The First Lady's K-5 Book Picks
Reading and literacy is crucial for a vibrant wellbeing. In an effort to encourage reading to and by our students, the First Lady collaborated with the Virginia Department of Education to compile a list of age-appropriate stories. We encourage parents and students alike to find books that you love in your local and school libraries.
The complete list of K-5 book picks by grade
- Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee
- The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Adam Rex
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
- The Good Egg by Jory John
- The Smart Cookie by Jory John
- Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
- Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein
- We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
- Giraffe Problems by Jory John
- Hot Dog by Doug Salati
- How to Spot a Best Friend by Bea Birdsong
- Dad and the Recycling-Bin Roller Coaster by Taylor Calmus
- Penguin Problems by Jory John
- Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
- Chicka Chicka Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
- How Do Dinosaurs Go to Bed by Jane Yolen
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee
- The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Adam Rex
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
- The Good Egg by Jory John
- The Smart Cookie by Jory John
- Let Liberty Rise!: How America's Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefel
- Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
- Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein
- If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen
- We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
- Giraffe Problems by Jory John
- Hot Dog by Doug Salati
- How to Spot a Best Friend by Bea Birdsong
- Dad and the Recycling-Bin Roller Coaster by Taylor Calmus
- Penguin Problems by Jory John
- Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
- Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
- Chicka Chicka Boom by Bill Martin Jr.
- Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus by Mo Willems
- The Kissing Hand by Audrey Penn
- Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale
- This is Not My Hat by Jon Klassen
- Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee
- The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Adam Rex
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
- The Good Egg by Jory John
- The Smart Cookie by Jory John
- Let Liberty Rise!: How America's Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefel
- Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
- Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein
- If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen
- We Don't Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins
- Giraffe Problems by Jory John
- Hot Dog by Doug Salati
- How to Spot a Best Friend by Bea Birdsong
- Dad and the Recycling-Bin Roller Coaster by Taylor Calmus
- Penguin Problems by Jory John
- Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
- Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
- Amy and the Missing Puppy by Callie Barkley
- Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
- Daisy Dawson is on Her Way! by Steve Voake
- Do Not Open This Book by Andy Lee
- The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Adam Rex
- The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak
- The Circus Ship by Chris Van Dusen
- The Good Egg by Jory John
- The Smart Cookie by Jory John
- Let Liberty Rise!: How America's Schoolchildren Helped Save the Statue of Liberty by Chana Stiefel
- Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell
- Interrupting Chicken: Cookies for Breakfast by David Ezra Stein
- If I Built a School by Chris Van Dusen
- Giraffe Problems by Jory John
- Hot Dog by Doug Salati
- Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer by Philip C. Stead
- Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
- Desmond and the Really Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Amy and the Missing Puppy by Callie Barkley
- Tales for Very Picky Eaters by Josh Schneider
- Daisy Dawson is on Her Way! by Steve Voake
- Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski
- The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Memory Jars by Vera Brosgol
- The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
- The Sun Is Late and So Is the Farmer by Philip C. Stead
- Farmhouse by Sophie Blackall
- Desmond and the Really Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski
- The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Desmond and the Really Mean Word by Archbishop Desmond Tutu
- Fairest of All by Sarah Mlynowski
- The Lemonade War by Jacqueline Davies
- Sideways Stories from Wayside School by Louis Sachar
- Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo
- Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry
- The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes