Books for children beginning to read

Notes In Essex Libraries we have lots of books that support children who are learning to read. We aim to complement the reading schemes that children use in schools by providing lots of well written and attractive books with simple text that children will enjoy reading for pleasure. These books help children develop reading skills and reading confidence. This document will provide guidance for staff and parents about which types of books will be appropriate for children at various stages of their early reading development. To identify which series will be most appropriate for the child you need to find out roughly how many words or sentences per page they are currently reading. Alternatively if the child is using the Oxford Reading Tree (one of the most common reading schemes used in Essex) at school you can ask what level they are on. Find the level or the number of words in the list below and you will be signposted to a number of series appropriate for the child found in the Ls and Ys. A: If the child needs: B: If the child needs: C: If the child needs: D: If the child needs: E: If the child needs: F: If the child needs: G: If the child needs: H: If the child needs: I: If the child needs: J: If the child needs: K: If the child needs: First Words; 2-3 words per page; Lots of picture clues One sentence per double page; Repetition of words One sentence per page One longer sentence per page 1-2 sentences per page 2-3 sentences per page 3-4 sentences per page 4 sentences per page 5 sentences per page 5-6 sentences per page 7+ longer sentences per page Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 8 Page 10 Page 12 Page 14 Page 16 Page 17

A: If the child needs:

First Words 2-3 Words per page Lots of picture clues

or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 1 (Beige/Pale brown) see examples below Other titles in the series Who Is It? Floppy Floppy Six in a Bed A Good Trick Fun at the Beach The Pancake Look on the library shelves for the following series: Red Nose Readers (Category L) Other titles in the series Big Pig Fee Fo Fi Fum

Tiddlers (Category L) Other titles in the series A Cake for Tea The Lost Broomstick Oh, Jet! Freds Ted George the Knight

Twisters (Category L) Other titles in the series Sally Sails the Seas One Wet Welly A Head Full of Stories Mary had a Dinosaur

B: If the child needs:

One sentence per double page Repetition of words

Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 1 plus (Purple) see examples below Other titles in the series What a Din! What Dogs Like? At the Park Making Faces Floppys Bone Look on the library shelves for the following series: Reading Corner Grade 1 / Level 1 ( 50 Words) (Category L) Other titles in the series Miss Muffet and the Spider The Mud Monster Oh George! Harrys Hat The Zoo Rap What Now Puss? Where Are My Glasses? Start Reading Pink Band (Category L ) Other titles in the series Dads Net Boo Hoo Baby! Go Go Go!

Read Me Beginners (Walker) (Category L/P) Other titles in the series Green Queen Monday Run-Day Pointed Hatted Princesses

Dorling Kindersley Read Along (Category L/P) Other titles in the series Tog the Dog Mig the Pig Pat the Cat

C: If the child needs:

One sentence on each page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 2 (Green) see examples below Other titles in the series The Baby-Sitter Monkey Tricks Naughty Children A Sinking Feeling Look on the library shelves for the following series: Reading Corner Grade 1 Level 2 (70 Words) (Category L) Other titles in the series A Busy Week Five Naughty Kittens Hettys New hat Sniff Too Sleepy Whizzy Witch Leapfrog Rhyme Time (Category L) Other titles in the series Big Bad Bart Juggling Joe Miss Pollys Seaside Brolly Queen Rosie

Tadpoles (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series Five Teddy Bears Ben and the Bear Charlie and the Castle Little Troll

Zig Zag Yellow / Orange (Category L) Other titles in the series Too Small Tall Tilly Dinosaur Planet Thirsty Moose Open Wide Batty Bettys Spells 3

D: If the child needs:

One longer sentence on each page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree - Stage 3 (Blue) see examples below Other titles in the series Strawberry Jam The Jumble Sale At the Seaside Kippers Idea The Snowman Look on the library shelves for the following series: Reading Corner Phonics - Grade 1 Level 3 & Grade 2 Level 1 (Category L) Other titles in the series Fun Run Juck the Pet Duck ZigZag Rat Frog and the Bath Up in the Tree The Chest Zig Zag See page 3 Start Reading Orange Band (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series Floras Big Noise Lulus Song Montys Surprise Mums Robot Spots in a Bad Mood Leapfrog Rhyme Time See Page 3 Red Nose Readers Yellow (Category L) Other titles in the series Push the Dog Crash Bang Wallop Me and my Friend

Leapfrog (Category L) Other titles in the series Big Bad Blob Billys Baggy Trousers The Bossy Cockerel Felix and the Kitten Mary and the Fairy

Reading Corner Grade 2 Level 1 (130 Words) (Category L) Other titles in the series Sing-Song Mum The Cat that Went Woof The North Wind and the Sun

E: If the child needs:

1-2 sentences on each page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 4 (Red) see examples below Other titles in the series House for Sale Come In! The Secret Room The Play The Storm Look on the library shelves for the following series: Leapfrog See Page 5 Reading Corner Phonics Grade 2 Level 2/3 (Category L) Other titles in the series Popcorn Pop Ben the Bully Captain Rainbow So Scary

Ladybird Reading Phonics (Category L) Other titles in the series Stunt Duck Alphabets Hot Fox Splat Cat The Ace Space Race Ladybird Read It Yourself Fairytails Level 1 (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series The Three Billy Goats Gruff The Magic Porridge Pot Little Red Hen The Ugly Duckling

DK Readers Pre Level 1 (Orange / Yellow Cover) (Category L) Other titles in the series Farm Animals Colourful Days

Usborne Easy Words to Read (Category L) Other titles in the series Mouse Moves House Sam Sheep Cant Sleep Wheres Rusty?

Reading Corner Grade 2 Level 2/3 (160 200 Words) (Category L) Other titles in the series Apple Tree Alien Sir Talkalot and the Dragon

Zig Zag Purple / Blue / Green (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series The Disappearing Cheese Pet at School Day

Red Nose Readers Yellow See page 4 Oxford Reading Tree First Experiences (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series At the Vet At the Dentist Kipper gets Nits At School On a Plane 7

F: If the child needs:

2/3 sentences per page Other titles in the series Gran The Magic Key Castle Adventure Pirate Adventue Village in the Snow The Dragon Tree Look on the library shelves for the following series: Reading Corner Grade 3 Level 1 (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series Jack the Fearless Poppys Pancake Day Pedro the Pirate Storm Treasure The Princess and the Porcupines Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 5 (Yellow) see examples below

Urgency Emergency Books (Category Y) Other titles in the series Choking Wolf Injured Spider Trapped beetle Little Elephants Blocked Trunk Mrs Rabbits Bunnies Little Princess (Category P) Other titles in the series I Want My Mum! I Want Two Birthdays! I Want my Light On! I Dont Like Salad! I Dont Want to go to Bed! Hopscotch (Histories / Adventure / Fairytales) (Category Y) Other titles in the series Saussages The Queens Dragon Whose Birthday Is It Naughty Nancy 8

Green Bananas (Category Y) Other titles in the series Flora the Fairy Bill Birds New Boots Jacks Bed Diggers and Dumpers

I Love Reading Green Level (Category L) Other titles in the series Plant Eating Dinosaurs Dinosaur Meat Eaters Sophies Kittens Prehistoruc Flying Giants

Start Reading Blue Band (Category L) Other titles in the series Eat Your Dinner! Lola Fanola Joey the Juggler Bippo Boppo

Superphonics Green Storybook (Category Y) Other titles in the series The Zebrapotamus

Scout and Ace Orchard Colour Crunchies (Category Y) Other titles in the series Kippers for Supper Kissing Frogs Stuck on Planet Gloo The Scary Bear Talking Tables Three Heads to Feed A Cat, A Rat and A Bat 9

G: If the child needs:

3 4 sentences on each page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 6 (Orange Stage) see examples below Other titles in the series Dads Grand Plan Paris Adventure Rotten Apples Land of the Dinosaurs Kipper the Giant Robin Hood The Treasure Chest Look on the library shelves for the following series: Start Reading Turquoise Band (Category Y) Other titles in the series Rascals Diet River Rescue Wizard Gold Wizard Woof

Rising Stars Kids & Co. (Category Y) Other titles in the series My Big Brother Eat Your Greens MY Gran Does Judo The New Playground Tonight is the Sleepover The Rollerblade Princess Eye Witness Readers Level 1 Red (Category Y) Other titles in the series Tale of a Tadpole

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Usborne Young Reading (Category Y) Other titles in the series Stories of Fairies Animal Legends Magical Animals

Start Reading Purple Band (Category Y) Other titles in the series Snow White and the Enormous Turnip Goldilocks and the Wolf The Elves and the Emperor

I Love Reading Orange Level ( Category L / CNF) Other titles in the series Tiger Fantastic Fossils Fossil Hunter Pet Hospital Dinosaur Mums and Babies Dinosaur Duel Start Reading Gold Band (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series Finn and the King of Cork Finn and he Magic Goat Finn and the Leprechauns Gold Humpty Dumptys Great Fall Little Miss Muffets Big Scare Little Bo-Peeps Missing Sheep Old Mother Hubbards Stolen Bone Ladybird Read It Yourself Green Level 2 (Category Y) Other titles in the series Town Mouse and Country Mouse Little red Riding Hood Sleeping Beauty Extreme Weather Sly Fox and Red Hen The Gingerbread Man Chicken Licken 11

H: If the child needs:

4 sentences per page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 7 (Dark Green) see examples below Other titles in the series The Bully The Broken Roof The Motorway Chinese Adventure Roman Adventure The Jigsaw Puzzle The Hunt for Gold Look on the library shelves for the following series: Cambridge Reading (Category L) Other titles in the series Apples Grannys Teeth

Spirals (Category Y) Other titles in the series George and the Dragonfly Just Custard The Flamingo who Forgot Amys Slippers Growl! Megans Tick Tock Rocket Ladybird Read It Yourself Level 3 (Category Y) Other titles in the series The Elves and the Shoemaker Hansel and Gretel Puss in Boots Jack and the Beanstalk

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Funny Bones (Category L/Y) Other titles in the series Dinosaur Dreams The Pet Shop The Black Cat Give the Dog a Bone

I Love Reading (800 Words) (Category CNF) Other titles in the series Mountain Gorillas in Danger Lions in Danger Orang-utans in Danger Polar bears in Danger

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I: If the child needs:

5 sentences per page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 8 (Brown) see examples below Other titles in the series The Kidnappers Viking Adventure The Rainbow Machine The Flying Carpet A Day in London Victorian Aventure Look on the library shelves for the following series: Ricky Rocket (Category Y)

Other titles in the series A Present from Earth Sweet Disaster Up and Away Bubble Trouble Orchard Crunchies (Category Y) Other titles in the series Bleeping Beauty The Elves and the Storymaker The Silly Willy Billy Goats The Ugly Duck Thing Handsome and Gruesome Usborne Young Puzzle Adventures (Category Y) Other titles in the series Mollys Magic Carpet Lucy and the Sea Monster Uncle Petes Pirate Adventure Dragon in the Cupboard Wendy the Witch

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Blue Bananas (Category Y) Other titles in the series Cake Test Frogs Do Not Like Dragons Monster Eyeballs Magic Lemonade Mr Crookodile I Am Reading (Category Y) Other titles in the series Barn Party Creepy Customers Doctor Witchs Animal Hospital Just Mabel Mr Cool Kits Castle Dr Seuss (Category Y) Other titles in the series Fox in Socks Hop on Pop Mr Brown Can Moo! Can You? Oh, The Places You Can Go

Ladybird Read it Yourself Level 4 (Category Y) Other titles in the series Heidi Dick Whittington Peter and the Wolf Snow White and the Seven Dwarves

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J: If the child needs:

5-6 sentences per page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 9 (Blue/Green) see examples below Other titles in the series Storm Castle Green island Superdog The Quest Survival Adventure Look on the library shelves for the following series: White Wolves (Category Y) Other titles in the series Big People, Little People Detective Dan Buffalo Bert The Thing in the Basement On the Ghost Trail

Happy Families (Category Y) Other titles in the series Mr Cosmo the Conjuror Mrs Lathers Laundry Master Money the Millionaire Mr Biff the Boxer Master Salt the Sailors Son

Happy Cat First Readers Books (Category Y) Other titles in the series The Mermaids Tail The Littlest Pirate The Magic Wand When Anna Slept Over What Dino Saw

Red Bananas (Category Y/S) Other titles in the series A Dog Called Whatnot The Mummy Family Find Fame The Surprise Party The Wrong Kind of Bark The Quick Brown Fox Club 16

K: If the child needs:

7+ longer sentences per page Or is reading Oxford Reading Tree Stage 10 (Fuchsia) see examples below Other titles in the series Amazing Paint! How to Make Soil The Power of Plants Edward and Tom Prince and Pauper Cleared for Take-off When a child has reached Level 10 they are a fluent reader and they can/ may have already progressed to low Level S books. However there are some more series listed below that they may wish to follow. Colour Young Puffin (Category Y / CNF) Other titles in the series The Dunk Bed Bus Stranger Danger? Fat Lawrence Dinosaur School Blessu

Chameleons (Category Y) Other titles in the series Alice Knows best Alice Goes to Hollywood Brick-A-Breck Duncan and the Pirates Elvis the Squirrel Cat-A-Wall Corgi Pups (Category Y) Other titles in the series Space Race Spooky Teachers Great Goal Strike! Dino Dog Shredder

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Treetops (Category S) Other titles in the series High Five Henry Yummy Scrummy The Magic Porridge Pot Sausage Disgusting Denzil

Sprinters (Category Y) Other titles in the series Cup Final Kid The Finger-Eater Snow Maze Nag Club Star Striker Titch

Skylarks (Category Y / S) Other titles in the series Yasmins Parcels Londons Burning The Black Knight Sleeping Beauty Hurricane Season

Charlie Hilary McKay (Category Y / S) Other titles in the series Charlie and the Great Escape Charlie and the Big Snow Charlie and the Rocket Boy Charlie and the Cheese & Onion Crisps Charlie and the Haunted tent

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