10+ Best Early Reading Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the lookout for the perfect early reading books for 5-year-olds to spark your little one's love for reading? You've come to the right place! Whether you're aiming to fill up your child's bookshelf or just looking for a delightful read to share during storytime, we've got a collection of must-reads that are just right for beginners. Keep reading to discover our handpicked lists of early reading books for 5-year-olds that are sure to captivate and educate young minds.

Fun Early Reading Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss, illustrated by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows another character, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham in various locations and with various dining partners.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhyming text makes it an excellent choice for beginning readers to practice their phonics and build confidence in reading.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy playful sounds and repetitive patterns in stories.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle, illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This beautifully illustrated book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces concepts of counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all wrapped up in a charming story.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who love nature and learning about animal transformations.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Pattern book
  • Synopsis: A teacher and her students explore the colors and creatures of the world, with each page introducing a new animal and its color.
  • Why we recommend this book: The repetitive and predictable text helps children anticipate what comes next, aiding in language development and memory skills.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy colorful illustrations and learning about different animals.

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet book, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: The lowercase letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree, leading to a chaotic tumble and a whimsical resolution.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun and rhythmic way to help kids learn the alphabet and enjoy the sounds of language.
  • Perfect for: Youngsters who are just starting to recognize letters and enjoy lively, rhythmic reads.

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems, illustrated by Mo Willems
  • Genre(s): Humor, Picture book
  • Synopsis: A pigeon dreams of driving a bus, trying every persuasive tactic at his disposal to get the reader to let him drive it.
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages young readers directly, encouraging them to participate in the story and learn about refusal skills and decision-making.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy interactive stories and showing off their decision-making skills.

Educational Early Reading Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Genre(s): Picture book, STEM
  • Synopsis: This book follows Rosie, a young girl who dreams of becoming an engineer. Despite initial failures, she learns the importance of perseverance and innovation through her attempts to build amazing gadgets.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, perseverance, engineering concepts
  • Why we recommend this book: It inspires creativity and resilience, showing that failure is a step towards success and innovation.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring young inventors and engineers.

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Humor
  • Synopsis: A boy named Duncan finds out that his crayons have quit because they're unhappy with how they're being used. Each crayon writes him a letter expressing their feelings.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Empathy, problem-solving, color recognition
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous approach to discussing feelings and conflict resolution, plus it gets kids thinking creatively about how they use colors.
  • Perfect for: Children who love drawing and coloring, and those learning about expressing feelings.

• We're All Wonders by R.J. Palacio
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Social themes
  • Synopsis: This book, based on the chapter book "Wonder," tells the story of Auggie, a boy with facial differences, and his journey to show others that he's just like them, despite his appearance.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Empathy, diversity, self-acceptance
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches children about diversity and acceptance, encouraging them to see the wonder in every person.
  • Perfect for: Young readers learning about kindness and the importance of looking beyond appearances.

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Circular tale
  • Synopsis: The story explores a series of increasingly demanding requests made by a mouse after it is given a cookie, leading back to the original need for another cookie.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Cause and effect, sequencing, prediction
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an engaging, circular story that helps develop logical thinking and prediction skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy stories with humorous, cause-and-effect scenarios.

• Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Humor
  • Synopsis: This whimsical book explains why dragons love tacos but warns against giving them spicy salsa, which leads to humorous consequences.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sequence of events, humor, food and culture
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines humor with a quirky plot, engaging children in a fun and light-hearted way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy funny stories and have an interest in dragons or cooking.

Challenging Early Reading Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Classic, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: This story follows the mischievous adventures of Peter Rabbit as he sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, facing various challenges and narrowly escaping danger.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative incorporates more complex vocabulary and sentence structures than typical books for this age, providing a richer reading experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the imagination with its engaging plot and beautifully detailed illustrations, encouraging a love for storytelling and reading.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animal stories and those ready to engage with slightly more complex text.

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Young Max, dressed in his wolf costume, creates mischief at home and is sent to bed without supper. His room transforms into a magical forest, leading him to the land of the Wild Things.
  • Why this book is challenging: It explores themes of anger, imagination, and coming of age through rich, metaphorical language and a deep narrative structure.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book stretches the imagination and provides emotional depth, helping children to explore and understand their feelings.
  • Perfect for: Children with a wild imagination and an interest in exploring complex emotions through stories.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Rhyme
  • Synopsis: A mouse walks through the woods and encounters several dangerous animals. To avoid being eaten, the mouse invents a monster called the Gruffalo... only to meet the real Gruffalo later on.
  • Why this book is challenging: The clever use of rhyme and rhythm, along with a plot that involves strategy and wit, makes it both engaging and mentally stimulating.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a thrilling tale that encourages problem-solving and critical thinking, all wrapped in delightful rhymes that enhance phonetic awareness.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love engaging in stories that involve clever characters and those who enjoy rhythmic, rhyming texts.

• Madeline by Ludwig Bemelmans
  • Genre(s): Classic, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Madeline, a brave and spirited girl living in a Paris boarding school, goes on various adventures, showing courage even in the face of danger, like when she has to go to the hospital for her appendix.
  • Why this book is challenging: The text features rich, descriptive language and a unique storytelling cadence that distinguishes it from simpler children's books.
  • Why we recommend this book: It introduces readers to a strong female character and a different cultural setting, enriching their worldview and personal courage.
  • Perfect for: Young girls and boys who appreciate stories of bravery and independence, and those interested in experiences in different cultural contexts.

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
  • Genre(s): Animal Fiction, Adventure
  • Synopsis: After being separated from her mother, Stellaluna, a young fruit bat, is adopted by a family of birds but struggles to fit in due to her differences.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with themes of identity and acceptance through a narrative that challenges readers to think about family and belonging in a broader sense.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming story that teaches important lessons about diversity and self-acceptance, encouraging empathy and understanding.
  • Perfect for: Children who are navigating their own feelings of fitting in and those who enjoy stories about animals and nature.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to help your 5-year-old develop good reading habits, you're in the right place. Here are some fun and easy exercises that can make reading a joy for them. These activities are designed to engage young readers and foster a love for books!

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Browse through a book, looking at pictures before reading.
  • How it helps: Encourages imagination and prediction skills.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess the story based on the pictures.

• Read Aloud Together
  • What it is: You and your child take turns reading pages or sentences aloud.
  • How it helps: Improves pronunciation and builds confidence in reading.
  • Tips: Use different voices for different characters to make it fun.

• Match the Word
  • What it is: Create flashcards with words from the book and match them with pictures.
  • How it helps: Enhances word recognition and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Keep the session lively and praise efforts, not just correctness.

• Story Map
  • What it is: Draw a map or a sequence of events from the story.
  • How it helps: Helps with understanding the structure and sequence of stories.
  • Tips: Use colors and stickers to make the activity visually appealing.

• Role Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the book with your child.
  • How it helps: Boosts comprehension and makes reading interactive.
  • Tips: Let your child choose their favorite character to portray.

• Rhyme Time
  • What it is: Identify and come up with rhymes for words found in the book.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness and enjoyment of language sounds.
  • Tips: Turn it into a fun game or a song to keep the energy up.

These exercises are not just about reading; they're about making reading a memorable and enjoyable experience. By incorporating these activities into your reading routine, you'll help your child not only improve their skills but also develop a lifelong love for reading. Happy reading!