Incoming First Grade Summer Reading 2008

Dear Parents,

Summer reading should be fun. These reading lists have been prepared by the librarians in the Santa Monica-Malibu USD in collaboration with the Santa Monica Public Library. The lists provide a selection of good books that kids enjoy. Not every good book is included, but the lists have something for every reader. Reading levels are suggestions only as every student learns to read at his or her own speed. You can help by reading with your child and encouraging his or her own interests. Reading takes lots of practice and encouragement. Set aside 15 to 30 minutes every day for your child to read with you. Have fun with the books and help instill the joy of reading in your child. Some titles are also available as audio books so families can enjoy a good book together.

For extra summer fun, visit your local public library for reading programs, many of which offer activities and prizes.  Santa Monica Public Library’s theme for 2008 is “Catch the Reading Bug!”  Have a wonderful summer vacation and read, read, read!

Reading Aloud

According to the Commission on Reading, “The single most important activity for building the knowledge required for eventual success in reading is reading aloud to children.”  Children need to hear rich language and enjoy the varied illustrations of books by Beatrix Potter, Robert McCloskey, William Steig, Dr. Seuss, Steven Kellogg, Bill Peet, Chris Van Allsburg, Kevin Henkes and Patricia Polacco.  Make sure they are familiar with characters in children’s books such as Madeline, Arthur, Olivia, George and Martha, Lyle the Crocodile, Corduroy, etc.  Introduce your child to the wealth of traditional folk and fairy tales and share the rhythm and rhymes of poetry with your child.  Help them find answers to their questions by reading some of the wonderful nonfiction books for children.  Visit your local library or bookstore and ask for more recommendations.

Beginning Readers

All books are located in the picture books (XXF) or easy readers (XXE) sections of the Santa Monica Public Library unless otherwise noted. Check your local library's catalog or your local bookstore for additional availability.

Capucilli, Alyssa Satin.  Biscuit and the Baby   (XXE) Biscuit the puppy is eager to meet the new baby but must wait until nap time is over.  One of a series.

Capucilli, Alyssa Satin.  Pedro’s Burro (XXE) Pedro and his papa go to market to look for the perfect burro.

Dunrea, Olivier.  Gossie   (XXF) Gossie loves to wear her bright red boots everywhere and is sad when they cannot be found.

Fleming, Denise.  Lunch  (XXF) A very hungry mouse eats a lunch made up of colorful foods.

Henkes, Kevin.  Kitten’s First Full Moon  (XXF) When Kitten thinks the moon is a bowl of milk, she ends up tired, wet and hungry trying to reach it.

Hood, Susan.  Pup and Hound Catch a Thief  (XXE) Pup and Hound search for a thief when they find a broken bank and a missing locket.  One of a series.

Hutchins, Pat.  Rosie’s Walk  (XXF) As she takes a walk around the farmyard, Rosie the hen manages to lead a fox into one accident after      another.

Krauss, Ruth.  The Carrot Seed  (XXF) A little boy plants a carrot seed and waits for it to grow.

Labatt, Mary.  Sam Goes to School  (XXE) Sam jumps on the school bus and follows the children to school.  One of a series.

McKissack, Patricia & Frederick.  Messy Bessey’s Family Reunion   (XXE) After having fun at their family reunion, Messy Bessey's family cleans up the park.  One of a series.

Meister, Cari.  When Tiny Was Tiny  (XXE) A dog's owner describes how Tiny grew from a very small puppy to a very big dog.  One of a series.

Schaefer, Lola M.  Follow Me, Mittens  (XXE) Mittens goes for a walk, but he is distracted by a butterfly and becomes lost.

Slobodkina, Esphyr.  Caps for Sale  (XXF)  A band of monkeys steals every one of a peddler's caps while he takes a nap under a tree.

Stamper, Judith Bauer.  Space Race  (XXE)  Zip, Zat, Zing, and Ray have a fun race in space.

Weeks, Sarah.  Baa-Choo!  (XXF)  When Sam the lamb has trouble sneezing, the other animals try to help.

Weeks, Sarah.  Splish Splash  (XXE)  Different animals ask to join a fish in a tub until the tub is full.

Willems, Mo.  There Is a Bird on Your Head! (XXE) Gerald the elephant learns that there is something worse than a bird on his head—there could be two birds on his head!  One of a series.

Nonfiction

Branley, Franklyn M.  Is There Life in Outer Space?  (X576.839 Branley)  Discusses some of the ideas about life in outer space and speculates on the existence of such life.  One of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out-About Science, Stage 1 series.

Carle, Eric.  The Tiny Seed.  (XX581 Carle)  Can a small seed survive the dangers of nature to become a beautiful flower?

Rovetch, Lissa.  Ook the Book and Other Silly Rhymes  (x428.1 Rovetch) Funny rhymes help beginning readers with phonics.

Thomson, Sarah L.  Amazing Sharks  (x597.3 Thomson)  Presents lots of facts about sharks. One of the I Can Read series.   

April 2008 (eb/jb)