Children will now begin the formal business of learning to read. Most likely, no skill will be more important to a child's future than reading. However, the process of sounding out words can remove the enjoyment of a story. This is where listening to good books can take on a new dimension.
Stories with vivid, precise words inflowing sentences are important. They will provide a contrast to the repetitious words that are found in school texts. There is still a need for numerous illustrations to keep a child's attention and interest.
Good stories can take children outside of themselves and into another world. They now are ready for greater flights of fantasy. Now that they have a firmer grasp of real and make-believe, their adventures into this world should still be safe-scare experience. Even with this firm fix on fantasy and reality, they still love humor. It is satisfying when a young hero outsmarts the older, wiser, or stronger character It is important to hear stories of good triumphing over evil.
The Dinosaur Tooth Fairy
How to Train a Train
Humor and nonsense keep life in balance and are essential ingredients in children's development. Children need silly and absurd stories that bring forth giggles and belly laughs. They can enjoy upside down situations and nonsensical stories because they know it's only make-believe.
Growing up can be so serious at times that it is important to present humor in as many ways as possible. Hopefully, children will never lose their appetite for fun and imagination. These are the stories they will remember and pass on to following generations.
First Graders should have the opportunity to hear as many of the classics as possible that are appropriate to their age level. We recommend the following stories that have endured over the years:
Aesop's Fables
Amos & Boris
Amos: The Story of an Old Dog and His Couch
Beatrix Potter: The Complete Tales
The Big Book of Little: A Classic Illus. Ed.
The Caboose Who Got Loose
Cinderella
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
The Complete Tales of Winnie-the-Pooh
Curious George
The Golden Goose
Goldilocks
Harry the Dirty Dog
Horton Hatches the Egg
The House at Pooh Corner
Ira Sleeps Over
Katy and the Big Snow
Little Red Hen
Little Red Riding Hood
Little Toot
Madeline
Make Way for Ducklings
Make Way for McClosky
Mike Mulligan & His Steam Shovel
Millions of Cats
The Mitten
The Night Before Christmas
The Nutcracker and the Mouse King
The Owl and the Pussycat
Regards to the Man in the Moon
Selected Tales from Beatrix Potter
Snow White
The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Little Babaji
The Story of Ping
The Three Little Pigs
Thumbelina
Treasured Tales from Beatrix Potter
A Treasury of Children's Literature
Velveteen Rabbit
We're Going on a Bear Hunt
Winnie-the-Pooh