No matter, if we're talking about books for 5-year-old girls or boys, the ones that are accessible or this age, are most highly illustrated. We all know that the attention span of a 5-year-old is quite limited so, even if the story is very captivating, without good visuals, you won't be able to deliver your message as an author. Good books for 5-year-olds are the ones that perfectly combine illustrations with immersive stories and characters.
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Best Books for 5-Year-Olds That You Should Have in Your Library
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Last Updated: 21 March 2023
We all want the best for our kids, and that applies to education either. However, long before you start thinking about kindergartens, schools, and other forms of learning, you need to start thinking about the early stages of this process. As parents, we want our kids to have a strong sense of what is right and a set of morals. However, it is not such an easy thing to achieve. No matter how hard you try, they will always be influenced by other kids or bad examples they see around them.
Luckily, you can inspire your kid to do good things and evolve happily by getting them some of the best books for 5-year-olds. By doing so, you will not only get the child interested in all kinds of essential subjects, but he/she can start to build role models from a young age. With all the new titles being launched and different parenting advice you get, choosing the proper book for your 5-year-old son or daughter may not be that easy. That is why we put in the hours and went through some of the most popular books for 5-year-olds to select the very best and present them to you.
Comparison Table of the 10 Best Books for 5-Year-Olds
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
The Day the Crayons Quit
$6.22
$8.75
$5.96
$10.93
$7.29
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-
-
-
-
Reading age
3 - 7 years
4 - 8 years
4 - 8 years
4 - 8 years
3 - 7 years
Print length
128 pages
128 pages
48 pages
40 pages
40 pages
Language
English
English
English
English
English
Grade level
Preschool - 2
Preschool - 3
Preschool - 3
Preschool - 3
Preschool - 2
Lexile measure
NC630L
NC660L
520L
AD460L
AD730L
Dimensions
10.15 x 0.65 x 10.1 inches
10.1 x 0.75 x 10.2 inches
6.81 x 0.4 x 9.31 inches
-
10.38 x 0.42 x 10.25 inches
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why
$6.22
-
Reading age
3 - 7 years
Print length
128 pages
Language
English
Grade level
Preschool - 2
Lexile measure
NC630L
Dimensions
10.15 x 0.65 x 10.1 inches
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs
$8.75
-
Reading age
4 - 8 years
Print length
128 pages
Language
English
Grade level
Preschool - 3
Lexile measure
NC660L
Dimensions
10.1 x 0.75 x 10.2 inches
There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System
$5.96
-
Reading age
4 - 8 years
Print length
48 pages
Language
English
Grade level
Preschool - 3
Lexile measure
520L
Dimensions
6.81 x 0.4 x 9.31 inches
Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes
$10.93
-
Reading age
4 - 8 years
Print length
40 pages
Language
English
Grade level
Preschool - 3
Lexile measure
AD460L
Dimensions
-
Where the Wild Things Are
What Should Danny Do?
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are
Rosie Revere, Engineer
$7.50
$13.19
$7.97
$9.69
$12.56
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-
-
-
-
Reading age
4 - 8 years
3 years and up
2 - 4 years
4 - 11 years
5 years and up
Print length
48 pages
68 pages
30 pages
32 pages
32 pages
Language
English
English
English
English
English
Grade level
-
-
-
Kindergarten - 5
Kindergarten and up
Lexile measure
AD740L
580L
AD610L
610L
AD780L
Dimensions
10.06 x 0.25 x 9 inches
-
6 x 0.65 x 5.75 inches
9 x 0.1 x 9 inches
9.35 x 0.63 x 11.3 inches
Where the Wild Things Are
$7.50
-
Reading age
4 - 8 years
Print length
48 pages
Language
English
Grade level
-
Lexile measure
AD740L
Dimensions
10.06 x 0.25 x 9 inches
What Should Danny Do?
$13.19
-
Reading age
3 years and up
Print length
68 pages
Language
English
Grade level
-
Lexile measure
580L
Dimensions
-
Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site
$7.97
-
Reading age
2 - 4 years
Print length
30 pages
Language
English
Grade level
-
Lexile measure
AD610L
Dimensions
6 x 0.65 x 5.75 inches
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are
$9.69
-
Reading age
4 - 11 years
Print length
32 pages
Language
English
Grade level
Kindergarten - 5
Lexile measure
610L
Dimensions
9 x 0.1 x 9 inches
Sale
Best overall - National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why Review
Starting our list of reviews with one of the most popular children's books out there – The National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why. The wealth of subjects covered in this book is fantastic, and it contains everything needed for your youngster to develop a beneficial curiosity from an early age. One of the best books for 5-year-old by all standards, this one manages to help prepare preschoolers for the exciting journey called life. It has an academic approach that is perfectly adapted to make it interesting for the little ones, and kids devour its photographic and playful pages. This is one of the best books for kindergarten.
If you want your child to have a curious approach to life and learn about a lot from an early age, National Geographic is one of the top choices for his/her first book.
Why We Like It
- Recyclable materials used
- Appropriate for various ages
- High-quality illustrations to make the book more interesting
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Top Dinosaur Book - National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Dinosaurs Review
Continuing our journey to find the best books for preschoolers, we have another exciting title from National Geographic. This time focused on dinosaurs. Even though the little ones may develop various curiosities along the way for cars, trains, planes, or multiple jobs, there's one thing all of them have in common – the passion for dinosaurs. This book is ideal for 4 to 8 years old that love dinos and the prehistoric world. It can be easily considered one good example among adventure children's books age 5, and it teaches the little ones all about the big beasts that roamed the earth millions of years before us.
Another top choice from National Geographic, this time on dinosaurs. Everything your little wonder needs to know about these ancient creatures.
Why We Like It
- Durable cover considering it will be handled by kids
- Incredible illustrations to catch the kids’
- Great price for the quality it offers
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Space Exploration - There's No Place Like Space: All About Our Solar System Review
This exciting story takes your child into an adventure among the stars, and it is mainly focused on the International Astronomical Union's decision to downgrade Pluto to a dwarf planet from its previous title of the planet. If you are big on space books for preschoolers, this might be your top choice because it combines exciting pictures with an intriguing story and delightful characters. Your kid will embark on an adventure with Cat in the Hat, Thing One, Thing Two Sally and Dick to discover outer space and the reasons why Pluto isn't considered to be a planet anymore.
Top-quality book for children that have an interest in space exploration and the surrounding planets. A great way to start your child on a path of discovery about outer space.
Why We Like It
- An easy approach to science
- Awesome illustrations
- Interesting characters with specific traits
Sale
Interesting Narrative - Pete the Cat: I Love My White Shoes Review
Pete the Cat is an interesting character that just got new white shoes and took them on a test run. While the subject is not that complex, it is one of the best 5-year-old books to read because it teaches a valuable lesson. As Pete walks through all kinds of messes like piles of strawberries, blueberries, and other stuff, the continues on smiling and singing that joyful song of his. Thanks to the doodles inside, it is enjoyed by younger kids as well, and you can also download the catchy tune.
Pete the Cat tells a lovely positive story that is filled with valuable lessons for the little ones. Add the catchy song to the mix and you get an excellent book for children.
Pros
- A very catchy song that can be downloaded for free
- The story has a positive morale
- Big text, so kids can try to read themselves
Cons
- The book is quite short so you will need to think of another purchase quite fast.
Sale
Intriguing Storyline - The Day the Crayons Quit Review
Here is an interesting twist for you. While The Day the Crayons Quit may not be the best picture books of all time, it is certainly one that brings an exciting subject to life. It tells the story of Duncan, a boy that wanted to color in his coloring book but opens his box of crayons only to find that the crayons left. Depicting a hilarious and exciting point of view for each color in part and the reasons why they felt they had enough, this book encourages kids to imagine their conversations with the crayons to get them to go back to the drawing.
A very interesting story that brings crayons to life so that your child will be instantly attracted by the storyline and characters.
Pros
- Very engaging and amusing
- Interesting story pushing kids to imagine various situations
- Great price
Cons
- Some parents considered that the illustrations within the book could have been better.
Sale
Top Illustrations - Where the Wild Things Are Review
If you also agree that the previous example lacked more engaging illustrations, here is one book that will quench your thirst for that. It is part of a series of chapter books for 5-year-olds, and it tells the visual of various wild creatures, most of all imagined by the original author. This book already has over 50 years of existence and was originally wrote, and illustrated by Maurice Sendak.
One of the classics brought back to life. Where the Wild Things Are is still as true as it was 50 years ago when it was first launched.
Pros
- One of the most expressive books for 5-year-old boys
- Top-quality materials used
- A book that passed the test of time
Cons
- Some parents complained about getting a book in poor condition.
Sale
Top Complexity - What Should Danny Do? Review
Now, if you consider the best books for a 5-year-old boy to be the ones that have interactive stories in them, this one should catch your eye. We mentioned boys because the main character is a young boy that is joined by his trusty pet dog on a series of adventures. Danny is a superhero in training that goes through 9 exciting stories in one book. It teaches kids that their choices will influence their days and lives by choosing various actions for Danny to perform in his daily missions.
A very exciting book that also offers a lot of valuable lessons for the little ones. An overall enjoyable story with insight on a lot of life matters.
Pros
- Interactive adventures that are also educative
- 9 stories in 1
- Inducing the idea that choices have consequences
Cons
- The book is a bit on the pricey side, however, it’s definitely worth the extra bucks.
Sale
Appealing Artwork - Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site Review
If you are shopping for books for 5-year-olds to read themselves, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site is worth checking out. It can be used by toddlers as well for their fantastic artwork. However, the storyline is appealing enough to keep the young readers immersed. It got the #1 New York Times bestselling children's book title, and it comes at a very reasonable price.
If you’re all about the illustrations, Goodnight, Goodnight Construction Site is an excellent choice. Not to mention the construction theme that boys will love!
Pros
- Great illustrations
- Various characters played by construction vehicles
- Rhyming text to make it more appealing
Cons
- Some parents think it’s a wrong idea to give life to dangerous machines such as construction equipment.
Inspirational - Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are Review
If you want your children's first reading books for 5 years olds to have an inspirational message, going for this one do just that for you. It tells a very charming story that empowers children to make the right choice and stand by their decisions even though they're being laughed at. Indeed, the title may be a bit philosophical for a children's book; however, these kinds of values are better taught from a young age.
This book is a perfect mix between an interesting children’s book and lessons that he or she will need later in life. Children of all ages like this book due to a very interesting narrative.
Pros
- A very touching and inspirational story
- Interesting illustration on the cover and inside the book
- High-quality paper
Cons
- Some conservative parents may not go well with the idea promoted by this book.
Sale
Gender-Equality Perspective - Rosie Revere, Engineer Review
You would imagine that learning to read books for 5-year-olds comes with lighter subjects. However, it is never too early to teach gender equality and health ethics. Rosie is a girl that dreams of becoming an engineer. So, wherever people see rubbish, she sees inspiration. She eventually constructs great inventions like helium pants, hot dog dispensers, but she doesn't show them to the world. Her aunt teaches her that she needs to show her inventions and that failure isn't something she should fear.
It’s never too early to let your kid know about gender equality and how the modern world works. This book has the right approach to do just that!
Pros
- Very inspirational and encouraging storyline
- Promotes the idea that little girls could become engineers
- Great illustrations
Cons
- The quality of the cover could be better since some kids are not that careful with their books.
Buyer's Guide
How to Choose the Best Books for 5-Year-Olds
Topic
The first thing you should think about when shopping for children’s books, age 5 is the topic. You want your kid to learn about animals, science, nature, the effects of their decisions, or have some fun with fictional characters? Well, the result is the same as even the fictional characters teach them valuable lessons, but it depends on how you want to deliver that knowledge. Plus, with a little bit of patience, you can find books for new dads that also work for the kids.
Self-Reading vs. You Reading to Them
Other criteria to think about when you pick the book is its complexity. While some books are designed for the children to read themselves, others are more complex and are destined for the parent to read each story and explain the situation to educate the youngster. There’s also a hybrid that uses illustrations to capture the attention of the kid while he’s too young to read and can later be used as reading material. These ones can mark very well as the best books for 6-year-olds as well.
Main Characters
Do you think your kid is more interested in learning about science, nature, and how things work, or he is better stimulated by fictional characters telling stories with lessons in them? A charismatic main character can do the trick most of the time, and there are many book series for 5-year-olds with such strong characters in them.
Best Books for 5-Year-Olds Types
Classic Books for 5-Year-Olds
h4When talking about book types, we can make one clear distinction about classic books. These focus more on illustrations and use the good-old characters to tell stories and teach the youngsters basic things about life. We can include the storybooks here like Hensel and Gretel, Snow White, and many more.
Modern Books
Almost all choices for the reviews are from this second category of book types. Apart from Where the Wild Things Are, all the books have a modern design that is focused on science or more actual stories. While both types have the same goal, some kids respond better to the traditional ones while some prefer modern stories more. In addition, modern ones make good candidates for the best baby memory book spot as they have multiple functions.
Our Recommendation for 2023
After our journey through the best toddler books and the ones recommended for preschoolers, it’s time to draw a conclusion. Only a parent can finally decide what the best book for their child is, that is why we reviewed some of the best books for 5-year-olds 2023. However, if you can’t make up your mind, we heartily recommend the National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Why for its complete approach to various domains of interest that can help develop the future teenager. For other interesting articles on how to improve your kid development properly, check out parenthoodroutine.com, and you will have plenty to choose from.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
When talking about chapter books for 5-year-olds, the examples are numerous. All the ones recommended above make good books, and mainly all the ones that focus on animals, science, and inspiring stories that help them discover the surrounding world. It is never too early to introduce them to more complex characters. However, parents should also be careful not to take things too far.
Experts think it's not a good idea to set milestones for various ages since all kids develop in their rhythm. However, some basic checks need to be crossed. Most five-year-olds have strong language skills and like to talk about various ideas. They are eager to understand why and how things work, and with all the growing skills, reading books for 5-year-olds are excellent materials.
Each parent prepares their kid the best way they know for the first step outside the house, the kindergarten. While kids' books age 5 will help youngsters to develop some communication and inter-personal skills, there should be no pressure on what things they know before taking this step. As mentioned earlier, all kids have their own pace when it comes to developing, and while activity books for 5 years olds are a great help, they should not be pushed too hard.
Topics:
for toddlers
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