40+ Early Reader Books for Emergent Readers to Enjoy Now

Ducks in Muck (Step into Reading, Step One) by Lori Haskins

Ducks in muck. Ducks stuck in trucks. Trucks stuck in muck. How will the trucks and ducks get unstuck?

Discover what happens to a group of friendly ducks when they play in the muck and then are taken away in a truck!

What This Story Needs is a Pig in a Wig by Emma J. Virjan

What this story needs is a pig in a wig, on a boat in a moat with a frog, a dog, and a goat on a log. . . .

As a panda in a blouse, a skunk on a trunk, and more hop on board, it becomes clear that what this story really needs is a bigger boat! Join Pig on an exciting boat ride as she discovers that life is more fun with friends in this fantastic funny read-aloud with cumulative text from author-illustrator Emma J. Virján.

See Otto (Ready to Read Adventures of Otto) by David Milgrim

Otto runs, runs, runs in this Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read by New York Times bestselling author/illustrator, David Milgrim. This is part of the award-winning, star-reviewed The Adventures of Otto series.

Meet Otto, an excitable robot who seeks adventure—and finds it—when he falls off his spaceship and lands on Earth, directly in front of a very cranky rhinoceros. Otto runs, but the rhino runs faster…Run, Otto, run!

This Pre-level 1 Ready-to-Read with bright illustrations and minimal text is perfect for the true emergent reader.

Usborne Phonics Reader Ted and Friends by Usborne

Created in consultation with a language expert, the stories have been especially written to help your child learn to read. The stories not only take into account recent research on the most effective ways of teaching reading, but are also great fun. There’s also a listen-along CD that brings the stories to life through charming readings. This exciting edition contains twelve titles from the popular Phonics Readers series. Included titles: Fat Cat on a Mat. Ted in a Red Bed. Big Pig on a Dig. Hen’s Pens. Fox on a Box. Frog on a Log. Ted’s Shed. Sam Sheep Can’t Sleep. Shark in the Park. Toad Makes a Road. Goose on the Loose. Mouse Moves House.

Elephant and Piggie Biggie by Mo Willems

Mo Willems, a #1 New York Times bestselling author and illustrator, celebrates ten years of Elephant & Piggie in this special bind-up collection: Today I Will Fly!; Watch Me Throw the Ball!; Can I Play Too?; the award-winning Let’s Go For a Drive!; and I Really Like Slop!

Hi! Fly Guy by Tedd Arnold

“A fly was flying. He was looking for something to eat. Something tasty. Something slimy. A boy was walking. He was looking for something to catch. Something smart. Something for The Amazing Pet Show.”

The boy and fly meet and so begins a beautiful friendship. Er, and so begins a very funny friendship. Using hyperbole, puns, slapstick, and silly drawings, bestselling author/illustrator Tedd Arnold creates an easy reader that is full of fun. With an eye-catching holographic cover. This is the first in a series of four.

Pete the Cat by James Dean

Don’t miss the first and bestselling book in the beloved Pete the Cat series!

Pete the Cat goes walking down the street wearing his brand-new white shoes. Along the way, his shoes change from white to red to blue to brown to WET as he steps in piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other big messes!

What’s Your Sound, Hound the Hound by Mo Willems

Join spunky Cat the Cat as she introduces the very youngest readers to her world, where a surprise is waiting in every book.

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems

“Pre-schoolers will meet their match and fall in love with this award-winning, laugh-out-loud picture book about the demanding but adorable Pigeon.” – Seira Wilson, Amazon Editor

When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place-a pigeon! But you’ve never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate.

In his hilarious picture book debut, popular cartoonist Mo Willems perfectly captures a preschooler’s temper tantrum.

Wallace and Grace by Heather Alexander

The Read & Bloom line offers high interest, character driven stories for newly independent readers that feature full-color illustrations throughout and will transition kids from leveled readers to a lifetime of reading.

In this charming series, perfect for newly independent readers, kids will be treated to simple whodunit mysteries as an utterly delightful owl duo put their heads together. In their first adventure, Wallace and Grace meet a rabbit who is sure he saw a ghost! But the clues lead them in a different direction. Something is spooking the garden . . . can Wallace and Grace solve this case?

Notebook of Doom by Troy Cummings

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Alexander has just moved to a new town where he is about to uncover all sorts of monsters! He finds an old notebook with the word “DOOM” inscribed on the front cover. The Notebook of Doom, which Alexander now holds, contains top secret information about monsters! In this first book, Alexander goes up against spooky balloon goons–unique and twisted arm-waving balloon guys! This book is full of humor, engaging black-and-white illlustrations, and of course . . . monsters!

Ready, Freddy by Abby Klein

Watch out, Junie, there’s a new kid on the block! It’s Freddy Thresher, a first grader who knows it’s a jungle out there. A new chapter book series written by an elementary teacher who’s seen it all!

Freddy Thresher has a problem: a really, really, big problem. He’s the only one in his class who hasn’t lost a tooth! All of the other students in Mrs. Wushy’s first grade have signed their names on the Big Tooth, and Freddy’s determined to get his name on it, too. So when Max “The Meanie” Sellars calls Freddy a baby, Freddy decides he’s going to lose that tooth one way or another, e

My Weird School by Dan Gutman

With more than 11 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading!

In the first My Weird School book ever, second-grade teacher Miss Daisy is in over her head. She doesn’t even know how to add or subtract! But the kids have other things on their minds. Principal Klutz has promised that if they read a million pages in books, they can turn the school into a video-game arcade for one whole night!

Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman’s insanely popular My Weird School series has something for everyone. Don’t miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang.

Haggis and Tank by Jessica Young

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line called Branches, which is aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Tank is a clumsy, outgoing Great Dane. Haggis is a dapper and grumpy Scottie dog. In the first book in the series, Haggis and Tank set sail as pirates. More…

Critter Club by Callie Barkley

Introducing The Critter Club! Amy and her friends solve a canine caper in this start to a pet-friendly illustrated chapter book series.

It’s Spring Break in Santa Vista, and everyone has big plans…everyone except for Amy, that is! As her best friends head out of town on exciting adventures, Amy resigns herself to helping out at her mom’s vet clinic. At least she’ll be around cute animals! But when Santa Vista’s cold and elusive millionaire, Marge Sullivan, brings her puppy Rufus for a check-up, Amy encounters an unexpected mystery. After her friends return home, the girls get to the bottom of what happened to Rufus—and discover a way to help other lost and lonely animals in their town.

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Critter Club chapter books are perfect for beginning readers.

Pug Pals by Flora Ahn

Two pugs. One beloved toy bunny. What could go wrong?

Sunny’s new little sister, Rosy, is getting her paws into everything. When Rosy takes Sunny’s favorite toy, Mr. Bunny, and loses him, Sunny is barking mad.

But when Rosy sets off on her own to find and rescue Mr. Bunny, Sunny starts to worry. Rosy’s never been outside by herself before. Sunny will have to gather all the canine courage she has and go after them — before Rosy and Mr. Bunny are both lost fur-ever!

Ivy and Bean by Annie Barrows

Meet Ivy and Bean, two friends who never meant to like each other: This boxed set, Ivy & Bean’s Secret Treasure Box (Books 1-3) is a delightful introduction to these spunky characters. It includes the first three books in the Ivy and Bean series, and a secret treasure-hiding box with a cool surprise inside!

Geronimo Stilton by Geronimo Stilton

Who Is Geronimo Stilton?
That’s me! I run a newspaper, but my true passion is writing tales of adventure. Here on Mouse Island, my books are all best-sellers! What’s that? You’ve never read one? Well, my books are full of fun. They are whisker-licking good stories, and that’s a promise!

Book 1
It all started when my sister, Thea, discovered a mysterious map. It showed a secret treasure on a faraway island. And before I could let out a squeak of protest, Thea dragged me into her treasure hunt! In no time at all, we’d set sail for the island. It was an adventure I’d never forget….

Black Lagoon Adventures by Mike Thaler

A new trade release of the hugely popular book club series by Mike Thaler and Jared Lee. These fun-filled chapter books mix school, monsters, and common kid problems with hilarious results.

Oh, no! It’s the class trip from the Black Lagoon. The kids have no idea where they’re going but they imagine a day full of ferocious animals, maniacal monsters, and scary aerial acrobatics. And their teacher, mean Mrs. Green, is going to quiz them on everything! When the kids stop letting their imaginations run wild they soon realize that they’re going to a very cool zoo. But that won’t change the fact that there’s never a dull moment in the Black Lagoon!

Hilde Cracks the Case by Hilde Lysiak

Real-life super-sleuth and media sensation Hilde Lysiak’s reporting skills are put to the test in this fun early chapter book mystery series!

Nine-year-old crime reporter Hilde Lysiak is starring in her very own early chapter book series — inspired by news stories Hilde wrote in real life! In this first book, there’s been a break-in on Orange Street! Cupcakes have been stolen, and soon a pie goes missing, too. Hilde and her sister/photographer, Izzy, must interview witnesses and follow the clues. Can Hilde crack the case in time to post her news story online? Joanne Lew-Vriethoff’s personality-filled illustrations appear on every page, bringing Hilde’s adventures to life for young readers!

Time Jumpers by Wendy Mass

This series is part of Scholastic’s early chapter book line, Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!

Chase and Ava find an old suitcase filled with strange objects. One of the objects looks like a dragon-headed doorknob… Suddenly Chase and Ava find themselves jumping back in time to King Arthur’s castle! They meet the king’s wizard Merlin and soon discover what the dragon-headed doorknob really is. It turns out they have an important job to do: They must save the king! But a bad guy is after them… How will Chase and Ava get back home? They will need to act fast to find out! Oriol Vidal’s engaging illustrations appear on every page. Newly independent readers will eat up this time-travel series from New York Times bestselling author Wendy Mass!

Magic on the Map by Courtney Sheinmel  and Bianca Turetsky

Travel around the United States of America with twins Finn and Molly in this new chapter book series that highlights a different state in each book!

Magic and mystery from sea to shining sea!

We must be dreaming! That’s what twins Finn and Molly Parker think when they discover a camper in their driveway–and it talks! When the RV transports them to a cattle ranch in Colorado, the twins know something magical has happened. Then the camper disappears, leaving Finn and Molly to wonder . . . how are we going to get home?

Each Magic on the Map book includes a map of the US, a map of the state that Finn and Molly visit, and 10 amazing facts about that state!

My New Team (Little Rhino #1) by Ryan Howard and Krystle Howard

A new chapter book series from Major League Baseball’s 2006 National League MVP, Ryan Howard! Every day when Little Rhino comes home from school, he finishes his homework, grabs his bat, his glove, and runs outside to meet Grandpa James. They always practice catching and hitting in the backyard. Playing baseball with grandfather is Little Rhino’s favorite thing to do, especially when he pretends to be a real Major League homerun hitter.One afternoon, after a long day of second grade, Little Rhino comes home to find out that Grandpa James has signed him up for a baseball league! Little Rhino will finally be a part of a team! But Little Rhino will quickly learn that is not always so easy to a good teammate, especially when there’s a bully wearing the same uniform as you.From Major League Baseball superstar Ryan Howard and his wife, Krystle Howard, a former elementary school teacher, this exciting new series is a fun read for sports and book fans alike!