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A five- or six-year-old child is likely to develop an interest in reading and learning new words. They also begin using language to communicate with their parents and family. If you are looking for the best books for five and six-year-old children, this post is for you. Introducing your child to the world of books at an early age can help improve their vocabulary, thinking skills, and literary proficiency.
Elisabeth Daly, a state-certified high school English teacher and book blogger, says, “It’s crucial to introduce children to a wide range of fun and engaging age-appropriate books to encourage them to read. Reading helps stimulate children’s imagination and improves their critical thinking skills. It also supports cognitive development in children and prepares them for academic success.”
To help instill a love of reading in your five- and six-year-olds, we bring you an interesting list of best-selling and time-tested book recommendations. Have a look.
Top Picks
15 Best Books For 5 And 6 Year-Old Children
1. Best Funny: Duck! Rabbit!
The book has an illustration, which looks like a duck from one angle, but resembles a rabbit when seen from another perspective. The classic story is about two characters debating whether the picture is a duck or a rabbit. It makes an interesting and funny storybook to read for five and six-year-old children.
2. Best Inspiring: Rosie Revere, Engineer
Rosie Revere is a young inventor. She aspires to become an engineer, but seldom showcases her inventions due to fear of rejection and failure. But one day, Rosie finds inspiration from an unlikely source – her great-great-aunt named Rose who tells her that she shouldn’t be afraid of failure. This book for 1st and 2nd-grade children acts as a motivating bedtime story.
""Rosie Revere, Engineer" has been a delightful read for me and my little one. My timid little girl was inspired by how Rosie overcame her shyness and fear of failure with her aunt's support. The book offers a wonderful perspective on failure, which resonated well with my girl. A win for this mother!"
3. Best Space-Themed: There’s No Place Like Space
Image: Tish Rabe
We meet the famous, time-tested ‘Cat in the Hat’ character who takes the reader on a tour of the solar system – its various planets and the stars. ‘There’s No Place Like Space’ presents the complex solar system in an easy-to-understand language supported by colorful illustrations to make it easy to grasp by the early readers.
4. Best For Decision-Making: What Should Danny Do?
Image: Adir Levy and Ganit Levy
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The book can make story time educational as it teaches children the significance of making the right choices and how wrong choices can have undesired outcomes. The story progresses based on what the child chooses through the course of the story. There are nine separate endings to the tale. The unique presentation style and the power of choice make it one of the best bedtime stories for five- and six-year-old children.
5. Best Motivational: The Most Magnificent Thing
In this book, we meet an unnamed girl and her best friend, a dog, and their experiences with making new things. One day, she decides she will make the ‘most magnificent thing.’ So she sketches the ‘thing’ and sets out on getting raw materials for it. But halfway through the process, she gets frustrated and quits. She resumes making her creation, but this time her enthusiasm is special.
Point to consider6. Best Friendship Story: Waiting Is Not Easy!
Image: Mo Willems
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It is a story about two best friends, an elephant named Gerald and a pig called Piggie. Piggie has a surprise for Gerald, but the elephant needs to wait for it. The Imagination book tells the story of how Gerald receives an exciting surprise as a reward for his patience.
7. Best For Building Etiquettes: May I Please Have a Cookie?
Image: Jennifer Morris
Alfie loves cookies, and his mother is making some. Little Alfie is all excited and pounces on the baking tray the moment the cookies come out of the oven. But Alfie’s mom is not happy. She tells him that there is a better way for asking a cookie than grabbing it. ‘May I Please Have a Cookie?’ uses storytelling to acquaint children with basic etiquette and manners.
8. Best With Illustrations: Knock Knock Who’s There: My First Book Of Knock Knock Jokes
Image: Tad Hills
It is a funny book for parents and children to read along. Each page has an animal asking ‘“Who’s there?”, and then another animal answering the question. Letters are written in a large and bold font so that it is easy for a five-year-old to read. The illustrations of this animal book can offer hours of fun to emergent readers.
9. Best For Vocabulary: Where the Sidewalk Ends
Image: Shel Silverstein
‘Where the Sidewalk Ends’ is a series of funny poems that showcases different situations. One poem is about where a boy turns into a TV set, another about planting diamond gardens, and another about crocodiles visiting the dentist. The rhyming book was first released in 1974 but makes an excellent reading book for five- and six-year-old children even today.
10. Best Entertaining: If I Built a Car
Image: Chris Van Dusen
It is a story of a boy named Jack who builds a car and then takes his Dad for a ride in it. Jack’s car is not the average car, but one full of lovely interiors including a fireplace and even a swimming pool inside. The adventure book for 1st graders is creative and entertaining, with a relatable main character.
Point to consider11. Best For Language Skills: Green Eggs and Ham
Image: Dr.Seuss
This could be your little toddler’s next favorite book! The main character is named Sam-I-Am, who persistently asks the reader some silly questions. He asks the reader if they love green eggs and ham? If they would like to have the dish on a boat or in the company of goat? The string of silly questions goes on and on. Written by Dr. Seuss, the best-selling ‘Green Eggs and Ham’ is one of the perfect books for self-reading.
12. Best Heartwarming: Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun
Image: Maria Dismondy
Lucy is a young girl who is different from the rest. She loves having toast with ketchup and eats her spaghetti with a hot bun. Lucy’s grandpa says that the world would become boring if we all become alike. ‘Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun’ is a heartwarming tale about loving the differences among us and appreciating them.
13. Best Imaginative: Uni the Unicorn
Image: Amy Krouse Rosenthal
Uni is a young one in the world of unicorns. The unicorns believe that little girls are not real. But Uni believes that there is a little girl out there who will become her best friend. The friendship book tells the age-old myth of the unicorn and reverses it, encouraging the reader to see the world from an imaginary creature’s perspective. This beautiful book is ideal for first-grade-level preschool children.
14. Best Emotional: The Invisible Boy
Image: Trudy Ludwig
No one ever notices Brian – neither his classmates nor his teachers. He is almost invisible to the rest, but one day, Justin joins his class. Brian helps Justin feel comfortable, and soon they become friends. The friendship makes Brian shine, and he is no longer the invisible boy. This time-tested fantasy book captures the essence of friendship and encourages kids to come out of their mold.
15. Best Teaching Aid: Born in the Wild: Baby Mammals and Their Parents
Image: Lita Judge
Each page has an animal illustration with a text that says how young animals live with their mothers and fathers. The book provides information about juvenile animals, but in a language easy enough for the child to understand. If you are looking for a book for kids that entertains and educates, then you should pick this one.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What level books should I read to five- and six-year-olds?
Considering their limited reading skills, you may select level 1 books that contain fun illustrations, easy-to-understand words, and short and simple storylines.
2. What can I teach my five- or six-year-old at home?
The possibilities for learning are endless. You could use educational books to teach them the lettes of the alphabet, counting up to 20, colors and shapes, songs, simple words, and how to write their names.
3. How long should I read to a five- or six-year-old?
You may read children’s books or picture books to them for about 15-20 minutes every day.
Why Trust MomJunction?
Wedetso Chirhah is a writer and reviewer specializing in books and children’s products. Being an avid reader, he ensures the books are interesting, age-appropriate, and easy to understand. After an in-depth examination of the plots and reader reviews, he has listed some of the best books for 5 and 6-year-olds that you can consider buying. With detailed descriptions, the list includes some popular and classic books that your child will love. He has also included a buying guide to help you choose the right book.
The Bottom Line
Introducing your little ones to the best books for 5- and 6-year-old children can help develop the habit of regular reading while improving their vocabulary and imagination. We have recommended some amazing best-selling books with detailed illustrations, easy-to-comprehend language, and an engaging plot. Our top picks include the Duck! Rabbit! for its engaging storyline and humor; the Rosie Revere, Engineer to inspire children to embrace their creativity and pursue their passions; and There’s No Place Like Space, which makes complex concepts of space easy to understand with bright illustrations. When picking one, you can consider books that teach life lessons about kindness, hard work, friendship, and other themes so your children have something to learn from each story.
Infographic: How To Teach Children To Handle Books With Care?
Handling books carefully is essential for preserving them and ensuring their longevity. Teaching children to respect and handle books with care instills good habits and fosters a love for reading and an appreciation for the written word. Take a look at the infographic below to learn how to instill the discipline of handling books carefully in children.
Illustration: Momjunction Design Team
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