Books for Beginning Readers
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa
Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa by Erica Silverman, illustrated by Betsy Lewin Cowgirl Kate and her horse, Cocoa, are good friends who spend time riding, and counting and herding cows. Like most friends, they disagree sometimes – for instance: is it time to eat, or time to count cows? When Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa ride…
Read MoreHoundsley and Catina and the Quiet Time
Houndsley and Catina and the Quiet Time by James Howe, illustrated by Marie-Louise Gay Houndsley and his friend, Catina, find themselves snowed-in for a day (with the first snow of winter). Catina worries at first – she has things to do before the concert that evening. Houndsley loves the quiet and isn’t worried at all.…
Read MoreUpstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole
Upstairs Mouse, Downstairs Mole by Wong Herbert Yee Mouse and Mole are neighbors, sharing the same tree. They are friends, and they have their differences. But, as friends, they try to work out any conflicts with some creative problem solving. Mole sweeps his hole every morning to keep it tidy. Mouse sweeps her house every…
Read MoreThe Blue Hill Meadows
The Blue Hill Meadows by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Ellen Beier Willie Meadow lives with his family (mother, father, and big brother) in Blue Hill, Virginia – a green valley with mountains and lakes nearby. Things in Blue Hill seem to belong to a simpler, slower time. This is a book about Willie and his…
Read MoreIris and Walter
Iris and Walter by Elissa Haden Guest, illustrated by Christine Davenier Iris’s family moved from the big city to the country. Iris was sad because she missed things from her old life – like roller skating in the long hallway, tango music at night from a neighbor’s apartment, playing baseball after dinner with the neighborhood…
Read MoreBramble and Maggie
Bramble and Maggie by Jessie Haas, illustrated by Alison Friend Bramble is a horse who gives riding lessons in a riding ring. But, Bramble is getting bored of riding around and around the ring while Mrs. Blenkinsop tells the riders what to do (and they tell Bramble what to do). Bramble expresses her boredom by…
Read MoreLibrary Lion
Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, illustrated by Kevin Hawkes This was a huge favorite in my house for many years. A lion, a library, friendship, and some rules – a wonderful story. One day a lion walked into the library. One of the librarians, Mr. McBee, saw the lion and ran to a different part…
Read MoreMiss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius, story and pictures by Barbara Cooney When Alice was a little girl, she lived in a city by the sea where she helped her grandfather with his paintings. Her grandfather told her stories of faraway places he had seen in his travels. Alice told her grandfather that she, too, wanted to travel and…
Read MoreKeeker and the Sneaky Pony
Keeker and the Sneaky Pony by Hadley Higginson, illustrated by Maja Andersen This is a good book for readers who are ready to move beyond the beginning reader books, but who feel a little intimidated by longer chapter books. Keeker is an eight-year-old girl who desperately wants a pony. She has taken riding lessons, been…
Read MoreHenry and Mudge and the Long Weekend
Henry and Mudge and the Long Weekend by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Sucie Stevenson One morning in February, Henry woke up and looked out of his window and found wet yuck. It was one of those gray days that isn’t Winter (with snow and exciting outdoor fun), but really isn’t anything else either. What to…
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