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reading level

Reading Level: Kindergarten

Books written at a kindergarten reading level. Reading level reflects text complexity, not age appropriateness.

130 books

This collection of 130 reading level: kindergarten spans picture books through Grade 1. Reading level alone doesn't tell parents whether a book is right for a child — text difficulty and emotional weight grow at different rates, especially for gifted, twice-exceptional, or sensitive readers. HootRated rates every book on this list for both, so you can match to your child's actual readiness on both axes.

Across this list, 98% of titles are rated Gentle or Mild — appropriate for sensitive readers or kids reading ahead of their emotional comfort zone. 1% are rated Intense or Very Intense, with heavier thematic territory for readers ready to tackle weighty subjects. Average content intensity for the list is 1.1/5.

Use the intensity badges (color-coded green → red) to filter by emotional readiness rather than just age. For more on what each intensity level means, see our rating methodology.

Cover of Animal Sounds

Animal Sounds

Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter

G0 5C
Cover of Hello, doctor

Hello, doctor

David F. Marx

G0 5C
Cover of A Bad, Bad Day

A Bad, Bad Day

Kirsten Hall

G0 5C
Cover of At the Park

At the Park

Peter Sloan, Sheryl Sloan, Sundance/Newbridge LLC Staff

G0 5C
Cover of Where is Max?

Where is Max?

Mary Pearson

G0 5C
Cover of Animal habitats

Animal habitats

Peter Sloan

G0 5C
Cover of Mat in the hat

Mat in the hat

Penny Hansen Findlay

G0 5C
Cover of New At The Zoo (New Reader Series)

New At The Zoo (New Reader Series)

Frank B. Edwards, Mickey Edwards

G0 5C
Cover of Alfie gets in first

Alfie gets in first

Shirley Hughes

G1 5C
Cover of At the playground

At the playground

Patricia Tefft Cousin

G1 5C
Cover of Big bear, little bear

Big bear, little bear

Susan Amerikaner

G1 5LP
Cover of Hats!

Hats!

Dana Meachen Rau

G1 5C
Cover of Higher! Higher! (Leslie Patricelli board books)

Higher! Higher! (Leslie Patricelli board books)

Leslie Patricelli

G1 5C
Cover of My little brother Ben

My little brother Ben

Karen Cogan

G1 5C
Cover of National Geographic Readers

National Geographic Readers

Susan B. Neuman

G1 5C
Cover of Peace at Last

Peace at Last

Jill Murphy

G1 5C
Cover of Stellaluna

Stellaluna

Janell Cannon

G1 5LE
Cover of Terror at the Zoo

Terror at the Zoo

Peg Kehret

G1 5MP
Cover of The Berenstain Bears Say Goodnight (Berenstain Bears Toddler Books)

The Berenstain Bears Say Goodnight (Berenstain Bears Toddler Books)

Stan Berenstain

G1 5C
Cover of The Little Runaway (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

The Little Runaway (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of The Very Hungry Caterpillar

The Very Hungry Caterpillar

Eric Carle

G1 5C
Cover of The hat

The hat

Penny Hansen Findlay

G1 5C
Cover of Where Do I Live/VIS/d

Where Do I Live/VIS/d

Claudette C. Mitchell, Patricia Tefft Cousin, Gracie R. Porter

G1 5C
Cover of Where's My Teddy?

Where's My Teddy?

Jez Alborough

G1 5LE
Cover of A fox

A fox

Alice K. Flanagan

G1 5ME
Cover of A pet

A pet

Alice K. Flanagan

G1 5IE
Cover of Big Enough/VIS/F

Big Enough/VIS/F

Claudette C. Mitchell, Gracie R. Porter, Patricia Tefft Cousin

G1 5C
Cover of City Train

City Train

Adria F. Klein

G1 5C
Cover of Cooking with the Cat

Cooking with the Cat

Bonnie Worth

G1 5C
Cover of Fathers

Fathers

Lola M. Schaefer

G1 5C
Cover of Fathers (Pebble Books)

Fathers (Pebble Books)

Lola M. Schaefer

G1 5C
Cover of I can do it all

I can do it all

Mary Pearson

G1 5C
Cover of Little Critter's the Picnic (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter)

Little Critter's the Picnic (Mercer Mayer's Little Critter)

Mercer Mayer

G1 5C
Cover of Little bit

Little bit

Peg Ballard

G1 5C
Cover of Mary's art

Mary's art

Susan Blackaby

G1 5C
Cover of Oxford Reading Tree: Level 3: Stories: A Cat in the Tree

Oxford Reading Tree: Level 3: Stories: A Cat in the Tree

Roderick Hunt

G1 5C
Cover of The Magic Beans (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

The Magic Beans (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of The Three Little Pigs (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

The Three Little Pigs (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of The bad men

The bad men

Penny Hansen Findlay

G1 5C
Cover of The men

The men

Penny Hansen Findlay

G1 5C
Cover of Twins (Alaphakids)

Twins (Alaphakids)

Sarah Prince

G1 5C
Cover of Video Game

Video Game

Sarah Prince

G1 5C
Cover of We Love You, Little Critter!

We Love You, Little Critter!

Mercer Mayer

G1 5C
Cover of What comes first?

What comes first?

Lyn Swanson-Natsues

G1 5C
Cover of Who is coming?

Who is coming?

Patricia McKissack

G1 5C
Cover of Andy & Sandy's anything adventure

Andy & Sandy's anything adventure

Tomie dePaola

G1 5C
Cover of Big Train Takes a Trip

Big Train Takes a Trip

Adria F. Klein

G1 5C
Cover of Biscuit and the Little Pup

Biscuit and the Little Pup

Alyssa Satin Capucilli

G1 5C
Cover of City Train in trouble

City Train in trouble

Adria F. Klein

G1 5C
Cover of Cleo on the move

Cleo on the move

Stella Blackstone

G1 5C
Cover of Fathers Are Part of a Family

Fathers Are Part of a Family

Lucia Raatma

G1 5C
Cover of Four fish

Four fish

Alice K. Flanagan

G1 5C
Cover of I Like Painting

I Like Painting

Peter Sloan & Sheryl Sloan

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's family fun

Little Lizard's family fun

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's new friend

Little Lizard's new friend

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Moe's Oboe

Moe's Oboe

Kara L Laughlin

G1 5C
Cover of Oxford Reading Tree: Level 4: Stories: House for Sale

Oxford Reading Tree: Level 4: Stories: House for Sale

Roderick Hunt

G1 5C
Cover of Playground Games

Playground Games

Tracy Nelson Maurer

G1 5C
Cover of Sam

Sam

Alice K. Flanagan

G1 5LP
Cover of Stop the Bot

Stop the Bot

Quinlan B. Lee, Jerry Siegel, Joe Shuster

G1 5C
Cover of What we like

What we like

Peter Sloan

G1 5C
Cover of Who is Little

Who is Little

Agatha Brown

G1 5C
Cover of A House for Little Red (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

A House for Little Red (Modern Curriculum Press Beginning to Read Series)

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of Alexander ant cools off

Alexander ant cools off

Bloksberg Robin

G1 5C
Cover of Andy & Sandy and the first snow

Andy & Sandy and the first snow

Tomie dePaola

G1 5C
Cover of At the Market (I Spy)

At the Market (I Spy)

Spencer Brinker

G1 5C
Cover of Big Dog and Little Dog

Big Dog and Little Dog

Dav Pilkey

G1 5C
Cover of Carl and the puppies

Carl and the puppies

Alexandra Day

G1 5C
Cover of Case of the Mixed Socks

Case of the Mixed Socks

Cecilia Minden

G1 5C
Cover of Case of the Stuck Truck

Case of the Stuck Truck

Cecilia Minden

G1 5C
Cover of Cat in the bag

Cat in the bag

Sara Swan Miller

G1 5C
Cover of El jardin de Bessey, la desordenada

El jardin de Bessey, la desordenada

Patricia McKissack

G1 5C
Cover of I love Easter!

I love Easter!

Hans Wilhelm

G1 5C
Cover of Left

Left

Alice K. Flanagan

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's big party

Little Lizard's big party

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's new baby

Little Lizard's new baby

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Little bit

Little bit

Peg Ballard

G1 5C
Cover of Math with toys

Math with toys

Rory McDonnell

G1 5C
Cover of Maybe A Bear Ate It!

Maybe A Bear Ate It!

Robie Harris

G1 5C
Cover of Meet the Little Engine that could

Meet the Little Engine that could

Watty Piper

G1 5C
Cover of On my boat

On my boat

Robert B. Noyed

G1 5C
Cover of Put It Back

Put It Back

Roderick Hunt

G1 5C
Cover of Sam's Cap

Sam's Cap

Dominie Elementary

G1 5C
Cover of Sick in bed

Sick in bed

Peter Sloan

G1 5C
Cover of The Trip

The Trip

Mercer Mayer

G1 5C
Cover of The poky little puppy

The poky little puppy

Kristen L. Depken

G1 5C
Cover of Turn it off!

Turn it off!

David F. Marx

G1 5C
Cover of Wait, skates!

Wait, skates!

Mildred D. Johnson

G1 5C
Cover of Whose Hat Is It? (My First I Can Read)

Whose Hat Is It? (My First I Can Read)

Valeri Gorbachev

G1 5C
Cover of 3, 2, 1, go!

3, 2, 1, go!

Emily Arnold McCully

G1 5C
Cover of Animals on the Farm

Animals on the Farm

Lisa J. Amstutz

G1 5C
Cover of At the Sheep Farm

At the Sheep Farm

Bruce Esseltine

G1 5C
Cover of Bad Kitty does not like snow

Bad Kitty does not like snow

Nick Bruel

G1 5C
Cover of Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble (Reader)

Big Dog and Little Dog Getting in Trouble (Reader)

Dav Pilkey

G1 5C
Cover of Bike Safety

Bike Safety

Sarah L. Schuette

G1 5C
Cover of Brave Mary

Brave Mary

Larry Dane Brimner

G1 5C
Cover of Dear dragon's colors 1, 2, 3

Dear dragon's colors 1, 2, 3

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of Dogs

Dogs

Lisa J. Amstutz

G1 5C
Cover of Fox's box

Fox's box

Rebecca E. Shook

G1 5C
Cover of Full Freight Train

Full Freight Train

Adria F. Klein

G1 5C
Cover of Grandfathers Are Part of a Family

Grandfathers Are Part of a Family

Lucia Raatma

G1 5C
Cover of Honeybees

Honeybees

Lisa J. Amstutz

G1 5C
Cover of I Can Be an Actor

I Can Be an Actor

Anthony Ardely

G1 5C
Cover of Little Critter's staying overnight

Little Critter's staying overnight

Mercer Mayer

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's New Shoes

Little Lizard's New Shoes

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Little Lizard's first day

Little Lizard's first day

Melinda Melton Crow

G1 5C
Cover of Little Sister, Big Mess! (Rookie Readers)

Little Sister, Big Mess! (Rookie Readers)

Jane E. Gerver

G1 5C
Cover of MY LITTLE MOUSE

MY LITTLE MOUSE

PAULINE CARTWRIGHT

G1 5C
Cover of Math at the Store

Math at the Store

Elizabeth Powell

G1 5C
Cover of Math at the Zoo

Math at the Zoo

Elizabeth Powell

G1 5C
Cover of Math at the park

Math at the park

Claire Romaine

G1 5C
Cover of Math by the Ocean

Math by the Ocean

Kieran Shah

G1 5C
Cover of Math in the Kitchen

Math in the Kitchen

Kieran Shah

G1 5C
Cover of Math with wheels

Math with wheels

Rory McDonnell

G1 5C
Cover of National Geographic Readers : Hop, Bunny!

National Geographic Readers : Hop, Bunny!

Susan Neuman

G1 5C
Cover of Niles likes to smile (Sadlier little books reading)

Niles likes to smile (Sadlier little books reading)

Cass Hollander

G1 5C
Cover of Please write back!

Please write back!

J. E. Morris

G1 5C
Cover of Sand (Rookie Readers)

Sand (Rookie Readers)

Pamela Miller

G1 5C
Cover of Santa's little engine

Santa's little engine

Tom LaPadula

G1 5C
Cover of School Bus Safety

School Bus Safety

Sarah L. Schuette

G1 5C
Cover of Shy Little Kitten

Shy Little Kitten

Kristen L. Depken

G1 5C
Cover of Tasting

Tasting

Martha E. H. Rustad

G1 5C
Cover of The Case of the Lost Hen

The Case of the Lost Hen

Cecilia Minden

G1 5C
Cover of The Case of the Lost Pup

The Case of the Lost Pup

Cecilia Minden

G1 5C
Cover of The Little Bear Book

The Little Bear Book

Anthony Browne

G1 5C
Cover of The Magic Nutcracker (Follett Just Beginning-to-Read Book)

The Magic Nutcracker (Follett Just Beginning-to-Read Book)

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C
Cover of This Is My House (Road to Reading)

This Is My House (Road to Reading)

Golden Books

G1 5C
Cover of Troubles with Bubbles

Troubles with Bubbles

Frank B. Edwards

G1 5C
Cover of What do you do on a farm?

What do you do on a farm?

Susan E. Goodman

G1 5C
Cover of What's in the pond, dear dragon?

What's in the pond, dear dragon?

Margaret Hillert

G1 5C

Questions parents ask about this list

What's on this reading level: kindergarten list?
Reading Level: Kindergarten contains 130 books spanning picture books through Grade 1. Books written at a kindergarten reading level. Reading level reflects text complexity, not age appropriateness. Every book on the list is rated for reading level and content intensity so you can pick what matches your child.
What age range is appropriate for this list?
Books on this list span picture books through Grade 1. 127 books (98%) are rated Gentle or Mild; 1 (1%) are rated Intense or Very Intense. Average intensity is 1.1/5. Match the intensity badge to your child's emotional readiness.
How is this list curated?
HootRated rates every book on this list for both reading level (text difficulty) and content intensity (emotional weight) — the two axes parents need to choose books. See our methodology for how books make a curated list.