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Level 1 books age


The Best Level 1 Reading Books For Your Budding Reader

The Best Level 1 Reading Books For Your Budding Reader

Parenting

by Megan Hungerford

Amazon / Scary Mommy

The best level 1 reading books can help your future bookworm fall in love with reading. But before you fill that bookcase full of your childhood favorites, it’s important to know that there are levels this -ish, mama. Yes, literal levels. When shopping for books for new or learning readers, you don’t want anything too easy or too difficult. You also want to be sure that it’s something that will actually hold their attention and get your LO interested in books (hopefully enough to want to continue reading on their own). It’s a lot to take into consideration! While filling up a bookshelf with the classics may be an understandable first instinct, it’s important to get what you’re child will both enjoy and learn from.

“Let your child’s library be determined by what they want to read. Building reading fluency is all about practice. And if your child is reading what appeals to them, they will want to read more and more,” advised Rachel Matson, the associate editor at Scholastic. “Passion for the book is more important than if your child is reading above or below level.”

That’s right. It doesn’t matter if the book is about ponies, pirates, or Olaf the Snowman — as long as they want to read it!

What is a level 1 reader?

Generally, there are five different categories (I Can Read, Ready to Read, Hello Reader, Step into Reading, and Brand New Readers) and four easy reader levels (Levels 1-4), each with various subcategories for different ages. Level 1 readers are usually around five or six years old, the age most children begin kindergarten. Unfortunately, there isn’t one set of industry standards across publishers that categorizes level 1 reading books. (Which makes this hella confusing for us parents). However, all the best level 1 reading books have the same characteristics: a simple vocabulary with familiar high-frequency words, repetition, and illustrations that support the text on every page. Shira Stein, a New York-based literacy specialist and tutor, gave Scary Mommy a little insight:

“Most publishing companies issue some version of early leveled readers. And these books can be very helpful in supporting your child learning to read because they are written with this specific audience in mind,” recommends Stein.

The Five Finger Rule

But how do you know if that level 1 reading book is right for your reader? Stein recommends using the Five Finger Rule! “If your kiddo opens a book and runs into 5+ unfamiliar words, that book is too hard. But zero unknown words is too easy,” Stein explains. So, it’s best to find a sweet spot in the middle. A book that has 2-3 new words per page is perfect for your learning reader.

I know that seems like a ton of info, mama — but don’t worry. We’ve sifted through all the leveled easy reading books from different publishing houses to collect the best level 1 reading books that are actually easy to read. Check them out below!

The Best Level 1 Reading Books

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover!' by Norm Feuti

Scholastic Books’ Associate Editor Rachel Matson recommends “this cute-as-can-be sleepover story which is all about having empathy for your friends,” as one of her top level 1 books. Part of the Scholastic early reader line Acorn, Hello Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepover! is the second of the five book series. The Acorn book line features easy to read text, a short story format, and captivating tales illustrated in full color. “Perfect for kids just learning to read. They have age-appropriate humor (no crude/gross humor), good grammar, and are relatable for young kids. Three to seven year-olds will enjoy them (and their parents). The hide-and-seek part is a big favorite” said one happy Amazon customer.

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

Jump into reading with this high quality, guided reading level A book by David McPhail. Part of the award winning early reading series from Holiday House, the book features acclaimed author-illustrators that create compelling narratives with simple text and gorgeous original artwork. McPhail uses cozy watercolor illustrations to depict kids and animals leaping in the air with this beginner book perfect for early kindergarten. “Awesome book,” reviews one happy customer on Amazon. “I love how even though these books are for beginning readers the illustrations and books are just as rich as higher level ones!”

$7.99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

This classic beginner’s book written by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features silly dogs zipping around town in everything from a car to rollerskates. With so many fun-loving characters, it’s no wonder why this beloved book has been a favorite for generations. One Amazon customer reviews, “from colors and numbers and locations, to the time of day, basic temperature, and size comparisons, there are lots of learning moments in this book. But I think it’s the fun illustrations and simple humor that has kept us coming back to Go, Dog, Go!” Kids of all ages (and reading abilities) will giggle when they hit the classic line “I do not like your hat” (which is so humorously met with a frosty “goodbye”). And parents will rarely tire of sharing this classic with their kiddos.

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

Chosen as a best book of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library, the Frog and Dog series is guaranteed to elicit giggles from the whole family. The first story in the series, Frog Meets Dog, tells how the two characters first encounter grows into friendship while also highlighting the importance of showing kindness. Perfect for fans of Hop on Pop, the simple text features repetitive rhyming texts allowing early readers to quickly recognize the cadence of the book while sounding out words. “We love this book!” said one Amazon customer. “Such a fun, easy reader that also shows kids it’s important to be kind. The fun and silly illustrations are perfect for all kids learning to read!”

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

What’s more exciting than scoring a goal? Finally reading a book all on your own — obviously! That is exactly what author Terry Pierce captures in this truly beginner book for the sports-loving kid. Simple sentences chocked full of alliterations and word families makes this a book little learners will enjoy reading again and again. “This is a cute book with easy to learn words and nice illustrations. Definitely coming back for more of this brand,” raved an Amazon customer. This Step 1 book from the Step into Reading series is ideal for a 4 to 6 year old who knows their alphabet and can’t wait to start reading!

$4.99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

Create an instant Elephant & Piggie library with all 25 titles in one complete set by author- illustrator Mo Willems. Any new reader will love giggling their way through the side splitting and always heartwarming adventures of these two wonderful friends. The set includes teacher favorites like There is a Bird on Your Head! and Today I Will Fly!, and come highly recommended by New York City based reading specialist, Shira Stein. “My favorite books for the beginning reader age group include anything by Mo Willems, but especially the Elephant and Piggie books.” states Stein. But don’t forget how much parents love them too! One parent on Amazon reviews, “My daughter loves Elephant and Piggie books. The stories are hilarious, and the characters are kind and friendly. The best part is that the books use simple vocabulary and my daughter for the most part can read them on her own.”

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

“A must-have for any child with siblings,” recommends Rachel Matson, Associate Editor at Scholastic. The first book of the hit Fox Tails series features brother and sister Fritz and Franny, and their highly imaginative bedtime routine that ends up looking a lot like sibling shenanigans. Any young reader with siblings and only children who pine for a larger family will respond to the rambunctious stories with vivid illustrations. “A marvelous read,” reviews one customer on Amazon. “The story and the illustrations are both charming and imaginative. Includes a drawing tutorial and a “What’s your story” prompt to keep the story going.”

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

Part of the Penguin Books Young Readers series, this level 1 book explores what happens when an ice cream cake gets overloaded with too many ingredients. Ann Ingalls masterfully crafts a story that is not only appropriate for young readers, primarily ages 4-6, but tells it with easy-to-read text full of short and simple words. “These Penguin Young Readers are what I think of as a true Level 1, for the kid who is just putting everything together and starting to read. It’s such a great feeling for my little man to be able to read the whole book himself. This is the first book my son ever read all by himself, and it’s probably my favorite out of this series,” said a parent reviewer on Amazon.

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

Created specifically for four to five year olds who are just starting to read by recognizing sight words and sounding out CVC words (consonant vowel consonant words such as ‘cat’ and ‘fan’). These books focus on the 16 most frequent kindergarten sight words (also known as star words or high frequency words) that kids are taught to memorize in their early reading journey. One parent reviews on Amazon, “I bought Level 1, 2, and 3, and my son loves them! The biggest win is that these books, coupled with his few lessons on sight words, have enabled him to quickly be able to start recognizing these words and actually reading full sentences!”

$13.46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

Here is Big Bunny is a visual treat for young readers. Steve Henry creates a cute and captivating story while changing just one word on each page to help budding readers gain confidence and momentum. And during the entire story, there are more than 150 adorable animal characters involved in their everyday city life to enjoy, while hints of Big Bunny are seen behind trees and through windows. “Delivers more every time you look,” said one Amazon customer. “Bursting with energy, the colorful city scenes are filled with animal characters engaged in fun activities. There’s a lot for children to discover, including the mystery of the shapes seen moving between the pages. The text is short, simple, and just right for beginning readers.”

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

By now we know that representation matters. And that is why we love the Princess Truly books from Scholastic’s Acorn series. Princess Truly features a little girl who has magical curly hair. In Off I Go!, she uses her magical curls to travel the world while making arctic friends. And in I am a Super Girl, Princess Truly uses her magic locks to actually become a superhero! Talk about girl power! This easy to read, highly entertaining book series will not only inspire our young female readers, but teach boys that girls are just as strong as they are. One mom on Amazon reviews, “This is a great story book! My kiddo says ‘Mommy, she has my hair!’,” How awesome is that?

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

The first little readers pack contains 25 unique eight-page stories that build early reading confidence at just the right level for your developing reader. The books feature simple text, picture clues, and decodable words that will help your child find success in reading with adorable stories about everything from dinosaurs to pizza. “My kindergartener was struggling to use the tools available to beginner readers (e.g. picture clues and sounding out words), so I bought this set for more practice at home,” reviews one parent on Amazon. “The past couple of weeks, I have seen significant improvement at home, and her teacher reported this morning that they’ve also seen improvement at school.” Is your little one totally new to reading? Or are they more advanced? The First Little Readers Parent Packs are also available in guided reading levels A through level G-H.

$13.59

Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book

Does your kiddo love cracking a joke? Or maybe they just love giggling at the punchline. Either way, if your kids like to laugh (and quite frankly what little one doesn’t), then Get the Giggles: A First Joke Book is the perfect level 1 book for your house. The 32-page colorful easy reader features the beginning of a joke on one page with the punchline on the back. One parent on Amazon reviews, “My five year old’s favorite book. If you have an early reader, this is the book you need! My daughter has read this book so much that she has memorized every single joke! It gives her big belly laughs as well as great confidence to read to others. This one is all five stars!”

$3.99

'Moo Dog' by David Milgrim

Get ready to have fun with a zany dog and bird duo who like to moo. Although the other animals are confused by these mooing animals, the book ultimately rings through with the timely theme of shamelessly being who you are (and having a blast doing it). One parent said, “This has been a great reader for my kindergartner. He was tired of repetitive books. This one is more of a short story using a variety of sight words. A lot of the pages look like a comic book style, my kid definitely thought that was fun.” Get ready to have the whole house mooing with the adorable tale of Moo Dog!

$3. 99

'Cat Days' by Alexa Andrews

“Wonderful for hesitant readers,” said one parent in Amazon reviews. “My child can read, but is hesitant to do so. This book gave her confidence to read. We checked it out at the library so many times I surprised her with her very own copy. Happy Girl!” The adorable easy reader follows the story of an orange tabby cat as she moves through her day. She learns where the best place to sit is, makes a new friend, and in the end curls up to a nice long nap. A great easy reader with sweetly simple illustrations that make this one of the best confidence building level 1 books on the list.

$3.99

Looking for more ideas to get your kids reading, learning, playing, or moving? We’ve got all the best mom-approved kids gear here!

SHOP THE STORY

'Hello, Hedgehog: Let’s Have a Sleepov...

$4.99

'Jump' by David McPhail

Jump into reading with this high quality, guided reading level A book by David McPhail. Part of the award winning early reading series from Holiday House, the book features acclaimed author-illustrators that create compelling narratives with simple text and gorgeous original artwork. McPhail uses cozy watercolor illustrations to depict kids and animals leaping in the air with this beginner book perfect for early kindergarten. “Awesome book,” reviews one happy customer on Amazon. “I love how even though these books are for beginning readers the illustrations and books are just as rich as higher level ones!”

$7.99

'Go Dog Go!' by P.D. Eastman

This classic beginner’s book written by P.D. Eastman—edited by Dr. Seuss—features silly dogs zipping around town in everything from a car to rollerskates. With so many fun-loving characters, it’s no wonder why this beloved book has been a favorite for generations. One Amazon customer reviews, “from colors and numbers and locations, to the time of day, basic temperature, and size comparisons, there are lots of learning moments in this book. But I think it’s the fun illustrations and simple humor that has kept us coming back to Go, Dog, Go!” Kids of all ages (and reading abilities) will giggle when they hit the classic line “I do not like your hat” (which is so humorously met with a frosty “goodbye”). And parents will rarely tire of sharing this classic with their kiddos.

$4.99

'Frog Meets Dog' by Janee Trasler

Chosen as a best book of 2020 by the Chicago Public Library, the Frog and Dog series is guaranteed to elicit giggles from the whole family. The first story in the series, Frog Meets Dog, tells how the two characters first encounter grows into friendship while also highlighting the importance of showing kindness. Perfect for fans of Hop on Pop, the simple text features repetitive rhyming texts allowing early readers to quickly recognize the cadence of the book while sounding out words. “We love this book!” said one Amazon customer. “Such a fun, easy reader that also shows kids it’s important to be kind. The fun and silly illustrations are perfect for all kids learning to read!”

$4.99

'Soccer Time!' by Terry Pierce

What’s more exciting than scoring a goal? Finally reading a book all on your own — obviously! That is exactly what author Terry Pierce captures in this truly beginner book for the sports-loving kid. Simple sentences chocked full of alliterations and word families makes this a book little learners will enjoy reading again and again. “This is a cute book with easy to learn words and nice illustrations. Definitely coming back for more of this brand,” raved an Amazon customer. This Step 1 book from the Step into Reading series is ideal for a 4 to 6 year old who knows their alphabet and can’t wait to start reading!

$4.99

'Elephant & Piggie: The Complete Collection' by Mo Willems

Create an instant Elephant & Piggie library with all 25 titles in one complete set by author- illustrator Mo Willems. Any new reader will love giggling their way through the side splitting and always heartwarming adventures of these two wonderful friends. The set includes teacher favorites like There is a Bird on Your Head! and Today I Will Fly!, and come highly recommended by New York City based reading specialist, Shira Stein. “My favorite books for the beginning reader age group include anything by Mo Willems, but especially the Elephant and Piggie books. ” states Stein. But don’t forget how much parents love them too! One parent on Amazon reviews, “My daughter loves Elephant and Piggie books. The stories are hilarious, and the characters are kind and friendly. The best part is that the books use simple vocabulary and my daughter for the most part can read them on her own.”

$99.99

'Fox Tails: The Great Bunk Bed Battle' by Tina Kügler

“A must-have for any child with siblings,” recommends Rachel Matson, Associate Editor at Scholastic. The first book of the hit Fox Tails series features brother and sister Fritz and Franny, and their highly imaginative bedtime routine that ends up looking a lot like sibling shenanigans. Any young reader with siblings and only children who pine for a larger family will respond to the rambunctious stories with vivid illustrations. “A marvelous read,” reviews one customer on Amazon. “The story and the illustrations are both charming and imaginative. Includes a drawing tutorial and a “What’s your story” prompt to keep the story going. ”

$4.99

'Ice Cream Soup' by Ann Ingalls

Part of the Penguin Books Young Readers series, this level 1 book explores what happens when an ice cream cake gets overloaded with too many ingredients. Ann Ingalls masterfully crafts a story that is not only appropriate for young readers, primarily ages 4-6, but tells it with easy-to-read text full of short and simple words. “These Penguin Young Readers are what I think of as a true Level 1, for the kid who is just putting everything together and starting to read. It’s such a great feeling for my little man to be able to read the whole book himself. This is the first book my son ever read all by himself, and it’s probably my favorite out of this series,” said a parent reviewer on Amazon.

$9.33

'Meet the Sight Words' Level 1 Boxed Set by Kathy Oxley

Created specifically for four to five year olds who are just starting to read by recognizing sight words and sounding out CVC words (consonant vowel consonant words such as ‘cat’ and ‘fan’). These books focus on the 16 most frequent kindergarten sight words (also known as star words or high frequency words) that kids are taught to memorize in their early reading journey. One parent reviews on Amazon, “I bought Level 1, 2, and 3, and my son loves them! The biggest win is that these books, coupled with his few lessons on sight words, have enabled him to quickly be able to start recognizing these words and actually reading full sentences!”

$13.46

'Here is Big Bunny' by Steve Henry

Here is Big Bunny is a visual treat for young readers. Steve Henry creates a cute and captivating story while changing just one word on each page to help budding readers gain confidence and momentum. And during the entire story, there are more than 150 adorable animal characters involved in their everyday city life to enjoy, while hints of Big Bunny are seen behind trees and through windows. “Delivers more every time you look,” said one Amazon customer. “Bursting with energy, the colorful city scenes are filled with animal characters engaged in fun activities. There’s a lot for children to discover, including the mystery of the shapes seen moving between the pages. The text is short, simple, and just right for beginning readers.”

$4.99

'Princess Truly: Off I Go!' by Kelly Greenawalt

By now we know that representation matters. And that is why we love the Princess Truly books from Scholastic’s Acorn series. Princess Truly features a little girl who has magical curly hair. In Off I Go!, she uses her magical curls to travel the world while making arctic friends. And in I am a Super Girl, Princess Truly uses her magic locks to actually become a superhero! Talk about girl power! This easy to read, highly entertaining book series will not only inspire our young female readers, but teach boys that girls are just as strong as they are. One mom on Amazon reviews, “This is a great story book! My kiddo says ‘Mommy, she has my hair!’,” How awesome is that?

$4.99

First Little Readers Parent Pack (Level D)

The first little readers pack contains 25 unique eight-page stories that build early reading confidence at just the right level for your developing reader. The books feature simple text, picture clues, and decodable words that will help your child find success in reading with adorable stories about everything from dinosaurs to pizza. “My kindergartener was struggling to use the tools available to beginner readers (e.g. picture clues and sounding out words), so I bought this set for more practice at home,” reviews one parent on Amazon. “The past couple of weeks, I have seen significant improvement at home, and her teacher reported this morning that they’ve also seen improvement at school.” Is your little one totally new to reading? Or are they more advanced? The First Little Readers Parent Packs are also available in guided reading levels A through level G-H.

$13.59

How to find easy reader books your learners can actually READ

PSPKK123August 28, 2018 •  51 Comments

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IMPORTANT UPDATE: When I first wrote this post, I believed that predictable leveled texts were the smart choice when finding reading material for brand new readers. After a great deal of study, I now understand that early readers need explicit phonics instruction accompanied by decodable text. The guided reading levels do not line up well, because most of the early books rely primarily on picture support.

I will leave this post here, but please know that my top recommendation for our earliest readers is quality decodable text. Feel free to send me a message via the Contact tab if you’d like more information!

 

When  a parent approaches one of our librarians for books that his/her new reader can read, the librarian points the parent to the “Easy Reader” section.

That poor parent is left to search through hundreds of books in all different series…

I Can Read.
Ready to Read.
Hello Reader.
Step into Reading.
Brand New Readers.

Ack!

After the initial overwhelm, the parent finally finds a “level 1” book that might work. Encouraged, s/he finds a “level 1” book in another series, only to discover that it is much too hard.

If you’ve been in this situation before, you have my sympathy.

Wouldn’t it be nice it someone would tell you which easy reader books really 
are easy… and which ones should wait a while?

I have good news! Today I’m going to do EXACTLY THAT.

In this post I’ll rate the quality of popular easy reader series. Then I’ll compare them to grade levels and guided reading levels. You can even grab a free printable comparison chart at the end of this post!

For a point of reference, this is how average grade levels compare to guided reading levels …

  • Kindergarten – Levels A-D
  • First Grade – Levels E-J
  • Second Grade – Levels K-M
  • Third Grade – Levels N-P
  • Fourth Grade – Levels Q-S

Brand New Readers

   

About this series: Brand New Readers are cute stories featuring fun characters.  UPDATE: I will keep these in the list, but I no longer recommend these for beginning readers because readers will have to rely heavily on picture cues to “read” the words.

Reading levels: Brand New Readers come in a single level, and the books roughly correspond to guided reading levels C-E.

Sample titles:

  • Beeper and Honk, by Carole Lexa Schaefer – guided reading level C
  • Monkey’s Loose Tooth, by David Martin – guided reading level C
  • Worm boxed set, by Kathy Caple – guided reading levels B-D

Penguin Young Readers

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

About this series: I am super impressed with Penguin Young Readers! The books are high quality with wonderful variety of stories and illustrations in both fiction and nonfiction.

These books also follow a very logical order in terms of difficulty (which is more than I can say for most of the series in this list). They even have the guided reading level of each book listed on the back.

Best for: Level 1 is great for new readers in kindergarten and early first grade. Level 2 is a good level for advanced kindergarten readers and average first grade readers. Level 3 is good for mid to late first grade through second grade, and Level 4 is ideal for third and fourth grade.

Sample titles:

Level 1 (guided reading levels C-E)

  • Max Finds an Egg, by Wiley Blevins -guided reading level C  (Blevins is an example of an author who can tell a good story while using decodable text – double win!!)
  • Max Has a Fish, by Wiley Blevins – guided reading level D

Level 2 (guided reading levels F-I)

  • Pig and Pug, by Laura Marchesani – guided reading level F
  • We Need More Nuts, by Jonathan Fenske – guided reading level G
  • The Cow in the House, by Harriet Ziefert- guided reading level I

Level 3 (guided reading levels J-M)

  • Fox on Stage, by James Marshall – guided reading level J
  • Young Cam Jansen, by David Adler – guided reading level J
  • Jackie Robinson He Led the Way, by April Jones Prince – guided reading level K

Level 4 (guided reading levels N-R)

  • Amistad, by Patricia McKissack – guided reading level R
  • Sacajawea: Her True Story, by Joyce Milton, – guided reading level N
  • I am Rosa Parks, by Rosa Parks – guided reading level O

Viking Easy-to-Read series

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

About this series: This series is very similar in quality to the Penguin Young Readers books, although the leveling system is different. You won’t find too many books in this series; I did some searching, and I’m not sure they’re still being printed.

Sample titles:

Level 1 (guided reading levels E-I)

  • Tiny’s Bath, by Cari Meister – guided reading level F
  • Ugly Duckling, by Harriet Ziefert – guided reading level H

Level 2 (guided reading levels H-K)

  • Young Cam Jansen books – guided reading level J
  • Willie’s Birthday – guided reading level J

Level 3 (guided reading level K)

  • Cork & Fuzz – Short and Tall – guided reading level K
  • Ant Plays Bear – guided reading level K

Puffin Easy-to-Read series

 Level 1 Level 2

About this series: These look like quality books, but I couldn’t find very many of them. I suspect that they’re being republished as Penguin Young Readers books. I couldn’t find enough Level 3 books to get data on the guided reading levels.

Sample titles:

Level 1 (guided reading levels C-I)

  • Scat, Cats! by Joan Holub – guided reading level level C
  • Shawn and Keeper, by Jonathan London – guided reading level I
  • New House for Mole and Mouse, by Harriet Ziefert – guided reading level G

Level 2 (guided reading levels I-K)

  • Ant Plays Bear – guided reading level K
  • The Teeny-Tiny Woman, by Harriet Ziefert – guided reading level I
  • Fox on Wheels – guided reading level J

Ready-to-Read series

 Pre-Level 1 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

About this series: There are some really great books in the Ready-to-Read series, such as the ones pictured above, and a fair number of really junky ones (based on television shows or toys).

Be careful with the early levels. There isn’t always much phonics support, and if kids are reading primarily by memorizing the pattern or using the pictures, they’re not really reading.

As you can see above, Ready-to-Read has changed its branding quite a few times, which can be confusing. But they’re all part of the same series.

Pre-level 1 (guided reading levels B-H)

  • Have You Seen My Cat? by Eric Carle – guided reading level B
  • Go, Otto, Go!, by David Milgrim – guided reading level D
  • Puppy Mudge books, by Cynthia Rylant  – guided reading levels D/E

Level 1 (guided reading levels H-K)

  • Katy Duck and the Secret Valentine, by Alyssa Satin Capucilli – guided reading level H
  • The Greedy Python, by Eric Carle – guided reading level K
  • Robin Hill School books, by Margaret McNamara  – guided reading levels H-K

Level 2 (guided reading levels J-M)

  • Click Clack Moo, Cows that Type, by Doreen Cronin – guided reading level M
  • Annie and Snowball books, by Cynthia Rylant – guided reading level J
  • Henry and Mudge books, by Cynthia Rylant – guided reading level J

Level 3 (guided reading levels N-R)

  • Pinky and Rex books, by James Howe – guided reading level L

Hello Readers

 My First Hello Reader Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

About this series: I don’t think they still make Hello Reader books, but you’ll probably still find quite a few on your library’s shelves. Overall, I’m impressed by their quality.

One annoying thing is that levels 1 and 2 have so much overlap that they’re basically the same level.

UPDATE: Be careful with the early levels. Often, the books require too much attention to pictures or context for students to be able to attend the print itself. Remember that we want our young readers’ attention to be on the words – yes, sounding them out – so that their brains can permanently store the words in their sight vocabulary.

Sample books

My First Hello Reader (guided reading levels D-E)

  • The Pet that I want, by Mary Packard – guided reading level E
  • The Ball Game, by Mary Packard – guided reading level E
  • Who am I? by Nancy Christensen – guided reading level E

Level 1 (guided reading levels D-I)

  • Footprints in the Snow, by Cynthia Benjamin – guided reading level D
  • I Hate my Bow! by Hans Wilhelm – guided reading level F
  • We play on a Rainy Day, by Angela Shelf Medearis – guided reading level E

Level 2 (guided reading levels F-I)

  • The Cows are in the Corn, by James Young – guided reading level F
  • The Day of the Bad Haircut, by Eva Moore – guided reading level H
  • N-O Spells NO! by Teddy Slater – guided reading level I

Level 3 (guided reading levels J-K)

  • The Blind Men and the Elephant, by Karen Backstein – guided reading level K
  • A Girl Named Helen Keller, by Margo Lundell – guided reading level K
  • Even Steven and Odd Todd, by Kathryn Cristaldi – guided reading level K

Level 4 (guided reading levels L-Q)

  • Buddy: The First Seeing Eye Dog, by Eva Moore – guided reading level M
  • Finding the Titanic, by Robert D. Ballard – guided reading level Q
  • The Snack Attack Mystery, by Elizabeth Levy – guided reading level L

Scholastic Reader

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4About this series: For a company that is well known for publishing children’s books, Scholastic hasn’t done the best job with its easy reader series. Levels 2 and 3 have a ton of overlap and are basically the same level. Plus, there’s a wide variety of difficulty within a single level. They should really have made this a 5-level system.

About this series: For a company that is well known for publishing children’s books, Scholastic hasn’t done the best job with its easy reader series. Levels 2 and 3 have a lot of overlap and are basically the same level. Plus, there’s a wide variety of difficulty within a single level. They should really have made this a 5-level system.

(As a side note, it seems that Scholastic has transitioned its Hello Reader books into this system. )

A good thing about this series is you should be able to find a lot of them, as they’re still being published. Also, the stories are mostly good.

Sample books

Level 1 (guided reading levels C-J)

  • Buzz Said the Bee, by Wendy Lewison – guided reading level G
  • Pizza Party, Grace Maccarone – guided reading level F
  • Bats, by Lily Wood – guided reading level J

Level 2 (guided reading levels H-O)

  • Two Crazy Pigs, by Karen Nagel – guided reading level I
  • Magic School bus Arctic Adventure, by Gail Herman – guided reading level M

Level 3 (guided reading levels J-O)

  • Penguins, by Kate Waters, guided reading level M
  • Poppleton in Winter, by Cynthia Rylant – guided reading level J
  • A Girl Named Helen Keller, by Margo Lundell – guided reading level K

Level 4 (guided reading levels M-Q)

  • Buddy the first seeing eye dog, by Eva Moore – guided reading level M
  • Finding the Titanic, by Robert D. Ballard – guided reading level Q
  • A Dinosaur Named Sue, by Fay Robinson – guided reading level P
  • Five Brilliant Scientists, by Lynda Jones – guided reading level Q

I Can Read!

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

About this series: I Can Read has been around for a long time. At one point they must have decided to start assigning levels to each of their books like the other easy reader series were doing. BUT … they forgot to change the actual difficulty of the books!

This is crazy, but even though “I Can Read” has four levels, they’re all basically the same! Yep. Here’s how it breaks down. Level 1 is pretty much guided reading levels J-L. So is level 2. And so is level 3! Level 4 is only slightly different, with guided reading levels L-M.

The stories are mostly good, but obviously they’re only a good fit for a small window.

Best for: All four levels are for kids in late first grade through mid-second grade.

Sample books

Level 1 (guided reading levels J-L)

  • Fancy Nancy Sees Stars, by Jane O’Connor – guided reading level L
  • Danny and the Dinosaur – by Syd Hoff – guided reading level J

Level 2 (guided reading levels J-L)

  • My Weird School books, by Dan Gutman – guided reading level J
  • Long, Tall Lincoln, by Jennier Dussling – guided reading level L
  • Frog and Toad are Friends, by Arnold Lobel – guided reading level K

Level 3 (guided reading levels J-L)

  • Minnie and Moo books, by Denys Cazet – guided reading level J
  • Josefina story quilt, by Eleanor Coerr – guided reading level L
  • The Golly Sisters Go West, by Betsy Byars – guided reading level K

Level 4 (guided reading levels L-M)

  • First Flight, by George Shea – guided reading level K
  • The Animal Rescue Club, by John Himmelman – guided reading level J

Let’s Read and Find Out

 Level 1 Level 2

About this series: Technically, the Let’s Read and Find Out series isn’t advertised as an early reader series. But I love these books and wanted to make sure you see them!

These are high quality science books for kids.

Best for: Level 1 is for kids in second grade. Level 2 is for kids in second and third grade.

Sample books

Level 1 (guided reading levels K-M)

  • Nest full of Eggs, by Priscilla Belz Jenkins – guided reading level M
  • From Seed to Pumpkin, by Wendy Pfeffer – guided reading level K

Level 2 (guided reading levels L-P)

  • Let’s Go Rock Collecting, by Roma Gans – guided reading level L
  • Germs Make Me Sick, by Melvin Berger – guided reading level O

National Geographic Kids

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

About this series: National Geographic Kids  books are high quality nonfiction. But you should know that the whole series is only good for kids in second through early fourth grade.

Best for: Level 1 is for second grade. Level 2 is for second and third grade. Level 3 is for third and fourth grade.

Level 1 (guided reading levels K-L)

  • Seed to Plant, by Kristin Baird Rattini – guided reading level K
  • Trains, by Amy Shields – guided reading level L

Level 2 (guided reading levels K-O)

  • Alligators and Crocodiles, by Laura Marsh – guided reading level K
  • Planets, by Elizabeth Carney – guided reading level O

Level 3 (guided reading levels O-Q)

  • Deadliest Animals, by Melissa Stewart – guided reading level P
  • Cats vs. Dogs, by Elizabeth Carney – guided reading level O

Step into Reading

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

About this series: There are some good books in this series, but you will have to sort through a lot of junky TV and movie-based books to find them.

I don’t like how much overlap there is in difficulty from levels 1-2.

Best for: Level 1 is for kids in kindergarten through mid-first grade. Level 2 is for first grade. Level 3 is for late first grade through mid-second grade. Level 4 is for late second grade through mid-third grade. It has a level 5, but I couldn’t find more than a couple of books for that level.

Sample books

Level 1 
(guided reading levels D-H)
  • I like Fish, by Margaret Wise Brown – Level E
  • Big Egg, by Molly Coxe – E
  • I Like Bugs, by Margaret Wise Brown – Level E

Level 2 (guided reading levels E-J)

  • Wake up, Sun! by David L. Harrison – guided reading level E
  • Shampoodle, by Joan Holub – guided reading level J
  • Five Silly Fishermen, by Roberta Edwards – guided reading level G

Level 3 (guided reading levels I-L)

  • Arthur Loses a Friend, by Marc Brown – guided reading level K
  • Hungry, Hungry Sharks, by Joanna Cole – guided reading level L
  • Little Lucy, by Ilene Cooper – guided reading level K

Level 4 (guided reading levels L-O)

  • Joan of Arc, by Dan Andreasen – guided reading level N
  • Soccer Sam, by Jean Marzollo – guided reading level M

Green Light Readers 

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3

About this series: The stories are good, and I like that there isn’t much overlap in difficulty between the levels. The guided reading level is printed on the back of each book.

UPDATE: Be careful with the early books. I don’t recommend using them if you notice that your child will need to use picture or context clues to “read” most of the words.

Sample books

Level 1 (guided reading levels A-F)

  • Big Pig and Little Pig, by David McPhail – guided reading level D
  • What I See, by Holly Keller – guided reading level A

Level 2 (guided reading levels F-K)

  • Catch me If You Can, by Bernard Most – guided reading level F
  • Digger Pig and the Turnip, by Caron Lee Cohen – guided reading level G
  • George and Martha, the Best of Friends, by James Marshall – guided reading level L

Level 3 (guided reading levels K-L)

  • Iris and Walter books, by Elissa Haden Guest – guided reading level K

DK (Dorling Kindersley) Readers

 Level 1 Level 2 Level 3 Level 4

About this series: DK Readers has changed its branding a number of times, which can be confusing. DK Eyewitness Readers are the same thing. These are fine nonfiction books, although I often feel that there is too much happening on a single page.

I really don’t like that books within a single level have such a wide variety of difficulty. Level 2 spans ten guided reading levels!

Best for: Level 1 is for kids in late first grade through the middle of third grade. Level 2 is for late first grade through fourth grade. Level 3 is for third and fourth grade. Level 4 is for fourth and fifth grade.

Sample books

Level 1 (guided reading levels I-O)

  • Lego the Batman Movie: Team Batman, by Beth Davies – guided reading level N
  • All About Bats, by Caryn Jenner – guided reading level I

Level 2 (guided reading levels I-R)

  • Amazing Bees, by Sue Unstead – guided reading level M
  • Journey of a Humpback Whale, by Caryn Jenner – guided reading level O

Level 3 (guided reading levels O-S)

  • Ape Adventures , by Catherine Chambers – guided reading level O
  • Star Wars – Finn’s Mission, by David Fentiman – guided reading level R

Level 4 (guided reading levels S-W)

  • Horse Heroes, true stories of Amazing Horses, by Kate Petty – guided reading level S
  • Atlantis, the Lost City?  by Andrew Donkin – guided reading level W

 

 

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Filed Under: Reading, Leveled book lists Tagged With: first grade, second grade, third grade, kindergarten, guided reading

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Elementary course books for children and teenagers ‹ Ingleks

By choosing a good study guide, you can organize the learning process and streamline your knowledge. We have compiled a selection of relevant textbooks that will help young students learn English at the Elementary level.

Content:

  • 1. The best textbooks for children
  • 2. The best textbooks for teenagers
  • 3. 5 misconceptions about textbooks for children and teenagers

The Elementary level is a store of knowledge that is enough to communicate at the everyday level. For more information on what grammatical and lexical topics are studied at this level, read the article "Elementary - the first steps in the English language." We also recommend that you determine your level of language proficiency - our author's test or an experienced teacher will help you with this.

When choosing a textbook, the age of the student is of great importance. A textbook of the same level can be written for a child, a teenager or an adult. Taking into account age characteristics will help make the learning process productive. In the article, we will consider textbooks that offer a comprehensive course. With the help of such aids, you will work through all aspects of the language: grammar, vocabulary, speaking, listening and writing skills.

The best textbooks for children

We have compiled a selection of books from leading publishing houses that have been successfully developing, compiling and testing books for English learners for years: Express Publishing, Oxford University Press, Cambridge University Press, Pearson, Macmillan. In our article, we conditionally divided students into children (up to 10-11 years old) and adolescents (from 11 to 16). For students over 16 years of age, we recommend that you use adult student allowances.

Let's look first at textbooks suitable for children aged 5 to 10.

1. Welcome

Authors: Virginia Evans and Elizabeth Gray
Publisher: Express Publishing

The book series consists of three parts and includes: Pupil's book, Workbook, a Teacher's book, as well as a CD with audio files and a set of color cards. At the end of each topic there is a section with exercises for reviewing the material covered (Revision). The manual provides creative tasks where students can talk about themselves, their family, etc. At the end of the textbook there is a list of words for each topic and even a play script for the school theater. The authors referred the course to the initial level of Starter (Beginner), but the third book is already close to the Elementary level.

The series of books is united by characters: Oscar, his family and friends, and the fabulous Genie.

2. Fly High

Author: Danae Kozanoglou
Publisher: Pearson

Educational complex consists of four books. The general structure of any of the parts is typical: a student's book, a workbook, a teacher's book, a disk with audio and video content. In an entertaining way, the student masters the lexical and grammatical minimum of A1 and A2 levels. Books in the series contain additional material in the form of educational cards, songs and crafts, as well as manuals are united by the story of the girl Sally, which is revealed gradually, keeping the little reader interested.

This is what a typical textbook page looks like:

3. Family and Friends

Authors: Naomi Simmons, Tamzin Thompson and Jenny Quintana
Publisher: Oxford University Press

from Beginner-Elementary for 6-7 year olds to Pre-Intermediate for 12-13 year olds. The training kit consists of a book for classes in the lesson (Class Book), a workbook (Workbook), a book for the teacher (Teacher's book), a disk with audio files and access to the Oxford University Press online platform. For example, the Level 1 section features songs, stories, phonetics, and games related to unit materials. Also in the textbook there are texts for additional reading (Extended Reading).

4. Super Minds

Authors: Puchta Herbert, Lewis-Jones Peter, Gerngross Gunter
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

Cambridge University Press is famous for its authoritative manuals. The Super Minds textbook is designed for preschoolers and younger students, from Beginner to Pre-Intermediate. Thanks to interactive tasks (dialogues, description of pictures), the student will develop communication skills. The training manual is accompanied by a CD with audio and video tasks and games. A series of textbooks is united by common characters.

5. English World

Authors: Liz Hocking, Mary Bowen.
Publisher: Macmillan

The course is designed for children of primary and secondary school age and consists of 6 benefits. In textbooks you will find many poems, songs, historical and informational texts. The book for the teacher has an access code to the electronic version of the book (Ebook). There are many interactive tasks on the disk for practicing the material covered.

The best textbooks for teenagers

We offer the most successful, in our opinion, books for students aged 11-16. Click On 2. The course includes a student book, a workbook, teacher materials and an audio CD. A distinctive feature of the book is a kind of reward in the form of interesting stories about Robin Hood or Huckleberry Finn.

The textbook contains texts on history and country studies, tasks for them develop not only English language skills, but also general outlook. All material of the educational series is well illustrated, and dialogues and texts are accompanied by audio, which allows students to listen to the speech of not only the teacher, but also native speakers.

2. Solutions

Credits: Tim Falla, Paul A. Davies
Publisher: Oxford University Press

An excellent textbook for teenagers with English proficiency from Elementary to Advanced. In the Elementary level textbook you will find texts on any topic with exercises to practice their content and vocabulary, and tasks for final control are in the teacher's book. Vocabulary from the Functional language section will be useful for communicating with native speakers, passing interviews, etc. A vivid textbook will be an effective tool for learning English.

3. GoGetter

Authors: Zervas S., Bright C., Wildman J., Fruen G.
Publisher: Pearson

This series of books by the famous publishing house is very popular. The textbook is modern and interactive. Preserving the traditional structure and tasks, the authors focus on developing skills that are relevant for a modern student: teenagers will be taught how to do project work, they will be given knowledge about other countries and cultures. The book contains many exercises aimed at developing conversational skills. By purchasing it, the student receives an access code to an online platform where he can practice grammar, watch video content from the BBC, and listen to audio.

4. Beyond

Authors: Robert Campbell, Rob Metcalf, Rebecca Robb Benne
Publisher: Macmillan

A course for teenagers with English proficiency from Elementary to Upper-Intermediate. For the entry level, you will need the first two books in the series. The kit consists of a textbook, a workbook, a teacher's book and a digital version of the textbook (Presentation Kit). The course contains many videos that will be of interest to teenagers. The teacher also has the ability to create a virtual classroom and track the progress of a group of students.

5. Think

Authors: Herbert Puchta, Jeff Stranks, Peter Lewis-Jones
Publisher: Cambridge University Press

An interesting educational series for teenagers that takes the student from Elementary to Advanced. The first two books are good for beginners. The textbook is called Think (think) for a reason - many tasks encourage a teenager to reflect on important topics: family, friends and relationships. Vocabulary and grammar are dosed and balanced, there are tasks to train writing skills and work on pronunciation.

Do not forget that one of the most popular books when learning a language at the Elementary level can and should be a dictionary. In the era of information technology, the dictionary has become less and less associated with a paper book, but many people still buy and look for paper versions. For detailed advice on choosing an electronic or printed dictionary, a word translation app or a special program, see How to choose a good English dictionary.

5 misconceptions about textbooks for children and teenagers

  1. Too many pictures - not serious

    A textbook for children should be bright and interesting. In addition, in the textbooks of British publishers, illustrations always serve as hints.

  2. Everything is in English - nothing is clear

    An English-language textbook immerses the student in the language environment, teaches him to think in English. And if questions arise, the student can always turn to the teacher for help.

  3. It makes no sense to buy a complete study kit, just a book for a student is enough

    We advise you to purchase the entire kit, because each book has its own function. Student's book or Pupil's book is a basic textbook that covers lexical and grammatical topics, as well as exercises for practicing all English skills (speaking, listening, reading and writing). Workbook or Activity book - a workbook with additional exercises for practicing the material covered. If the student is studying on his own, parents cannot do without the Teacher's book - the book provides answers to all exercises from the Student's book and Workbook. In addition, the audio disc and access to the online platform are only available to those who have purchased the Teacher's book.

  4. Interactive is not needed

    In our digital age, it is not necessary to severely restrict a child in obtaining knowledge via the Internet. Interactive makes it possible to hear the correct pronunciation of words, watch interesting videos, work out new vocabulary, etc. Modern textbooks equipped with special programs or platforms are a convenient and colorful simulator for consolidating knowledge.

  5. You need to study only one textbook

    If the student liked the initial books of the series and brought good results, we recommend continuing to work on the selected series. If the student does not like the textbook and the result is not satisfactory, it is worth changing it to another one.

Do you want your child to speak English as soon as possible? Try online classes and see how effective they are.

Whatever textbook you like, do not forget that a child cannot learn on his own, he needs a mentor. The teacher will be able to competently build training, diversify lessons with additional materials and develop English skills, taking into account the individual needs of the student.

© 2022 englex.ru, copying of materials is possible only with a direct active link to the source.

TOP 14 Best Books 📗 in English for Beginners

Why is it important to read books in English

When we read, our brain works hard. Even the shortest, medium-sized article in the native language is a good warm-up for the human brain prone to idleness, accustomed to shirking and pretending to be busy.

And reading books in English is no longer just a warm-up for the brain, but a real strength training with a bench press and the rest attached. In addition to the fact that reading itself increases memory capacity, develops communication skills and imagination, reading books in English is useful for the following reasons:

Vocabulary is growing. Cramming foreign words is not a very effective exercise. But when we memorize words in context, we are more likely that at the right moment that very phrase or expression will pop up in our head. The more English words you see, the better - something will surely be remembered. How to do this simply and fun, we will tell a little later.

The passive vocabulary is activated. The set of phrases that you use constantly and remember which is not difficult for you is your active vocabulary. Reading will help bring the passive reserve into working condition - these are the phrases, words, expressions that gather dust on the mezzanines of your RAM. Thus, your speech will become more diverse, and the list of possible topics for conversation will expand significantly.

Writing skills develop. When we read, our visual memory turns on. It is she who is responsible for spelling - you remember how the English word is spelled correctly and automatically repeat it in the same form in writing.

Grammar is being pumped. For beginners to learn English, tenses and passive constructions of the language may not be given as much as you like, but once you start reading, you will not leave them a chance. Your brain "reads" grammatical structures from the text, and you absorb them more naturally.

Pronunciation improves. Pronunciation is often neglected. All forces are thrown at grammar and vocabulary, and the pronunciation remains “from rush visa lave”. It would be nice to take care of that right away. Reading English literature aloud will give you confidence in speaking. There are many books for beginners with additional audio materials on sale: after listening to the recording, try to repeat the intonation and nuances of pronunciation. Before you have time to look back, you will speak no worse than any "native".

Increased self-esteem. There is no feeling that can be compared to when you finish reading your first book in English. Pride in yourself and understanding that much in the world is inaccessible without knowing English can become a strong motivation from the first to the last page.

English proficiency test

This English proficiency test was compiled by the Skysmart online school tutors. They prepared interesting and relevant tasks on modern topics to make the test both useful and interesting

How to read in English: life hacks


To keep the interest in reading in English at the very beginning, follow a few simple recommendations. These simple rules will help you make the reading process easier and more efficient.

1. The most important step is to choose the right book. Remember, a simple book does not mean at all - uninteresting. Here it is important to honestly assess your level and choose the appropriate book. It is better if the first book is as simple and understandable as possible - do not take up Ulysses right away, it is better that at the very beginning it was more interesting than difficult for you. Choose adapted literature for beginners - such books are specially published for those who begin to learn the language. They come with a translation, a dictionary and, sometimes, audio materials. Great book choice for first time readers!

2. Set a reading schedule. Who among us has not heard “better more often, but less than once a week, but two hours at once”? So, this really works. Read every day for 20 minutes - so you do not hate the book after the first hour and a half reading session, and the efficiency will only grow. Start a timer. At first, read strictly for no more than 20 minutes - this method will help you quickly move forward at your comfortable pace.

3. No dictionary. If you have chosen the right book, and it fully corresponds to your level of English, there should be no need for a dictionary. Effective reading begins when the meaning of unfamiliar words is guessed from the context. Guess, guess, err, go back and guess again. But. None. Dictionaries.

4. Write out phrases, not single words. Memorize the whole phrase from the sentence, not individual words. From now on, context is your best friend.

5. Retell. This ancient practice goes back to the Druids and turns Elementary into Intermediate faster than an American can say a Russian tongue twister. After every 20 minutes of reading, summarize everything with a retelling.

6. Reinforce with listening. If the text is not only read, but also listened to, you will achieve maximum efficiency from the process. Get as much out of the book as possible.

New material is easier to learn when there is constant practice. Come to English language courses for teenagers and consolidate your knowledge in practice!

List of the best books to read in English

You can read not only fiction. Reading articles, magazine columns, newspapers, and even user manuals is also helpful and effective. But for those who are just starting to learn English, it is better to opt for fiction.

Even if you are not a reader in principle, it will not be difficult for you to find a book for beginners that will be of any interest to you. The choice among fiction is great and inexhaustible: children's fairy tales, fantasy, detective stories, bestsellers, immortal classics, biographies, memoirs.

You need to progress in reading according to the level of the language: the higher the level, the more difficult the book. Start with an easy, adapted book, and when you feel ready to move on to more difficult books, choose from a variety of options according to your interests.

The variety of genres at the middle level is slightly higher than at the previous one. However, all the rules for effective reading at this level remain the same. The advanced level assumes that you are already "on you" with the chosen book, and you have access to the world of great literature.

Of course, there are a lot of rules and recommendations, but here's the most important thing: remember that reading is the most enjoyable and exciting way to learn a language. Don't treat books like hard work. Read with pleasure.

Study without tears (free guide for parents)

Ekaterina Murashova's step-by-step guide on how to stop doing homework for your child and build a healthy relationship with your studies.

Level of difficulty for beginners


There are many interesting books in English for beginners. Here are four books that you will definitely be interested in reading.

1. Anne of Green Gables by Lucy Maud Montgomery. "Anne of Green Gables", Lucy Maud Montgomery.
A novel by a Canadian writer about Ann "with two n": a red-haired girl adopted by a single brother and sister who live on a farm. Touching, exciting, full of funny and exciting moments, a book about love, honor, growing up, friendship. In total, three novels have been written about different periods of Anya's life: from the most tender childhood to blossoming maturity. By the way, Netflix released the series "Ann" based on the novel - it will be great to read the book first, and then watch the film adaptation.

Source: Anne of Green Gables

2. Tracey Beaker's Diary by Jacqueline Wilson. "Starring Tracy Beaker", Jacqueline Wilson.
Perhaps all the books of this writer deserve to be read. She writes about English teenagers, their problems, family relationships. Not only a child, but also any adult will find it useful and interesting to read Wilson with her sharp humor, sharp phrases and really related topics.

For a language beginner, Jacqueline Wilson's books are a real treat. Easy language, an abundance of colloquial phrases, idioms and a plot that you can't tear yourself away from. Tracey Beaker's diary is Jacqueline's star book. The quintessence of humor and unique author's style. By the way, based on Tracy Beaker, a series was shot, the characters of which speak in simple language. Try to read first, and then get acquainted with the film adaptation.

Source: Tracey Beaker's Diary

3. No such list is complete without Lewis Carroll and his Alice in Wonderland.
Find an edition of the book adapted for language learning according to the method of Ilya Frank - this is a text divided into paragraphs, accompanied by a translation and a dictionary. Alice is on the must-read list. Therefore, if you have only seen the film adaptation with Johnny Depp so far, then be sure to read it - you definitely won’t be bored.

Source: Alice in Wonderland

4. “Three men in a boat, not counting the dog”, Jerome. K. Jerome.
“Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog)”, Jerome Klapka Jerome. This book is studied in the first years of linguistic faculties and, in general, it is clear why - easy, funny and very useful for the language. You will spend the whole story on the water surface of the Thames, in a boat with the main characters. Read, watch film adaptations - there are at least two of them. At the same time, you will find out how many heroes are still in the boat.

Source: Three in a boat, not counting the dog

Intermediate

For Pre-Intermediate and Intermediate, the choice of books in English is much wider than for beginners.

5. Catcher in the Rye by Jerome Salinger. “The catcher in the Rye”, J.D. Salinger.
A cult item. A poignant, poignant story of Holden Colfid, a child of a lost generation. A rebellious teenager who doesn't feel at home anywhere, drops out of another school and sets off to wander around winter New York.

Gets into adventures, shares his thoughts, makes the reader fall in love with himself, because each of us is a bit of Holden Caulfield. Even the classic translation of The Catcher in the Rye does not half convey the Salinger atmosphere of the novel. Reading a book in English is worth at least for this amazing sense of belonging.

Source: Catcher in the Rye

6. On the Road by Jack Kerouac. "On the road", Jack Kerouac.
Novel-journey, endless hitchhiking across the USA in the early 50s. Together with the main character, you race along Route 60 in California, spend the night under the starry sky of Colorado, meet fellow writers in New York. It seems that you are about to arrive somewhere, and the journey will end, but it still continues.

Source: On the Road

7. Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, J. Rowling. “Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone”, Joanne Rowling.
That's really who does not need ideas and descriptions. Lucky for someone who has not yet read Harry Potter, and this whole amazing tale is ahead of him. And if you have already read Potter from cover to cover in Russian, feel free to proceed with the book in English. There is nothing better than immersing yourself in your favorite fantasy world again.

Source: Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

8. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher. “Thirteen Reasons Why”, Jey Asher.
The cult Netflix series is based on this novel. A story that raises topical social problems in the life of adolescents around the world. Fascinating, exciting, sometimes creepy, a book after which everyone will find something to think about.

Source: Thirteen Reasons Why

9. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by John Tolkien. "The Lord of the Rings", J. R. R. Tolkien. As in the case of Harry Potter, this is a great opportunity to get acquainted with the Tolkien universe for those who are not yet familiar with it. And devoted Tolkienists who have mastered English at the Intermediate level will be able to plunge into it again, but already in the “true” one - that is, the original version.

Source: The Lord of the Rings

10. The Devil Wears Prada by Lauren Weisberger.
“The Devil wears Prada”, L. Weisberger. It seems that everyone has seen the adaptation with Anne Hathaway and Meryl Streep. The book in English is full of modern vocabulary, interesting phrases, idioms and constructions that you will have to rack your brains over. After this book, you will have a wealth of language material that will come in handy in any conversation.

Source: The Devil Wears Prada

11. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell. “Gone with the wind”, Margaret Mitchell.
Immortal classic, epic novel about war, love and friendship. It is read in one breath, both in translation and in the original. If you still haven't heard about the brave Scarlett O'Hara, who "will think about everything tomorrow", then rather start reading.

Source: Gone with the Wind

12. One can often find classic detective stories in such lists. Not in vain The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot. "Sherlock Holmes stories", Arthur Conan Doyle; "Hercule Poirot novels", Agatha Christie occupy a special place among adapted literature.

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