Grade 1 Reading List: Books with Summaries and Free Quizzes
In first grade, children are just learning to read on their own, so the best books are short, funny and good for reading aloud together. In the UK this is Year 2, and in Australia Year 1. Every school and teacher picks its own books, so check the list with your child’s class. For some of the books, you will find our free printable book quiz with an answer key.
Books for grade 1
Frog and Toad Are Friends – Arnold Lobel
Five short stories about two best friends: Frog wakes Toad up for spring, they hunt for a lost button and Frog writes Toad a letter. Simple words, warm humor and a lot about friendship.
👉 Check your understanding: Frog and Toad Are Friends Book Quiz – Grade 1
Winnie-the-Pooh – A. A. Milne
The adventures of a Bear of Very Little Brain and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood: Christopher Robin, Piglet, Eeyore, Rabbit and Owl. Gentle, funny stories about friendship and helping each other.
👉 Check your understanding: Winnie-the-Pooh Book Quiz – Grade 1
The Cat in the Hat – Dr. Seuss
On a rainy day, a tall cat in a striped hat turns a quiet house upside down. Written with a small set of simple words, it is a classic for beginning readers.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar – Eric Carle
A tiny caterpillar eats its way through the days of the week and turns into a beautiful butterfly. Great for counting, the days of the week and talking about how animals grow.
Possum Magic – Mem Fox
An Australian favorite: Grandma Poss makes Hush invisible, and the two travel around Australia looking for the food that will make her visible again.
Free book quizzes for grade 1
Each quiz has multiple-choice questions, true or false sentences, events to put in order, a word search with words from the book and open questions. Every print draws different questions, so a child can take the quiz again, or each child in a class can get a different version. The Show answers switch shows the answer key.
Want one quiz a day? The learning path Book Quizzes – Grade 1 puts them in order. Quizzes for every grade are on the Book quizzes – grades 1–8 page.
How to read these books with your child
- Read a chapter a day and take turns: one page for the child, one for you.
- After each chapter, ask what happened and what your child thinks of the characters.
- Do the quiz after finishing the book, and talk about the open questions together.
