An almost wordless book about a puppy who is looking for a playmate. None of the animals in the pasture want to play "Stick" until another puppy comes along and the others get the idea and make off with the stick. But, never mind, the two puppy dogs have something better--each other. A good choice for encouraging children to tell their own stories in their own words.

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Piggie found a polka dotted ball, but then a BIG guy took it. Gerald does his best to get it back until he sees just how BIG the guy is. As always, Mo Willems manages to create a small drama that is told in few words for the beginning reader. This one really has a simple enough text for early readers to find their way through. It also says something worth saying about big guys not always being as powerful and happy as little guys think they are. 6-8

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2013. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

When Penny receives a gift from her Gram, she is thrilled to have a pretty new doll. But what is the doll's name? Papa says she will find the right name and Penny does exactly that. An easy to read book that beginning readers, who are fond of dolls, will relate to and find success reading. Level 1.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

An amusing, if predictable, story about Dixie, a dog who wants to run in the relay race with her girl, Emma. When Emma drops the baton you know who is going to cross the finish line. Told with a minimum of words for the true beginner. Lively and light reading for building success. Level 1.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Though the shape is larger than the usual easy-to-read series book, this true beginner's book uses very few words and colorful illustrations that will appeal to new readers. Fun for working on rhyming, as well. Level 1

Age: Preschool, Early School Years. Award Year: 2012. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Spat is going to have a camping adventure. He is very excited until he discovers that his mother has invited Spike, a not so good friend, to join them. Splat discovers in the course of the dark night that Spike is more like Splat than he ever would have imagined. Level 1 easy to read

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2011. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Ideal for beginners, these boxed sets of ten little paperback books are designed for true reading beginners. With few words per page and plenty of repetitive vocabulary, these slender books give new readers a sense of success and reinforce the idea of can-do. The new lavender box is marked for Kindergarten, though many first graders will profit from the simplicity of these little stories. The greenish boxed set is marked for First Grade, although these are not that much more difficult. There are more position words, but they are supported by the simple drawings that illustrate the collection. Both sets have a set of flash cards and ideas for playing games with them.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

For some reason this book has been reissued in a board book format, making it look like a good choice for toddlers. We don’t think so. We do think beginning readers will see the humor and find success with the repetitive vocabulary and the illustrations that provide cues for sight words. Edwin is a cave boy who cannot get his parents or other creatures to pay attention to the fact that he is hungry. When he finally does find one friend he gets a real lift. Good fun for 6 & up.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2010. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

New to the Brand New Readers, a collection of four small stories—one line to a page—about Fish and Frog. Illustrations help the beginner with sight words that may be new but are obvious in context. Funny little stories with plenty of repetition, position words, and opposites. First grade.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2006. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.

Four funny stories featuring a termite who eats his friends’ houses; bounces on a trampoline; makes a piece of sculpture; and helps an ostrich to fly. These are like short comic strips with enough action in the images to tell the story. The text is repetitive and one line long per page, so it’s a happy magic key to sight reading from the Brand New Readers. First grade.

Age: Early School Years. Award Year: 2006. Click here to purchase the product on Amazon.com.