My daughter began learning to read right around her fourth birthday. After just a few months of using Teach Your Child to Read in 100 Easy Lessons, she was reading on her own with ever-increasing comprehension. Now at five and a half, she reads extremely well, devouring a pile of books each day. She is also quite the girly girl at times (with no persuasion from me), loving princesses and fairies and the color pink. After many, many trips to the local library, my daughter has developed a love of a couple of series of books perfect for kindergarten and first grade readers. All titles are available at your local library or via my Amazon affiliate links.
Pinkalicious
Pinkalicious is the original book title in the series of the same name. Written by Victoria Kann and Elizabeth Kann, the book introduces a little girl named Pinkalicious who loves all things pink. Most importantly, she loves eating pink cupcakes. Her mother and father warn her not to eat too many, but Pinkalicious simply cannot help herself. But, when she eats one too many, she turns pink herself! What will a pink Pinkalicious do?
In addition to Pinkalicious, the series also currently includes five other picture books: Purplicious, Goldilicious, Silverlicious, Emeraldalicious, and Aqualicious. Pinkalicious also stars in a number of other titles including many I Can Read books. Some favorites in my house include, but are not limited to, Pinkalicious: Pink or Treat!, Pinkalicious: Apples, Apples, Apples!, Pinkalicious: Thanksgiving Helper, Pinkalicious and the Pink Pumpkin, Pinkalicious: Merry Pinkmas!, Pinkalicious and the Snow Globe, Pinkalicious: Pink of Hearts, Pinkalicious: Fairy House, and Pinkalicious and the Cupcake Calamity. All the titles in the Pinkalicious series are available on Amazon or from your local library.
With stories similar to the Pinkalicious series, the Fancy Nancy series written by Jane O’Connor and illustrated by Robin Preiss Glasser stars a little girl named Nancy who loves being fancy. In the original Fancy Nancy book, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy and using fancy words. Fancy Nancy was nominated for the Quill Award for Best Picture Book in 2007.
In addition to the original picture book, Nancy also stars in a number of other titles including many I Can Read books. Some favorites in my house include, but are not limited to, Fancy Nancy: Apples Galore!, Fancy Nancy: Halloween…or Bust!, Fancy Nancy: Candy Bonanza, Fancy Nancy: Our Thanksgiving Banquet, Fancy Nancy and the Fall Foliage, Splendiferous Christmas, Fancy Nancy: There’s No Day Like a Snow Day, Fancy Nancy and the Delectable Cupcakes, and Fancy Nancy: The 100th Day of School. All the titles in the Fancy Nancy series are available on Amazon or from your local library.
Part of the Julie Andrews Collection with joyful illustrations from Christine Davenier and written by Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton, The Very Fairy Princess tells the story of Geraldine who deep down knows that she is a very fairy princess. Every day, amid dirty fingernails and scabby knees, she does what fairy princesses do: dresses in her royal attire, practices her flying skills, and looks for problems to solve.
In addition to the original picture book, Geraldine also stars in a number of other titles in the series. Some favorites in my house include, but are not limited to, The Very Fairy Princess: A Spooky, Sparkly Halloween, The Very Fairy Princess: Attitude of Gratitude, The Very Fairy Princess: A Fairy Merry Christmas, The Very Fairy Princess: A Winter Wonderland Surprise, The Very Fairy Princess Sparkles in the Snow, The Very Fairy Princess: Valentines from the Heart, and The Very Fairy Princess Follows Her Heart. All the titles in The Very Fairy Princess series are available on Amazon or from your local library.
Originally written in the 1950s, the Eloise series written by Kay Thompson and illustrated by Hilary Knight tells the story of a precocious little girl who lives in a room on the top floor of the Plaza Hotel in New York City with her Nanny, her pug dog Weenie, and her turtle Skipperdee. The original Eloise book introduces Eloise, whose personal mandate is “getting bored is not allowed,” to a generation of little readers.
The original series also includes Eloise in Paris, Eloise at Christmastime, Eloise in Moscow, and Eloise Takes a Bawth. Eloise also stars in a number of other titles including many Ready-to-Read books. Some favorites in my house include, but are not limited to, Eloise Decorates for Christmas, Eloise Skates!, Eloise’s Summer Vacation, Eloise and the Big Parade, Eloise at the Wedding, Eloise Throws a Party!, and Eloise and the Dinosaurs. All the titles in Eloise series are available on Amazon or from your local library.
My daughter loves cats and ballet, so she absolutely adores the Mia series written by Robin Farley and illustrated by Olga Ivanov and Aleksey Ivanov. In the original title Mia and the Too Big Tutu, Mia wants to be a dancer but her too big tutu will not stay up. Can she dance in front of her entire class without tripping?
The early titles in the Mia series are part of the My First I Can Read! series of leveled readers. Other favorites in my house include, but are not limited to, Mia and the Tiny Toe Shoes, Mia and the Big Sister Ballet, Mia Jazzes It Up!, Mia Dances Back to School!, and Mia’s Nutcracker Ballet. All the titles in Mia series are available on Amazon or from your local library.
Image Credits
Recommended Book Series for Kindergarten and First Grade: Poppy’s Picks © 2017 Heather Johnson
All book images via Amazon