests

                             him or her.

         Learn to read with, and not just to, your child daily. Read aloud, share ideas,

                            and answer questions.

Model reading. Share with your child, whether you’re reading for information or

                            for entertainment.

   Never force your child to read. If you’re both too tired or discouraged to read,

                             take a break.

       Offer your child a variety of reading materials, such as books, magazines,

                            cereal boxes, comics, and newspapers.

Predict story elements, draw conclusions, and retell the story with your child.

   Quiz your child at the end of a story. Informally, of course!

       Reread books to familiarize your child with words and to build

                            self-confidence.

Sing songs, recite poetry, and do fingerplays to help develop language and listening

                             skills.

   Try to help your child understand that it’s okay to make mistakes.

       Understand that reading is developmental and that it takes time and

                            practice to become fluent.

Visit your local library on a regular basis. Sign your child up for his or her own

                            library card.

   Welcome wordless picture books into your collections. They generate

                            conversation and allow the nonreader to create his or her own

                            stories.

“eXhibit” patience when your child is selecting books. Your support is empowering.

   You are the most important person helping your child develop a lifelong love of

                            reading.

       Zealous readers are the result of supportive and nurturing role models.