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