Books to boost your 1st grader’s decoding skills

This rhyming alphabet book provides young readers with facts about every facet of the state of California – its natural history, famous people and interesting landmarks. From Alcatraz to Yosemite to the 21 California missions, children are introduced to many unique features of the Golden State. This book is part of the Discover America State by State series, including E is for Evergreen (Washington), M is for Mayflower (Massachusetts), S is for Sunshine (Florida), and so on, one for each of the 50 states. These books would be a wonderful read before a vacation, a visit to relatives or a move to a new home.

Perfect for: Kids who like history.

Find at your local library.

A sweetly written nostalgic book. Singsong rhyming verse combined with the familiar blue engine helps us remember that anything is possible if you persevere. Younger children may need help understanding the greater meanings behind each rhyming verse. This book encourages children to believe in themselves.

Perfect for: Kids who like adventure stories.

Find at your local library.

Don’t be fooled by the alphabet book format. For older children who love music this book will be a treat.

Perfect for: Kids who like arts.

Find at your local library.

For each letter of the alphabet, four paintings from the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York have been selected to illustrate a word starting with the letter. The paintings come from ancient to modern times, demonstrating the universality of some subjects, such as apples, cats, games, and light.

Perfect for: Kids who like arts.

Find at your local library.

This book opens simply enough, with two piglets waking up to the pre-dawn sounds of the garbage men making their rounds. The emphasis in these early pages is on the noises made by the trucks, rumbling and roaring like “dragons snoring.” But then the focus turn to the actual garbage — rotten eggs, apple cores, diapers, and so on. Odanaka isn’t afraid to be realistic; her smiley garbage men wear “Greasy gloves . . .sticky boots . . .stains a-plenty on their suits,” and there are flies “a-buzzin’ by the dozen.” Will Hillenbrand’s vivid ink and egg tempera illustrations bring all these stinky details to life — including the truck itself, which gobbles up everything with gusto. There’s a definite gross-out element to the book, but Odanaka’s rhyming text and enthusiastic look at an important job make this entirely suitable for small children.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

The cartoon-strip organization of the book guides young readers through the text. They enjoyed following the word bubbles to find out what job the young worm would take on. Children giggled at the results of the worm’s search for employment.

Perfect for: Kids who like humor stories.

Find at your local library.

Preschoolers and kindergartners are sure to fall in love with this rhythmic read aloud. If your little one is mesmerized by animals of the jungle, then this book is a must have. Travel on a jungle adventure with a small group of ants and see what wild animals you may encounter. Could it be a lion, a zebra or an elephant, too? Look inside and a surprise is waiting for you.

Perfect for: Kids who like fantasy stories.

Find at your local library.