The 50 Best Books for 5- and 6-Year-Olds

There’s so much happening with 5- and 6-year-olds. They’re learning to tie their shoes, practicing cutting out shapes with scissors, some are even ready to ride a bike. There’s a big continuum of development at these ages, and that applies to children’s reading development, too. Some kids are not yet ready to read, while others are reading independently. And that’s as it should be, according to both developmental and literacy experts. 

No matter where your child is on this developmental continuum, here you’ll discover the best books to encourage their love of reading. Each book has been carefully selected by Brightly’s group of experts. Since we also think that finding books in a series is like discovering buried treasure, we’ve put asterisks next to the titles that are part of a larger series.

 So as we gear up for a brand new school year filled with new reading discoveries, here are our go-to books to entice, entertain, and educate your 5- or 6-year-old.

 Heading out to your local library or bookstore? You can download the full version of the list here http://www.readbrightly.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/50-best-books-5-6-yr-olds.pdf.

Don’t have a 5 or 6-year-old? Summer may be winding down but Brightly’s recommended summer reads are great all year long.

Ultimate Summer Reading List for Preschoolers

Ultimate Summer Reading List for 6-8 year olds

Ultimate Summer Reading List for 9-12 year olds

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The 50 Best Books for 5- and 6-Year-Olds

 Shared Stories: Picture and Poetry Books

Sharing a story with your child is always worth it. Whether they can read independently or not, reading aloud is a special experience. It also helps to build their literacy foundations and keep them engaged with reading.

 It’s a good idea to keep picture books in the mix even as your child’s reading skills grow, as they offer kids a greater variety of reading choices and have a strong visual appeal.

 This list of picture books contains a variety of genres, kid-appealing topics, captivating illustrations, and diverse characters. Best of all, they’re well written and kids love them.

Actual Size*

by Steve Jenkins

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Actual-Size/9780547512914

 

Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents

by Lita Judge

http://us.macmillan.com/borninthewild/litajudge

 

DinoTrux

by Chris Gall

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/chris-gall/dinotrux/9780316027779/

 

The Dot

by Peter H. Reynolds http://candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763619612&browse=Title

 

Duck! Rabbit!

by Amy Krouse Rosenthal and Tom Lichtenheld
http://www.chroniclebooks.com/duckrabbit

 

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/310757/last-stop-on-market-street-by-matt-de-la-pena-illustrated-by-christian-robinson/

 

 Miss Nelson is Missing

by Harry G. Allard Jr., illustrated by James Marshall

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Miss-Nelson-Is-Missing/9780395401460

 

Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes

edited by Elizabeth Hammill

http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?mode=book&isbn=0763677299

 

Paper Bag Princess

by Robert Munsch, illustrated by Michael Martchenko

http://www.annickpress.com/Paper-Bag-Princess-The

 

Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes

by Eric Litwin, illustrated by James Dean

http://www.harpercollins.com/9780061906237/pete-the-cat-i-love-my-white-shoes

 

Piggie Pie!

by Margie Palatini, illustrated by Howard Fine

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Piggie-Pie/9780395866184

 

Shark vs. Train

by Chris Barton, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/chris-barton/shark-vs-train/9780316007627/

 

The True Story of the Three Little Pigs

by Jon Scieszka, illustrated by Lane Smith http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/316998/the-true-story-of-the-three-little-pigs-25th-anniversary-edition-by-jon-scieszka-illustrated-by-lane-smith/9780670827596

 

Where the Sidewalk Ends*

by Shel Silverstein

http://www.harpercollins.com/9780060256678/where-the-sidewalk-ends

 

You Read to Me, I’ll Read to You: Very Short Fairy Tales to Read Together*

by Mary Ann Hoberman, illustrated by Michael Emberley

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/mary-ann-hoberman/you-read-to-me-ill-read-to-you-very-short-fairy-tales-to-read-together/9780316146111/

 

You Will Be My Friend!*

by Peter Brown

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/peter-brown/you-will-be-my-friend/9780316070300/

 

 First Books to Read Alone: Beginning Readers

It’s exciting when your child starts to read! Now they’re learning sight words, or words to know at a glance, and the books they’re reading contain these words. At this stage, it’s helpful for them to read books that map to their background knowledge or areas of interest.

 Beginning reading books start with a few simple words or phrases per page. As your child grows in their ability, the difficulty increases. The phrases become sentences and eventually paragraphs. Start with the easier beginning books first and adjust as your child progresses.

 If you’re curious about the specific reading level of a book, you can check either the DRA (http://wces.ucps.k12.nc.us/php/DRA_list.htm) or Fountas & Pinnell’s Guided Reading Levels (http://www.booksource.com/Departments/Leveled-Reading.aspx) or ask your child’s teacher.

Ballerina Dreams: From Orphan to Dancer

by Michaela DePrince and Elaine DePrince, illustrated by Frank Morrison

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/235475/ballerina-dreams-from-orphan-to-dancer-step-into-reading-step-4-by-michaela-deprince-and-elaine-deprince-illustrated-by-frank-morrison/

 

Benny and Penny in Just Pretend*

by Geoffrey Hayes

http://www.toon-books.com/benny-and-penny-in-just-pretend.html

 

Bink and Gollie*

by Kate DiCamillo and Alison McGhee, illustrated by Tony Fucile http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&pix=n&isbn=076363266x

 

Bathtime for Biscuit*

by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, illustrated by Pat Schories http://www.harpercollins.com/9780064442640/bathtime-for-biscuit

 

Today I Will Fly! (An Elephant and Piggie book)*

by Mo Willems http://books.disney.com/book/today-i-will-fly/

 

Hi! Fly Guy*

by Tedd Arnold

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/hi-fly-guy#cart/cleanup

 

Fly Guy Presents: Space*

by Tedd Arnold

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/fly-guy-presents-space#cart/cleanup

 

Frog and Toad Are Friends*

by Arnold Lobel

http://www.harpercollins.com/9780060239572/frog-and-toad-are-friends

 

George and Martha*

by James Marshall
http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/George-and-Martha/9780395199725

 

Go, Dog. Go!

by P.D. Eastman  
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/44576/go-dog-go-by-pdeastman/

 

Good Night, Good Knight*

by Shelley Moore Thomas, illustrated by Jennifer Plecas http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/289807/good-night-good-knight-by-shelley-thomas-illustrated-by-jennifer-plecas/

 

Henry and Mudge: The First Book*

by Cynthia Rylant, illustrated by Suçie Stevenson

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Henry-and-Mudge/Cynthia-Rylant/Henry-Mudge/9780689810046

 

Ling and Ting: Not Exactly the Same!*

by Grace Lin

http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/grace-lin/ling-ting/9780316024525/

 

May I Please Have a Cookie?*

by Jennifer Morris

http://shop.scholastic.com/shop/en/teacherstore/May-I-Please-Have-a-Cookie

 

Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You?

by Dr. Seuss

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/43083/mr-brown-can-moo-can-you-by-dr-seuss/

 

National Geographic Readers: Planets*

by Elizabeth Carney

http://shop.nationalgeographic.com/ngs/product/national-geographic-kids-readers/science/national-geographic-readers%3A-planets

 

One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish

by Dr. Seuss

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/43109/one-fish-two-fish-red-fish-blue-fish-by-dr-seuss/

 

Penny and Her Marble*

by Kevin Henkes

http://www.harpercollins.com/9780062082060/penny-and-her-marble

 

Spiders

by Nic Bishop

http://www.scholastic.com/parents/book/nic-bishop-spiders

 

 Reading Like the Big Kids: Early Chapter Books

Chapter books are the Holy Grail for growing readers. Kids want so badly to be like the big kids. But don’t rush. Joy can easily turn to frustration if your child isn’t ready. When they are ready, we think they’ll devour these books.

 We’ve vetted our list to include books with boys, girls, robots, magic, diverse characters, and child-friendly topics. Even better, all of these books are in a series. So if they like one, your child has more to read by the same author.

Baby Mouse #1: Queen of the World!*

by Jennifer Holm and Matthew Holm http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/82051/babymouse-1-queen-of-the-world-by-jennifer-l-holm-and-matt-holm/

 

Bad Kitty*

by Nick Bruel

http://us.macmillan.com/series/badkitty

 

The Chicken Squad*

by Doreen Cronin, illustrated by Kevin Cornell

http://www.simonandschuster.com/series/The-Chicken-Squad

 

Clementine*

by Sara Pennypacker, illustrated by Marla Frazee

http://books.disney.com/book/clementine/

 

Dora Fantasmagory*

by Abby Hanlon
http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/314911/dory-fantasmagory-by-abby-hanlon/9780803740884

 

EllRay Jakes Is Not a Chicken*

by Sally Warner, illustrated by Jamie Harper http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/300889/ellray-jakes-is-not-a-chicken-by-sally-warner-illustrated-by-jamie-harper/9780670062430

 

Gooney Bird Greene*

by Lois Lowry, illustrated by Middy Thomas

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Gooney-Bird-Greene/9780544225275

 

Magic Tree House #1: Dinosaurs Before Dark*

by Mary Pope Osborne, illustrated by Sal Murdocca

http://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/125113/magic-tree-house-20th-anniversary-edition-dinosaurs-before-dark-by-mary-pope-osborne-illustrated-by-sal-murdocca/

 

Mercy Watson to the Rescue*

by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Chris Van Dusen http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=0763622702&pix=n

 

Nikki and Deja*

by Karen English, illustrated by Laura Freeman

http://www.hmhco.com/shop/books/Nikki-and-Deja/9780547133621

 

Princess in Black*

by Shannon Hale and Dean Hale, illustrated by LeUyen Pham http://www.candlewick.com/cat.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=076366510X&pix=n

 

Ricky Ricotta’s Mighty Robot*

by Dav Pilkey, illustrated by Dan Santat

http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/book/ricky-ricottas-mighty-robot-0#cart/cleanup

 

Ruby Lu, Empress of Everything

by Lenore Look, illustrated by Anne Wilsdorf

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Ruby-Lu-Empress-of-Everything/Lenore-Look/9781416950035

 

Stink: The Incredible Shrinking Kid*

by Megan McDonald, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds

http://www.candlewick.com/essentials.asp?browse=Title&mode=book&isbn=076366426X&bkview=p&pix=y

 

Violet Mackerel’s Remarkable Recovery*

by Anna Branford, illustrated by Elanna Allen

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Violet-Mackerels-Remarkable-Recovery/Anna-Branford/Violet-Mackerel/9781442435889

 

Contributor Melissa Taylor is a Denver mom of two girls.  She’s a teacher with an M.A. in Education, a freelance education blogger / writer, a children’s book geek, a Pinterest expert with over 1.4 million followers and a passionate advocate for literacy and high-quality education. She freelances for various clients such as Random House, eBay, ALEX Toys, Imagine Toys, Scholastic Parent and Child, Babble, Sylvan Learning, and Parenting Magazine, to name a few.

 About Brightly

 Brightly (www.readbrightly.com), a new site that helps parents raise lifelong readers. Learn more about the experts behind this reading list at http://www.readbrightly.com/meet-the-experts-the-50-best-books-for-5-and-6-year-olds/.

 

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