Lit Lorie Loves

Book Talk: Best Books for Beginning Readers by Lorie

Image removed. Winner of the 2016 Theodor Seuss Geisel Award 
 

Mo is the youngest kid on the Robins, his football team. His classmates don't mind, but the kids on their rival team tease him for being a "butterfingers" who's too tiny to catch the ball. But Mo's coach has a plan to turn Mo's little size into a big win for the Robins! This Level 2 reader about a little African American boy with a big passion for sports was the winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award in 2016. 

 

Image removed. This lyrical beginning-reader by multi award-winning artist Bryan Collier turns the closet on its heel and redefines what it means to be a pair. Beautifully rendered art paired with rich, rhyming dialog creates a powerful reading experience. 

Image removed. In the style of Mo Willems, Jonathan Fenske tells three humorous stories of two friends, Pig and Fox, and their shenanigans with a cardboard box (all of which involved Pig accidentally crushing Fox in the box). With comic art and simple language, this Level 2 reader is sure to have kids rolling with laughter. 

Image removed. Jackson loves baseball, but a bee in the outfield causes him to miss a fly ball, and the game is stopped until the bee finally departs.  

 

 

Image removed. Curious George meets Mr. Bean in this adorable new picture book series from author-illustrator Jeff Mack that follows the loveable Mr. Monkey on his wacky adventures. 
 
Mr. Monkey bakes a cake. 
 
He can&;t wait to win a ribbon! 
 
But first he has to carry it to the contest. 
 
What could possibly go wrong? 

 

 

Image removed. A 2020 Theodor Seuss Geisel Honor Book 
 
Meet Flubby--the lovably lazy feline who prefers a purr-fectly laid-back lifestyle! 
 
The charming illustrations, simple text, and comic-like panels by J. E. Morris, author-illustrator of the Maud the Koala books, make this a unique format with a narrative style perfect for storytime and progressing readers.  

Image removed. Triceratops has an itch. . . so does Pterodactyl. . . and Brontosaurus. . . and T-Rex! But DINOSAURS DO NOT SCRATCH. There is a rule written in stone. What is an itchy dinosaur to do?!  

 

  

 

Image removed. Hog is careful. Harold is not. 

Harold cannot help smiling. Hog can. 

Hog worries so that Harold does not have to. 

Harold and Hog are best friends. But can Harold and Hog's friendship survive a game of pretending to be Elephant & Piggie? 

 Image removed. Ballet Cat and Sparkles the Pony are trying to decide what to play today. Nothing that Sparkles suggests -- making crafts, playing checkers, and selling lemonade -- goes well with the leaping, spinning, and twirling that Ballet Cat likes to do. When Sparkles's leaps, spins, and twirls seem halfhearted, Ballet Cat asks him what's wrong. Sparkles doesn't want to say. He has a secret that Ballet Cat won't want to hear. What Sparkles doesn't know is that Ballet Cat has a secret of her own, a totally secret secret. Once their secrets are shared, will their friendship end, or be stronger than ever?  

Image removed. Dog's toothbrush is missing. Has anybody seen it? Maybe . . . But what does a toothbrush look like? Donkey wonders. Featuring Jan Thomas&;s wonderfully wacky humor, rowdy repetitions, and hilarious characters, this book is sure to have young readers laughing out loud!  

Image removed. “Gerald is careful. Piggie is not. 
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can. 
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to. 

Gerald and Piggie are best friends. 

Today, I Will Fly! is the funny introduction to the characters. Piggie is determined to fly. But Gerald the elephant knows that’s impossible—isn’t it?” 

 

Image removed. Meet Big Duck, Little Duck, and Porcupine, stars of the Geisel Honor-winning early reader series perfect for fans of Elephant & Piggie and Ballet Cat. 
 
Big Duck likes to boss around her younger brother, Little Duck, and she fancies herself the leader of their trio--when joined by their gentle friend Porcupine. Little Duck doesn't speak yet, but through his expressions and his actions, he shows that he has a better grasp on any situation than his older sister. Told entirely through dialogue and visual storytelling with subtle humor throughout, Little Duck ends up getting the trio out of whatever jam they are in.