Here are some books from my list for advanced readers in 1st grade (titles at the end of that list are probably at a higher reading level). I could basically copy the whole list depending on your child’s reading level so I advise you to go through that list first. The books from my 1st grade list are perfectly suitable for 7-year-olds. Also check the list My Daughter in 1st Grade where you can find good tips as well.
Pippi Longstocking or The Pippi Longstocking 4-Book Set: Pippi Longstocking, Pippi Goes on Board, Pippi in the South Seas, and Pippi on the Run
I know that most people in the US know the author Astrid Lindgren because of Pippi Longstocking. But not everybody knows that she wrote several other fantastic books that are very popular with kids in Europe. We read most of them in Czech but I looked them up, checked the reviews (if the translation is good) and decided to share them with you. Among our favorites are The Children of Noisy Village (my daughter’s all-time favorite) but it is probably more suitable for kids 7 or 8 and up, not for a beginning reader (but a great read-aloud for younger kids). However, there are other titles that are easier so I added them to this list.
The Children on Troublemaker Street Read more about this book here.
Lotta on Troublemaker Street Check the ratings and reviews here. You can also find more books about Lotta on Amazon and read reviews here.
Emil’s Pranks My daughter read it in Czech and enjoyed it. Little boys will be especially delighted. Read more reviews here. You can find more Emil books on Amazon (and you can check more reviews on www.goodreads.com). I am not sure about the reading level, maybe it is better to save this one for the end of the school year or 2nd grade.
Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything For a list of books in this series click here.
Aliens for Breakfast, Aliens for Lunch and Aliens for Dinner
Jasper John Dooley: Star of the Week For a complete list of books in this series click here.
Mrs. Noodlekugel My kids love Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle so I will get this book for my son to try. If you like it, try also Mrs. Noodlekugel and Four Blind Mice Read more reviews here. A new addition to this series is expected in 2015 so you can check this list.
Mr Gum and the Biscuit Billionaire This is the second book in Mr. Gum series, check the reviews here. I have seen this book mentioned on different websites several times, it is supposed to be hilarious. For a list of books in this series click here. My son read two books from this series at the beginning of 2nd grade and loved them.
Moonsilver For a list of books in The Unicorn’s Secret series click here. (especially for girls, recommended for 7 and up but some girls read it in 1st grade)
Marty McGuire For other titles in this series, reviews, and ratings, click here or you can check them out on Amazon here. My daughter discovered Marty McGuire in 2nd grade and loved it.
Hamster Princess: Harriet the Invincible For a list of books in this series click here.
Dog Days: The Carver Chronicles For a list of books in this series click here.
Dog Man For a list of books in this series click here.
Invisible Inkling For other books in this series and their ratings click here.
Henry Huggins For a list of books in this series click here.
The Secrets of Droon For a complete list of books in order in this long series (I think about 40 books) click here. My daughter discovered them at the beginning of 2nd grade and devoured them. My son read all of them at the end of 1st grade.
The Magical Ms. Plum This one should be humorous. Read more about it here.
The Vanishing Coin This series is new and there should be more books in the future (right now there is only one). Check the list here.
The Sasquatch Escape and other books in The Imaginary Veterinary series (click here for a complete list). My daughter read it at the end of 1st grade and loved it. My son read it when he started 2nd grade and devoured the whole series as well.
Three Tales of My Father’s Dragon
The New Kid at School and Revenge of the Dragon Lady. For more books in the Dragon Slayers’ Academy series click here. My son really enjoyed listening to the first two books. We will soon try if he can read them too.
Moongobble and Me For a complete list of books in this series click here. My son listened to most of the books in the car (and loved it).
Daisy’s Perfect Word Read more reviews here. For a list of other books in this series click here.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory My daughter had never seen the movie before she read the book. It was her first longer book to read, she couldn’t put it down.
The Mouse and the Motorcycle For a list of the three books in order click here.
Alvin Ho: Allergic to Girls, School, and Other Scary Things For a list of books in this series click here.
26 Fairmount Avenue For a list of books in this series click here.
Ramona A list of all 8 books can be found here.
Encyclopedia Brown For a list of books in this series click here.
The Children of Noisy Village Read more reviews here. If your child likes this book by Astrid Lindgren, check out also Christmas in Noisy Village and Happy Times in Noisy Village.
George Brown, Class Clown For a complete list of books in this series click here.
All About Sam For a list of books in this series click here.
Marigold and the Feather of Hope, The Journey Begins For a complete list of books in The Fairy Chronicles series click here.
Andrew Lost series. It should be read in order. For a list click here.
Pony Pals For a list of books in this series for horse lovers click here.
Emma and the Blue Genie Find more reviews here. My son read it in 1st garde and loved it.
The Princess in Black Find more reviews here. My son read it in 1st grade.
My Big Fat Zombie Goldfish This book has mixed reviews but mostly from the parents (because it contains a lot of name calling, etc.) but they all agree that their boys loved it. It is apparently geared toward boys and it is funny. It reminds me Junie B. Jones books a bit—a lot of people hate them because of the way Junie B. talks and behaves. I am trying to instill a love of reading in my son and if he reads a few books with a bit less appropriate behavior, I can deal with that. I can always talk to him about it.
The Enormous Egg
A Mouse Called Wolf and other stories by Dick King-Smith. Parents recommend them everywhere as read-alouds or for the kids to read on their own (but I am not sure about the reading level but we will try them).
Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang and if my son likes it, then we’ll get Jacob Two-Two and the Dinosaur and Jacob Two-Two’s First Spy Case
The 13-Story Treehouse For a list of books in this series click here. Although the age range is higher, it is an easy book because it is idea for reluctant readers in 2nd and 3rd grade. My son read it in 1st grade.
Catwings For a complete list of books in this series click here. My son read it in 1st grade.
Eoin Colfer’s Legend of Captain Crow’s Teeth Read more about this books here. People say it is hilarious. I have seen it on many websites recommended for this age group. For a list of other books in this series click here.
White Fur Flying Click here to see the ratings and reviews. I looked at this book in the library and it has no pictures so we’ll try it toward the end of the school year.
The Great Alaska Adventure! Click here for more books in the Junior Explorer series (more reviews there too).
Little Wolf’s Book of Badness Read more reviews here. If your child likes it, give the Awesome Animals series by this author (Ian Whybrow) a shot. The letters are smaller and my son did not want to read this in January in 1st grade.
Busybody Nora and Russell and Elisa For a list of books in the Riverside Kids series click here.
Dog Diaries: Secret Writings of the WOOF Society For young dog lovers; many people recommended it for 1st graders (it contains some violence though so read the reviews first before you decide)
Cat Diaries: Secret Writings of the MEOW Society For young cat lovers.
The Five Lost Aunts of Harriet Bean For a list of books in the Harriet Bean series click here.
Beast Keeper #1 (Beasts of Olympus) My son tried this book in March in 1st grade but he did not like it—he said not much was happening. I think he either needs to mature a bit more for this book or it was not his cup of tea.
Kelsey Green, Reading Queen (Franklin School Friends)
Stuart’s Cape For a list of books in The Amazing World of Stuart series click here.
The Year of the Book and its sequel The Year of the Baby
Akimbo and the Lions For a list of books in this series click here.
8 Class Pets + 1 Squirrel / 1 Dog = Chaos We listened to this book when my son was in 1st grade. it was short and simple.
