Every young reader starts somewhere, and finding the right book can make all the difference.
Familiar characters, colorful illustrations and engaging stories can make reading feel less intimidating and more exciting, especially for children who are just beginning to explore books on their own. When kids discover stories they genuinely enjoy, they’re more likely to keep reading, explore new topics and build confidence along the way.
Books can also help children understand the world around them. Through relatable characters and memorable adventures, young readers can explore friendship, kindness, creativity and the importance of being themselves.
From Pete the Cat’s pizza parties and cupcake mysteries to Fancy Nancy’s imaginative world, these books available on Epic offer fun ways to inspire young readers and help them discover the joy of reading.
1. Pete the Cat: Celebrating Friendship, Kindness and Second Chances
Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party
What makes the perfect pizza? That depends on who you ask!
In Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party, Pete discovers that his friends have their own ideas about what belongs on a pizza. As the party takes shape, readers see what happens when everyone brings something different to the table.
The story’s silly combinations and bright illustrations make it especially entertaining for young children, while its message about friendship and inclusion gives families plenty to talk about.
Make it a conversation: Create an imaginary pizza together. Let your child choose the toppings, then ask what their friends might pick. It’s a playful way to talk about different preferences and why everyone’s ideas deserve a chance.
Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes
Pete and his friends are getting ready for a party, baking cupcakes and preparing for a performance by Pete’s band. But when cupcakes start disappearing, the friends have a mystery to solve!
In Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes, young readers follow Pete and his friends as they work together to uncover what happened. Along the way, the story explores teamwork, forgiveness and the importance of being kind, even when someone makes a mistake.
With its playful rhymes and lighthearted mystery, the book gives children a fun opportunity to make predictions and practice problem-solving.
Make it a conversation: Before the mystery is solved, ask your child who they think took the cupcakes and why. After reading, talk about what the characters learned about making mistakes and giving others a second chance.
Bring Pete the Cat’s Adventures to Your Classroom!
We’re planning some exciting classroom celebrations inspired by Pete the Cat!
Educators, keep an eye out for opportunities to bring Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party and Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes to life with classroom pizza and cupcake giveaways.
Follow @epic4kids on Instagram for announcements and details on how to participate.
2. Fancy Nancy: Inspiring Creativity and a Love of Words
In Fancy Nancy, even ordinary things can become extraordinary.
Nancy loves dressing up, expressing herself and using fancy words whenever she gets the chance. Her enthusiasm for language makes vocabulary a natural part of the story. Plus, readers have the opportunity to hear Nancy pronounce big words herself with Epic’s “Read to Me” feature!
The detailed illustrations offer plenty for young readers to explore, from Nancy’s imaginative outfits to the colorful world around her. Children can connect new words to the pictures while discovering how much fun language can be.
For beginning readers, that combination of visual storytelling and playful vocabulary can make learning new words feel like an adventure.
Make it a conversation: Choose an everyday word and see how many fancy alternatives you can think of together. Maybe happy becomes delighted, or beautiful becomes magnificent. Encourage your child to use their new word throughout the day.
3. The Bad Seed: Discovering the Power of Second Chances
Everyone has bad days. But having a bad day doesn’t make someone a bad person.
The Bad Seed introduces readers to a sunflower seed known for his not-so-great behavior. As the story unfolds, children discover why he acts the way he does and how he begins making different choices.
Through humor and a relatable character, the book explores empathy, kindness and the possibility of change.
Make it a conversation: Talk about how the Bad Seed changes throughout the story. Ask your child what they might say to a friend who’s having a difficult day.
4. The Good Egg: Learning That It’s Okay Not to Be Perfect
The Good Egg tries very hard to do everything right. Maybe a little too hard.
In The Good Egg, young readers meet a character who wants to be good and keep everything around him under control. But when the pressure becomes overwhelming, he begins to learn that taking care of himself matters, too.
Through its humor and thoughtful message, the story helps children explore emotions, understand that mistakes are part of growing up and recognize the importance of self-care.
Make it a conversation: Ask your child what helps them feel better after a difficult day. Maybe it’s drawing, playing outside or spending a little quiet time with a favorite book.
Little Stories Can Inspire Big Things
Helping children develop a love of reading doesn’t have to begin with long books or complicated reading activities. Sometimes, it starts with characters they recognize, a story that makes them laugh or a book they can’t wait to read again.
Pete the Cat, Fancy Nancy, The Bad Seed and The Good Egg give young readers opportunities to build literacy skills while exploring feelings, friendships and new experiences.
As you read together, encourage your child to notice details in the illustrations, ask questions and share their favorite moments. Let them choose the books that interest them, even if that means returning to the same story again and again.
Those small moments of curiosity and excitement can help children build confidence and discover what they love about reading.
Ready to find your next favorite story? Explore these books and more on Epic!
Frequently Asked Questions
▶ What are the best books for kids who are just learning to read?
Books with familiar characters, colorful illustrations and approachable storylines are great choices for beginning readers. You can also use Epic’s age filter to explore books suited to your child’s interests and reading stage and Epic’s “Read to Me” feature to help readers learn big words.
▶ How can I encourage my child to develop a love of reading?
Start by letting your child choose books that match their interests. Reading together, asking questions about the story and celebrating small milestones can also help children develop positive reading habits.
▶ How do picture books help young readers develop reading skills?
Picture books help children connect words with images, follow storylines and understand characters’ emotions. Illustrations provide visual clues that support comprehension, while repetition and engaging language can help beginning readers recognize familiar words and build vocabulary.
▶ What important lessons can children learn from these books?
Stories like The Bad Seed and The Good Egg introduce lessons about kindness, empathy, self-care and learning from mistakes. Pete the Cat and the Perfect Pizza Party celebrates friendship and different perspectives, while Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes teaches teamwork, forgiveness and second chances. Fancy Nancy encourages creativity and vocabulary development. Together, these stories help children explore important life lessons through relatable characters and engaging adventures.
