Beginner-level books with funny plots, relatable characters, and eye-catching visuals help develop a lifelong enthusiasm for reading. The Frog on a Log series fits the bill perfectly: It makes classroom storytime fun (and boosts skills!) for students in grades PreK-1.

The tables have turned in the sequel, Dog on a Frog, in which the frog is rewriting the rules and claiming that dogs sit on logs — not frogs! The second book also includes rhyming text (like cheetahs sitting on fajitas!) and engaging, colorful images. Frog on a Log? is about a bossy cat who tells a curious frog what each animal sits on — for example, a lion sits on an iron. The entertaining picture book is filled with rhyming text and repetition to help increase phonemic awareness. I must say that I yelped when the cat said, "It's not about being comfortable ... It's about doing the right thing." Books like this one will help young readers excel in decoding words and sounding out letters, all while building their vocabulary. (Looking for more opportunities to rhyme in class? Here's how to teach poetry in less than 10 minutes per day.)