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Homeschool Book List for Struggling Readers – Beginning Levels

I am in the process of updating my lit lists for different reading levels. Since I mainly teach older students with dyslexia, autism, or those who struggle with reading, I am always on the lookout for books that fit one of the many language arts goals for my students. I love using picture books with older students because they often have rich vocabulary and more robust semantics than easy readers.

Gilgamesh the king is a picture book for older students.

I look for easy readers (nonfiction) that are informative with large print, somewhat controlled phonetic vocabulary, and photos or realistic drawings rather than cute pictures for primary learners. I look for chapter books (fiction) that have short chapters, large print or wider spacing between lines, and an interesting story with a standard plot for teaching fiction comprehension skills.  I look for titles that are easier to read, yet still provide content that is interesting to older students. I use these for balanced literacy and use this list for teaching literary elements and comprehension skills.

Sometimes worksheets or reading practice books may be geared for older students with lower reading abilities, called “high interest/low vocabulary” passages. I have found that passages in worksheets are often dreaded by my students who have been in a school setting because the stories that are supposedly high interest were on the topics that do not appeal to many homeschoolers, or the low vocabulary is still mostly sight words rather than phonetically decodable. Homeschooled students exposed to challenging topics hunger for rich content and decodable vocabulary.

Tikki Tikki Tembo is a picture book that has repetition for phonemic awareness.

Between the criteria, reading level, and purpose, I have found it challenging to seek out trade books (library books) for my students. I can’t promise that my lists will have the tightly controlled vocabulary of phonics readers for learning how to read. I use phonetic readers for learning how to read, including practice with decoding skills and building initial fluency. I make it very clear to my students that there is a difference between the books we use to practice reading and this list of more interesting fiction, biographies, and nonfiction. This list has titles that have been appealing to my students who crave intellectual challenge, while still wanting to read independently or with just a little assistance.

Stone Soup is a picture book that allows students to draw conclusions for reading comprehension.

Many homeschool language arts programs have literature lists that utilize “living books,” or books that have robust literary value. The lists in these programs tend to overlap. You may find that the programs separate books into categories of reading practice and read-aloud titles, so a title may be far above that reading level because it was meant to be a read-aloud.

Steven Kellogg has written several tall tales that look at the literary device of exaggeration.

Rather than separating my lists according to purpose, I wanted to share with you my favorite titles that are very close to the stated reading level and that fit some of my criteria for older students who are reading at much lower levels than neurotypical readers at each chronological age. My lists are based on Reading Levels and can be used with students of any age. If you want read-aloud titles that are above your child’s reading abilities, I suggest checking out the lists starting up 2 or 3 grade levels.

The Popcorn Shop is an easy reader that helps older students make predictions and create alternative endings.

These lists can also be used for young academically gifted students who are reading above age-level peers. You may need to prescreen the books for age-appropriate content; however, I typically select titles that can be used with a broad range of developmental levels.  

I hope you find some titles your child will enjoy. If you come across a title your child loved, please share it with me! Tell me the age of your student and whether you used it as a read-aloud or for independent reading.

The Mitten is a picture book that helps students look at cause and effect reading comprehension skills.

Here’s the book list of picture books and early readers at grade K-1 reading levels for older students with language-based learning needs. Select the titles that fit your reader’s needs.

  • A Bad Case of Stripes
  • A House for a Hermit Crab, Eric Carle
  • A New Coat for Anna
  • Aesop’s Fables
  • Albert Einstein: A Curious Mind (I Can Read, Level 2)
  • Alexander the Great, Demi
  • Alexander, and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
  • Amazing Grace
  • Amazing Sharks (I Can Read, Level 2)
I Can Read nonfiction books give older students with dyslexia quality content at lower reading levels.
  • Amazing Tigers (I Can Read, Level 2)
  • Amelia Bedelia Books
  • Animal Antics A to Z, Barbara deRubertis
Animal Antics A to Z expose mid-elementary students to alliteration, vocabulary, and topics of social emotional learning.
  • Babe Ruth and the Baseball Curse
  • Bark Park Books
  • Beatrix Potter Books
  • Beauty and the Beast, Jan Brett
  • Because of an Acorn, Fran Preston-Gannon
  • Ben’s Trumpet
  • Berenstain Bears Books
  • Berlioz the Bear
  • Billy and Blaze Books
Billy and Blaze books are fun horse stories for older students reading at lower levels.
  • Biscuit
  • Blueberries for Sal
  • Born and Bred in the Great Depression
  • Caps for Sale
  • Chanticleer and the Fox
  • Chicka Chicka Boom Boom
  • Chicken Little
  • Click Clack Moo Cows that Type
  • Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
  • Commander Toad in Space
Commander Toad in Space is a silly science fiction series for beginning readers.
  • Corduroy Books, Don Freeman
  • Cranberry Thanksgiving
  • Critter Inn Books
  • Curious George Books
  • Daniel’s Duck
  • Diary of a Worm
  • Dr. Seuss Books
  • Duck on a Bike
  • Eating the Alphabet
  • Fables, Arnold Lobel
  • Fly Guy Books
Fly Guy is a fun book series about a smart fly.
  • Follow the Drinking Gourd
  • Frederick, Leo Leonni
  • Fritz and the Beautiful Horses
  • Frog and Toad Books, Arnold Lobel
  • Goldilocks and the Three Bears
  • Grandfather’s Journey
  • Hansel and Gretel
  • Harry, The Dirty Dog
  • Helen Keller: The World at Her Fingertips (I Can Read, Level 2)
  • Henry and Mudge Books
Henry and Mudge are great stories about a boy and his dog.
  • Hiawatha’s Childhood
  • How Do You Hug a Porcupine?
  • I Spy Books
  • If You Give a Mouse a Cookie, Laura Joffe Numeroff
  • Katie and the Big Snow
  • King Bidgood’s in the Bathtub
  • King Josiah and God’s Book (Arch Book)
  • King Midas and the Golden Touch
  • Lester’s Dreadful Sweaters
Lester's Dreadful Sweaters include many literary elements and devices.
  • Little Critter Books
  • Little Red Hen
  • Lon Po Po
  • Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Books
  • Madeline Books
  • Magic School Bus Books
  • Make Way for Ducklings
  • Marven of the Great North Woods
  • Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel
  • Miracles of Jesus (I Can Read, Level 2)
  • Mirette on the High Wire
  • Miss Rumphius
Miss Rumphius is a beautiful picture book for older students about making a difference in the world.
  • Mr. Gumpy’s Motor Car
  • Mr. Putter and Tabby
  • My Freedom Trip
  • Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs
  • Nate the Great Books
Nate the Great are super easy detective cases that both younger and older students enjoy.
  • National Geographic Kids – These are secular.
  • Obadiah the Bold
  • One Grain of Rice: A Mathematical Folktale
  • Owl Moon
  • Ox-Cart Mah
  • Patrick PIcklebottom and the Penny Book
  • Paul Revere’s Ride
The classic ballad poem from Longfellow that gives older students opportunities to read challenging text.
  • Perfect, Max Amato
  • Pet Show, Ezra Jack Keats
  • Popcorn Shop, Alice Low (Hello Reader)
  • Poppleton Books
  • Rapunzel
  • Rikki Tikki Tavi
Rikki Tikki Tavi is an exciting story of a mongoose and cobra.
  • Rosie’s Walk, Pat Hutchins
  • Rumplestiltskin
  • Sam, the Minuteman
  • Space Cows, Tom Disbury
  • Splat the Cat
  • St. Nicholas: The Real Story of the Christmas Legend
  • Stone Soup
  • Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
  • Tall Tales Books by Stephen Kellogg
  • Tawny Scrawny Lion
  • The Empty Pot
The Empty Pot is a picture book with a surprise ending.
  • The Gilgamesh Trilogy
  • The Glorious Flight
  • The Grouchy Ladybug, Eric Carle
  • The House That Jack Built
  • The King Who Rained, Fred Gwynne
  • The Little Engine that Could
  • The Little Red LIghthouse and the Great Gray Bridge
  • The Little Ships: The Heroic Rescue at Dunkirk in World War II
  • The Lotus Seed
  • The Making of a Knight
  • The Matchlock Gun
  • The Mitten, Jan Brett
  • The Moose Who Loved Noodles
  • The Napping House
The Napping House is a beautiful picture book with repetition for older students who are emerging readers.
  • The Night Before Christmas
  • The Nutcracker
  • The Snowy Day, Ezra Jack Keats
  • The Squire and the Scroll
  • The Story About Ping
  • The Story of Ferinand
  • The Story of Little Babaji
  • The Tomten
  • The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
  • The Year at Maple Hill Farm
  • The Year of the Perfect Christmas Tree
  • Thomas Edison: Lighting the Way (I Can Read, Level 2)
  • Tikki Tikki Tembo
  • Too Much Noise, Ann McGovern
  • True Story of the Three Little Pigs
  • When I Was Young in the Mountains, Cynthia Rylant
Picture of Sue Hegg

Sue Hegg

Sue Hegg is a learning specialist with over 30 years of experience as a classroom teacher, special education teacher, academic therapist, speaker, and consultant. I am also a veteran homeschool mom of 20+ years. She has three adult children we homeschooled all the way through, each with some type of specialized learning need, including dyslexia, anxiety, and academically giftedness. She understands unique learners from both parents' and home educators' perspectives.

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