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Books for 1st to 2nd GradersFavorite Authors of 2025 |
I Am Salsa
by Jackie Azâua Kramer
Watching her whole family dance the salsa each Saturday night, Mari wants to join in but her feet get twisted and her moves get mixed up until Papi helps her feel the beat of the instruments--and believe in herself.
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Bored Panda
by Mike Bender
Seeking relief from boredom, Panda ventures outdoors for inspiration.
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Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Bake a Cake
by Mike Boldt
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo want some cake, but first they need to bake it, and while cautious Cantaloupe says they can't because they haven't done this before, confident HoneyDo forges ahead with the recipe and the ingredients, in a story about a childhood first.
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Hop Helps Out
by Marc Tolon Brown
Hop and Benny meet a troll named Helga who wants to see more of Fair Village but is worried about leaving her home beneath the bridge, but after Hop helps her Helga realizes the world is filled with good things.
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Bad Kitty Goes to the Beach
by Nick Bruel
It's beach day, but Kitty does not want to go to the beach. Then she spots something with white and gray feathers and an orange beak that looks tasty and decides that maybe the beach won't be so bad after all.
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This Book is Dangerous!
by Ben Clanton
Did the title just say that this book is dangerous? Jelly doesn't do dangerous. Can you help Jelly find a way out? Just don't move a muscle or make any loud noises, okay? And definitely DON'T touch anything! While everything seems to come sunny-side up for Narwhal on their adventures, Jelly has more than a few worries about the many dangers out there in the ocean: sea serpents, pirate crabs, circus cannons, lost porcupines, and spiky things of any kind could be lurking around each turn of the page!
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They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom
by Lesa Cline-Ransome
This moving first-person narration told in an era-appropriate dialect follows an enslaved young man named Teach who uses his ability to read and write to educate others in the pursuit of freedom.
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Here Is a Book
by Elisha Cooper
The life of a picture book begins in the artist's studio, journeys through the world of publishing, finds itself on a bookshelf, and lands in the home of a young reader.
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The Day the Crayons Made Friends
by Drew Daywalt
Duncan's crayons have left his room to make friends - from Red Crayon wanting to drive a firetruck, to Blue Crayon meeting a fashion doll, to Esteban off to tame a teddy bear, each crayon has a story to share.
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Home
by Matt de la Peña
Celebrate the beauty and love found in every home, no matter its size, and see how people can be a kind of home, in a meditation on the places we feel most comfortable, loved and protected.
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Where Are You, Brontë?
by Tomie DePaola
Tomie dePaola tells the emotional and deeply personal story about overcoming his grief after the loss of his beloved dog, Brontë.
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Eloísa's Musical Window
by Margarita Engle
Eloâisa's struggles fade away when she sits by the window and listens to the neighbor's radio, and one magical day young musicians gather outside and turn the neighborhood into a joyful orchestra of neighbors and strangers. Includes information on different instruments.
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Becoming Boba
by Joanna Ho
Mindy is the first baby in Milk Tea Town whose colors are different, but as more are born they band together to study history and learn what it really means to be boba.
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Shark at Sister Tea
by Barbara M. Joosse
Sisters Sadie and Flora host a tea party, but when a shark disguised as a fisherman shows up, they summon all their strength and cleverness to stop him before their parents return.
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Grumpy Monkey: Mom for a Day
by Suzanne Lang
Grumpy Monkey offers to babysit the little animals in the jungle, but when things go haywire, help comes from an unexpected source.
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Ant Party
by Ross Montgomery
It's another busy day at the ant hill. The farmer ants are collecting food, the worker ants are building tunnels, and the soldier ants are guarding the queen. But for Andy, it's a very special day: it's his birthday! Word spreads for his 'small gathering' and, in no time at all, thousands of ants arrive to bust their best moves and tuck into dips. But as the party gets into full swing an unwanted guest arrives...The ants must work together to save the day.
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Bounce!
by Robert N. Munsch
Ruth and Barbara are on their way home from school when Ruth falls and scrapes her knee. Luckily an ambulance is driving by, picks and takes them to the hospital. Once there, the girls are left to wait and wait... and WAIT. They are so bored that they start looking around and notice that the hospital bed has so many BUTTONS. What are they all for??
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You Will Always Have Me
by Todd Parr
Celebrating the unconditional love, care and support we all need to thrive, this brightly colored, humorous story reminds readers that someone is always there for you no matter what.
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The Hare Who Wouldn't Share
by Steve Small
Hare is proud of his turnip patch and doesn't want to share, and when he's invited by rabbits for soup, he prefers being alone, but when a boar comes looking for his next meal, Hare wants to warn his neighbors.
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We Are the Scrappy Ones
by Rebekah Taussig
Children with disabilities celebrate all bodies and minds in this anthem of self-affirmation and belonging.
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Cranky Makes a Friend
by Phuc Tran
A new crane is on the construction site, and Lefty is smiley and talkative, the opposite of Cranky, making Cranky worry his friends will prefer Lefty over him, in a book about big trucks, big feelings and even bigger friendships.
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What Color Is the Baby? A Celebration of Skin Tones
by Harshini Vankineni
When Kundana meets her newborn sister, Kuku, she declares her the prettiest baby in the world. But as grandparents, aunts, and uncles welcome Kuku, all they want to know is what color she is. Is she a marigold like her sister? Or a white jasmine? As the family gazes at Kuku's brown skin, big sister Kundana wonders why her family would care what color Kuku is - she's beautiful! A moving journey of a big sister finding a new and loving way to describe and defend her adored baby sister.
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The Three Little Mittens
by Linda Bailey
Exploring what it feels like to be excluded and included, this celebration of one-of-a-kindness follows Dotty, a single unmatched mitten, as she learns, with the help of the Little Girl who owns her, that by being an individual instead of "matching,” everyone can belong.
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Ahoy!
by Sophie Blackall
Encouraging imaginative play and family fun, a young child convinces their parents to embark on a high-seas adventure - in their living room - with the help of a vacuum, broom and carpet!
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The Wrong Book
by Drew Daywalt
In this giggle-inducing story, the narrator is WRONG about everything, including that bicycles say cock-a-doodle-doo and firefighters shout Ding Dong! before putting out a fire, until the characters within the book set him straight. From the author of The Day the Crayons Quit.
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Mouse & Giraffe
by Kelly DiPucchio
Mouse and Giraffe are two unlikely friends who don't agree on anything but soon learn to see eye to eye after they walk in each other's shoes.
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Prunella
by Beth Ferry
Born with a purple thumb instead of a green one like her parents, Prunella cultivates a poisonous garden to keep people away until a curious weed of a different sort pops up, forcing her to decide between uprooting this tentative new friendship or allowing it to blossom.
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There's a Bear in Your Book
by Tom Fletcher
Combining interactive fun with a nighttime routine, this adorable picture book asks little ones to help the bear in their book get ready for bed and be lulled to sleep alongside their new friend.
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A Walk in the Woods
by Nikki Grimes
Opening a letter his father left behind, a grief-stricken young boy sets off through the spaces they once explored together, reaching a special destination that shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together.
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Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale
Kitty helps her best friend Unicorn accomplish his dream of being a mermaid, but despite an elaborate DIY mermaid tail, the friends' trip to the beach does not go as planned and Unicorn's insecurities emerge.
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Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
by Amy Hest
Deciding they're in the mood for fishing, Big Bear and Little Bear pack up a red wagon with poles, freshly baked scones and a good book to read, and even though it's unclear how much fishing will get done, they are happy just spending time together.
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Angelina, Star of the Show
by Katharine Holabird
Dreaming of being the star of the Mouseland Dance Festival, Angelina practices her routine constantly, but when she accidentally ruins her costume, she worries she'll miss her big chance.
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A Family Like Ours
by Frank Murphy
A celebration of all kinds of families from sprawling extended families and close-knit units to adopted and chosen families.
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Vamos! Let's Go Read
by Raúl the Third
Little Lobo and his friends are excited for the out-of-this-world book festival the Guadalupian Library hosts every year! Everyone has a special book they're looking for, but there's so much to see and do first. From cookbook demonstrations and comics workshops to mask making and language classes, this library has something for everyone.
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There Was a Party for Langston
by Jason Reynolds
This finger-snapping, toe-tapping ode to the Word King and literary genius Langston Hughes invites readers to a heckuva party at the Schomberg Library where Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka and others arrive to recite poems at their hero's feet.
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Clack, Clack! Smack!
by Traci Sorell
While playing a social game of Cherokee stickball, Vann learns that helping his team win is just as important as being the star player.
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Summer is Here
by Renée Watson
Celebrating iconic childhood joys, this beautiful ode to a summer day from sunrise to sunset, follows one young girl who has the perfect day swimming, jumping rope and eating ice cream, in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine and wonder.
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