10+ Best Popular Books for 5-6-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect read for your little one? Dive into our curated selection of popular books for 5-6-year-olds that promise to captivate and educate young minds. Whether you're looking for a bedtime story or an adventurous tale, we've got you covered. Keep reading to discover our various lists of popular books for 5-6-year-olds, each packed with stories that are just right for their age. Let's turn the page to find their next favorite book!

Fun Popular Books for 5-6-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. His bedroom transforms into a magical forest where he sails to the land of the Wild Things.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the essence of childhood adventures and emotions, encouraging imagination and dealing with feelings.
  • Perfect for: Children who love using their imagination and exploring fantastical worlds.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar 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 teaches counting, the days of the week, and the life cycle of a butterfly in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy colorful illustrations and learning about nature.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's Fiction, Humor
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows another character throughout the story, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages children to try new things and teaches persistence in a humorous, rhyming format.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are picky eaters or reluctant to try new activities.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime Story, Classic
  • Synopsis: In this calming bedtime story, a young rabbit says goodnight to all the things in the room and beyond.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its rhythmic, gentle words make it an ideal bedtime read, helping children wind down for sleep.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy a soothing story before bed.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Pattern Book, Animal Fiction
  • Synopsis: A teacher and various colorful animals are seen through the eyes of a brown bear. Each page introduces a new animal and asks what they see.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's great for teaching colors and animal names, and its repetitive, predictable text helps develop reading skills.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy repetition and colorful illustrations.

• Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A kind witch invites various animals to join her on her broom, much to the frustration of her cat. They face a challenge together when threatened by a dragon.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches themes of friendship and cooperation through an engaging and whimsical story.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy stories about magic and teamwork.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Animal Fiction, Classic
  • Synopsis: This story follows the mischievous Peter Rabbit as he sneaks into Mr. McGregor's garden, despite his mother's warnings, and finds himself in various troubles.
  • Why we recommend this book: It imparts moral lessons about obedience and the consequences of misbehavior in a light and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animal characters and playful adventures.

Educational Popular Books for 5-6-Year-Olds

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet Book, Rhyming Book
  • Synopsis: In this vibrant and rhythmic book, the letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? As the alphabet climbs up, the tree bends and the chaotic fun begins.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, rhyming skills, and early reading
  • Why we recommend this book: Its playful and rhythmic text makes learning the alphabet fun and engaging, perfect for keeping young readers entertained while they learn.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers and kindergarteners beginning to learn the alphabet.

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
  • Genre(s): Cause and Effect, Humorous Fiction
  • Synopsis: This circular tale begins with a mouse receiving a cookie, which leads him to ask for a glass of milk, and sets off a chain of events that keeps circling back.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding cause and effect, sequencing, and prediction
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous and delightful story that teaches children about consequences and encourages them to think ahead.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy stories with humorous twists and playful scenarios.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Adventure
  • Synopsis: This book captures the adventures of a young boy named Peter as he explores his neighborhood after the season’s first snowfall.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Observation skills, understanding weather and seasons, imaginative play
  • Why we recommend this book: It beautifully illustrates the wonder and excitement of a snowy day through the eyes of a child, encouraging outdoor play and exploration.
  • Perfect for: Children who love playing in the snow or experiencing the joys of different seasons.

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fiction
  • Synopsis: When the bus driver takes a break, a pigeon makes several humorous attempts to get permission to drive the bus despite the reader’s likely objections.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Decision making, understanding rules, persuasive argument
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages children directly, making them part of the story as they get to decide the outcome, fostering interactive reading.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy interactive stories and talking back to the characters in a book.

Challenging Popular Books for 5-6-Year-Olds

• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Classic
  • Synopsis: This beloved novel tells the story of a pig named Wilbur and his friendship with a barn spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur in her web to persuade the farmer to save him.
  • Why this book is challenging: The text contains rich vocabulary and complex themes about friendship, loss, and the cycle of life.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a heartwarming tale that offers profound life lessons through the lens of farm animals, fostering empathy and understanding.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are ready for more complex narratives and character development.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A clever mouse uses the threat of a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo to fend off predators, only to discover that the Gruffalo actually exists.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces elements of strategic thinking and problem-solving, along with rich rhymes and advanced vocabulary.
  • Why we recommend this book: The rhythmic and rhyming text captures the imagination while teaching lessons about ingenuity and bravery.
  • Perfect for: Children who love stories with clever characters and a touch of suspense.

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
  • Genre(s): Animal Fiction, Adventure
  • Synopsis: After being separated from her mother, a young fruit bat named Stellaluna is adopted by a family of birds but struggles to fit in due to her differences.
  • Why this book is challenging: It explores themes of identity, acceptance, and family dynamics through a narrative that also teaches about bat biology.
  • Why we recommend this book: It beautifully combines a touching story with educational content, encouraging acceptance and celebrating differences.
  • Perfect for: Young readers interested in animals and nature, as well as stories about belonging and friendship.

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Environmental Fiction, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: Through the character of the Lorax, who speaks for the trees, this book teaches about the importance of taking care of the environment as it tells the story of the Once-ler, who causes destruction to a forest.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with complex environmental issues and moral questions about industrial impact, presented through creative and engaging rhymes.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a powerful and poignant tale that promotes environmental awareness and responsibility from a young age.
  • Perfect for: Eco-conscious families and young readers who enjoy vibrant stories with a strong moral lesson.

• Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: Matilda is a bright young girl who loves reading and learning, but faces neglect at home and tyranny at school. She discovers she has a special telekinetic power and uses it to stand up to the adults who are unfair to her and her friends.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features sophisticated language, dark humor, and themes of rebellion and justice.
  • Why we recommend this book: Matilda's resilience and cleverness make her a fantastic role model for young readers, inspiring them to embrace their own intelligence and creativity.
  • Perfect for: Advanced young readers who enjoy a mix of fantasy and real-life challenges, and stories of triumph over adversity.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Reading can be a magical journey for young minds, especially for kids aged 5-6. To help them develop good reading habits and make the most out of their reading time, here are some engaging exercises. These activities are designed not only to improve their reading skills but also to make reading a fun part of their daily routine.

• Read Aloud Together
  • What it is: You and your child take turns reading pages or paragraphs aloud from a book.
  • How it helps: Enhances vocabulary, improves pronunciation, and builds reading confidence.
  • Tips: Choose books with engaging dialogues and colorful pictures to maintain interest.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Before reading, flip through the book, looking at and talking about the pictures.
  • How it helps: Helps in predicting the story and stimulates the child's imagination.
  • Tips: Ask questions about the pictures to encourage the child to think about the story's possible events.

• Story Predictions
  • What it is: Pause during reading to guess what might happen next in the story.
  • How it helps: Develops critical thinking and comprehension skills.
  • Tips: Encourage creative guesses, regardless of whether they turn out to be right or wrong.

• Character Role-Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the book with your child, each of you playing different characters.
  • How it helps: Deepens understanding of the characters and the story, and makes reading more interactive.
  • Tips: Use simple props or costumes for more engaging play.

• Match the Sound
  • What it is: Identify words in the book that start with the same sound or letter.
  • How it helps: Enhances phonetic awareness and letter recognition.
  • Tips: Start with sounds that are prominent and easy to recognize in the book.

• Reading Rewards Chart
  • What it is: Create a chart that tracks the number of books read or the number of reading sessions.
  • How it helps: Motivates children to read more and establishes a rewarding reading habit.
  • Tips: Offer small rewards like extra playtime or a choice of the next book to read.

By integrating these exercises into your reading routine, you'll not only help your child develop essential reading skills but also foster a lifelong love for books. Remember, the key is consistency and making sure reading is seen as a fun and rewarding activity. Enjoy your reading adventures!