Awesome Emergent Readers for Kindergarten ⋆ Parenting Chaos

For the last week, I have been debating how to do this post. When it comes to Emergent Readers there are 3-4 different levels depending on which Leveled Reading System you are using. For the purpose of this post, I am going to follow this Reading Level Conversion Chart for Guided Reading Levels A-C. I Can Read books are leveled differently, you can find the appropriate level for those below each section of book suggestions.

The books included on this list are also already leveled. There are many great books out there for emergent readers that are not leveled. If you are curious if a book that is not leveled is developmentally appropriate for your reader compare it to similar leveled books. Some things to look for are:

Sentence length and complexity
Vocabulary and word choice
Picture support
Book Length
Subject
Interest level (children will often read above their reading level on topics that they find interesting — a great way to challenge your reader)!
Repetition and predictability

And don’t forget, Reading Levels are only guides. Use your instincts and knowledge of your child when picking out books; not every book will be a good fit for them.

Emergent Readers for Guided Reading Level A/ DRA Level 1

Kids at this level are just beginning to learn how print works. They are learning the relationship between letters and sounds, and how to follow a text from left to right. They are also learning how to differentiate between pictures and print, using 1-1 matching, and noticing what features make each letter unique. Kids at this level may also start to pick up high frequecy words.

Have You Seen My Duckling? The Red Book (Caldecott Honor Book) Do You Want to Be My Friend? Board Book Sea Shapes Big and Little What Do Insects Do? Growing Colors Buenos Dias, Buenas Noches/Good Morning, Good Night (English and Spanish Edition) Toys’ Night Out Numbers All Around Big and Little: Things That Go Snowman’s Story

Find “I Can Read: My First Reading Level” books here

Emergent Readers for Guided Reading Level B/ DRA Level 2

Kids at this reading level have a core of easy, high frequency words, a strong understanding of the connection between letters and their sounds, and are able to identify a fair amount of letters based on their distinct features. They are also able to recognize and apply repeating language patterns, understand left-to-right directionality, and understand 1-1 matching. Children at this stage are just beginning to learn the concept of moving to the line of text below after finishing a line (called a return sweep).

On Market Street Growing Vegetable Soup (Voyager Books) Black and White Let’s Go Visiting Hoptoad I Love You Sun / I Love You Moon: Te amo Sol / Te amo Luna (Spanish Edition) Cats! (Rookie Readers Level A) Fun With Hats (Read Me First Series) Honk! (Read Me First) Ollie (Gossie & Friends) Have You Seen My Cat? (The World of Eric Carle) What Do You Like? Where’s the Cat? The Bus for Us Hide & Seek Wheels (Science Emergent Readers) Wake Up, Big Barn! In the Woods Afro-bets 1-2-3 Book Counting Dogs (Numbers Storybox Book) I Like Stars (Step-Into-Reading, Step 1)

Find “I Can Read: Level 1” books here

Emergent Readers for Guided Reading Level C/ DRA Level 3-4

Kids at Reading Level C are going to be able to move pretty smoothly across the page as they read. They should be beginning to rely more on their eyes and less on finger tracking when following texts. They should also begin to have some expression in their speech; noticing punctuation and dialogue. Kids at this level will also have a larger core of high-frequency words, are able to break text up into meaningful phrases, and are consistently self-checking and self-correcting.

I Love You: A Rebus Poem Going to Grandma’s Farm Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? It Looked Like Spilt Milk Bathtime for Biscuit Sheila Rae’s Peppermint Stick A Rainbow of My Own Zara’s Hats The Rat and the Tiger I Went Walking We Have a Baby Roll Over!: A Counting Song Yo! Yes? Catch That Cat! Where is Max? Old Mo Big Machines Lunch I Eat Leaves Splash! Bear About Town Tell Me a Season Bus Ride Caribbean Dream Gossie Spots, Feathers, and Curly Tails Flying Rain Teddy Bear, Teddy Bear Kites Dog’s Day Mice on Ice Good News, Bad News