Book picks similar to
Come Back, Ben by Ann Hassett


picture-books
picture-book
childrens
easy-reader

Fish Had a Wish (I Like to Read)


Michael Garland - 2012
    Fish wishes to be all sorts of animals because each one is special, then realizes there is something good about being a fish, too.

See Me Dig


Paul Meisel - 2013
    These dogs like to dig--and dig--and dig! But when their digging disturbs gophers, racoons, and an angry bear, they have to run! The beach is a new place to dig, but what could be in that treasure chest. . . ? Pirate's treasure? No . . . it's full of pirate ghosts, and they have to run away again!Finally, the dogs find a new spot--and something that likes to dig as much as they do.Bright, cartoonish illustrations bring this story to life, full of energy and action--adding detail and humor to the simple text to support the story. This cast of mischievous dogs is sure to win your heart as they play in the dirt and chase each other through the pages of this early reader.The award-winning I Like to Read(R) series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!Suitable for late kindergarten readers, Level D books use a wider vocabulary and more complex plots with multiple scenes. They feature longer sentences and greater variety in sentence structure than the prior levels. Move onto Level E books next!

Go, Otto, Go!: Ready-to-Read Pre-Level 1


David Milgrim - 2016
    Work, work, work on a spaceship to take him home.Since landing on Earth, Otto has made many friends, but what Otto wants most is to visit his family. Will Otto’s spaceship take him up, up, up, so he can go, go, go?

Fix This Mess!


Tedd Arnold - 2014
    From the creator of the widely popular Fly Guy books!Fix this mess! Jake tells Robug. But Robug just makes things worse. Robug finally figures out how to fix the mess--but it's not what Jake expected.Tedd Arnold's illustrations of Robug's frantic efforts are laugh-out-loud funny, as Robug tries again and again to fix the mess--stirring up clouds of dust, old pizza boxes, and banana peels, and leaving Jake's cat more and more confused as he bounces from the couch to the top of the television.Fix This Mess! is an International Literacy Association-CBC Children's ChoiceThe award-winning I Like to Read(R) series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!Suitable for late kindergarten readers, Level D books feature wider vocabulary, longer sentences, and greater variety in sentence structure than Levels A, B, and C. When Level D is mastered, follow up with Level E.

Me Too!


Valeri Gorbachev - 2013
    Me too! says Chipmunk.Despite their differences in size, Chipmunk and Bear have a lot in common. When Bear decides to go play in the snow, Chipmunk is eager to tag along.The two friends have fun skiing, skating, and building a snowman--although Chipmunk needs a hand now and then in the deep snow! This simple tale of friendship is perfect for early readers, with simple, highly repetitive text and four or less sentences per spread.Valeri Gorbachev's charming art adds detail and helps support understanding of the story--and readers are sure to smile at the furry friends' wintery adventures.For more Bear and Chipmunk, don't miss Valeri Gorbachev's Not Me!The award-winning I Like to Read(R) series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!For readers who've mastered basic sight words, Level C books feature slightly longer sentences and a wider range of high-frequency words than Level B books. Level C books are suitable for mid-to-late kindergarten readers. When Level C is mastered, follow up with Level D

Good Night, Good Knight


Shelley Moore Thomas - 2000
    Roar! Is it a dragon? A great big dragon? He searches the woods and finds a surprise. Three very little dragons are almost ready for bed. But who will read to them, tuck them in, and kiss them good night? Is this a job for the Good Knight? Young readers, like the young dragons, will quickly fall under the Good Knight's spell."Stories of valiant knights slaying fearsome dragons are going to fall sadly flat after one reading of this bewitching tale." (Kirkus Reviews, pointer review)

What Is Chasing Duck?


Jan Thomas - 2017
    What is chasing Duck? Is it something wild and hairy? Does it have big teeth? Who will help protect Duck? Featuring Jan Thomas’s wonderfully wacky humor, rowdy repetitions, and hilarious characters, this book is sure to have young readers laughing out loud!

Crow Made a Friend


Margaret Peot - 2015
    But like all crows, he is very clever. Using autumn leaves for wings, sticks for the body and a crab apple for the head, Crow makes a friend! But winter winds blow in, destroying his creation. Undaunted, Crow fashions another bird friend out of snow but cannot prevent it from melting in the warm spring sun. Alone again, Crow hears the caw, caw, caw of a real, live bird and finally forms a friendship that will last in this warm, satisfying story that celebrates perseverance and ingenuity.About the Series:I Like to Read® books are picture books written and illustrated so that even the newest reader can enjoy a satisfying, quality literary experience. The books in the series are written at kindergarten and early first grade reading levels."These books deftly combine text and art to create a positive experience for new readers."—School Library Journal"This series dares to make entertaining reads from short texts and familiar vocabulary"—Kirkus Reviews"Each one makes the hard world of learning to read enough fun to encourage children at this critical developmental moment to try another one."—Vicky Smith, Children's and YA Editor at Kirkus Reviews

Fox Is Late


Corey R. Tabor - 2018
    Go, Fox, go!What is this winning trickster character doing, zooming over and under and around on his skateboard? His animal friends follow him home to find out—and get a big surprise!Fox Is Late is a My First I Can Read book, which means it’s perfect for shared reading with a child. Other Fox books include: Fox the Tiger, Fox and the Jumping Contest, and Fox and the Bike Ride.

I Have a Garden


Bob Barner - 2013
    The dog guides new readers through a bright and lush garden, which is home to a chipmunk, a bird, a bug, and all sorts of other creatures. No. This garden is for all of us. We have a garden, answer his animal neighbors.

Ballet Cat What's Your Favorite Favorite?


Bob Shea - 2017
    Each is trying to outdo the other--Ballet Cat with an elaborate dance routine (of course), and Goat with his amazing (amazingly lame, that is) magic tricks. Neither act goes off quite as planned, but it doesn't matter . . . because Grandma falls asleep during the performance! Oh well, at least Ballet Cat and Goat learn how to cooperate. (But Ballet Cat cooperates better!)Praise for THE TOTALLY SECRET SECRET: *"This early reader has simple, vivacious cartoon artwork done in inks with digital enhancements. Shea's signature style and bright bold colors add to the fun. Although the text is somewhat sophisticated and the dialogue is entirely in word balloons, the humor and theme of friendship and sharing will have broad appeal beyond the beginning reader set. VERDICT Move over Elephant and Piggie!"--School Library Journal (starred review) *"Tapping into the same barely restrained exuberance and visual energy that characterizes much of his previous work, Shea introduces Ballet Cat, a pearl-and-tutu-wearing feline who loves to dance as much as the author's Dinosaur and Cheetah characters love winning. Like Mo Willems's Elephant and Piggie, these two are a contemporary comic duo with staying power; Shea mines Ballet Cat's dialed-up enthusiasm and Sparkle's hangdog expressions for everything they are worth. Boldly contrasting backgrounds heighten the strong emotions at play and, luckily, after Sparkles reveals his 'secret secret' about dancing, this friendship is undiminished." --Publishers Weekly (starred review)An ALA Notable Book

The Cookie Fiasco


Dan Santat - 2016
    Three cookies. One problem. Hippo, Croc, and the Squirrels are determined to have equal cookies for all! But how? There are only three cookies . . . and four of them! They need to act fast before nervous Hippo breaks all the cookies into crumbs!

I Hug


David McPhail - 2017
    Guided Reading Level A. With a simple text, where only one word changes per page, beloved author-illustrator David McPhail has crafted a sweet story in which a small child shows her love for everything around her-- her cat and dog, her favorite tree, and of course, her family and friends.The gentle waterolor illustrations reflect and reinforce the text, offering clues to help new readers and adding warmth and detail to the scenes. This charming story is perfect to read with a loved one-- or simple enough to be the first book a child reads on their own.The award-winning I Like to Read(R) series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high-quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read again and again with their parents, teachers or on their own!Level A books, for early kindergarten, have one short sentence that repeats on every page with only one word change per spread. Images help tell the story--leading to faster decoding of sight words. This proven method starts the earliest readers on the path to reading fluency. When Level A is mastered, follow up with Level B.

A Kite for Moon


Jane Yolen - 2019
    Y. Stemple, tells a heartfelt story about a young boy's fascination and unlikely friendship with the moon. With whimsical illustrations by award-winning artist Matt Phelan, the story begins when the little boy, who is flying his kite, notices a sad Moon. He sends up kites to her, even writing notes to Moon promising he will come see her someday. This promise propels him through years and years of studying, learning, and training to be an astronaut! Dedicated to Neil Armstrong, and a perfect children's book to help celebrate the 50th anniversary of the first United States moon landing, the cover of this book will captivate readers with eye-catching spot UV, foil, and embossing.

Happy Cat


Steve Henry - 2013
    On a cold day, a shivering cat jumps through the basement window of a small apartment building. Inside he meets Rat, who shows him upstairs. Along the way, Cat meets everyone in the building--and each of his new, welcoming neighbors has a gift to share.When he reaches the top, Cat finds a place of his own. Cat is happy!Cutaway illustrations of the apartment building, filled with the characters' cozy homes, give young readers plenty of details to pore over, and the spare text is simple enough for beginners to read on their own.The award-winning I Like to Read(R) series focuses on guided reading levels A through G, based upon Fountas and Pinnell standards. Acclaimed author-illustrators--including winners of Caldecott, Theodor Seuss Geisel, and Coretta Scott King honors--create original, high quality illustrations that support comprehension of simple text and are fun for kids to read with parents, teachers, or on their own!Level B books, suitable for kindergarten readers, feature short sentences and high-frequency words. The illustrations provide clues to word meanings. When Level B is mastered, follow up with Level C.