Entering First Grade Summer Reading

Entering First Grade Summer Reading Why is summer reading so important for children? Research shows that reading aloud to young children assists with building phonemic awareness and in developing early literacy skills. Research shows summer reading helps students maintain and further reading fluency and comprehension skills during the months school is not in session. Frequent reading exposes children to new concepts and ideas, increases background knowledge, and builds vocabulary; leading to greater reading comprehension. In this digital era, what can parents do to encourage more reading? Although formats for enjoying great literature change—whether bound or downloaded—great literature opens minds, inspires the imagination, allows diversion, and perpetuates a lifelong thirst for knowledge. What’s more, for a child’s active and developing brain, research shows summer reading reduces skill loss and increases readiness for the entering school year. A greatly paired and interest based book read in a quiet spot will balance out a young learner’s time with technology. What goals are appropriate to set for my child’s dedicated summer reading? Your child’s individual reading goals should be developmentally appropriate. However, it is recommended for students of all grade levels to read or be read to at least 15 minutes each day. What are grade equivalencies? How do I select a book matched to my child’s individual needs? A grade level equivalency indicates a book’s difficulty based on the equivalent grade level. For example, 4.0 would indicate a book’s grade level of readability and/or difficulty is that of beginning 4th grade year. 4.5 would indicate 4th grade mid-year, and so forth. Grade level equivalencies are noted next to the books listed below so that you can select books that are a close match to your child’s reading ability and skills. Selecting books that are just right assist in promoting a reader’s success and overall reading enjoyment. Please see the next page for suggested readings and some of our favorite authors.

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Favorite Authors

Favorite Picture Books

Grade equivalency scores noted.

Excellent books for sharing with your child. Grade equivalency scores noted.

Tedd Arnold  Huggly Takes a Bath 1.3  Fly Guy series 1.8-3.3  Parts series 2.0-3.3

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Eric Carle  A House for Hermit Crab, 3.2  The Tiny Seed, 3.2  Eric Carle’s The Rabbit and The Turtle & Other Aesop’s Fables, 3.5

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Doreen Cronin  Clack, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, 1.3  Diary of A Spider, 2.3  Dooby, Dooby, Moo, 2.3  Duck For President, 2.6

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Kevin Henkes  Waiting, 1.9  Julius, the Baby of the World, 2.9  Sheila Rae, the Brave, 2.3  Wemberly Worried, 2.1  Owen, 1.6

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Helen Lester  Me First, 3.6  A Porcupine Named Fluffy, 2.3  Listen Buddy, 2.8 Mo Willems  Don’t Let the Pigeon Ride the Bus, 1  Knuffle Bunny, 1  Elephant and Piggie series, 1

Bad Kitty books by Nick Bruel, 1.4 Bats at the Library by Brian Lies, 3.4 A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen, 3.0 Carmine, a Little More Red by Melissa Sweet, 3.5 Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by E. Silverman and B. Lewin, 2 The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, 3.5 Duck on a Bike by David Shannon, 1.8 An Egg is Quiet by Diana Hutts Aston, 3.5 Froggy books by Jonathan London, 2.1 Hot Rod Hamster books by Cynthia Lord, 2.4 Little Beaver and the Echo by Amy MacDonald, 1.7 Mercy Watson Thinks Like a Pig by Kate DiCamillo, 2.2 Mouse and Mole: Fine Feathered Friends by W.H. Lee, 2.2 Olivia by Ian Falconer, 1.9 Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons by J. Dean, 2.1 Scaredy Squirrel books by Melanie Watt, 2.9 Storm is Coming by Heather Tekavec, 2.0 Take Me Out to the Yakyu by Aaron Meshon, 2.4 The Teacher from the Black Lagoon (series) by M. Thale , 2.1 The True Story of the Three Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka, 3.0 Urgency, Emergency: Big Bad Wolf by Dosh Archer, 2 Where’s Walrus by Stephen Savage, 3 Splat the Cat series by Rob Scotton, 1.3

“I Can Read Books” These are leveled books which can be shared or for your child to read independently.      

Frog and Toad books by Arnold Lobel Fly Guy series 1.8-3.3 by Tedd Arnold Amelia Bedelia series by Peggy Parrish Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant Mr. Putter and Tabby by Cynthia Rylant DK Reader’s Star Wars

Non-Fiction    

National Geographic Kids books series Greg Tang Math books Amazing Dolphins! by Sarah Thomson, 3.5 Scholastic’s What is? series

Happy reading and happy summer!

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