Dr. Seuss, The Cat in the Hat, 1957.

Singsong rhyme and controlled vocabulary are great for beginning readers. The story is incredibly imaginative, with the twist that the cat is the “child” who tears up the house and makes a mess, while the children are the “adults.” An early lesson in empathy for ones’ parents, perhaps? St. Nick, Fish, and Pie have all loved this book. And I've loved skipping pages while reading it.

Dr. Seuss, Green Eggs and Ham, 1960.

Every parents’ “must have” for the picky eater. “You don’t want to be like Sam! You’ve never even tried it.” The story mimics the child in a way that can make him laugh at himself. It’s silly to see an adult (creature) being so picky! Again, rhyme and almost exclusive use of short, easy words aid beginning readers in decoding the story.