Beginner Books

Beginner Books
Parent company Random House
Founded 1957
Founder Phyllis Cerf, Dr. Seuss, and Helen Palmer Geisel
Country of origin United States
Headquarters location New York City
Publication types Books
Official website www.penguinrandomhouse.com/series/BBK/beginner-booksr
A collection of Beginner and Bright & Early Books

Beginner Books is the Random House imprint for young children ages 3–9, co-founded by Phyllis Cerf with Ted Geisel, more often known as Dr. Seuss, and his wife Helen Palmer Geisel. Their first book was Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat (1957). Cerf compiled a list of 379 words as the basic vocabulary for young readers, along with another twenty slightly harder "emergency" words.[1] No more than 200 words were taken from that list to write The Cat in the Hat. Subsequent books in the series were modeled on the same requirement.[2]

Beginner Books had only four titles in their catalog in 1958. Two years later they were earning a million dollars a year and Random House was the largest publisher of children's books in America.

Early contributors

Authors

When Theodor Seuss Geisel illustrated his own stories he wrote as Dr. Seuss. When others created the illustrations, he used either the pseudonym Theo LeSieg or Rosetta Stone. Other authors of early Beginner Books were Robert M. Lopshire, Bennett Cerf, Al Perkins, Helen Palmer Geisel who wrote as Helen Palmer, Philip Dey Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, Benjamin Elkin and Marion Holland.

Illustrators

Early Beginner Books employed many famous illustrators including the aforementioned Theodor Geisel, P.D. Eastman, Stan and Jan Berenstain, and Robert Lopshire. Roy McKie was also an illustrator.

List of Beginner Books

ID Title Print Status Author Illustrator Grade Level Equivalent (Scholastic)[3] Lexile Measure[3]
B- 1 The Cat in the Hat Dr. Seuss (told in Conrad's own words) Dr. Seuss 1.2 260L
B- 2 The Cat in the Hat Comes Back Dr. Seuss (told in Conrad's own words) Dr. Seuss 1.2 320L
B- 3 A Fly Went By Mike McClintock (told in the little boy's own words) Fritz Siebel 2.5 270L
B- 4 The Big Jump and Other Stories out of print Benjamin Elkin Katherine Evans
B- 5 A Big Ball of String out of print Marion Holland (told in the little boy's own words) Marion Holland (later 35th anniversary edition illustrated by Roy McKie)
B- 6 Sam and the Firefly P.D. Eastman P. D. Eastman 1.7
B- 7 Going to the Moon (UK version)/You Will go to the Moon out of print Mae & Ira Freeman Robert Patterson (later Lee Ames)
B- 8 Cowboy Andy out of print Edna Walker Chandler (adaption) E. Raymond Kinstler
B- 9 The Whales Go By out of print Fred B. Phleger Paul Galdone
B-10 Stop That Ball! out of print Mike McClintock (told in the small boy's own words) Fritz Siebel
B-11 Bennett Cerf's Book of Laughs out of print Bennett Cerf Carl Rose
B-12 Ann Can Fly out of print Fred Phleger Robert Lopshire (his first illustrations)
B-13 One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss 1.1 180L
B-14 The King's Wish out of print Benjamin Elkin Leonard Shortall (later Joe Mathieu)
B-15 Bennett Cerf's Book of Riddles out of print Bennett Cerf Roy McKie
B-16 Green Eggs and Ham Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss 2.2 30L
B-17 Put Me in the Zoo Robert Lopshire (his first writings) Robert Lopshire 1.4
B-18 Are You My Mother? P.D. Eastman P.D. Eastman 1.5
B-19 Ten Apples Up On Top! Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. Lesieg) Roy McKie
B-20 Go, Dog. Go! P.D. Eastman P.D. Eastman 1.4
B-21 Little Black, a Pony out of print Walter Farley (told in the boy's own words) James Schucker (later Baje Whitethorne, Sr.)
B-22 Look Out for Pirates! out of print Iris Vinton H.B. Vestal
B-23 A Fish Out of Water Helen Palmer (apdation, told in the little boy's own words) P.D. Eastman 2.3 70L
B-24 More Riddles out of print Bennett Cerf Roy McKie
B-25 Robert the Rose Horse Joan Heilbroner P.D. Eastman 1.7 100L
B-26 I Was Kissed by a Seal at the Zoo out of print Helen Palmer (told in the boy's own words) Lynn Fayman
B-27 Snow Roy McKie
P.D. Eastman		 Roy McKie
B-28 The Big Honey Hunt Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain 1.6
B-29 Hop on Pop Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss 1.1
B-30 Dr. Seuss's ABC Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss
B-31 Do You Know What I'm Going To Do Next Saturday? out of print Helen Palmer Geisel Lynn Fayman
B-32 Summer out of print Alice Low Roy McKie
B-33 Little Black Goes to the Circus out of print Walter Farley (told in the boy's own words) James Schucker
B-34 Bennett Cerf's Book of Animal Riddles out of print Bennett Cerf Roy McKie
B-35 Why I Built the Boogle House out of print Helen Palmer (told in the boy's own words) Lynn Fayman
B-36 The Bike Lesson/The Bike Lesson: Another Adventure of the Berenstain Bears Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain 1.9 60L
B-37 The Beginner Book of Things To Make/How to Make Flibbers, etc.: A Book of Things to Make and Do out of print Robert Lopshire Robert Lopshire
B-38 Fox in Socks/Fox in Socks: A Tongue Twister for Super Children Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss 2.6 500L
B-39 The King, the Mice and the Cheese out of print Nancy Gurney Eric Gurney 2.1 330L
B-40 I Wish That I Had Duck Feet Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo LeSieg) B. Tobey
B-41 The Bears' Picnic: A Sequel to The Big Honey Hunt/The Bears' Picnic Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain 2.6 230L
B-42 Don and Donna Go To Bat out of print Al Perkins B. Tobey
B-43 You Will Live Under the Sea out of print Fred Phleger Ward Brackett
B-44 Come Over To My House Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. Lesieg) Richard Erdoes (later 50th anniversary edition illustrated by Katie Kath)
Michael Frith (credit only on the international reissue)
B-45 Babar Loses His Crown out of print Laurent de Brunhoff Laurent de Brunhoff
B-46 The Bear Scouts out of print Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain 3.2
B-47 The Digging-est Dog Al Perkins (told in Duke's own words) Eric Gurney 2.6 340L
B-48 (Hugh Loftings') The Travels of Dr. Dolittle out of print Al Perkins (adaption) Philip Wende
B-49 (Hugh Loftings') Doctor Dolittle and the Pirates out of print Al Perkins (adaption) Philip Wende
B-50 Off To The Races out of print Fred B. Phleger Leo Summers
B-51 The Best Nest P.D. Eastman P.D. Eastman 1.3 280L
B-52 The Bears' Holiday (UK version)/The Bears' Vacation out of print Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain 2.3 160L
B-53 (Ian Flemings' Story of) Chitty Chitty Bang Bang! the Magical Car out of print Al Perkins (adaption) B Tobey
B-54 King Midas and the Golden Touch out of print Al Perkins (adaption) Harold Berson (later Haig & Regina Shekerjian)
B-55 The Bears' Christmas out of print Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain
B-56 Tubby and the Lantern out of print Al Perkins Rowland B. Wilson
B-57 Tubby and the Poo-Bah out of print Al Perkins Rowland B. Wilson
B-58 My Amazing Book of Autographs/Autographs! I Collect Them out of print Michael Frith Michael Frith
B-59 Wacky Wednesday Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. Lesieg) George Booth 1.3
B-60 The Bear Detectives out of print Stan & Jan Berenstain 2.3 250L
B-61 Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! Dr. Seuss (writing as Rosetta Stone) Michael Frith 2.3 460L
B-62 Oh, the Thinks You Can Think! Dr. Seuss 2.3 240L
B-63 Please Try to Remember the First of Octember! Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. Lesieg) Art Cummings
B-64 I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! Dr. Seuss 2.4 380L
B-65 Oh Say Can You Say? Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss (his final illustrations to be published before his death) 3.5
B-66 The Missing Dinosaur Bone Stan & Jan Berenstain 2.9 230L
B-67 Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! out of print Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. Lesieg) Michael J. Smollin
B-68 It's Not Easy Being a Bunny Marilyn Sadler Roger Bollen 3.3 590L
B-69 Spooky Riddles out of print Marc Brown
B-70 What Do Smurfs Do All Day? out of print Peyo
B-71 The Very Bad Bunny out of print Marilyn Sadler Roger Bollen
B-72 I Want to Be Somebody New!: A Sequel to Put Me in the Zoo/I Want To Be Somebody New! Robert Lopshire
B-73 The Black Stallion out of print Walter Farley (adaption) Sandy Rabinowitz
B-74 I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! out of print Dr. Seuss (his last words and stories to be published before his death) James Stevenson 2.3 280L
B-75 The Cat's Quizzer Dr. Seuss
B-76 Stop, Train, Stop!: A Thomas the Tank Engine Story out of print Rev. W. Awdry Jane E. Gerver
B-77 New Tricks I Can Do! out of print Robert Lopshire Robert Lopshire
B-78 Anthony the Perfect Monster out of print Angelo DeCesare
B-79 4 Pups and a Worm out of print Eric Seltzer
B-80 Honey Bunny Funnybunny out of print Marilyn Sadler Roger Bollen
B-81 Come Down Now, Flying Cow! out of print Timothy Roland
B-82 Can You Tell Me How To Get To Sesame Street? out of print Elenor Hudson Joe Mathieu
B-83 Mercer Mayer's Critters of the Night: Roast & Toast out of print Erica Farber & J. R. Sansevere
B-84 Monster Munchies out of print Laura Numeroff Nate Evans
B-85 Babe the Sheep Pig: A Little Pig Goes a Long Way out of print Mallory Loehr (adaption, told in Babe's own words)
B-86 The Land Before Time out of print Molly Goode (adaption) Beverly Lazor-Bahr
B-87 Riddles and More Riddles: Previously Published as Bennett Cerf's Book of Riddles and More Riddles out of print Bennett Cerf (after his death in 1971) Debbie Palen
B-88 Flap Your Wings P. D. Eastman P. D. Eastman
B-89 That Stump Must Go! out of print Stan & Jan Berenstain Stan & Jan Berenstain
B-90 Paws and Claws out of print Erica Farber & J. R. Sansevere
B-91 Thomas and Friends: A Crack In the Track out of print Rev. W. Awdry Tommy Stubbs
B-92 Big Dog, Little Dog P. D. Eastman/Peter (Anthony) Eastman (additional writer in the Beginner Books edition) P. D. Eastman/Peter (Anthony) Eastman (additional illustrator in the Beginner Books edition)
B-93 Thomas and Friends: Go, Train, Go!: A Companion Book to Stop, Train, Stop! out of print Rev. W. Awdry/Elizabeth Terrill Tommy Stubbs
B-94 Fred and Ted Go Camping Peter Anthony Eastman Peter Anthony Eastman
B-95 Mrs. Wow Never Wanted a Cow Martha Freeman Steven Salerno
B-96 Fred and Ted Like to Fly Peter Anthony Eastman Peter Anthony Eastman
B-97 The Belly Book out of print Joe Harris Joe Harris
B-98 Thomas and Friends: Trains, Cranes & Troublesome Trucks out of print Rev. W. Awdrey Tommy Stubbs
B-99 Have You Seen My Dinosaur? Jon Surgel Joe Mathieu
B-100 Fred and Ted's Road Trip Peter Anthony Eastman Peter Anthony Eastman
B-101 A Pet Named Sneaker Joan Heilbroner Pascal Lemaitre
B-102 Squirrels on Skis J. Hamilton Ray Pascal Lemaitre
B-103 DC Super Friends Catch That Crook! Laura Hitchcock Joe Mathieu
B-104 Too Many Cupcakes David Lewman David Lewman
B-105 What Pet Should I Get? Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss
B-106 123 Dr. Seuss Dr. Seuss
B-107 A Skunk in My Bunk! Christopher Chef Nicola Slater
B-108 Can You See Me? Bob Stake Bob Stake

Special Beginner Books

  • The Cat in the Hat Dictionary (UK reissue)/The Cat in the Hat Beginner Book Dictionary (1964, Dr. Seuss (UK reissue) (writing as the Cat himself on the worldwide issue) and P. D. Eastman (uncredited on the UK reissue)) - NOTE: In 2007, this book was additionally written and illustrated by Peter Eastman.
  • The Cat in the Hat Songbook (1967, Dr. Seuss) - NOTE: This book was re-released in 1993 as a normal Dr. Seuss book.
  • The Little Black Pony Races (1968, Walter Farley)
  • My Book about Me (1969, ME, Myself with some little help from my friends, Dr. Seuss and Roy McKie) NOTE: This book was re-released as a By ME, Myself book in the 21st century.
  • I Can Draw It Myself (1970, ME, Myself with a little help from my friend, Dr. Seuss) - NOTE: This book was re-released in other editions and later added new pages in 2017 edition as a By ME, Myself book in May 2017.
  • Some of Us Walk, Some Fly, Some Swim (1971, Michael Frith)
  • The Bears' Almanac (1973, Stan and Jan Berenstain) - NOTE: This book was reprinted as Bear Facts Library.
  • The Cat's Quizzer (1976, Dr. Seuss) - NOTE: This book was reprinted in 1993 as B-75.
  • Beginning Readers' Yearbook 1994 (1994)
  • Pigs of a Feather (1998, Tish Rabe and K. Klimo/Unreleased)

The Big Books of Beginner Books

Book Club

  • Grolier Book Club Beginner Book Series
  • Scholastic Book Club Beginner Book Series
  • Early Moments Book Club Beginner Book Series

Bright and Early Books for Beginning Beginners

The following books are for younger children and are technically part of the series. The "BE" designation stands for Bright and Early.

ID Title Print Status Author Illustrator Grade Level Equivalent (Scholastic)[3] Lexile Measure[3]
BE-1 The Foot Book Dr. Seuss 1.1
BE-2 The Eye Book Dr. Seuss (as Theo LeSieg) Roy McKie (later Joe Mathieu) 1.3 140L
BE-3 The Ear Book out of print Al Perkins William O'Brian (later Henry Payne) 2.4
BE-4 Inside Outside Upside Down Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.6
BE-5 Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb Al Perkins Eric Gurney 1.5
BE-6 Bears on Wheels out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.2
BE-7 Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises Dr. Seuss 2.9
BE-8 The Nose Book out of print Al Perkins Roy McKie (later Joe Mathieu) 1.5 290L
BE-9 Old Hat New Hat Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.7
BE-10 Bears in the Night Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.1
BE-10A The Bike Lesson out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain Stan and Jan Berenstain
BE-11 The B Book out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain
BE-12 In a People House Dr. Seuss Roy McKie 2.5
BE-13 Marvin K. Mooney Will You Please Go Now! Dr. Seuss 2.4 100L
BE-14 The C Book/C Is for Clown out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain
BE-15 The Pop-Up Mice of Mr. Brice/The Many Mice of Mr. Brice Theo. LeSieg (later Dr. Seuss writing as Theo. LeSeig in 100th Anniversary of Dr. Seuss) Roy McKie
BE-16 The Shape of Me and Other Stuff Dr. Seuss 2.4 350L
BE-17 I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words Michael Frith P.D. Eastman
BE-18 There's a Wocket in My Pocket Dr. Seuss 2.1 320L
BE-19 Great Day for Up Dr. Seuss Quentin Blake 1.9
BE-20 He Bear, She Bear out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain 2.5 460L
BE-21 Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? Dr. Seuss Roy McKie
BE-22 Hooper Humperdink...? Not Him! Dr. Seuss Charles E. Martin (later 30th anniversary edition illustrated by Scott Nash)
BE-23 The Spooky Old Tree out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.7 100L
BE-24 The Hair Book Graham Tether Roy McKie (later 40th anniversary edition illustrated by Andrew Joyner)
BE-25 The Tooth Book Dr. Seuss (as Theo LeSieg) Roy McKie (later Joe Mathieu) 2.6 400L
BE-26 Wings on Things out of print Marc Brown 2.1 180L
BE-27 The Berenstain Bears on the Moon out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain 1.7 40L
BE-28 Snug House, Bug House! out of print Susan Schade and Jon Buller 1.5
BE-29 Snow Bugs out of print Susan Schade and Jon Buller
BE-30 The A Book out of print Stan and Jan Berenstain
BE-31 It's Not Easy Being Big! out of print Stephanie St. Pierre John Lund
BE-32 Mama Loves out of print Molly Goode Molly Goode
BE-33 Where is Bear? out of print Tish Rabe Tish Rabe
BE-34 Chuckle with Huckle out of print Richard Scarry
BE-35 The Knee Book out of print Graham Tether Graham Tether
BE-36 Blue Train, Green Train out of print Rev W. Awdry Rev W. Awdry
BE-37 Money Money Honey Bunny Marilyn Sadler Roger Bollen
BE-38 Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs - X Marks the Spot out of print R. Schuyler Hooke Art Mawhinney
BE-39 Fast Train, Slow Train Rev W. Awdry Rev W. Awdry
BE-40 Ten Eggs in a Nest Marilyn Sadler Michael Fleming
BE-41 The Alphabet Book P. D. Eastman
Peter Eastman (additional writer)		 P. D. Eastman
Peter Eastman (additional illustrator)

Special Bright and Early Books

  • I Can Write! (1971, ME, Myself with a little help from Dr. Seuss (writing as Theo. LeSieg) and Roy McKie)
  • Dr. Seuss's Book of Animals (2018, Dr. Seuss)
  • Dr. Seuss's Book of Colors (2018, Dr. Seuss)

The Big Book of Bright and Early Book Stories

  • The Big Book of Berenstain Bears Stories (2016) Inside, Outside, Upside Down/Bears on Wheels/The Berenstain Bears on the Moon/Old Hat, New Hat/He Bear, She Bear/The Bear Scouts/The Bear Detectives: The Case of the Missing Pumpkin

Book Club

  • Grolier Bright and Early Book series
  • Scholastic Bright and Early Book series
  • Early Moments Bright and Early Book series

Bright and Early Board Books

Most, if not all, of these books are abridged versions of Beginner Books or Bright and Early Books. These books are not numbered.

  • The Alphabet Book by P. D. Eastman, additional materials by Peter Eastman
  • I'll Teach My Dog a lot of Words written by Michael Frith, illustrated by P. D. Eastman
  • Big Dog... Little Dog by P. D. Eastman
  • Are You My Mother by P. D. Eastman
  • Eres mi Mama? by P. D. Eastman
  • Go, Dog. Go! P.D. Eastman's Book of Things That Go illustrated by P. D. Eastman
  • Ve, perro. Ve! by P. D. Eastman
  • Fred and Ted Like to Fly by Peter Eastman
  • The Snowman illustrated by Raymond Briggs
  • What Time Is It? by P. D. Eastman (out of print)
  • Old Hat, New Hat by the Berenstains
  • Sombrero Viejo, Sombrero Nuevo by the Berenstains (out of print)
  • Inside, Outside, Upside Down by the Berenstains
  • He Bear, She Bear by the Berenstains
  • Summer by Alice Low, illustrated by Roy McKie (out of print)
  • Put Me In The Zoo: A Book of Colors by Robert Lopshire
  • Stop, Train, Stop! by Rev. W. Awdry (out of print)
  • Para, Trencito, Para! by Rev. W. Awdry (out of print)
  • Blue Train, Green Train by Rev. W. Awdry (out of print)
  • Dr. Seuss's ABC: An Amazing Alphabet Book! by Dr. Seuss
  • Fox In Socks: Dr. Seuss's Book of Tongue Twisters by Dr. Seuss
  • Hop On Pop by Dr. Seuss
  • Ten Apples Up On Top! by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Roy McKie
  • There's a Wocket in My Pocket! Dr. Seuss's Book of Ridiculous Rhymes by Dr. Seuss
  • Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! by Dr. Seuss
  • Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? Dr. Seuss's Book of Wonderful Noises by Dr. Seuss
  • The Shape of Me and Other Stuff: Dr. Seuss's Surprising Word Book by Dr. Seuss
  • The Ear Book by Al Perkins, illustrated by Henry Payne (out of print)
  • Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins, illustrated by Eric Gurney
  • The Nose Book by Al Perkins, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
  • The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
  • The Eye Book by Theo LeSieg, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
  • The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss

Big Bright and Early Board Books

  • Fast Train, Slow Train by Rev W. Awdry
  • Would You Rather Be a Bullfrog? by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Roy McKie
  • Dr. Seuss's ABC's by Dr. Seuss
  • The Spooky Old Tree by Stan and Jan Berenstain
  • Oh, The Thinks You Can Think by Dr. Seuss
  • Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? by Dr. Seuss
  • Trains, Cranes and Troublesome Trucks by Rev W. Awdry
  • The Many Mice of Mr. Brice by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Roy McKie
  • Sleepy Time with Aurora by Andrea Posner, illustrated by Sue DiCicco
  • Bath Time with Ariel by Andrea Posner, illustrated by Sue DiCicco
  • The Monster at the End of This Book by Jon Stone, illustrated by Michael Smollin
  • Fox in Socks by Dr. Seuss
  • Are You My Mother? by P.D. Eastman
  • Hop on Pop by Dr. Seuss
  • Go, Dog. Go! by P.D. Eastman
  • The Big Box of Bright and Early Board Books About Me (The Foot Book, The Eye Book, The Nose Book, The Tooth Book)
  • The Eye Book by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
  • The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss
  • Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb by Al Perkins, illustrated by Eric Gurney
  • The Tooth Book by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Joe Mathieu
  • There's a Wocket in My Pocket! by Dr. Seuss
  • The Shape of Me and Other Stuff by Dr. Seuss
  • Inside Outside Upside Down by Stan and Jan Berenstain
  • Old Hat New Hat by Stan and Jan Berenstain
  • Ten Apples Up on Top! by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Roy McKie
  • I'll Teach My Dog 100 Words by Michael Frith, illustrated by P. D. Eastman
  • One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish by Dr. Seuss
  • The Alphabet Book by P. D. Eastman, additional materials by Peter Eastman
  • Put Me in the Zoo by Robert Lopshire

References

  1. ↑ Judith Morgan and Neil Morgan, Dr. Seuss & Mr. Geisel: A Biography (Da Capo Press, 1996), ISBN 978-0-306-80736-7.
  2. ↑ Excerpt available at Google Books.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Scholastic Book Wizard
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.