The aim of the study was to examine two types of texts for beginning readers. While leveled readers tend to be widely used by teachers, less well known are Geisel Award books. The Geisel Award is given annually to a high-quality trade book appropriate for beginning readers. This content analysis examined one set of first grade leveled readers and Geisel books to determine what each offers in terms of support for beginning readers beyond word and sentence level features. We present findings related to the genre, plot, characters, literary language, and the distinctive features of the visual texts to highlight the differences between the two collections. Of particular importance are findings related to the differences in what the texts offer beginning readers in terms of features of engagement, the diversity of characters, and the inclusion of systems for conveying meaning beyond verbal text. The article concludes with recommendations for teachers and teacher educators.