Children's books are a great way to teach kids, not only in kindergarten classrooms but also at home. You can get your little one ready to join pre-school by reading for them or teaching them how to read their favorite books independently. Although these kids' concentration and focus levels are low, you can find the best books for 5-year-olds that will keep them engaged, interest them, and still help them learn.
While you search for the best books for 5-year-olds, you must pay attention to the main factors that will help you know the most suitable book for your kid, which this write-up has provided. In addition, the article has also listed some of the top book recommendations and elaborated on why they are beneficial.
1. Bob Books, Set 1: Beginning Readers
- As per Description
- It comes with proper packaging
- Easy to read text
- Bobby Lynn Maslen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Bob Books Set 1: Beginning Readers has great educational content to help your child turn their first letter into words and their first word into a sentence. They will introduce new words and vocabulary to kids by using repetitive sounds and words.
The books have stories that are not long and are suitable for kids with short concentration levels. Most parents and kids love them because they will help your child learn how to read alone pretty first.
2. Where the Wild Things Are
- Hardcover Book
- Maurice Sendak (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 12/26/2012 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)
Where the Wild Things Are, is an iconic story about Max, who is a hero. The story talks about Wild things that symbolize the friends and the friendship bonds that kids build with each other. Each page of the book will teach the child how to connect with others. The Wild Things Are a book that will make reading for a kid super fun and offer advice on making friends.
3. Today, I Will Fly!
- Hardcover Book
- Willems, Mo (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 64 Pages - 04/01/2007 (Publication Date) - Hyperion Books for Children (Publisher)
The book is about a piggie and an elephant as the main characters. The elephant is a caring but worried character, while the pig is careless and loves to smile. The pig wants to fly, and the elephant is a bit skeptical. Today I Will Fly is a great book that you little boy or girl will enjoy reading on their own at this age. It has simple, playful, and sweet text and has perfect illustrations to help get the point across.
4. The Kissing Hand
- N/A
- Hardcover Book
- Penn, Audrey (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 10/15/1993 (Publication Date) - Tanglewood (Publisher)
This is a favorite book for parents and kids. It is a perfect option for kids reading in the house or those preparing to join preschool. The book does not have too many words on a page, and it will teach children about life and how to be calm when they leave their mom or dad and go to school.
The book is about a raccoon who is scared about joining a school, but his mom comes up with an idea to help him out and kisses her each time he leaves. It is a great book for parents looking for tips and advice on managing children nervous about joining the school.
5. Power Up
- Hardcover Book
- Fishman, Seth (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 03/19/2019 (Publication Date) - Greenwillow Books (Publisher)
This is a fun and informative book that will educate and inspire. This book talks about the relation between energy and our bodies, and the book will make complicated stuff look simple for a kid to comprehend. However, a mom with a curious child can get this book for them because it has lively illustrations that will teach your girl or boy in a more fun way and get the point across.
6. Kindergarten, Here I Come!
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Steinberg, D.J. (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 06/14/2012 (Publication Date) - Grosset & Dunlap (Publisher)
The book is written by D.j Steinberg and is a wonderful option to help kids read alone. These are the best books for 5-year-olds who are beginning or joining school soon. The book has interesting poems about starting kindergarten and the activities they will do in school. The book is great for reading development because it will advise on how to cope with the first day in school.
7. Mercy Watson to the Rescue
- DiCamillo, Kate (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 80 Pages - 12/22/2009 (Publication Date) - Candlewick (Publisher)
Mercy Watson to the Rescue is a great chapter book that your children can read by themselves with ease. These chapter books are about a pig named Mercy who lives with a couple that does not have children and adopted her as their only child. It is a funny story that your child will enjoy reading because of the colorful illustrations used. The story will teach your child how to associate with other people and how to be responsible.
8. If You Give a Mouse a Cookie
- For Mac system 7.0 or later (OSX in CLASSIC OS)
- Interactive book
- Hardcover Book
- Numeroff, Laura (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
If You Give a Mouse, a Cookie is a book that you will find in almost all pre classes. It is about a mouse who is hungry and how it keeps coming for more new things. This is a perfect book for kids' bedtime stories because it has rhythmic text, great illustrations, and a circular tale that will give you child satisfaction and closure.
9. Iggy & Me on Holiday
- Amazon Kindle Edition
- Valentine, Jenny (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 81 Pages - 10/14/2010 (Publication Date) - HarperCollinsChildren’sBooks (Publisher)
Iggy & Me on Holiday is an adventure story told by Flo, a sister to Iggy, who is very uncontrollable. The story narrates how the two girls had fun during their school holidays. This would be a great story to read your kids as a bedtime story and a get one for new readers who are learning how to read alone. In addition, it has great illustrations that will interest the reader.
10. Pete the Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
- Title: Pete The Cat: Rocking in My School Shoes
- Books - Literature
- Hardcover Book
- Litwin, Eric (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Pete the Cat is a great book that was published in 2011. This is a storybook that will introduce the reader to sounds and pronunciation. In this story, Pete is a boy who discovers interesting places at the school like the library and playground. The best part is that the book has a song that the boy sings as he goes around, and you can download the song and sing along with your child.
11. Courage by Bernard Waber
- Hardcover Book
- Waber, Bernard (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 10/28/2002 (Publication Date) - Clarion Books (Publisher)
Courage is a book that most children of this age are familiar with. The story teaches kids more about courage. It teaches kids the small courageous things that a child can do to build up their courage, like; eating the foods you do not like, going to bed and sleeping with the lights out, learning how to ride a bike, and being the first to make up after a fight.
Courage forms a great foundation when it comes to a child's confidence. In addition, the picture book has great colored illustrations that will help the five-year-old understand and remember it better.
12. My First Library: Boxset of 10 Board Books
Mr. Popper's Penguins is a funny story about a house painter, wife, and children. The painter dreams of learning about poles, and after writing a letter to Admiral Drake, he gets a penguin from an admiral. The family picks up the penguin as a pet, and later, they have a whole penguin family.
There are some illustrations throughout the book that will add more pleasure while reading it. This is among the best chapter books that will teach your children how to be responsible.
14. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
- A simple yet utterly silly book.
- Provides a perfect beginning reading experience.
- Combines exuberant illustrations with easy-to-decode words.
- Introduces young readers to fantastically funny creatures.
- Highly collectible Party Edition is a fun way to learn to read and rhyme!
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is a book that does not have a main storyline but has many playful rhymes and topics. The picture books have beautiful and colorful illustrations that will make them pleasurable and help them pay more attention. The goofy rhymes and colorful characters will have your child giggling each time.
15. Crocodiles Need Kisses Too
- Hardcover Book
- Colby, Rebecca (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 40 Pages - 04/07/2020 (Publication Date) - Viking Books for Young Readers (Publisher)
Crocodiles Need Kisses Too is a book that has everything about love and hugs. The story is about how crocodiles may not look like us, don't sound like us, how they don't look cute like us but still need to be loved. The book will show kids how to show affection to the thing that surrounds us like their pets.
What to Consider Before Purchasing the Best Books for 5-Year-Olds
1. Type of books
When purchasing the best books for 5-year-olds, it is important to know the type of book you get your child. Young readers will learn a lot from books even though they don't have their favorite characters. We have listed the four types of kids' books.
a) Board Books
A Board book is a book printed on thick paper boards. This book is the simplest book that is great when it comes to facilitating learning among kids. The advantage of this book is that they are also great for children below five years. The book will have a few words per page and usually contain very easy-to-read vocabulary and sentences.
b) Picture Books
This type will mainly include visual and verbal narratives, and it is one of the most commonly bought books. The main distinction about the book i that it will capture the kids' attention using attractive or cartoon pictures. This type will help improve the child's imagination and provide helpful and educative information to the kids.
c) Activity Books
These books are books that contain interactive content and are great to improve the child's IQ. They usually have content like joining the dots, puzzles, games, spot differences, pictures, and colors, which sharpens their observational and rational thinking skills.
d) Series Books
These are book sequences that often have the same characters and are mostly perfect as bedtime stories. Most of the books are usually written by the same author or use the same artist to illustrate. The intention is that when the child learns about the main character, they will want to know the next adventure about them.
2. Content and Structure
Even though the usual rule is that children's content is mostly about life experiences stories, It is okay to start introducing books with positive messages, which will inspire children. Additionally, most kids that are five years old are joining new environments like starting kindergarten, and you will need books that will help boost their self-confidence and help them have an easy time making new friendships.
3. Easy to read Alone
Most of the best books for 5-year-olds are easy to read and understand. However, it is important to get your child a book that they will read independently and understand. This way, the kids will easily learn to read and even practice their reading skills more often.
Some of the books have repetition and have beautiful illustrations, which will help young children enjoy reading. However, it will not be best to get a book with a very hard vocabulary or new stuff that frustrates the kids.
4. Fun to read
Whether your child can read on their own or not, it is necessary to keep them reading. To keep your kids engaged, make sure that you get a book that is fun to read. Having a book that has funny repetitive rhymes and storylines that are captivating will keep your child engaged.
5. Length
When getting the best books for 5-year-olds, it is also very important to check the book's length. You do not want to get a book that does not have too many pages or words, and you will want to stick to a book with short stories that your child will easily comprehend. Remember that a five-year child's concentration level and focus will be for around 15 minutes, and you will want to maximize on that.
Frequently Asked Questions on the Best Books for a 5-Year-Old
1. Does reading aloud help older kids?
Reading helps sharpen kids' listening and understanding skills. Additionally, it will be easy for the child to read independently, familiarize them with new vocabulary, and build their literacy foundation. Finally, reading aloud will allow the child to understand the story better beyond their reading level.
2. Which are the perfect books to have in a kindergarten classroom?
Kids' books are often a great learning method for both classroom and home reading. Books with illustrations, funny stories, and important things like information about the environment, animals, and well-being are some of the best books for 5-year-olds that they can read in their kindergarten classes.
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