Books for 1st & 2nd Graders
Spring 2025
Select Your Preference:
New Books
Favorite Authors
New Books
Every Monday Mabel
by Jashar Awan

From the creator of I'm Going to Build a Snowman comes a celebration of community helpers that captures the joy and wonder of being a kid, centering around precocious little girl Mabel, whose favorite day of the week is Monday for a surprising reason.
I Am Salsa
by Jackie Azâua Kramer

Watching her whole family dance the salsa each Saturday night, Mari wants to join in but her feet get twisted and her moves get mixed up until Papi helps her feel the beat of the instruments--and believe in herself. 
Cantaloupe and HoneyDo Bake a Cake
by Mike Boldt

Cantaloupe and HoneyDo want some cake, but first they need to bake it, and while cautious Cantaloupe says they can't because they haven't done this before, confident HoneyDo forges ahead with the recipe and the ingredients, in a story about a childhood first. 
They Call Me Teach: Lessons in Freedom
by Lesa Cline-Ransome

This moving first-person narration told in an era-appropriate dialect follows an enslaved young man named Teach who uses his ability to read and write to educate others in the pursuit of freedom.
A Star Shines Through
by Anna Desnitskaya

Displaced in the aftermath of war, a young girl and her mother leave their star-shaped window lamp behind and move to another country where everything is different until they find a way to make this new place feel a little more like home. 
Bella Ballerina
by Sharon M. Draper

On ballet recital day, timid little ballerina Bella freezes and must find her courage in time to take the stage and shine!
Eloísa's Musical Window
by Margarita Engle

Eloâisa's struggles fade away when she sits by the window and listens to the neighbor's radio, and one magical day young musicians gather outside and turn the neighborhood into a joyful orchestra of neighbors and strangers. Includes information on different instruments
Finnegan Fox
by Katie Gilstrap

On the very first night they're allowed to venture out of their den on their own, Finnegan Fox, feeling safer inside, watches his siblings have a great time outside until a gust of wind carries a smell that might be too delicious resist.
The Snow Thief
by Alice Hemming

Squirrel has never seen snow before, but just as he starts to get used to it, the snow disappears, leaving Squirrel to wonder if a thief is on the loose, in a winter companion to The Leaf Thief. 
Saturday Morning at the 'Shop
by Keenan Jones

Spend Saturday morning in the barbershop, which is a sound booth; an art gallery; a playground; a classroom; and a place for artistry, comradery and community, in an upbeat picture book celebrating a place that brings communities together.
A Day With Mousse
by Claire Lebourg

Content with his solitary existence, Mousse finds his routine thrown off kilter when an uninvited walrus named J. P. Barnacle takes up residence in his home and wonders what to do, in this endearing story of helping others and unlikely friendship.
What I Must Tell the World: How Lorraine Hansberry Found Her Voice
by Jay Leslie

This lyrical celebration of Lorraine Hansberry's life and legacy, and love letter to the power of theater and storytelling, recounts the story of the award-winning playwright and author of A Raisin in the Sun.
Eli and the Uncles
by Jehan Madhani

Young Eli's eight adoring uncles, each bigger and taller than the last, have a unique personality and beard, each elegant to behold, as Eli says good-nights one by one, in a countdown to bedtime book.
I am Elphaba
by Mary Man-Kong

This Little Golden Book celebrates everything that is special about Elphaba, a misunderstood, green-skinned woman, from Universal Pictures' smash-hit Wicked. Glinda and the Wizard are also featured in gorgeous retro-style illustrations that will delight children, Universal Pictures' Wicked fans, and collectors of all ages!
Haiku Kaiju Ah-Choo!
by George McClements

A giant kaiju awakens one morning not feeling well and heads to the city, where his size makes him seem dangerous, in a bighearted comic tale written in haiku and full of classic monster movie tropes.
Rosie's Wild Ride: Chasing Big Rodeo Dreams
by Paige Murray

Rosie, a Clydesdale, aspires to be a rodeo star and joins forces with her cowgirl friend Oakley, and the two have a chance to prove themselves when a rogue bull causes chaos during the competition.
Before the Ships: The Birth of Black Excellence
by Maisha Oso

Before the Ships is a powerful and poetic celebration of the early roots of Black history.
You're a Good Swimmer
by Christopher Rivas

Embark on an enchanting journey through the wonders of the earliest moments of life with this captivating picture book that transcends traditional narratives about conception. Filled with vibrant and timeless imagery, it a celebration of the miraculous journey each person takes towards their first breath.
The Littlest Grito
by Nicholas Solis

When her Papa gets laryngitis before the Diez y Seis de Septiembre and is unable to yell the grito to kick off the party, Gloria, offering her own grito, must find the courage to yell it with all the heart it needs.
Maya's Holi
by Thrity N. Umrigar

Maya loves visiting her grandparents in India and celebrates Holi with them, eating a special breakfast, putting on colorful clothing and joining the celebration in the streets, in a book with back matter about the history and traditions of Holi. 
Favorite Authors
Updated Each January
The Three Little Mittens
by Linda Bailey

Exploring what it feels like to be excluded and included, this celebration of one-of-a-kindness follows Dotty, a single unmatched mitten, as she learns, with the help of the Little Girl who owns her, that by being an individual instead of "matching,” everyone can belong.
Ahoy!
by Sophie Blackall

Encouraging imaginative play and family fun, a young child convinces their parents to embark on a high-seas adventure - in their living room - with the help of a vacuum, broom and carpet! 
The Wrong Book
by Drew Daywalt

In this giggle-inducing story, the narrator is WRONG about everything, including that bicycles say cock-a-doodle-doo and firefighters shout Ding Dong! before putting out a fire, until the characters within the book set him straight. From the author of The Day the Crayons Quit. 
Mouse & Giraffe
by Kelly DiPucchio

Mouse and Giraffe are two unlikely friends who don't agree on anything but soon learn to see eye to eye after they walk in each other's shoes. 
Prunella
by Beth Ferry

Born with a purple thumb instead of a green one like her parents, Prunella cultivates a poisonous garden to keep people away until a curious weed of a different sort pops up, forcing her to decide between uprooting this tentative new friendship or allowing it to blossom.
There's a Bear in Your Book
by Tom Fletcher

Combining interactive fun with a nighttime routine, this adorable picture book asks little ones to help the bear in their book get ready for bed and be lulled to sleep alongside their new friend. 
A Walk in the Woods
by Nikki Grimes

Opening a letter his father left behind, a grief-stricken young boy sets off through the spaces they once explored together, reaching a special destination that shows him a side of his dad he never knew, and something even deeper for them to share together.
Bubbly Beautiful Kitty-Corn
by Shannon Hale

Kitty helps her best friend Unicorn accomplish his dream of being a mermaid, but despite an elaborate DIY mermaid tail, the friends' trip to the beach does not go as planned and Unicorn's insecurities emerge.
Big Bear and Little Bear Go Fishing
by Amy Hest

Deciding they're in the mood for fishing, Big Bear and Little Bear pack up a red wagon with poles, freshly baked scones and a good book to read, and even though it's unclear how much fishing will get done, they are happy just spending time together. 
Angelina, Star of the Show
by Katharine Holabird

Dreaming of being the star of the Mouseland Dance Festival, Angelina practices her routine constantly, but when she accidentally ruins her costume, she worries she'll miss her big chance.
A Family Like Ours
by Frank Murphy

A celebration of all kinds of families from sprawling extended families and close-knit units to adopted and chosen families.
Vamos! Let's Go Read
by Raúl the Third

Little Lobo and his friends are excited for the out-of-this-world book festival the Guadalupian Library hosts every year! Everyone has a special book they're looking for, but there's so much to see and do first. From cookbook demonstrations and comics workshops to mask making and language classes, this library has something for everyone.
There Was a Party for Langston
by Jason Reynolds

This finger-snapping, toe-tapping ode to the Word King and literary genius Langston Hughes invites readers to a heckuva party at the Schomberg Library where Maya Angelou, Amiri Baraka and others arrive to recite poems at their hero's feet.
Clack, Clack! Smack!
by Traci Sorell

While playing a social game of Cherokee stickball, Vann learns that helping his team win is just as important as being the star player.
Summer is Here
by Renée Watson

Celebrating iconic childhood joys, this beautiful ode to a summer day from sunrise to sunset, follows one young girl who has the perfect day swimming, jumping rope and eating ice cream, in an exploration of joy, family, friendship, sunshine and wonder.