First Time Readers
Our top picks for preschool and kindergarten ages (recommended age 4-6)
1. One Fish Two Fish, Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
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2. Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
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3. Go Dog Go by P. D. Eastman
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4. Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
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5. Are You My Mother by P. D. Eastman
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6. Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratsney
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7. The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
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8. Oliver's Milkshake by Vivian French
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9. The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
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10. Kiss Good Night by Amy Hest
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Picture Books
Our top picks for young elementary readers (recommended age 6-8)
1. The Hat by Jan Brett
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2. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes
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3. The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keates
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4. Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
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5. Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
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6. The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
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7. The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
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8. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
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9. Fancy Nancy by Jane O'Connor
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10. The Paper Bag Princess by Robert Munsch
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11. If You Give A Mouse A Cookie books by Laura Joffe Numneroff
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Our Top Picks
Books We Love
Chapter Books
Our top picks for late elementary readers (recommended age 8-12)
1. Wonder by R. J. Palaccio
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2. The Hatchet by Gary Paulsen
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3. Charlotte's Web by E. B. White
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4. Junie B. Jones Series by Barbara Park
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5. Ivy and Bean Series by Annie Barrows
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6. Magic Treehouse Series by Mary Pope Osborne
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7. The Lemonade War by Jaqueline Davies
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8. According to Humphrey Series by Betty G. Birney
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9. The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo
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10. Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
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11. The Doll People by Ann M. Martin
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12. Secrets at Sea by Richard Peck
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Advanced Readers
Our top chapter books for middle and high schoolers with advanced /mature concepts (recommended age 12+)
1. The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
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2. I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
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3. Night by Elie Wiesel
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4. The Giver by Lois Lowry
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5. Number the Stars by Lois Lowry
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6. Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson
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7. Counting By Sevens by Holly Goldberg Sloan
8. Redwood Farm by Judith Redline Coopey (a PSU grad)
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9. Chains by Laurie Halse Anderson
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