What Books Are Good for 6 Year Olds? 50 Best Reads in 2024
This best books for 6 year olds list comes straight from a Certified Reading Specialist. So you can enjoy reading without the guesswork.
By age 6, most kids are in the thick of learning unfamiliar words and skills. And you may have discovered that reading can be both exciting and challenging.
Picking great books makes this easier for everyone!
After, keep reading for expert tips to help your reader and a free printable!
Best Picture Books For 6 Year Olds
Reading aloud continues to be important as your kids grow. Read these great storybooks with your kids.
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National Geographic Readers
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1. When a Dragon Moves In by Jodi Moore (Ages 5-7)
If you build a perfect sandcastle, a dragon will move in! The power of imagination can make an otherwise normal day at the beach a whole lot of fun.
2. The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson (Ages 3-7)
*Crazy popular!
“A Gruffalo? What’s a Gruffalo?” On a walk through the woods, a mouse uses his wit to outsmart a deer, an owl, a snake, and even a Gruffalo! Flowing words and colorful characters make this funny book a great one to read aloud.
3. Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett (Ages 4-8
*Inspired the hit movie!
Spaghetti raining down from the sky? For the people in the town of Chewandswallow, the weather brings all three meals a day. But what happens when the weather goes awry?
Things get sticky when the portions start getting larger and the people in the town of Chewandswallow get into trouble. Everyone will have an appetite for this bestseller!
4. The Good Egg by Jory John (Ages 4-8)
*Teacher’s Pick
The Good Egg in this story discovers that it’s hard to be good all of the time. And if he doesn’t want to crack under all the pressure, he will have to do something about it.
5. Arnie the Doughnut by Laurie Keller (Ages 4-8)
*2004 Bank Street – Best Children’s Book of the Year
Deep fried, frosted, and sprinkled, Arnie the Doughnut is one of the best donuts in town. When Mr. Bing purchases Arnie from the bakery, Arnie thinks he is going on an exciting adventure. He doesn’t realize that adventure involves being eaten!
To save himself, Arnie comes up with a new plan. Readers will be surprised!
6. A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon (Ages 4-8)
Camilla loves lima beans. But she is worried about what the other kids will think. In fact, she is so worried that she breaks out in a bad case of stripes. Luckily, she discovers that being herself is the best medicine.
7. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen (Ages 3-7)
*Award Winner “Hoo-Hoo-Hooooo”
In this story, a girl has waited a long time to go owling with her father. Will they find an owl to admire? The author uses descriptive language to give the feeling that you are on this adventure too.
8. Ada Twist, Scientist (The Questioneers) by Andrea Beaty (Ages 5-7)
*NYT, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal Best Seller
Ada Twist has a head full of questions! Although her experiments do not always go as planned, she continues to search for the answer to satisfy her young scientist’s curiosities.
If you enjoy this book, you will also love: Rosie Revere Engineer and Iggy Peck Architect
9. What Do You Do With an Idea? by Kobi Yamada (Ages 3-7)
*New York Times & Award Winning Book
How can you bring your idea into the world? This beautiful story is about a little boy with a big idea. It inspires kids of all ages to welcome their ideas, give them space to grow, and watch the magic happen.
10. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (Ages 6-9)
From gum in his hair, to finding a cavity at the dentist AND having lima beans at dinner, Alexander is having a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day. Young readers relate to the struggles of growing up and the reality that we all have bad days.
Find Alexander the Great here >>
11. Berenstain Bears and the Trouble with Chores by Stan and Jan Berenstain (Ages 4-8)
*Classic books for 6 year olds
The Berenstain bear cubs and Papa are good at most things…. except chores. So, when Mama Bear decides to let everyone take a break from cleaning, things get a little messy. Well, A LOT messy around the bear house.
12. How to Babysit a Grandma by Jean Reagan (Ages 2-6)
*Excellent Mother’s Day Gift Idea!
With the amazing tips in this book, your child is sure to become an expert grandma-sitter! How to Babysit a Grandma is both funny and heartfelt. And don’t miss the section on “how to keep a grandma busy!”
We also love and have gifted How to Babysit Grandpa!
13. The Book with No Pictures by B.J. Novak (6 Year Old Books)
*Wildly funny (and popular) read aloud
This book is both clever and silly as you read it completely without pictures! It turns every reader into a comedian. The reader MUST say all the words on the page. No matter how funny they sound.
This incredible author turns something that should be boring into a hilarious experience for kids and adults.
14. Maddi’s Fridge by Lois Brandt (Ages 4-8)
*4x Award Winner!
Maddi’s Fridge is a heartwarming story of a friendship between Sofia and Maddi. When Sofia finds out that Maddi’s family doesn’t have enough food in their fridge, Sofia finds a way to help her best friend.
This book explores themes of poverty, childhood hunger, friendship, and the burden of secrets
15. Me and My Dragon by David Biedrzycki (Ages 2-6)
Would you like to have a dragon for a pet? In this funny story, a boy envisions life with a perfect pet dragon. With a dragon as a pet, always keep a fire extinguisher handy. And NEVER feed him broccoli!
16. Harry the Dirty Dog by Gene Zion (Ages 4-8)
*An all-time top-100 children’s book
Harry doesn’t like baths. When he gets very, very dirty, his own family doesn’t even recognize him! Harry may have to finally take a bath to get his family back!
See Harry the Dirty Dog Here >>
17. The Day Jimmy’s Boa Ate the Wash by Trinka Hakes Noble (Ages 4-8)
*Silly and fun!
Enjoy a hilarious retelling of a class trip to the farm. It’s complete with a boa constrictor wreaking havoc on the farm animals and the poor farmer’s wife!
Related: Funny Joke Books
Or watch this read aloud on video:
18. Diary of a Spider by Doreen Cronin (Ages 4-8)
*From the NYT Bestselling Team
What does a spider write about in his diary? In this funny book, follow a day in the life of spider and his best friend, a fly!
19. If I Built a Car (If I Built Series) by Chris Van Dusen (Ages 3-6)
*Inspires creativity & imagination
I Built a Car is a one-of-a-kind book for young inventors and kids with grand imaginations. Your child will love learning about Jack’s fantasy car. And they’ll be thrilled to read about Jack and his dad’s crazy test drive.
20. The Day You Begin by Jacquelin Woodson (Ages 5-8)
*Featured in the Netflix original show Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices!
This New York Times Best Seller is about highlighting a life truth. There are times when we all feel like outsiders. And that’s ok!
You can find the courage to connect when you’re scared. Or when you look and feel different than those around you. And often, you’ll find that you’re not alone.
There will be times when you walk into a room
The day you begin
and no one there is quite like you.
21. The Legend of Rock Paper Scissors by Drew Daywalt
*1 New York Times Bestselling Author
From the author of The Day The Crayons Quit, comes a silly and hilarious picture book about the classic game Rock, Paper, Scissors.
“This is the sort of story that makes children love to read.”-School Library Journal
22. The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler
Parents and children enjoy reading this funny story of what can happen when a child thinks his teacher is a fire-breathing dragon!
Look for other books in the Black Lagoon series including the Principal and the Gym Teacher!
23. Clark the Shark by Bruce Hale (Ages 3-6)
Clark the Shark thinks school is AWESOME! But as the biggest fish in the school, his enthusiasm for life is a little too much for the other fish to handle.
Adventure in the sea as Clark the Shark learns to be a better friend and classmate.
Good Books For A 6 Year Old Girl
These are books for 6 year olds that my daughter loved at this age!
24. Dear Girl,: A Celebration of Wonderful, Smart, Beautiful You! by Amy Krouse Rosenthal (Ages 3-8)
*Heartwarming & inspiring
Dear girl is a beautiful book that inspires girls to love and accept who they are. This book is refreshing and heartfelt in a world where girls are often told to behave a certain way.
25. Bo’s Magical New Friend by Rebecca Elliot: Unicorn Diaries #1 (Ages 5-7)
*Early chapter book favorite!
Bo is a unicorn with the power to grant wishes. She loves unicorn school and her friends. When Sunny Huckleberry arrives to the forest, will she also be Bo’s friend? And what will Sunny’s magical power be?
Your 6 year old will be excited to find out!
If your daughter loves this series, check out the Owl Series too!!!
26. The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale (Ages 5-7)
*New York Times Best Selling Series
Who says a princess can’t wear black? Girls love this series following Princess Magnolia. One minute she’s having scones and tea with the duchess, and the next she’s saving the day from monsters!
Find the first book to Princess in Black here >>
27. Fancy Nancy and the Dazzling Jewels by Jane O’Connor (Ages 4-8)
Fancy Nancy trades her charm bracelet with her friend, but then decides she wants it back. What will she do?
This beloved book character will become a favorite for your child.
28. Brave Irene by William Steig (Ages 3-8)
Irene has to help her feverish mom by delivering a new gown to the palace. While walking through snow and wind, the dress gets blown away! What will happen to Irene on the rest of her journey?
Books For Boy 6 Year Olds
Dinosaurs, snakes, trucks, and more! Choose from topics that a lot of boys love!
29. How to Catch a Dinosaur by Adam Wallace (Ages 2-6)
Do YOU have what it takes to catch a prehistoric creature?! Join the Catch Club Kids on another daring adventure to seek out the alluring dinosaur. Find out if these animals do still roam among us!
Find How to Catch a Dinosaur here >>
30. Snakes by Gail Gibbons (Ages 4-8)
Bestselling author, Gail Gibbons brings us a great nonfiction text about SNAKES. Learn about
types of snakes, where they live, what they eat, and many more interesting facts.
Readers will learn how to protect endangered snakes and how amazing these cold-blooded creatures are.
31. Step into Reading: Monster Trucks by Susan E. Goodman (Ages 3-6)
*Step into Reading Level 3
Beginning readers enjoy learning about monster trucks in this non-fiction reader. Engaging pictures and facts about monster trucks make this book an easy choice for any boy or girl interested in this topic.
32. Ty’s Travels: Lab Magic by Kelly Starling Lions
*My First I Can Read for beginning readers
Enjoy this book in the Ty’s Travels series. Ty and Corey have an adventure in the museum and become scientists. Simple text, engaging topics, and colorful illustrations appeal to emergent and beginning readers.
33. What If You Had Animal Teeth? by Sandra Markle (Ages 5-8)
What if you had shark teeth? This fun book helps your child learn about different animal teeth. Your child imagines what it would be like if they had each animal’s teeth. They may just discover why their own teeth are just right for them!
Explore other engaging books in this series including What If You Had Animal Eyes? and What If You Had Animal Feet?
Best Chapter Books For 6 Year Olds
Discover chapter books that are great for read-aloud or independent readers.
34. Mercy Watson Boxed Set (Ages 5-8)
*Great read aloud books for 6 year olds
Mercy is a pig who foils a robbery, squeezes into a tutu, drives a car…and lots more! Join the mischievous little pig in these unusual adventures.
See Books 1-6 in the set HERE >>
35. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl (Ages 6-9)
When Charlie finds a rare and precious golden ticket, he is invited into Willy Wonka’s famous chocolate factory. He and four other winners have quite a unique time.
And Charlie will end up with the biggest prize of them all. This is a read aloud the entire family will love!
Related: Kids Books That Are Movies
36. Dragon Masters Series: Books for 6 Year Olds
*New York Times Bestselling Series
Drake not only discovers that dragons are real, but that he is the Dragon Master! Adventure with him to train dragons to battle an evil wizard.
Illustrations on each page draw young readers into this series.
37. Pizza and Taco: Too Cool For School by Stephen Shaskan (Ages 5-8)
*Cool graphic novel
Best friends Pizza and Taco are heading back to school. Soon, they meet the always cool B.L.T. Will Pizza and Taco discover that being too cool can lead to trouble?
Read this funny graphic novel chapter book with your kiddo to boost their reading confidence.
Best 6 Year Olds Educational Books
Does your reader enjoy nonfiction? Check out this list!
38. National Geographic Readers (Level 1-2/ Ages 5-8)
Discover…
- how a caterpillar turns into a butterfly
- how many teeth a shark has
- and how volcanoes violently erupt plus MORE in this 6-book set.
Vibrant photos and easy-to-understand text give readers a close-up look at each topic.
39. Fly Guy Presents: Sharks by Tedd Arnold (Great Books For 6 Year Olds)
Fly Guy takes you to the aquarium to teach you about sharks! Kids who love Fly Guy and Buzz will be interested in learning these interesting facts. Real photographs and cartoons draw readers into this easy nonfiction reader.
40. National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Space by Catherine Hughes
What is a black hole? How far away are stars? What is it like on the moon? Captivating photographs and easy-to-read text help kids explore space and answer their curious questions.
41. My Magic Breath: Finding Calm Through Mindful Breathing by Nick Ortner (Ages 2-6)
*New York Times Bestselling author
Help your child discover the magic of breathing in this interactive picture book. It will help calm emotions and equip children with a skill that benefits them for a lifetime.
*Find more:
42. Stephen Curry: The Children’s Book: The Boy Who Never Gave Up
*inspiring true story of NBA superstar Stephen Curry
Everyone said that this boy wasn’t good enough to play basketball. He was too small, too weak, and just not good enough. But against the odds, he never gave up. He not only realized his dream, but he became one of the best basketball players of all time.
Get inspired with The Boy Who Never Gave Up >>
Related: Inspiring Kids Books
43. The Fascinating Animal Book For Kids by Ginjer Clarke (Ages 5-10)
Some mantis shrimp are strong enough to break aquarium glass with their lightning-fast punches.
Engaging close-up photos and fun facts will make your reader excited to read this nonfiction animal book.
44. Who Would Win? Lions vs. Tiger by Jerry Pallotta
*A favorite nonfiction series in our house
Read this captivating nonfiction book to find out what would happen if a lion and a tiger met each other.
Who would likely win in an ultimate battle for survival? Your young reader will be on the edge of his/her seat to find out! Looks for more books in this series.
45. Ordinary People Change the World Series: I am Walt Disney by Brad Metlzer (Ages 5-9)
*#1 New York Times Bestselling author
Read a book out of this biography series to learn about American heroes and their accomplishments. The books include photos and timelines. This book features Walt Disney and his amazing story.
*Looking for more nonfiction and educational books?
Check out:
Books For 6 Year Olds to Read Themselves
When your 6 year old is ready, introduce these independent readers.
46. Frog and toad: A Complete Reading Collection by Arnold Lobel (Ages 4-8)
*Caldecott Medal-winning fables
Share in the daily life of two different friends, Frog and Toad. This set of books is a Level Two I Can Read for young readers. To start with a good level 1 book, try Time for Bed the Babysitter Said.
47. Silly Milly by Wendy Cheyette Lewison (Ages 4-6)
*Level 1 easy reader
Why does Miss Milly like what she does? Read this easy rhyming text to find out the answer!
48. Elephant and Piggie: Complete Collection by Mo Willems (Ages 3-6)
*Caldecott Honor author Mo Willems
Adventure with friends Elephant and Piggie in this #1 New York Times Bestselling series.
49. BOB Books Set 2 Advancing Beginners by Bobby Lynn Maslen
Note: Set 1 is featured in the books for 5 year old list. But it’s good for 6 year olds too, and you’ll want to start there if you’re at the beginning of your reading journey.
50. I Can Read Phonics: Pete the Cat by James Dean and Kimberly Dean (Ages 4-8)
*12 Beginner Mini-Books
Use these 12 beginners Pete the Cat books to start your child on their reading journey! This set was reviewed by a phonics expert. It features examples of long and short vowel sounds, as well as common sight words.
BONUS: Advanced Readers Books 6-7 Year Olds
Nate the Great by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat (Ages 6-9)
*Best chapter books series for 6-7 year olds
In the award-winning Nate the Great series, Nate is on the case to solve the mysteries in his
neighborhood. Using evidence and problem-solving skills, Nate helps his friend and solves the case.
Related: Mystery books kids can’t put down!
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang by Ian Fleming (Ages 6-11)
The Potts family is an odd bunch. So, nobody is surprised when they come back with a car that looks like a wreck. But soon the family realizes the car is much more than a car. It’s also a plane and boat, and it’s on a mission to stop a gang.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang is perfect for any kid who loves magic and adventure!
Narwhal Unicorn of the Sea by Ben Clanton (Ages 5-8)
*The first book of 8!
Meet Narwhal and Jelly. Two friends that love waffles and ocean adventures. Each book contains three stories, a comic strip, and interesting sea facts.
Start the award winning series here >>
Diary of a Pug: Pug Blasts Off by Kyla May (Ages 6-9)
Introduce your child to the first book in the Diary of a Pug series for newly independent readers. Baron von Bubbles or “Bub” loves his human, Bella. Will Bub be able to help her with her project for the Inventor Challenge?
Your kiddos will want to read all the books in this cute series.
Best Tips to Help Young Readers
Is a 6 year old supposed to read?
All kids develop at different rates. By age 6, their thought processes become more complex. In fact, they understand over 20,000 words. (Scholastic) Your child may be able to:
- decode words and read simple books aloud
- recognize sight words
- write words and use invented spelling
How do I help my 6 year old with struggling to read?
If your 6-year-old seems to be struggling, remember that reading independently is a new skill.
- Practice daily. Have your child read with or to you for 15-20 minutes daily.
- Model reading and discuss books as you read.
- Help your child find ‘just right’ books.
- Ask your child’s teacher for help.
- Be patient! Learning to read is a big job for your child. Continue to praise their efforts and build confidence in your child.
Why is my 6 year old not reading?
Your child may not be ready to be an independent reader yet. That’s okay! Model, practice, and encourage your kiddo as they build their reading skills.
Talk to your child’s teacher if you are concerned. They may be already working diligently to help your child.
Free Printable Books List For 6 Year Olds
Print it below!
What’s Next?
Check out these reading challenges for kids to motivate your beginning reader (and yourself). And don’t forget the free tracker too!
Finally, keep reading! You are opening your child’s world to new possibilities with every book!
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- Good 8 Year Old Books & Book Series
- 2 Year Old Books Kids Love
- Best Books For 3 Year Olds to Read Together
- Ultimate 4 Year Old Books List