Updated 9/2025
Books for Grade 1
Henry, Like Always
by Jenn Bailey

Henry, a first grader on the autism spectrum attempts to navigate friendships and sudden changes in classroom routines--like a parade on Friday instead of share time.
Bulldozer's big rescue by Elise Broach
Bulldozer and Friends: Bulldozer's Big Rescue
by Elise Broach

Bulldozer is nervous about school; he gets shy when making friends. But when he meets neighbor Millie and her brother Jay, Bulldozer embarks on a daring adventure to rescue a cat, overcoming his fears along the way.
The Adventures of Allie and Amy: The Best Friend Plan
by Stephanie Calmenson

In a series debut co-written with the author of the Magic School Bus series, two best friends struggle to salvage a well-planned summer when one of them is told she is being sent to sleep-away camp. 
Our Friend Hedgehog: The Story of Us
by Lauren Castillo

Living on a tiny island with only a stuffed animal for company, a lonely Hedgehog embarks on a quest in the aftermath of a storm and makes new friends who help her discover the power of courage and teamwork.
Hocus and Pocus and the Spell for Home
by A. R. Capetta

Determined to be adopted together, Hocus and Pocus cause magical mayhem. With the help of Jinx the witch and her young apprentices, they fix their mess and discover the right home has been under their noses the whole time.
The Last Firehawk: The Ember Stone
by Katrina Charman

When a powerful vulture uses dark magic and an army of spies to attack the magical land of Perodia, a tiny owl, his squirrel best friend, and a lone surviving firehawk become their home's unlikely defenders. 
Fenway and the Bone Thieves
by Victoria J. Coe

When Fenway, a little dog with a GIANT personality, receives a new bone, he must hide it from a group of pesky squirrels. He hides it so well, even he has trouble finding it! 
Mini Mermaid Tales: The Friendship Wish
by Debbie Dadey

Rosie is a little mermaid who loves dancing with dolphins and building towering sandcastles. But she's just moved to Trident City and doesn't have one single friend to join her. Then, Rosie meets Aqua and finds that having a new friend might be more trouble than it's worth.
Spooky Sleuths: The Ghost Tree
by Natasha Deen

When Asim moves to a new town, he must save his new teacher when an evil spirit from Guyanese folklore begins to wreak havoc.
Orris and Timble: The Beginning
by Kate DiCamillo

Orris the rat lives alone in an old barn surrounded by his treasures. His solitude is disrupted when a small owl is caught in a trap in the barn. Will Orris make the good and noble choice to rescue the owl, despite the fact that owls and rats are natural enemies? If he does, will he be ready for the consequences?
Layla and the Bots: Happy Paws
by Vicky Fang

Using their collective problem-solving talents and creativity to build cool inventions, rock band members Layla and the Bots help transform a run-down amusement park into a theme park for dogs that features attractions such as the Rub-a-Dub Mud Slide and the Tummy Rubbing Machine. 
Press Start: Game Over, Super Rabbit Boy!
by Thomas Flintham

When the nefarious King Viking creates a robot army to spread No Fun throughout Animal Town and abducts fun-loving Singing Dog, video game character Super Rabbit Boy must use his speed and bravery to save the day, along with the help of a human player who must win level after level.
Welcome to the Woofmore
by Donna Gephart

Opening its doors for the very first time, the Woofmore hotel strives to make every guest feel like a VIP (Very Important Pooch). When movie star Greta Garbark arrives, Rufus and Ms. Coco must keep the pup-parazzi at bay while trying to contain a very itchy problem. 
Kondo & Kezumi Visit Giant Island
by David Goodner

After finding a map in a bottle, best friends Kondo and Kezumi build a boat and set out to explore the islands near their own.
The Princess in Black
by Shannon Hale

Hiding her secret identity as a monster-fighting superhero, Princess Magnolia interrupts her fancy tea with the unsuspecting Duchess Wigtower to stop a big blue monster from endangering her kingdom's goats.
Dory Fantasmagory
by Abby Hanlon

Dory, the youngest in her family, is a girl with a very active imagination. She spends the summer playing with her imaginary friend, pretending to be a dog, battling monsters, and generally driving her family nuts.
Seashell Key
by Lourdes Heuer

Welcome to Seashell Key! Summer is here, and the children of this cozy coastal town are ready to welcome visitors to their little oasis. There’s Mateo, who runs his little kite-making business, Sail and Soar, alongside his dad’s Sky and Sea store; Sasha and Sophia, who comb the seashore next to their mother’s sandwich stand; and Eli, Ezra, and Elana, who live in the cozy-but-cramped lighthouse and entertain passing tourists with tall tales.
Good Dog: Home is Where the Heart Is
by Cam Higgins

Puppy Bo enlists his barnyard pals to help search horse stalls, chicken coops, and grazing fields to find his missing dog tag.
School for Magical Monsters: Rise of Pegasus
by Joan Holub

After having a rough first few days at his new school, Pegasus discovers that with a dash of friendship and a sprinkle of magic, he can soar.
Oona Bramblegoop's Sideways Magic: Newbie Fairy
by Kate Korsh

Determined to impress her idol the Tooth Fairy, Newbie fairy Oona Bramblegoop refuses to give up when her magic goes hilariously haywire, occasionally resulting in wedgies! 
Geeger the Robot Goes to School!
by Jarrett Lerner

Geeger the Robot is going to school. But not robot school...a school with kids, the human kind! Geeger isn't used to human ways, and his zany misunderstandings and overly literal responses to instructions lead to quite a few mishaps. He's starting to wonder if he can even make it until snack time! Will a bot made of wires, nuts, and bolts fit in with a classroom of kids?
Drag and Rex: Forever Friends
by Susan Lubner

Told in short chapters, three stories follow forever friends and polar opposites. Join Drag, a dreamy and impulsive dragon, and Rex, a practical and methodical T. rex, as they find ways to push through their challenges together. 
Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off
by Kyla May

Helping his devoted human to craft a project for a Spirit of the Inventor Challenge, Bub, the peanut butter-loving, self-proclaimed world's cutest pug causes a terrible setback when he loses his patience with a mischievous squirrel. 
Little Shrew
by Akiko Miyakoshi

This collection of three magical tales that celebrates life's little pleasures follows Little Shrew as he discovers unexpected moments of joy, such as enjoying the scent of freshly baked bread and delighting in a visit with friends. 
Dragons of Ember City: Happy Spark Day!
by Shane Richardson

After uncovering their spark powers, three young dragons in Ember City must learn to get along so Ember City can burn brighter than ever before to provide for all its dragons. 
Fort Builders: The Birthday Castle
by Dee Romito

Struggling to raise funds after his allowance runs out, Caleb teams up with Jax and other neighborhood friends to organize a fort-building business. But disagreements about their first job challenge their working relationship. By the author of The BFF Bucket List. 
The Party Diaries: Awesome Orange Birthday
by Mitali Banerjee Ruths

While planning her aunty's birthday party with the intention of donating the money she makes to help endangered animals, Priya becomes overwhelmed with all the things she has to do for her very first party.
Charlie & Mouse
by Laurel Snyder

Two inventive young brothers share a series of wacky adventures involving a neighborhood party, a rock-selling venture, and the creation of the bedtime banana.
Mia Mayhem is a Superhero!
by Kara West

Upon discovering that she has superpowers, 8-year-old Mia Macarooney is invited to attend the after-school Program for In-Training Superheroes. Follow her struggles to balance her regular everyday life with the responsibilities of her secret identity. 
Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash by Henry Winkler
Detective Duck: The Case of the Strange Splash
by Henry Winkler

Willow Feathers McBeaver, aka Detective Duck, and her pond animal pals investigate puzzling mysteries caused by human disruptions to their habitat.
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125 S Prospect Ave.
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
(630) 279-8696

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