Read with a five-year-old and you may discover you’ve got a book critic sitting beside you. They’ll question a character’s decisions, find something you missed in the pictures, and let you know when you’ve used the wrong voice. Excuse me. I didn’t realize we were holding auditions.
Maybe they’re starting to recognize words and want to take a turn. Maybe they’d rather snuggle up and let you do the reading. You can make room for both, even in the same book.
Finding the best books for 5-year-olds starts with the five-year-old you’ve actually got. One wants engines. Another wants sea creatures. Someone else needs help understanding why they’re excited and scared at the same time. And sometimes, after a long day, everybody could use a good laugh.
I’ve featured all four of these books on Book Zone Reviews. There’s art, there are repairs, there are big feelings, and there’s a grown man getting himself all worked up over a baby. Let’s see what catches your little reader’s attention.
How do I choose a book for a 5-year-old?
Eeny, meeny, miney, moe might work for some things, but not this one.
Check the age range, then check with the little person who’ll be listening. The number on the book doesn’t know whether they’re currently obsessed with dinosaurs, excavators, or every creature that lives under the sea.
The Children’s Book Council’s book-choosing guide on Reading Rockets makes a helpful distinction: a book you read to your child can be different from one they read themselves. If you’re doing the reading, you can help with words they haven’t met yet. They don’t have to do all the work around here.
Here’s what I’d consider:
- Their interests. What gets them talking? Animals, vehicles, art? Start there. A book about something they love has a better chance of getting opened.
- The occasion. Think about when you’re reading. A suspenseful adventure may be just the thing in the afternoon. At bedtime, you might prefer something that won’t require checking under the bed afterward.
- The pictures. Don’t rush to turn the page. They might’ve spotted something you missed while you were busy doing your award-winning narration.
- Their response. Are they pointing, laughing, asking questions, or asking for more? Pay attention. Your little reviewer’s already giving you feedback.
Reading Rockets’ read-aloud guide also suggests looking at what interests your child, how the story sounds, and what the pictures offer. That gives you more to go on than “Well, the cover says five.”
Four books to explore
Here are four to try together. And a quick reminder: “Ages 5–7” doesn’t mean your five-year-old’s supposed to read every word without you. You’re allowed to help. That’s part of the fun.
Else B. in the Sea: The Woman Who Painted the Wonders of the Deep
Written by Jeanne Walker Harvey · Illustrated by Melodie Stacey · Ages 5–7
For the child who loves art, sea creatures, or asking how things work.
Most of us try to keep water away from our drawings. Else Bostelmann took her art supplies into the ocean. That alone gives a curious child something to ask about!
This is the story of a real artist who painted underwater. She also painted deep-sea creatures back on land, using scientist William Beebe’s descriptions. For a child who likes drawing and ocean life, there’s plenty here to wonder about.
Ask, “What would you want to paint underwater?” Then let them tell you. If a purple fish with seventeen legs joins the conversation, I’d like to see that drawing.
Little Red Driving Hood and the Three Repairs
Written by Stacey Rayz · Illustrated by Nenad Taskov · Ages 5–10
For the child who loves cars, fixing things, or a familiar story with a surprise.
Take Little Red Riding Hood, mix in Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and add car repairs. Now we’ve got something to investigate! This one could catch the attention of a child who wants to know how things work, and why they’ve stopped working.
I liked that Little Red’s helpful, willing to learn, and keeps trying when things go wrong. I also liked seeing a girl get involved in mechanics. If your little girl’s interested in tools, let her be interested in tools. There’s room at the toolbox for her, too.
You might ask, “What did Little Red do when something didn’t work?” If your child knows the original fairy tales, see which changes they notice. Be prepared for them to catch one you missed. They’ll probably be happy to point that out.
Penny Panda and the Emotion Ninjas
Written by Nicole Oke · Illustrated by Richard Hoit · Ages 4–10
For the child who’s excited about something, and nervous about it, too.
Izzy’s getting ready for a talent show, and excitement’s brought company. Fear has arrived, too. Penny Panda helps her understand how she can feel both at once. You can want to get on that stage and wish you could hide behind the curtain. Feelings can be complicated like that.
I liked how this book gives children and grown-ups a way to talk about big emotions and asking for help. Sometimes a child can tell you what’s happening to Izzy before they can explain what’s happening to them. You can start there.
Try, “Have you ever wanted to do something and felt scared about it, too?” Then give them a minute. We’ve asked a question, not started a countdown. They might want to talk now, or they might bring it up later.
Christian parents, there’s also a note in my full review about recognizing our feelings and asking the Holy Spirit to help us respond. Having a feeling and deciding what to do with it are two things we can talk through together.
Meet Penny Panda and author Nicole Oke
Uncle Unk Becomes an Uncle!
Written by Tristan Miranda · Illustrated by Seth Thompson · Ages 4–8
For the child who enjoys a funny story, and watching a grown-up get carried away.
Unk learns that his brother's having a baby, and his imagination starts working overtime. He's about to become an uncle. Apparently, this requires a full emergency meeting with himself.
The rhyme makes this fun to read aloud, and the pictures let you watch his worries get bigger and bigger. I enjoyed all that drama, but I liked the warmth, too. Somewhere in the middle of his panic, there’s an uncle beginning to imagine loving his niece.
Ask, “Which of Unk’s worries seemed the silliest?” Or just enjoy the giggles together. We don’t have to stop the fun to make sure everybody’s learned something.
One thing to watch: some of the pictures showing Unk’s worries are busy. A younger listener might need you to explain what he’s imagining. Uncle Unk’s already worried enough for everybody; we don’t need your child joining him unnecessarily.
Let your little reviewer have a say
Put a couple of books in front of them and let them choose. Read a page, look at the pictures, and see how it goes. If today’s choice gets a lukewarm response, try something else. Even a book you love might get the five-year-old equivalent of “Meh.”
And please, you don’t need to stop after every paragraph with a question. Let them enjoy the story. A laugh, a puzzled look, or an outraged “That’s not fair!” may give you all the opening you need. They’ve got thoughts. Make room for them.
When they seem ready to talk, you could ask:
- “What made you laugh?”
- “Was there anything you didn’t understand?”
- “What would you have done?”
- “Would you want to read this again?”
They can laugh at one part and get mad at another. They can like the pictures and wish the ending had gone differently. Let them tell you. And if all they’ve got is “It was fine,” that’s an opinion, too. Every book doesn’t have to change their little life.
Frequently asked questions
Should a 5-year-old read picture books or early readers?
They can enjoy both! Starting to read doesn’t mean it’s time to pack up the picture books. Keep reading those favorites together, and offer books they can try themselves, too. If you’re unsure which ones, ask their teacher or a librarian for help. You don’t have to figure it all out standing in the aisle.
How long should a book be for a 5-year-old?
Long enough to enjoy, short enough that neither of you is watching the clock. Try it and see how they do. If they’ve had enough for now, mark your place and come back. There’s no prize for getting to the last page with a miserable child and an exhausted grown-up.
What if my child wants the same book every night?
Go ahead and read it again. Yes, the one you can now recite in your sleep. You can offer something else, but don’t be surprised if that little hand reaches for the same book. You may be ready for a new book, any book, but they’re still enjoying what they love about their favorite book.
How do I choose a book for a child who’s nervous about school?
First, try to find out what’s worrying them. Meeting new children? Saying goodbye to you? Getting something wrong? Look for a story that connects with that, and give them room to talk, or just listen. You can ask whether anything in the story feels familiar. You can also read something funny together. Sometimes they’ve had enough school talk for one day.
Looking for another book to try? Have a look around the Book Zone Reviews shelves or our guide to read-aloud books for kids. Let your little reader help choose. Just be prepared: once they know you’re listening to their opinions, they may have a few more for you.