Top Beginner Books for Kids [Free Beginner Readers Booklist]

Curriculum

In our home, the rhythm of reading aloud was established early on. It was incredibly important to me to cultivate a culture in our home where my children and I connected through the wonder of stories. When they were little, we’d cozy up with favorite picture books, revisiting beloved tales again and again. As they grew, we added chapter books, continuing to journey through narratives that sparked their imaginations and opened up doors for discussion and learning.

There’s a unique and exciting window of time for young readers – that crucial step between being read to and reading on their own. It’s when children have explored letter sounds and are eager to blend sounds together and form words. This is when we get to gently guide them to take those first confident steps toward becoming self-sufficient readers.

In this post, I’ll share how to recognize when your child is ready to embark on their independent reading journey, offer practical tips to encourage them along the way, and reveal my favorite books, which are perfect for beginning readers.

In this blog post:

Is your child ready for independent reading? Key signs to look for
Building confidence in beginning readers: simple support strategies
Our top picks: Best beginning reader books for kids [Free book list]
Favorite reading resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Is your child ready for independent reading? Key signs to look for

As your child becomes familiar with the alphabet and starts exploring phonics sounds, how do you know when they’re ready to start reading on their own?

Figuring out if your child is ready to independently read isn’t about checking off a list of milestones. Instead, it’s about paying attention to their curiosity and motivation. For example, they might grab a book and start “reading” to their stuffed animals, pointing to words they recognize or reciting stories from memory or in their own words. They might also sound out a short word on a cereal box or a sign on the street. These behaviors show that they’re starting to connect sounds with symbols and that they’re eager to try reading on their own.

Deciding when your child is ready isn’t tied to a specific age, it’s more about observing their interest and their foundational skills. One key sign is a solid understanding of the alphabet, not just being able to name the letters, but also knowing many of their sounds. This phonics knowledge is essential because it lays the groundwork for decoding unfamiliar words by blending sounds together.

It’s also important that your child understands spoken language is made up of individual words, and that these words correspond to specific parts of a written sentence. You might notice them pointing to words as you read aloud, or asking, “What does that say?” They may also recognize a few familiar words in a text – their name, “the,” “and,” or words they see often in their favorite stories.

Another sign that you child is moving toward independent reading is their ability to represent sounds when they try to spell or write. For instance, if they want to write “cat,” they might write “kt” or “ct,” showing they understand that letters stand for sounds. Or, as your child is coloring or drawing, they may begin to ask you how words are spelled, and then write down what you say. Any of these behaviors are signs they’re actively trying to connect sounds to symbols.

When you see these signs – curiosity, understanding of phonics, recognition of words, and attempts at spelling – and your child is eager to “read” on their own, it’s a clear cue that they’re ready to take ownership of their reading journey. Moving into simple, beginner reader books can then become a natural and exciting next step for them.

Building confidence in beginning readers: Simple support strategies

Here are some simple ways to support your child as they begin reading independently.

Create a reading routine that is warm and inviting. Pair reading with a special snack or a cozy spot in your home and keep it at a consistent time each day, like right after morning chores or before bed. Make sure you are sitting with your child and engaging while they read aloud.
Take turns reading. Make reading a shared experience and take turns reading one page aloud and then having your child read one page.
Generously help your child with words they don’t recognize. As you read together, help children through words they don’t know. Give them an opportunity to sound out words on their own, but if they are struggling, freely offer up the correct word to keep them engaged with the rhythm of the story. It is more important for children to enjoy the process of reading – finding delightful stories that will draw them in and leave them wanting to read more – than for children to become frustrated by forcing them to figure out a word they don’t recognize.
Cover the story illustration until your child has deciphered the words. Use an index card to cover the illustration on the page your child is reading. Reveal the picture once they read the line. This is a great motivation for them to finish reading the page, as well as avoids them taking guesses of what the words say based on the pictures.
Choose books at the right level. Be mindful to choose books that are roughly 90 percent full of words and sounds that they are confident to read without help or sounding out and 10 percent new or challenging words.
Talk about the story. When your child is finished with a book, be sure to talk about what happened in the story, and even re-read favorite parts.
Play the story. Gather simple household items to coordinate with the characters and the events in the story. Let your child play along with you, and then give them a chance to tell the story with the props on their own.
Create a book basket for your child. Keep the books at the right level in a special book basket so your child knows where to go to pick up books that they can read independently and not feel discouraged.
Focus in on books your children love. There are so many lovely books for children to read aloud at this age. When your child reads a book they love, allow them to read it again, or find more stories connected to what they love. Don’t force them to read stories you think they will love, or that their siblings liked a their age. Let children develop their own interests and be the guide in deciding what they love to read. The goal is for them to love to read, and what easier way than to provide them with stories they absolutely adore?
Use a chart to track how many books your child has read aloud. In the past we have made a large chart on a posterboard that led to a special one-on-one ice cream date. You could also use this chart.

Our top picks: Best beginning reader books for kids [Free book list]

Beginning reader books foster a love of reading by focusing on characters that gently draw children into reading. The books use simple text to reassure children and build their confidence as they read. These short, simple books help children create a habit of reading while having fun at the same time. I love finding collections where children become familiar with the way the author writes, the setting, and the personalities of the characters.

As my children have grown, these are some beginning reader books we have loved reading together over the years.

These are my all-time favorite beginning reader books:

Frog and Toad collection by Arnold Lobel

The Frog and Toad stories by Arnold Lobel chronicle the simple yet profound friendship between two amphibians with distinct personalities: the cheerful, optimistic Frog and the more reserved, thoughtful Toad. Through their gentle interactions and humorous mishaps, the stories beautifully explore themes of companionship, patience, kindness, and accepting differences, making them enduring favorites for beginning readers.

Little Bear by Else Holmelund Minarik

Else Holmelund Minarik’s Little Bear stories, beautifully illustrated by Maurice Sendak, follow the gentle adventures and daily life of a curious young bear cub and his loving Mother Bear. These simple, comforting tales explore the imaginative world of childhood, from Little Bear’s attempts to fly to the moon and his birthday celebrations, to his endearing interactions with his friends.

Henry and Mudge by Cynthia Rylant

Cynthia Rylant’s Henry and Mudge series beautifully depicts the heartwarming adventures and unbreakable bond between a young boy, Henry, and his enormous, lovable dog, Mudge. As an only child, Henry finds the perfect companion in Mudge, an English Mastiff who grows from a puppy into a 180-pound best friend, exploring themes of friendship, loyalty, and everyday experiences

Penny books by Kevin Henkes

The Penny series by Kevin Henkes – including Penny and Her Marble, Penny and her Song, and more – introduces young readers to an energetic and curious mouse named Penny, along with her loving family including Mama, Papa, and twin baby siblings Tilly and Pip. These charming early reader books explore relatable everyday experiences and small dilemmas.

Favorite beginning readers book list [Free Download]

For more books for early readers, download this FREE list of all of my favorite beginner reader books below.

To motivate and encourage new readers, download this FREE printable reading log below.

Favorite reading resources from Treehouse Schoolhouse

Treehouse Story School: Preschool

Treehouse Story School: Preschool is 32-weeks of gentle, literature-based curriculum designed for ages 2.5-5 years. This preschool curriculum that invites children to learn through the themes in stories they love. Each week will focus on a picture book, inviting children into connection and learning through music and movement, play-based narration, alphabet and number play, motor skills, practical life development, crafts, and baking together.

It would be a great fit for your toddler or preschooler if you are looking to incorporate multi-sensory, play-based learning while introducing them to timeless stories. From toddler through upper preschool, this curriculum can be used year after year as you dive deeper into beloved, classic stories your family will cherish. Preview a free week here.

Treehouse Book Studies

Treehouse Book Studies are digital download book studies of children’s literature for ages 5-13. Use in your homeschool as literature curriculum or as book study with a small group. Create lasting connections through rich stories while you study themes such as science, nature, geography, history, and language arts. Each download includes: Book Study with weekly lesson plans, recipes, Book Report Template, Extension Book List, Multimedia Reference Materials links, and Book Club Meet-up Guide.

Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets

The Wonder of Nature Alphabet Sheets were designed to offer young children a multi-sensory invitation to recognizing, forming, and writing letters. The watercolor illustrations that coordinate with each letter of the alphabet teach early phonetic awareness by introducing them to beginning letter sounds. Slide these sheets into a restaurant menu cover or into dry-erase pouches so that your child can practice them again and again. Use dry-erase markers and wipe clean after each use. Download a free sample of the Letter A here.

Do you have any favorite beginner reader books for children? Share your favorites in the comments below.