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Need good non-fiction for 1st gr reading level


Leftyplayer
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DS is in second grade, but probably more at a first grade reading level.  We have plenty of interesting literature to read, but I want some non-fiction for him to read (and read together sometimes).  While we own plenty of non-fiction books that my DD has read - she's at an advanced reading level, so they are gears more towards 3rd-5th grade.

 

I figured some of you may have suggestions on reading material that is non-fiction ... by the way, that can include short books or children's magazines or other formats.  Thanks!!

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Magic Schoolbus has some releases through Scholastic that are edited to be Level 2 readers. We get a National Geographic magazine called "Little Kids" (I don't even know which relative gave the subscription to us) that seems about first grade level. Our library's beginning readers section also has whole series on math, science, animal topics. Good luck!

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If you don't mind religious material, the Christian Liberty Nature Readers are pretty cool. They aren't young earth but do mention God being the creator of the different animals discussed. Book 1 is for first grade. It's a long book with lots of information, but the "chapters" are only 1-3 pages of larger print.

 

We also read a ton of the DK readers, which are leveled as well. There are some good titles in the Level 1 set.

 

Other than that, I second checking out your library's early reader section.

 

 

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Some non-fiction titles our DSs enjoyed in 1st grade:

- books by Margaret Davidson (Louis Braille; Helen Keller; Thomas Edison; 5 True Dog Stories; 7 True Horse Stories; 9 True Dolphin Stories)

- books by Jennifer Dussling (Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep; Earthquakes; Gargoyles: Monsters in Stone; Planets)

- books by Joyce Milton (Dinosaur Days; Bats; Wild Wild Wolves)

- Let's Read and Find Out About Science series

 

How about a non-fiction magazine subscription: Click, Ranger Rick Jr., Zootles, Scholastic News, etc.? We read lots of "stepped readers" from the library on non-fiction topics -- usually levels 1 and 2, or levels 2 and 3 are at a 1st grade reading level, depending  on the publisher. Below are the reading level "steps" for several different publishers, and a number of titles of stepped readers at a 1st grade level. Happy reading! Warmly, Lori D.

 

 

I Can Read books

level 1 = shared reading (preschool - 2)

level 2 = beginning readings (K-2)

level 3 = reading alone (gr. 1-3)

level 4 = advanced reading (gr. 2-4)

 

All Aboard Reading -- science books

level 1 = for ages 4-6

level 2 = for ages 6-8

level 3 = for ages 7-9

 

Step Into Reading

level 1 = ready to read

level 2 = reading with

level 3 = reading on your own

level 4 = reading paragraphs

level 5 = ready for chapters

 

Hello Reader

level 1 = pre K - gr. 1

level 2 = K - gr. 2

level 3 = gr. 1 - 2

level 4 = gr. 2 - 3

 

DK Readers -- AND -- Eyewitness Readers

level 1 = beginning to read

level 2 = beginning to read alone

level 3 = reading alone

level 4 = proficient readers

 

 

HISTORY

 

Ancient Egypt

- Egyptians Gods and Goddesses (Barker)

- Mummies (Milton)

 

Ancient Greece

- Flying Horse: The Story of Pegasus (Mason) -- myth

- Snake Hair: The Story of Medusa (Spinner) -- myth

 

Medieval

- Knights (Daly-Weir)

 

Colonial U.S.

- Small Wolf (Benchley)

- Johnny Appleseed (Demuth)

 

1775 - Revolutionary War 

- The 18 Penny Goose (Walker)

- Sam the Minuteman" (Benchley)

- George the Drummer Boy (Benchley)

- Red, White and Blue: Story of the American Flag (Herman)

 

1800-1850

- Sacajawea (Milton)

- Chang's Paper Pony (Coerr)

 

1850-1900

- The Drinking Gourd (Monjo)

- Almost to Freedom (Nelson)

- The Long Way to a New Land (Sandin)

- The Long Way Westward (Sandin)

- Wagon Train (Kramer)

- Wagon Wheels (Brenner)

- The Josefina Story Quilt (Coerr)

- Snowshoe Thompson (Levinson)

- Daniel's Duck" (Bulla)

- Buffalo Bill and the Pony Express (Coerr)

- Sitting Bull (Penner)

- The Big Balloon Race (Coerr) 

 

1900-1950

- Clara and the Bookwagon (Levinson)

-  Titanic: A Survivor's Story (Martin)

- Night Flight: Charles Lindbergh's Incredible Adventure (Kramer)

- Dust for Dinner (Turner)

 

1950-present

- Martin Luther King, Jr. and the March on Washington (Ruffin)

 

 

SCIENCE

 

General Science

- Greg's Microscope (Selsam)

- Water (Neye)

 

Volcanoes / Earthquakes

- Hill of Fire (Lewis)

- Volcanoes: Mountains That Blow Their Tops (Nirgiotis)

- Earthquakes (Dussling)

 

Weather

- Pink Snow and Other Weird Weather (Dussling)

- Twisters! (Hayden)

 

Astronomy / Space

- Planets (Dussling)

- Starry Sky (DK Publishers)

- Rockets and Spaceships (Wallace)

- Astronaut: Living in Spac e(Hayden)

 

Life Science

- Earth Smart: How To Take Care of Environment (Jacquavis)

- Apples and How They Grow (Driscoll)

- The Secret Life of Trees (Hazen)

- You Can't Smell A Flower with Your Ear (Cole)

- Bones (Krensky)

 

Animals - General

- The Bravest Dog Ever: The True Story of Balto (Standiford)

- The Bravest Cat: The True Story of Scarlet (Driscoll)

- Amazing Arctic Animals (Glassman)

- Freak Out!: Animals Beyond Wildest Imagination (Clarke)

- Gross Out!: Animals That Do Disgusting Things (Clarke)

- Whose Feet? (Hess)

- Animal Hide and Seek: Camoflauge (DK Publishers)

- Feathers, Flippers and Feet (DK Publishers)

- Munching, Crunching, Sniffing: Animal Mouths (Moses)

 

Dinosaurs

- Dinosaur Time (Parish)

- After The Dinosaurs (Brown)

- Beyond The Dinosaurs (Brown)

- The Day The Dinosaurs Died (Brown)

- Dinosaur Eggs (Dussling)

- Dinosaur Babies (Penner)

- Dinosaur Days (Milton)

 

Land Animals

- Amazing Gorillas! (Thomson)

- Gorillas (Demuth)

- Gorillas: Gentle Giants of the Forest (Milton)

- Tigers (Wildlife Conservation Society -- Thomson)

- Big Cats (Milton)

- Cheetah Cubs (Clarke)

- Wild, Wild Wolves (Milton)

- Horses (Driscoll)

- Ponies (Pollack)

- Baby Wolf (Batten)

- Bats: Creatures of the Night (Milton)

- Bear Cub (Pollack)

- Platypus! (Clarke)

 

Ocean Animals

- Amazing Dolphins! (Thomson)

- Do Dolphins Really Smile? (Laura Driscoll)

- Whales (Faiella)

- Whales: The Gentle Giants (Milton)

- Amazing Whales! ( Thomson)

- Journey of a Humpback Whale (Jenner)

- Amazing Sharks! (Thomson)

- Hungry, Hungry Sharks! (Cole)

- Giant Squid: Mystery of the Deep (Dussling)

- Tentacles! Tales of the Giant Squid (Redmond)

- Way Down Deep: Strange Ocean Creatures (Demuth)

 

Reptiles/ Amphibians

- Amazing Snakes! (Thomson)

- Snakes (Demuth)

- Turtles (Huelin)

- Giant Lizards (Clarke)

- Baby Alligator (Clarke)

- Frogs (Driscoll)

 

Insects/Arachnids

- Butterflies (Neye)

- Honeybees (Milton)

- Honeybees (Neye)

- Spider's Lunch: All About Garden Spiders (Cole)

- Bugs! Bugs! Bugs! (Dussling)

 

Math

- The Dragon's Scales (Albee)

- Fly on the Ceiling (Glass)

- Ben Franklin's Magic Squares (Murphy)

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I don't know how I can follow the amazing list above, but I will post my little thought here.

 

My children love the Usborne beginner reader science books.  They are short and easy to read, but full of great information.

I also second the suggestion for the Nature Reader series from CLP.

 

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