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1st Grade Summer Reading List

The top 50 summer reading picks for 1st Grade — with descriptions and where to find each book. Download the whole list as a free printable PDF.
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1Cover of Green Eggs and Ham
Green Eggs and Hamby Dr. Seuss · 62 pagesReprint : Originally published: 1960, B-16, Beginner Books B-16 (Div. of Random House, Inc.), Author: Theodor Seuss Geisel (pseud. Dr. Seuss)
2Cover of Elephant & Piggie: There Is a Bird on Your Head!
Elephant & Piggie: There Is a Bird on Your Head!by Mo Willems · Elephant & Piggie series · 64 pagesGerald the elephant discovers that there is something worse than a bird on your head-- two birds on your head! Piggie will try to help her best friend.
3Cover of The Cat in the Hat
The Cat in the Hatby Dr. Seuss · 61 pagesA zany but well-meaning cat brings a cheerful, exotic, and exuberant form of chaos to a household of two young children one rainy day while their mother is out.
4Cover of Frog and Toad Are Friends
Frog and Toad Are Friendsby Arnold Lobel · Frog and Toad series · 64 pagesFrog and Toad Are Friends is an American children's picture book, written and illustrated by Arnold Lobel and published by Harper & Row in 1970. It inaugurated the Frog and Toad series, whose four books completed by Lobel comprise five easy-to-read short stories each. It was a Caldecott Honor Book, or runner-up for the American Library Association Caldecott Medal, which recognizes the year's best illustration in an American children's picture book.
5Cover of Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttons
Pete the Cat and His Four Groovy Buttonsby Eric Litwin · Pete the Cat seriesPete the cat loves the buttons on his shirt so much that he makes up a song about them, and even as the buttons pop off, one by one, he still finds a reason to sing.
6Cover of Fly Guy: Hi! Fly Guy
Fly Guy: Hi! Fly Guyby Tedd Arnold · Fly Guy seriesWhen Buzz captures a fly to enter in The Amazing Pet Show, his parents and the judges tell him that a fly cannot be a pet, but Fly Guy proves them wrong.
7Cover of Mercy Watson to the Rescue
Mercy Watson to the Rescueby Kate DiCamillo · Mercy Watson seriesAfter Mercy the pig snuggles to sleep with the Watsons, all three awaken with the bed teetering on the edge of a big hole in the floor.
8Cover of Should I Share My Ice Cream?
Should I Share My Ice Cream?by Mo Willems · Elephant & Piggie series · 57 pagesGerald the elephant has a big decision to make, but will he make it in time?
9Cover of A Bad Case of Stripes
A Bad Case of Stripesby David Shannon · 32 pagesIn order to ensure her popularity, Camilla Cream always does what is expected, until the day arrives when she no longer recognizes herself.
10Cover of Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemumby Kevin Henkes · 32 pagesChrysanthemum loves her name, until she starts going to school and the other children make fun of it.
11Cover of Pinkalicious
Pinkaliciousby Victoria Kann · Pinkalicious seriesA little girl who is obsessed with the color pink eats so many pink cupcakes that she herself turns pink.
12Cover of Biscuit
Biscuitby Alyssa Satin Capucilli · Biscuit series · 26 pagesA little yellow dog wants ever one more thing before he'll go to sleep.
13Cover of Amelia Bedelia
Amelia Bedeliaby Peggy Parish · Amelia Bedelia series · 108 pagesThe author describes his journey through places mentioned in the Old Testament.
14Cover of Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
Lilly's Purple Plastic Purseby Kevin HenkesLilly loves everything about school, especially her teacher, but when he asks her to wait a while before showing her new purse, she does something for which she is very sorry later.
15Cover of The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Ferdinandby Munro LeafA gentle bull who likes to sit quietly and smell flowers is entered in a bullfight.
16Cover of Splat the Cat
Splat the Catby Rob Scotton · Splat the Cat series · 40 pagesA nervous Splat finds his first day at Cat School much better than he expected.
17Cover of Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for Ducklingsby Robert McCloskey · 72 pagesFirst published in 1941, the book tells the story of a pair of mallard ducks who decide to raise their family on an island in the lagoon in Boston Public Garden, a park in the center of Boston, Massachusetts. <sup>[1][1]</sup> [1]: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Make_Way_for_Ducklings
18Cover of Curious George
Curious Georgeby H.A. Rey · Curious George series · 56 pagesThe curiosity of a newly-captured monkey gets him into continual trouble.
19Cover of The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
The True Story of the 3 Little Pigsby Jon Scieszka · 32 pagesGoodreads Review: **You thought you knew the story of the “The Three Little Pigs”… You thought wrong.** In this **hysterical and clever fracture fairy tale picture book that twists point** of view and perspective, young readers will finally hear the other side of the story of “The Three Little Pigs.” “**In this humorous story, Alexander T. Wolf tells his own outlandish version** of what really happens during his encounter with the three pigs…. Smith's simplistic and wacky illustrations add to the effectiveness of this fractured fairy tale.” —Children’s Literature **“Older kids (and adults) wil
20Cover of Strega Nona
Strega Nonaby Tomie dePaola · Strega Nona seriesWhen Strega Nona leaves him alone with her magic pasta pot, Big Anthony is determined to show the townspeople how it works.
21Cover of Owl at Home
Owl at Homeby Arnold Lobel · 64 pagesRelates five adventures of Owl.
22Cover of Little Bear
Little Bearby Else Holmelund Minarik · Little Bear seriesCelebrate the timeless warmth of a mother's love with the very first ever I Can Read book! Meet Little Bear, a friend to millions of children. And meet Mother Bear, who is there whenever Little Bear needs her. When it is cold and snowy outside, she finds just the right outfit for Little Bear to play in. When he goes to the moon, she has a hot lunch waiting for him on his return. And, of course, she never forgets his birthday. This classic from Else Holmelund Minarik and Maurice Sendak was written in 1957 and remains as beloved today as it was then. An ALA Notable Children's Book, this Level On
23Cover of Are You My Mother?
Are You My Mother?by P.D. Eastman · 64 pagesA little bird asks animals, planes, and boats, "Are you my mother?" until he finds his own mother.
24Cover of Go, Dog. Go!
Go, Dog. Go!by P.D. Eastman · 64 pages** WorldCat: Zany fun about all kinds of dogs and their doings, ending with a party at the top of a tree. ** Barnes and Noble: Reading goes to the dogs in this timeless Beginner Book edited by Dr. Seuss. From big dogs and little dogs to red, green, and blue dogs, dogs going up and dogs going fast . . . who knew dogs were so busy? And laughter will ensue at the repeated question “Do you like my hat?” Like P. D. Eastman’s classic Are You My Mother? Go, Dog. Go! has been a go-to favorite for over fifty years, leaving audiences of all breeds wagging their tails with delight. ** LibraryThing Review
25Cover of Danny and the Dinosaur
Danny and the Dinosaurby Syd Hoff · Danny and the Dinosaur series · 64 pagesA little boy is surprised and pleased when one of the dinosaurs from the museum agrees to play with him.
26Cover of The Watermelon Seed
The Watermelon Seedby Greg Pizzoli · 28 pagesAfter swallowing a watermelon seed, a crocodile imagines a scary outcome.
27Cover of Interrupting Chicken
Interrupting Chickenby David Ezra Stein · Interrupting Chicken seriesLittle Red Chicken wants Papa to read her a bedtime story, but interrupts him almost as soon as he begins each tale.
28Cover of Bink & Gollie
Bink & Gollieby Kate DiCamillo · Bink & Gollie series · 274 pagesEmbarrassed by her free-spirited parents and lonely when her best friend moves away, a self-conscious eleven-year-old girl named Philippa summons a wish-granting fairy godmother, with unexpected results.
29Cover of There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly
There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Flyby Simms Taback · 32 pagesPresents the traditional version of a famous American folk poem first heard in the U.S. in the 1940's with illustrations on die-cut pages that reveal all that the old lady swallows.
30Cover of Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Book!
Elephant & Piggie: We Are in a Book!by Mo Willems · Elephant & Piggie series · 57 pagesGerald is careful. Piggie is not. Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. Gerald and Piggie are best friends. In We Are in a Book! Gerald and Piggie discover the joy of being read. But what will happen when the book ends? Using vocabulary perfect for beginning readers (and vetted by an early-learning specialist), Mo Willems has crafted a mind-bending story that is even more interactive than previous Elephant & Piggie adventures. Fans of the Geisel Award-winning duo won't be able to put this book down--literally!
31Cover of Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beach
Pete the Cat: Pete at the Beachby James Dean · Pete the Cat series · 32 pages"Pete is spending the day at the seashore. He has fun collecting shells and building a sand castle. But the beach is very hot. There is a whole ocean for Pete to cool off in, but it looks scary. Pete's brother, Bob, offers to teach Pete to surf. Will that be enough to help Pete get over his fear of the water?"--Description from Amazon.com. Pete is spending the day at the beach. He has fun collecting shells and building a sand castle, but the beach is very hot. There is a whole ocean for Pete to cool off in, but it looks scary. Pete's brother, Bob, offers to teach Pete to surf.
32Cover of Fox in Socks
Fox in Socksby Dr. Seuss61 p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm.380L Lexile
33Cover of One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fishby Dr. Seuss · 62 pagesA story-poem about the activities of such unusual animals as the Nook, Womp, Yink, Yap, Gack and the Zeds. A "fabulous book of easy words, exciting pictures and inviting rhythm."--Elementary English.
34Cover of Hop on Pop
Hop on Popby Dr. Seuss · 64 pages**LibraryThing: Pairs of rhyming words are introduced and used in simple sentences, such as "Day. Play. We play all day. Night. Fight. We fight all night."
35Cover of Frog and Toad Together
Frog and Toad Togetherby Arnold Lobel · Frog and Toad series · 64 pagesFrog and Toad are always together. Here are five wonderful stories about flowers, cookies, bravery, dreams, and, most of all, friendship. A Newbery Honor Book --back cover
36Cover of Mouse Soup
Mouse Soupby Arnold Lobel · 64 pagesWeasel is ready for his dinner. And poor mouse is it. Just in time, he thinks up a clever and entertaining way to distract weasel from serving up mouse soup for supper. --back cover
37Cover of The Day the Crayons Came Home
The Day the Crayons Came Homeby Drew Daywalt · The Day the Crayons seriesHaving soothed the hurt feelings of one group who threatened to quit, Duncan now faces a whole new group of crayons asking to be rescued. From Maroon Crayon, who was lost beneath the sofa cushions and then broken in two after Dad sat on him; to poor Turquoise, whose head is now stuck to one of Duncan's stinky socks after they both ended up in the dryer together; to Pea Green, who knows darn well that no kid likes peas and who ran away—each and every crayon has a woeful tale to tell and a plea to be brought home to the crayon box.
38Cover of Pinkalicious and the Pinkatastic Zoo Day
Pinkalicious and the Pinkatastic Zoo Dayby Victoria Kann · Pinkalicious seriesPinkalicious and the Pinkatastic Zoo Day by Victoria Kann (part of the Pinkalicious series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade 1.
39Cover of Fly Guy Presents: Sharks
Fly Guy Presents: Sharksby Tedd Arnold · Fly Guy series1 volume (unpaged) : color illustrations ; 23 cm.540L Lexile; 540L Lexile; 540L Lexile
40Cover of Dog Man Unleashed
Dog Man Unleashedby Dav Pilkey · Dog Man series · 224 pages**Petey is up to no good in the second Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey.** Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Petey the Cat is out of the bag, and his criminal curiosity is taking the city by storm. Something fishy is going on! Can Dog Man unleash justice on this ruffian in time to save the city, or will Petey get away with the purr-fect crime? Dav Pilkey's wildly popular Dog Man series appeals to readers of all ages and explores universally positive themes, including empathy, kindness, persistence, and the importance of being true to one's
41Cover of Henry and Mudge: The First Book
Henry and Mudge: The First Bookby Cynthia Rylant · Henry and Mudge series · 39 pagesHenry, feeling lonely on a street without any other children, finds companionship and love in a big dog named Mudge.
42Cover of Owl Babies
Owl Babiesby Martin Waddell · 32 pagesThree owl babies whose mother has gone out in the night try to stay calm while she is gone.
43Cover of The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Tree
The Berenstain Bears and the Spooky Old Treeby Stan Berenstain · Berenstain Bears series · 40 pagesOne by one, three brave little bears have second thoughts about exploring the interior of a spooky old tree.
44Cover of Frog and Toad All Year
Frog and Toad All Yearby Arnold Lobel · Frog and Toad series · 64 pagesIn winter, spring, summer, and fall, Frog and Toad are always together. Here is a wise and wonderful story for each season of the year—and one for Christmas, too. --back cover
45Cover of Henry and Mudge and the Happy Cat
Henry and Mudge and the Happy Catby Cynthia Rylant · Henry and Mudge series · 20 pagesHenry and Mudge and the Happy Cat by Cynthia Rylant (part of the Henry and Mudge series). A recommended summer reading selection for grade 1.
46Cover of The Berenstain Bears Go to School
The Berenstain Bears Go to Schoolby Stan Berenstain · Berenstain Bears series · 42 pagesGoofy's kindness to animals pays off when he is ordered to do three impossible tasks to save a castle and its inhabitants from a spell.
47Cover of Mouse Tales
Mouse Talesby Arnold Lobel · 61 pagesContains: The Wishing Well Clouds Very Tall Mouse and Very Short Mouse The Mouse and the Winds The Journey The Old Mouse The Bath
48Cover of Days with Frog and Toad
Days with Frog and Toadby Arnold Lobel · Frog and Toad series · 64 pagesAn ALA Notable Children's Book Ages 4 to 8 Good friends like and Toad enjoy spending their days They fly kites, celebrate Toad's birthday. and share the shivers when one of them tells a scary story. So when goes off by himself one sunny morning, Toad really worries. He thinks he's lost his friend for good. --back cover
49Cover of Curious George Rides a Bike
Curious George Rides a Bikeby H.A. Rey · Curious George series · 80 pagesA little monkey needs to rescued when he tries to fly a kite.
50Cover of Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Shower
Amelia Bedelia and the Surprise Showerby Peggy Parish · Amelia Bedelia seriesSUMMARY: A horse goes on a shopping spree with the farmer's wife and returns with four shiny high-heeled shoes and a hat.