A Shared Reading Book List From First Words to First Chapter Books

Reading is always at the heart of a homeschool day, and incorporating a shared reader into your routine can make such a meaningful difference. A shared reader is a book we read together, taking turns reading each page. It’s a chance to tackle books that are above your child’s reading level, delve into challenging topics, or simply enjoy a story together. You can read more about Incorporating a Shared Reader Into Your Homeschool Day here.

How to Choose a Good Shared Reader

        For ages 5-7, it can be difficult to pick a good shared reader because there is such a wide range of reading abilities at this stage. It’s not just about what a child can decode but also what they can comprehend. For this book list, I have categorized the selections into three sections: early readers, transitional readers, and beginner chapter books.

We want stories to be engaging to encourage your child to keep reading, and I like for our shared reading time at this age to progress gradually from simple to more complex stories and vocabulary. When we share a book, I can gently correct how my child reads a passage or pronounces a word in real-time. This immediate feedback helps prevent bad habits from forming and strengthens their ability to engage listeners with their reading.

Early Readers

Early readers are great for new readers and should include repetitive phrases, simple sight words, and phonics rules your child has mastered.

Without further ado below are the Best Early Readers for Ages 5-7

Below are my recommended titles for early readers or you can shop the list here 👇

1.     The elephant ad Piggie series is very affordable in these collections there are 5 sets available.
   
2.    The Biscuit series by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
   
3.    Animal antics can be a little hard to find but there is a kindle version
   
4.    Miss Rhonda’s Readers are so adorable and great for a set of early readers
   
5.    Usborne My First Reading Library 50 Books Set Collection this
   
6.    Sing, Spell, Read and Write Kindergarten Storybooks – cute stories and photos phonetic readers – honestly just another great resource to have on hand. At this age it’s all about practice and reading exposure!
   
7.   Complete Set of Bob Books, Sets 1-5 – trust me! Bob books are worth the hype.
   
8. Basic Phonics Readers – Abeka 5 Year Old Kindergarten Phonics Reading Program Student Reading Book –  you don’t need to do the whole curriculum but these abeka readers are great for drilling in phonetic concepts and you will reference them as little reading snags come up.
   
9. My Phonic Key Words Stories For Kids – these readers are more about sight words than phonics but some kids need that!

Transitional Readers 

Transitional readers help children build confidence. These books have slightly longer sentences, more varied vocabulary, plenty of pictures, and easy-to-follow stories

Without further ado below are the Best transitional Readers  

Below are my recommended titles for transitional readers or you can shop the list here 👇   

1. Frog and Toad Book Set – Frog and Toad is a classic book series that helps your children fall in love with reading. IT gives them lots of practice with familiar words. 
   
2. Little Bear Boxed Set – Little bear is one of the first books my son wanted to read again and again! He would jump on the trampoline reading this book. IT was a great transition book for us.
   
3. Fox and His Friends – Adorable illustrations and an easy to read puffin book. I find these at thrift stores often.
   
4. Dr. Seuss Ultimate Beginner Reader Set –  Kids will be familiar with the stories so they are more willing to give the longer text a shot. This is an ultimate beginner reader collection which I found MOST helpful as we were moving from early readers but wasn’t ready for early chapter books.
   
5.  Mouse Tales – Arnold Lobel’s Mouse Tales is a Level Two I Can Read book, geared for kids who read on their own but still need a little help.
   
6. All About Reading – Level 1 Short Stories – A great reader to have on hand! you don’t have to use the whole curriculum to enjoy the readers.
   
7. The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto (Step-Into-Reading) – Any of the ” I can read” books are great for transitioning. My kids have read this one specifically multiple time I suggest level 2 or 3. 
   
8. Adventure Bible for Early Readers – Take early readers on an adventure through God’s Word with the #1 Bible for kids!
   
9. A Waffle Lot of Narwhal and Jelly – The Narwhal and Jelly books are delightfully silly graphic novels full of positivity, friendship and playful adventure.

Beginner Chapter Books 

I love it when my kids reach the beginner chapter book phase! These books are for kids who are ready for a challenge. Chapters are short and perfect for shared reading. Beginner chapter books are often part of a series, so once kids fall in love with one, they’ll just keep reading!

Without further ado below are the Best Beginner Chapter Books   

Below are my recommended titles for beginner Chapter books or you can shop the list here 👇   

1. Mercy Watson series by Kate DiCamillo – Foiling a robber, driving a car, squeezing into a tutu—is there anything the porcine wonder won’t do in her single-minded pursuit of treats, buttered toast, or just a rollicking fun time? And who knows what other adventures twinkle in her mischievous eyes? Here, for Mercy Watson’s loyal fans and new friends, comes a big fat paperback collection of pig tales that will have readers squealing with delight. 
   
2. Henry and Mudge series by Cynthia Rylant – These books are suitable for young readers. This collection is great, with engaging stories and lovable characters. The words are easy to understand and are found in Dolch sight words lists. The books have short chapters with a few sentences on each page.
   
3. Cowgirl Kate and Cocoa series – Cowgirl Kate and her stubborn, but devoted cowhorse, Cocoa. Together they count the herd, ride the range, and, of course, argue till the cows come home–as only best friends can do.
   
4. Katie woo Series – Katie Woo is a smart, spunky, sassy, and stylish schoolgirl that sometimes wonders into trouble more easily than she makes her way out of it. Katie’s heart is always in the right place and young readers will fall in love with her. These early chapter books are perfect for explaining life changes, family celebrations, and growing up.
   
5. Billie B. Brown Series – Your daughter enjoy these books as a   young reader. They will find them suitable for daily reading and great beginning chapter books as new readers.
   
6. Hey Jack! Series  – Jack is a friendly, everyday kid who loves playing soccer and always tries to be brave. Each down-to-earth story in the series follows Jack on a fun new adventure that kids will love and relate to. Each book is carefully designed with word art and illustrations, and there are no mountains of text or super-tricky words to intimidate the early reader.
   
7. Princess in Black series – This book series is engaging and entertaining for daughters. They find the stories easy to read and recommend it as a great series.
   
8. The Kingdom of Wrenly Series – Welcome to the Kingdom of Wrenly! A magical land full of mythical stories and creatures. Join Prince Lucas and his best friend Clara Gills as they discover amazing secrets, meet and help new friends, and explore the enchanted kingdom in this action-packed ten-book collection that is perfect for beginning readers. Let the adventures begin!
   
9. Dragon Masters Series – This very exciting set contains the first 20 books from the wildly popular Dragon Masters series. Perfect for newly independent readers, these books provide easy-to-read text, purposeful illustrations, and captivating, yet simple, plot lines that will help your child soar to new heights as a reader.
   
10. The Last Firehawk Series – These books are engaging for young readers. The stories are exciting and interesting, with a good storyline that captures their imaginations.
    
11. Magic Tree House Series – When Jack and Annie discover a mysterious tree house filled with books, they never dream that it will take them on exciting adventures around the world and throughout history! The story begins with Dinosaurs Before Dark, when Jack and Annie are whisked back to the prehistoric past. With a total of twenty-eight adventures, kids will never get tired of traveling the world and completing missions with their new friends Jack and Annie. 
    
12. The Complete Chicken Squad Series – Dirt, Sweetie, Poppy, and Sugar might be chicks, but they sure aren’t chicken. They’re the Chicken Squad, the barnyard’s best crime fighters. And these chicks are not your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, oh no! They’ve taken on UFOs, led the search for a kidnapped house, traveled deep into the wild, confronted a mysterious shoe-napping shadow, dug up a dinosaur, and battled headless bears.
    
13. Ivy and Bean Series – Everyone will enjoy reading all about the wild adventures of Ivy and Bean, two friends who never meant to be friends! Includes a fill-in the blank journal. Vibrant characters and lots of humor make this box set the perfect introduction to Ivy and Bean!

Tips for Using Shared Readers Effectively

        Shared reading isn’t just about decoding words—it’s about building fluency and confidence. Encourage your child to read expressively, not just correctly, and make it fun by alternating pages or paragraphs. This keeps them engaged and gives them a chance to hear fluent reading in action. Pause occasionally to ask simple comprehension questions, like “What do you think will happen next?” or “Why do you think the character did that?”—nothing too formal, just natural conversation. And most importantly, let your child choose books they’re excited about! When they’re invested in the story, reading feels less like a chore and more like an adventure.

        Shared reading is such a simple yet powerful way to build fluency, comprehension, and confidence in young readers. By reading together, you’re not just helping with literacy—you’re creating meaningful connections and a love for books. Don’t be afraid to mix it up and choose different reading levels based on what works best for your child. Some days, they might need extra support, and other days, they’re ready for a challenge. The key is to keep it enjoyable! I’d love to hear from you—what are your favorite books for shared reading? Drop them in the comments! 

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