Grade 1 Summer Reading
Required Reading - Ty's Travels: Beach Day by Kelly Starling Lyons
Ty turns an ordinary day in the sandbox into a fun beach day. He wiggles his toes in the sand, finds seashells, builds a castle, and splashes in the ocean. Splish, splash! When his neighbor’s beach ball flies into his backyard, Ty learns that a beach day is even better with a friend. With simple, rhythmic text and joyful, bright art, this My First series and Guided Reading Level I is perfect for shared reading with a child. Books at this level feature basic language, word repetition, and whimsical illustrations, ideal for sharing with emergent readers. The active, engaging stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.
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Other Recommended Books
I Don't Care by Julie Fogliano
Like the two stars of this story, illustrators Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal know that differences only make a good friendship stronger. In this bouncy, rhyming story, two best friends think about all the little things that don’t matter– and the big things that really, really do. With each artist designing and drawing one character, and collaborating on the scenery and details, Molly Idle and Juana Martinez-Neal transformed this sweet story into a celebration of friendship– including their own– and a unique artistic vision.
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Draw along with the illustrators!
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The Elephants Come Home: A True Story of Seven Elephants, Two People, and One Extraordinary Friendship by Kim Tomsic
One day in 1999, Lawrence Anthony and Françoise Malby hear that a herd of wild African elephants needs a new home. They welcome the elephants to their wildlife sanctuary—Thula Thula—with open arms. But the elephants are much less sure they want to stay. How will Lawrence prove to them that they are safe and loved? What follows is a gorgeously illustrated real-life story of a friendship . . . and the story of the miraculous way that love given freely will return—greater and more wonderful than it began.
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Learn more about elephants!
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Cranky Chicken by Katherine Battersby
Cranky Chicken is, well, cranky. With one cranky eyebrow, cranky eyes, and even cranky, scratchy feet. But then one day, Cranky meets a very friendly worm named Speedy who wants nothing more than to be friends. Young readers will love seeing the mismatched friendship grow over the course of three charming and laugh-out-loud short adventures as Chicken and Speedy become BFFs (Best Feathered Friends) and Speedy shows Chicken how to look on the bright side.
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Watch a book trailer!
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Ablaze with Color: A Story of Painter Alma Thomas by Jeanne Walker Harvey
Celebrate the life-changing power of art in this inspiring and stunningly illustrated picture book biography of American artist Alma Thomas. Meet an incredible woman who broke down barriers throughout her whole life and is now known as one of the most preeminent painters of the 20th century. Told from the point of view of young Alma Thomas, readers can follow along as she grows into her discovery of the life-changing power of art.
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Learn more about Alma Thomas!
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Wait and See by Helen Frost
The creators of Step Gently Out and many other acclaimed picture books join forces again to look closely at an iconic insect through lyric words and stunning nature photography. When you are outside, if a small quick movement takes you by surprise, stop and look—move nothing but your eyes. Could it be a praying mantis, trying not to be seen? This sixth stunning collaboration between Helen Frost and Rick Lieder urges young readers into the wild outdoors, inviting them to “wait and see” what wonders patient observation has in store.
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Hear from the author and photographer!
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Gibberish by Young Vo
It's Dat's first day of school in a new country! Dat and his Mah made a long journey to get here, and Dat doesn't know the language. To Dat, everything everybody says – from the school bus driver to his new classmates – sounds like gibberish. How is Dat going to make new friends if they can't understand each other? Luckily there's a friendly girl in Dat's class who knows that there are other ways to communicate, besides just talking. Could she help make sense of the gibberish?
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Learn about the book from the author!
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Meet the Super Duper Seven by Tim Hamilton
Meet the Super Duper 7! Electro-Elephant can charge your phone. Hip-No-Hippo can put bad guys to sleep. And Hungry Kitty and her four brave birds . . . . But where are the four brave birds? How can the Super Duper 7 stop crime when Hungry Kitty keeps eating members of the Super Duper team? Maybe a mouse named Mr. Polka dot can help!
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Watch a book trailer!
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Listen to the Language of the Trees: A Story of How Forests Communicate Underground by Tera Kelly
This fascinating picture book explores the underground communication system between trees and helps young readers see that the natural world's survival depends on staying connected and helping others—just like us! Readers will discover that trees have their own social network, and helping one another thrive is trending.
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Learn more about how trees communicate!
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All book descriptions are taken from the publishers.