It can be an overwhelming experience trying to teach a child to read. Where do you start? What are the best resources? How do I get my child to want to read on their own? For anyone who has ever asked these questions, here are some of my favorite simple easy readers. Books with only a few words per page. Books that are well-illustrated, funny, and exciting and will make kids want to pick up the next one to try to read on their own.
By Ethan Long
New York: Holiday House, 2025. Easy Reader.This book, the first in a new series (the second one is also out now!) follows a canine crew in an adventure through town as they try to follow around their bone. What is unbelievably cool about this book is that it tells a story with only one word per page while using a word that changes by one letter on each spread. So the word can changes to ran, which changes to rap, and that trend continues throughout the book. Ethan Long somehow manages to tell a cohesive story with a format that even the youngest of children can read.
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2025. Easy Reader.
In this book an adorable penguin tunnels through the pages. Each spread shows him in a unique location whether the "tunneler tunnels in the tunnel" or the "gardener gardens in the garden", each spread will encourage kids to read through word repetition. The detailed illustrations will have kids looking through the tunneler's tunnels to see what buried treasures they can find. For kids who may be helped by word repetition, this book is a great choice.
Written by Juwanda G. Ford
Illustrated by Jada Jeni Bennett
New York : Holiday House, 2025. Easy Reader.This book tells the story of a basketball team trying to win a game. The game is tied with only five minutes to go and tensions are tight as the kids play. The book describes the scene with 10 words or less per page and focuses on sight words and words that are easily decodable. For kids who enjoy sports, pick up this winner!
By Juana Medina
Somerville, Massachusetts : Candlewick Press, 2025. Easy Reader.Elena the purple elephant returns (if you haven't read Elena Rides, that one is also great!) to go on a camping trip. The only problem is that Elena doesn't know how to set up her tent. After initially being frustrated by her predicament she eventually admits that she can use some help, which she gets from the red bird on the cover of the book. This book is heavy on the sound effects ("GA-BUNK! GA-BAM! GA-BOING!") which kids will love to sound out.
New York : Simon Spotlight, 2025. Easy Reader.
This year's Geisel Award Winner by Jonathan Fenske (who you may know from the Crabby series) features a disgruntled mop who is tired of its household responsibilities. A la the Gingerbread Man, the mop runs away as animals try to catch it. This book focuses on words ending in -op, making it a great read alike for kids already familiar with Hop on Pop.
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