Pre-A1 · ages 4–6 · Pre-K–Grade 1
Easy Reading Books for Kids (Pre-A1)
The first books on the 7ESL ladder, for children aged 4–6 who are starting to read in English: 99 picture books where every page shows one thing and says it in a word or a short sentence. Listen first, then read along, then answer a few picture questions.
Ages 4–6Pre-K–Grade 1Levels R1–R699 books7 free to read
Free reading level test
Not sure which book to start with?
Read a few short texts and answer two questions about each. Young children tap the picture that matches the words. The test finds your exact level, from R1 to R29, and opens the right shelf of books.
- Ages 4 and up
- 5–10 minutes
- No timer
- Picture questions for young readers
This is where reading in English begins – the Pre-A1 band, for Pre-K, Kindergarten and first-grade readers. At the bottom of the ladder a page holds a single labelled picture – "The beak." – and the pattern repeats, so a child can read the whole book after hearing it once. By the top a page carries one simple sentence with a friendly verb: "The cat is on the bed."
Every book is read aloud by a warm narrator, and each word lights up as it is spoken, so the child connects the sound to the print. Tap any word to hear it again. The text is large, the sentences repeat, and the pictures carry the meaning the words leave out.
The ages and grades are a guide to how hard the reading is, matched to what children at school read in English. Learners of any age can read at any level.
What the 99 books at Kids are about: animals (20), school & everyday life (10), earth, water & weather (10), food & cooking (9), how things work (9), and 12 more topics.
Level R1
A naming phrase. NO finite verb anywhere in the book. One line a page, and the picture says the rest.
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Level R2
One simple sentence. The first verb — is / are / see / have. The frame is identical on every page; only the last word changes.
Level R3
One simple sentence with a place phrase or a second noun. Frame still fixed.
Level R4
One simple sentence, frame varies across the book. First questions, first I like / I can.
Level R5
Two simple sentences a page. The second opens with a pronoun pointing back at the first. First dialogue.
Level R6
Two to three sentences a page. First past tense.
Questions about Kids reading books
What age are these books for?
Ages 4–6 (Pre-K–Grade 1) – children who know a few English words and are ready to see them in print – and complete beginners of any age.
How long does one book take?
Two or three minutes to listen to and about the same to read. The quiz at the end has five short questions.
What should my child read next?
When the quiz is easy, move up one level (R1, R2, R3 …). After these books, go on to the A1 books.