Editor’s Note: Jessica Patella is a Suncoast Campaign for Grade-Level Reading Engagement Team Member and is a teacher at Sarasota Military Academy.
Have you ever experienced that feeling after finishing a great book, that leaves you excited to devour more books, but don’t know how to find that next great read? Or maybe you love reading but are struggling with how to get a child excited about a book to read? Thanks to the extensive research from Renaissance, we have the newest lists of books that children are drawn to reading from Kindergarten through twelfth grade. You can access the full report HERE.
One of the greatest things about this report is not only do they share what most children are reading typically at a certain grade level, but they also report on top non-fiction reads and most importantly the top ratings from kids. What better way to inspire kids to read, than to look at what their peers are picking up to read, beyond the classroom!
Here are some of the top picks from Kindergarten through third grade:
Kindergarten
Top 5 Books Overall:
- Biscuit Goes to School by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Biscuit Finds a Friend by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
- The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
- Biscuit’s Big Friend by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Kid’s Highest-Rated Books:
- What Do You Do With a Tail Like This? by Steve Jenkins
- The Birthday Pet by Ellen Javernick
- Please Take Me for a Walk by Susan Gal
- Hen Hears Gossip by Megan McDonald
- Peter’s Chair by Ezra Jack Keats
Top 5 Nonfiction Books:
- I Am Water by Jan Marzollo
- From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
- Jump, Pup! by Susan B. Neuman
- I’m a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
- Dogs by Helen Frost
Grade 1
Top 5 Books Overall:
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold
- Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
- The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
- Biscuit Goes to School by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
Kid’s Highest-Rated Books:
- The Polar Bear Son: An Inuit Tale by Lydia Dabcovich
- The Empty Pot by Demi
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Bear and Bee by Sergio Ruzzier
- Mystery Vine: A Pumpkin Surprise by Cathryn Falwell
Top 5 Nonfiction Books:
- From Head to Toe by Eric Carle
- I’m a Caterpillar by Jean Marzollo
- Me on the Map by Joan Sweeney
- Red-Eyed Tree Frog by Joy Crowley
- I Am Water by Jan Marzollo
Grade 2
Top 5 Books Overall:
- Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
- Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
- If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
- Officer Buckle and Gloria by Peggy Rathmann
- The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss
Kid’s Highest-Rated Books:
- Bedtime by Annette Smith
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- A New Friend by Wiley Blevins
- Willy the Helper by Catherine Peters
- Wolf Pup by Wendy Pfeffer
Top 5 Nonfiction Books:
- The Tiny Seed by Eric Carle
- Fly Guy Presents: Sharks by Tedd Arnold
- Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham
- Super Storms by Seymour Simon
- My Name Is Gabriela: The Life of Gabriela Mistral by Monica Brown
Grade 3
Top 5 Books Overall:
- Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
- Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs by Jon Scieszka
- Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Double Down by Jeff Kinney
- A Fine, Fine School by Sharon Creech
Kid’s Highest-Rated Books:
- Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin
- Jeremy Thatcher, Dragon Hatcher by Bruce Coville
- Peter Pan: Retold from the J.M. Barrie Original by Tania Zamorsky
- The Wish Giver by Bill Brittain
- The Year of Miss Agnes by Kirkpatrick Hill
Top 5 Nonfiction Books:
- Smile by Raina Telgemeier
- Sisters by Raina Telgemeier
- Penguin Chick by Betty Tatham
- Yonder Mountain: A Cherokee Legend by Robert H. Bushyhead
- Young Thomas Edison by Michael Dooling
Still need more recommendations? You can also access an interactive book suggestion list based on grade level, reading level, and interest.
Do you have any other suggestions of books that a child you know has connected with? We would love to hear from you.
