​Summer is a great time for kids to stay engaged with reading—experts recommend about 20 minutes a day to help build strong literacy skills. Whether your child enjoys timeless classics, thrilling adventures, or heartwarming tales of friendship, these 10 picture books for pre-k to grade 1 students are sure to inspire and entertain all summer long.

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1. 1.  Just Like Millie by Lauren Castillo

In Just Like Millie, a shy young girl and her mother relocate to a new city, where the girl feels overwhelmed by the prospect of making new friends. Her anxiety eases when they adopt Millie, a rescue dog whose friendly demeanor helps the girl find the courage to connect with others. Through gentle storytelling and expressive illustrations, Castillo explores themes of shyness, anxiety and the transformative power of companionship. 

2.  The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals by Deborah Underwood and LeUyen Pham
​In The Man Who Didn’t Like Animals, a tidy man who dislikes animals finds his life transformed when a cat appears on his doorstep. Reluctantly, he allows the cat to stay, and soon, more animals follow. Through humorous and heartwarming moments, he learns to embrace the unexpected joys of companionship, leading to a delightful origin story of Old MacDonald.

3. Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed and Stasia Barringtonby
​Mae Among the Stars is a vibrant picture book that chronicles the childhood dreams of Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space. Inspired by her imagination and supported by her parents' encouragement, Mae aspired to “dance among the stars.” Despite facing skepticism, her determination led her to NASA, where she achieved her dream. This inspirational story encourages young readers to believe in themselves and pursue their dreams with perseverance.

4.  I Lived Inside a Whale by Xin Li
​In I Lived Inside a Whale, a quiet child in a noisy family, dreams of peace and silence. Inspired by a blue whale's vast heart, she constructs a boat and sails into its mouth to find solitude. However, her tranquility is disrupted when another child, Owen Tang, arrives. Despite initial resistance, Emma and Owen form an unexpected friendship, learning to share space and stories within the whale's embrace. This whimsical tale explores themes of solitude, connection and the power of storytelling. 

5.  Buffalo Fluffalo by Bess Kalb ad Erin Kraan
​In Buffalo Fluffalo, a boastful buffalo named Fluffalo puffs himself up to appear bigger and tougher than he is. After a rainstorm reveals his true size, the other animals embrace him as he is, teaching readers the value of self-acceptance.

6.  A Pocket Full of Rocks by Kristin Mahoney and EB Goodale
​In A Pocket Full of Rocks, a young child finds magic in everyday objects. From rocks to petals, seashells to acorns, each item becomes a treasure with endless possibilities. This gentle, seasonal story celebrates imagination, mindfulness and the joy of collecting small wonders.

7.  The Sunflowers by Zahra Marwan
​The Sunflowers: Vincent van Gogh's Search for Beauty is a picture book that explores the artist's journey of self-discovery and community. Through dreamy watercolor illustrations, the story depicts how van Gogh found joy in painting sunflowers and how travel opened his heart and art to new ideas and friendships. It encourages readers to embrace beauty in unconventional subjects.

8.  Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden by Christy Mandin
​In Millie Fleur’s Poison Garden, Garden Glen is a dull, uniform town—until Millie Fleur La Fae arrives. She plants a whimsical garden filled with peculiar plants like Sneezing Stickyweed and Grumpy Gilliflower. Though the townspeople call it poison, Millie embraces her unique creation, inspiring her classmates to celebrate individuality and find beauty in the unconventional. This charming story encourages readers to be proud of what makes them different.

​9.  The Band in the Basement by Kelly J. Baptist and Jenin Mohammed
​In The Band in Our Basement, two siblings sneak out of bed to discover their father's jazz band practicing downstairs. Their quiet curiosity turns into a lively family jam session, blending rhythm and rhyme in a joyful bedtime story. 

10.  Knight Owl and Early Bird by Christopher Denise
​In Knight Owl and Early Bird, the nocturnal Knight Owl, now captain of the castle's night watch, faces a new challenge: Early Bird, an eager and chatty trainee who struggles with the night shift. Despite initial frustrations, the duo must unite to protect the kingdom from lurking wolves. This sequel to the Caldecott Honor-winning Knight Owl emphasizes teamwork and understanding across differences.

​All of the recommendations in First R's summer reading list can be found at The Bookstore of Gloucester. If you have not already visited this charming bookstore in the historic west end of downtown Gloucester, Massachusetts, drop by today. 

​Summer's hot days are perfect for diving into the engaging world of children's literature. While digital gadgets offer convenience, nothing quite matches the pleasure of flipping through hard-copy books under the sun's warm embrace—without the distraction of screen glare. As you pack your beach bag and towel, consider these 10 delightful book suggestions tailored for kindergarten and first-grade readers.

​It goes without saying that your local library is the best place to borrow books free of charge. But if your young readers love reading their favorite stories again and again, you want to have them handy and on the bookshelf. Here are several ways for parents, educators, and caregivers to find free books for K-1 kids that won’t bust the budget.

1. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library

Dolly Parton's Imagination Library is a literary haven for young minds, gifting children up to five years old a free book each month. Founded by the legendary country singer, this initiative sparks early literacy, fostering a love for reading in countless homes worldwide. It's a testament to Parton's commitment to education and imagination. Check to see if the program is available in your area.

2.    Little Free Library
 
Little Free Libraries are popping up all around town and are a great way of providing free books for kids and igniting a passion for reading. Volunteer stewards build cute book houses (blueprints are available on their website), stock them with relevant books and allow passers-by to access them 24/7. Readers are encouraged to leave a book for each one they take. A handy app allows readers or their caregivers to easily locate the nearest location and partake in a fun quest of book gathering—one little library at time.

3.    Open Library
 
For a story on-demand or on-the-go, try Open Library for a quick storytelling session via your smartphone or tablet. An initiative by the Internet Archive, this treasure trove of downloadable stories is easily searchable by grade level. Click on the “K-12 Student Library” for thousands of titles, including engaging books for K-1 kids. Where else can you read Guess How Much I Love You in 11 languages?

4.    Storyline Online 

Storyline Online is another on-the-go storytelling strategy for those moments when you need a quick 10–15-minute break from the kids. It features famous actors reading popular children’s books. The videos are engaging and can be a great supplement to traditional reading. Throw one on your tablet or laptop (with an overhead display for classroom purposes) and keep the kids spellbound for a quick period. Who wouldn’t be entertained by Chris O’Dowd reading Arnie the Donut?

5.    Book Banks

Book banks serve as literary lifelines, collecting and distributing donated books to teachers, parents, and children. New Jersey-based BookSmiles is a non-profit organization helping to irrigate book deserts by spreading book wealth within the New Jersey/Philadelphia area. BookSmiles partners with Title 1 schools and provides children's books for classroom libraries, pop-up book fairs, popular “teacher take” events, and encourages children to build their own personal home libraries. Another great resource is First Book, where you can explore free books for children in need for simply the cost of shipping and handling (nationwide distribution).

6.    Facebook Marketplace

A digital haven for sharing, Facebook Marketplace connects individuals seeking to pass along pre-loved treasures. Simply search “free children’s books” in the Marketplace and you’ll find local listings — from children's classics to educational gems. Many sellers are former educators or parents purging their book collections. You will find both free books and minimally priced collections.
 
First R Foundation is a nonprofit organization in Gloucester, MA formed with the purpose of fostering a love of reading in students from an early age. A dozen dedicated volunteers visit Cape Ann’s kindergarten and first-grade classrooms each month to read aloud and distribute books to the students. For more information, visit us at First R Foundation.

All of First R’s recommendations can be found at The Bookstore of Gloucester. If you haven’t already visited this charming bookstore in the historic west end of downtown Gloucester Massachusetts, drop by today for a visit.
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April 27, 2023

Local children’s author and folk singer to celebrate the history and beauty of Cape Ann’s schooners with the students of Cape Ann.

Gloucester, MA – In keeping with the Gloucester400 celebration, First R Foundation will continue reading books featuring Gloucester writers, illustrators, and themes to the kindergarteners and first graders in Gloucester’s public schools. Local favorite Daisy Nell will read to the kindergarteners at East Gloucester Elementary School on May 3 and the first graders of West Parish School on May 5. In collaboration with First R, she will distribute copies of her books The Stowaway Mouse and Winnie at the Wheel to each classroom for their libraries.
 
This year, First R’s quadricentennial festivities commenced with the presentation of Virginia Lee Burton’s Katy and the Big Snow, the celebrated 1943 tale set in “Geopolis,” a town modeled after Gloucester. Mayor Verga’s children’s book, Fresh Eggs, followed in February. In April, the children delighted in hearing the tales of The Seagull and the Sea Captain and Sal Boat, both books set in Gloucester.
 
Nell, a native of Essex, is a folk singer and songwriter with a long history of school, museum, and shipboard performances. She has performed throughout New England and as far away as Hawaii and Alaska with her husband Stan Collinson and their band, Crabgrass. She has several CDs and a Parent’s Choice Award-winning children’s album, Bought Me a Rooster. She is the author of four previous children’s books, all illustrated by George Ulrich. She serves as the Chair of the annual Gloucester Schooner Festival and is the proud owner of the schooner Redbird.
 
“I am delighted to be able to share my books with the Gloucester schools next week. My hope is that my stories will celebrate our maritime heritage in a fun and meaningful way,” said Nell.
 
Set upon the decks of the schooner Ardelle, The Stowaway Mouse is the result of a folk music and songwriting project in the second grade of an elementary school in Essex. Two classes of inspiring children worked with Nell to learn about traditional folk music and instruments and to create songs based on local history. As the Ardelle was built on the edge of the Essex River, The Stowaway Mouse took shape, first as a song, then a book.
 
Winnie at the Wheel takes place at the annual Gloucester Schooner Parade on Stacy Boulevard, near the site of the 1925 statue of the Man at the Wheel by Leonard Craske. Winnie, a Cockadoodlepoo, has an adventure with the schooner Thomas E. Lannon that takes her to new heights, giving her a different view of her world on Cape Ann.
 
The goal of the First R Foundation is to improve the reading and comprehension skills of young children in a school environment through oral reading of books by professional, political, and civic leaders of the Cape Ann community. Executive Director Pat Earle funds the program through private donations and can purchase thirty books per month for classrooms. Since its founding in 2002, the foundation has grown to over 50 volunteers and has gifted over 10,000 books to kindergarteners and first graders. For additional resources and information, visit First R at https://www.firstrfoundation.org/. For information and updates on Gloucester’s 400+ festivities, visit their website here. 

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For additional information, please contact Maureen Ryan Thorpe, Digital Marketing Manager, First R Foundation, at maureen.thorpe@comcast.net or 978-319-2968.
 

 By Patricia Earle
Edited by Maureen Ryan Thorpe

​I really don’t remember a time when I could not read. When I was three or four years old, my father would put me in his lap, point out simple words from the newspaper, spell the words and ask me to repeat the word. So, unconsciously, I learned to read. I think I was about three years old when I began to absorb my father’s love of words and their meaning. That is how I began to become a dedicated lover of books and words. 
 
My father, Mike, did not read to me from children’s books, but from the classic books he loved—some a bit too advanced, perhaps. I started with Grimms Fairy Tales, progressed to Alice in Wonderland and on to Les Misérables…all by 10 years old. Mike managed to get one of the first set of comics from the Classic Comics series. The stories should have been a little too mature for my age, but I loved them.
 
Mike was literally a self-made man thanks to books and reading. And to understand why I advocate for literacy, one has to understand Mike’s story. Mike’s story began at the turn of the 20th century. Long story short, I was the child of a second marriage in the 1920's. As a young child, Mike was forced to leave school at the end of the fifth grade and go to work in a local factory. At this time in the early 20th century, there were no child labor laws. Young Mike was forced to work 10-hour days, every day except Sunday. There was a small lending library close by, and young Mike spent his Sunday afternoons reading and learning.
 
At 16 years old, Mike joined one of the first trade unions and quickly rose in the ranks to become an organizer. When he turned 20, he was traveling to other states and factories to help organize and work for better working conditions. But Mike never stopped reading and learning. When WWII broke out, Mike was well known and respected as a Labor and Management Relations specialist. He was quickly called to Washington to help American industries swiftly convert to a high-speed war machine.
 
After the war, Mike went into private practice and adapted his skills to help American industry become a mighty engine during peace time. But his expertise was called upon again to help another nation’s economy. By the early 1950s, Israel’s early industry and labor relations were almost non-existent. Golda Meir, then Secretary of Labor, reached out and asked Mike to come and help. In a few years, Israel’s Histadrut became a powerful force as well as the nation’s only trade union. It still remains a powerful presence in the country today.
 
During his travels and long flights, Mike discovered paperback books. He always carried at least four or five books with him on every trip—some educational, others for entertainment. Unfortunately, the years of smoking Camels caught up with him, and at the end of his life, Mike was confined to his easy chair, tethered to an oxygen tank. But he still could read, and when my daughters came to visit, he would read to them—most of the same books he had read to me. He continued to faithfully read the daily newspaper.
 
Today, my daughters and my granddaughter can be found with their “nose in a book” when they have leisure time, and I love that Mike helped instill that love of books in them. Learning to read and enjoying it is one of the most valuable and durable gifts one can give a child.  One never knows where it will take you!

​"Education isn’t the filling of a pail but the lighting of a fire.”
– William Butler Yeats
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How many times today have you read something? No doubt you have done it without thinking about it…newspaper? street sign? text? email? All done without thinking about what you were doing: processing information, storing it and using it. We use reading unconsciously—just like we do walking—and these two skills are vital for progressing through your day. Yet, according to recent studies, and as quoted by Nicholas Kristof in his recent column of the Sunday New York Times, two-thirds of our fourth graders are not proficient in reading. Kristof says, “American children are struggling to read and are worse at it than their counterparts were in 1998.” That’s 25 years ago!
 
Reading is the key to our world. And a child’s success at reading is the key to understanding the world. It is within your power to help young children possess and use this key to become confident citizens of the world. Helping a child enter the world of reading and understanding may be one of the most important things you can do to help them become fully functional adults.
 
Opportunities to help a child learn and comprehend are all around us and in everyday life—not just in a school. Helping a child to read can be fun for all, and the entire family can join in. It’s simply helping kids to sound out words using phonics. Try the labels on items at the supermarket. Point out a word on the box, pronounce it and ask the child to repeat it. Point out street signs like “STOP” and ask the child to repeat it. Praise the child if they remember the word. You can make the game more challenging by asking the child if they remember the word later during the day.
 
Making words fun and understanding them can be a game that can also involve older siblings.  When you return from the store, ask the older child to point out the word on the same box or container you pointed to at the store, and see if the child can remember and read it. It can be simple word like “milk” or “eggs.” Ask the older child to point out the printed word to their younger sibling and see if they both can see and say it. A small reward may be helpful to reinforce the lesson. If the younger child cannot recognize that word, just let it go and try again later. There are many opportunities during the day to help a child see and recognize words. You can make up your own games to engage a child and bring them into the wonderful world of reading.
 
By taking reading out of the classroom, you can show a child how important to everyday life reading can be. It may be the most important lesson about reading you can give a young child. Besides, it’s fun to play word games with your children!

​"Reading may be the most important skill we can give our children. It’s the pilot light of that fire. When 2/3 of American kids are not proficient in reading, we are failing the next generation."  
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- Nicholas Kristof, The New York Times

February 2, 2023

​Local literacy program celebrates Gloucester’s 400th anniversary with local authors reading to the students of Cape Ann.
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Gloucester, MA – First R Foundation is pleased to announce that special authors will read to the kindergarteners and first graders in Gloucester’s public schools this year in celebration of Gloucester’s quadricentennial celebration. To kick off the festivities, Mayor Greg Verga will visit the kindergarten classrooms at Veterans’ Memorial School in Gloucester on February 9, 2023 to read aloud and distribute individual copies of his self-authored children’s book, Fresh Eggs, to the students.
 
This year, First R’s quadricentennial festivities commenced with the presentation of Virginia Lee Burton’s Katy and the Big Snow, the celebrated 1943 tale set in “Geopolis,” a town modeled after Burton’s beloved Gloucester. Mayor Verga’s book will follow in February. Verga penned this tale when his children were young and inquisitive. While building a chicken coop in the backyard, he decided to turn the process into an educational lesson about sustainable growing practices and engaging the kids in the experience.
 
Verga has a great appreciation for early childhood education, having served on Gloucester’s school committee for eight years. “I am excited to be a part of the First R Foundation’s literacy program and to share my book with Gloucester’s students,” said Verga. “Reading is such a huge part of a child’s education, and I hope that my book will inspire them to read more and to pursue their own passions and interests.”
 
Verga is a longtime supporter and reader in First R’s literacy program. The goal of the foundation is to improve the reading and comprehension skills of young children in a school environment through oral reading of books by professional, political, and civic leaders of the Cape Ann community. The program emphasizes the value of reading and empowers students in their community by meeting leaders in their own classroom, who in turn, are given a firsthand experience in a public-school setting.
 
The volunteers leave a copy of the book with each classroom teacher. In addition, First R will distribute individual copies of books written by local authors and set on Cape Ann to each K-1 student several times during the quadrennial year. Mayor Verga’s Fresh Eggs will be the first book individually distributed in 2023.
 
“Studies are proving that reading on tablets and phones is not the same as reading a hard copy book,” First R’s executive director Pat Earle said. “When children are introduced to books early on, they can comprehend better, develop better executive functioning skills, and manage their time better.”
 
First R Foundation is 501 (c)(3) organization formed with the purpose of fostering a love of reading in students from an early age. Earle funds the program through private donations and can purchase thirty books per month for classrooms. Since its founding in 2002, the foundation has grown to over 50 volunteers and has gifted over 10,000 books to kindergarteners and first graders. For additional resources and information, visit First R at https://www.firstrfoundation.org/. For information and updates on Gloucester’s 400+ festivities, visit their website here. 
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For additional information, please contact Maureen Ryan Thorpe, Digital Marketing Manager, First R Foundation, at maureen.thorpe@comcast.net or 978-319-2968.
 

In Reading for Our Lives, award-winning journalist and literacy advocate, Maya Payne Smart, provides a clear step-by-step guide to helping your child thrive as a reader. It’s a handy blueprint that gives parents easy, immediate and accessible ways to nurture language and literacy development from birth to early-elementary school.
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As a busy career mom, Smart understands a parent’s struggle to find time in the day to help their child with literacy success, saying, “These are principles any parent can remember and apply with ease during long, busy days with young children.” Below are excerpts from Reading for Our Lives on techniques you can adopt right away.

1.   Point to words in the world for relevance
Literacy building doesn’t have to take place only at bedtime, says Smart. Studies provide evidence that infants and young toddlers benefit from conversations in the present while we point and gesture to label objects in our immediate surroundings. You can use this technique wherever there is print. Cereal boxes and street signs are just a couple of examples. 

2.        Keep the conversations going
Look for opportunities to elaborate on what you’re talking about. While reading, you can bring book content into the realm of everyday life by linking characters and plot to things the child has experienced. “Look! It’s raining in the picture. It’s raining outside our window too.” A back-and-forth exchange is critical to brain growth from ages birth to three.

3.        Ask questions
Try asking questions about a scene unfolding in real life or within the pages of a book you’re reading, like “What’s that? Do you see the bird?” A study showed that the number of questions parents ask during shared book reading with 10-month-old infants predicted language skills eight months later. “Simply put, conversation spurs brain development,” stated Smart. Enlist the help of big brothers and sisters, who are practicing their own literary skills.
 
4.        Make it personal
Make lessons personally meaningful for your child. Sometimes it’s as simple as teaching the child the letters in their first name, making up songs and stories featuring their pets or choosing vocabulary words from their favorite books. When Anna sees the letter A and says, “That’s my letter!” She’s owning it and identifying with it. In the same vein, if you start a story centered around a sport they play, they’ll make a personal association with it, according to Smart.
 
5.        Praise the Process
Cheer on your child’s hard work and determination. Instead of giving generic praise like, “You’re so smart,” say specifically what you liked about how they learned, not just the results. Try “Good job working hard” instead. Researchers have found evidence that when parents praise kids’ efforts in the learning process—not the outcomes—it impacts their belief that they can get smarter if they work at it.
 
Reading for Our Lives walks parents and guardians through early-education literacy skills, how they develop, when to nurture them and milestones by age group. Handy journal prompts are sprinkled throughout the book for parents to record observations. Specific tools are provided that you can integrate at home to foster literacy development and phonological awareness.