Teaching your children to read is life changing. It opens up a world of possibilities for them. It offers them independent learning and so many opportunities. If you could only teach them how to do one thing in your entire homeschool journey, this is it. So today, we are going to discuss a reading list for grades K-2.
It would be great if every kid was reading in Kindergarten. However, different kids learn at different rates. Some will pick up reading really fast. Some will not. My child hated reading but loved to be read to with huge novels. So instead of forcing my child to read, we focused on us reading chapter books together. So this reading list of books for grades K-2 are not necessarily ones your child will read themselves. Some of these are books you will read to them. Yes, some of them are big and long. But reading books above grade level can do so much good for your child. They learn big words and big ideas. This in turn leads to big thinkers.
Clean Books
Every book on this reading list is a clean book. This means they are uplifting, wholesome, with no profanity, and no magic or violence (unless noted). I have done my best to review these books. However, should I miss something or you feel a book should be added to this list, please send me a comment in the box below.
If you are in need of an additional set of reading lists, you can find the 3rd-4th grade reading list below:
3rd-4th Grade Reading List: Clean Books w/ Free Printable
Keep in mind that if you are using the Charlotte Mason approach to reading, several of these books would be referred to as “twaddle”. However, I think that at this young of an age, any book that excites a child to want to read is okay. Most of these books excite and encourage young readers, and many, while not being exactly Charlotte Mason, do provide good moral lessons. Even the simple books such as “Press Here” and “Don’t Press the Button” are valuable in their kinesthetic abilities to teach hands on skills.
Study Guides
In addition to this reading list, you will see notated books that have study guides available. I use TCR Study Guides, Novel-Ties and Great Works Literature Guides depending on what’s available. Each of the guides is easy to use and can be adapted to Charlotte Mason style narration exercises if desired. They are also secular in nature, so they should be usable by most, if not all, families.
Parent Read Aloud to Children (Above Level)
A Child’s History of the World by V.M. Hillyer-This is a book about history that is linear in how it’s put together. Overall, it is a beautiful narrative of history. The book is decidedly secular with several small references that have some Christian context at the beginning. If you do not wish to include these in your lessons, just skip the first few chapters. It will not take away anything from the book. Also, there is some violence in this book. While it is fairly minimal, if you are concerned, you will want to pre-read the lessons
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl-This book is sooo much better than the movie. A wonderful story with wonderful values.
Black Beauty by Anna Sewell
Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White
The Trumpet of the Swan by E.B. White
Stuart Little by E.B. White
The Mouse and the Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary-There are 3 books in this series.
Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard Atwater
Henry Huggins Collection by Beverly Cleary-This is a 6 book set all about a little boy and his dog. All the books are clean reads and make wonderful read a louds for younger kids.
Little House on the Prairie Series by Laura Ingalls Wilder-This has 9 books in all.
Student Read Aloud Books (At Level)
The Elephant & Piggy Series by Mo Williams-Every one of these books is great. They are clean and funny. Kids and adults alike will enjoy them.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Series by Mo Williams-Another great series that will be enjoyed by all.
Click Clack Moo by Doreen Cronin
Don’t Push the Button by Bill Cotter
Press Here by Herve Tullet
Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Caps for Sale by E. Slobodkina TCR Unit Study Available
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
The Little House Book by Virginia Lee Burton
The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf
If You Give…Series by Laura Numeroff Great Works Lit Guide or TCR Study Guide
The Man Who Didn’t Wash His Dishes by Phyllis-Krasilovsky-Note: This is an old book and does have a reference to smoking in it. I used it as a teaching opportunity about smoking for my child. Outside of this, it has an otherwise wonderful lesson about cleanliness.
Step into Reading Level 1 These books are made to be read by smaller children as beginning readers. There are many books in this series. It is too numerous to list them all. Please note that not all will be appropriate for all children, nor are they all educational. Please make sure to pre-read these books if you have any concerns.
Free Printable List
To get your free printable copy of this reading list, click on the link here below:
What about the Spot series? The little dog named Spot. I loved those as a first grader. Okay I’m dating myself here. 😆 but it was a good series.
I haven’t read those, but I’ll be sure to check them out. Thanks!