10+ Best Picture Books for 6-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect picture books for 6-year-olds? Choosing the right book can spark a lifelong love of reading, and we’ve got you covered! From whimsical adventures to captivating tales, our curated lists cater to every young reader’s taste. Keep reading to discover our top picks for picture books that will enchant and educate your little ones.

Fun Picture Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Max, dressed in a wolf suit, makes mischief and is sent to bed without supper. In his room, a mysterious wild forest and sea grow out of his imagination, and Max sails to the land of the Wild Things.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages imagination and creativity, showing children the power of their own minds to create adventures and manage emotions.
  • Perfect for: Kids with a wild imagination and a love for adventures.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Educational, Nature
  • Synopsis: This beautifully illustrated book follows the journey of a caterpillar eating his way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly, all wrapped in a simple, engaging story.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy learning about nature and animals.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime Story, Classic
  • Synopsis: In a great green room, a young bunny says goodnight to all the familiar things in the softly lit room.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, gentle words and calming pictures make it an ideal bedtime story, helping children wind down at the end of the day.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy a soothing story before bedtime.

• Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin, illustrated by Daniel Salmieri
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This humorous story explores the love dragons have for tacos and the chaos that ensues when they eat tacos with spicy salsa.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a fun, engaging read that introduces children to light-hearted cautionary tales with a lot of laughs.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy funny stories and have a playful sense of humor.

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: The crayons in Duncan's box are frustrated and write him letters voicing their complaints about how they are used.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes creativity and problem-solving, encouraging children to think about everyday objects in imaginative ways.
  • Perfect for: Creative thinkers and young artists who like to color outside the lines.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Adventure, Classic
  • Synopsis: A little boy named Peter explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall of the season.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the magical and transformative nature of snow through the eyes of a child, encouraging exploration and appreciation of the small wonders in life.
  • Perfect for: Young explorers who delight in the simple joys of seasonal changes.

Educational Picture Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Genre(s): Science, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Ada Twist is a curious girl who embarks on fact-finding missions and conducts scientific experiments to understand the world around her.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Scientific inquiry, problem-solving, critical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes curiosity and perseverance, especially in science, and is an inspiration for young girls and boys interested in STEM fields.
  • Perfect for: Aspiring young scientists and curious minds.

• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
  • Genre(s): Social Themes, Culture
  • Synopsis: Unhei, a young Korean girl, moves to America and decides to choose a new name to fit in, but through her interactions with her new classmates, she learns to appreciate her own cultural identity.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Cultural awareness, self-acceptance, social skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches the importance of embracing one’s own culture and identity in a diverse world.
  • Perfect for: Children experiencing or learning about cultural diversity and the value of self-identity.

• Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Genre(s): Science, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Rosie Revere dreams of becoming an engineer. Through her journey, she learns that failure is a stepping stone to success.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Engineering principles, creativity, resilience
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages innovation and perseverance, showing that failures are just part of the learning process.
  • Perfect for: Young inventors and creators who aren’t afraid to try new things.

• The Most Magnificent Thing by Ashley Spires
  • Genre(s): Self-Esteem & Self-Reliance, Humor
  • Synopsis: A little girl and her canine assistant set out to make the most magnificent thing, but they find that creating something new isn’t as easy as it looks.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Perseverance, problem-solving, creativity
  • Why we recommend this book: It’s a wonderful story about the rewards of perseverance and creativity.
  • Perfect for: Children who love building and making things, and who need encouragement to keep trying even when it’s tough.

• Iggy Peck, Architect by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Genre(s): Science, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Iggy Peck has a passion for building and loves to construct new things from any materials he can get his hands on.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Creativity, basic engineering, problem-solving
  • Why we recommend this book: It celebrates creativity and perseverance in pursuing one’s passion, even when faced with obstacles.
  • Perfect for: Young architects and builders, and any child who loves to design and create.

Challenging Picture Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Journey by Aaron Becker
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A lonely girl draws a magic door on her bedroom wall and steps through it into a world of adventure and wonder.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book is entirely wordless, relying on detailed illustrations to tell its complex story, which requires advanced visual literacy skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It enhances imagination and storytelling skills, as readers must interpret the narrative from the pictures alone.
  • Perfect for: Visual learners and creative thinkers who enjoy crafting their own stories from pictures.

• The Man Who Walked Between the Towers by Mordicai Gerstein
  • Genre(s): Biography, Historical
  • Synopsis: This true story illustrates the daring feat of Philippe Petit, a tightrope walker who in 1974 walked between the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces children to historical events and complex themes of courage and challenge.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches about historical achievements and the perseverance needed to accomplish incredible feats.
  • Perfect for: Young readers interested in history and inspirational real-life stories.

• The Garden of Abdul Gasazi by Chris Van Allsburg
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Mystery
  • Synopsis: When Alan loses a dog he is watching in the mysterious garden of retired magician Abdul Gasazi, he fears the worst when he learns that the dog may have been turned into a duck.
  • Why this book is challenging: The intricate narrative and sophisticated illustrations engage readers in a deeper level of mystery and interpretation.
  • Why we recommend this book: It sparks imagination and encourages a love for storytelling, all while dealing with themes of responsibility and the unexpected.
  • Perfect for: Children who love puzzles and mysteries, and those who appreciate beautifully illustrated books.

• The Arrival by Shaun Tan
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Wordless
  • Synopsis: This wordless graphic novel tells the story of an immigrant's journey to an unfamiliar and fantastical world, exploring themes of isolation and hope.
  • Why this book is challenging: The absence of text demands that readers interpret complex themes through the artwork alone.
  • Why we recommend this book: It fosters empathy and understanding of the immigrant experience, using a unique artistic approach to storytelling.
  • Perfect for: Readers who are visually oriented and those interested in social themes and storytelling through art.

• Tuesday by David Wiesner
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Wordless
  • Synopsis: Frogs on flying lily pads embark on a whimsical journey through a sleepy town, encountering surprised residents along the way.
  • Why this book is challenging: The surreal, wordless narrative challenges readers to construct their own interpretations of the bizarre events.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages creativity and imagination, pushing readers to think outside the box and enjoy the playful nature of the story.
  • Perfect for: Creative kids who enjoy stories that are out of the ordinary and those who love to dream up their own narratives.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to boost your 6-year-old's reading habits through engaging with picture books, you've come to the right place. Here are some fun and effective exercises that not only make reading enjoyable but also help develop strong reading skills.

• Read Aloud Together
  • What it is: You read the book aloud with your child, taking turns on each page.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary and helps with understanding the flow of language.
  • Tips: Use different voices for different characters to make the reading more engaging.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Before reading, flip through the book and let your child guess the story based on the pictures.
  • How it helps: Improves predictive skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions about the pictures to stimulate your child’s imagination.

• Story Retelling
  • What it is: After reading, ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
  • How it helps: Boosts comprehension and memory skills.
  • Tips: Encourage them to describe characters, settings, and major events.

• Find the Rhyme
  • What it is: Identify rhyming words together in the story.
  • How it helps: Develops phonemic awareness and appreciation for the sounds within words.
  • Tips: Clap out the sounds of the rhymes to make it more fun and memorable.

• Character Role-Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the book with your child taking on the role of a favorite character.
  • How it helps: Enhances understanding of character actions and emotions.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes to make the role-play more exciting.

Implementing these exercises can transform reading from a chore into a delightful adventure that your child looks forward to. Not only do these activities keep engagement levels high, but they also lay down a solid foundation for lifelong reading habits. So grab a picture book and let the fun learning begin!