Inside: This list of children’s books contains fun, educational stories to inspire your reader – both fiction AND nonfiction! If you have a kindergartener or first grader who is beginning to read, this is the list for you!
- These Books Help Kids with Mastering Sight Words and Decoding Text!
- What makes for an awesome book for 6-year-olds?
- Is your child ready to tackle beginning books?
- a terrific beginning book will help foster your child’s love of stories!
- Fun, Fiction Books for 6 Year Olds!
- Nonfiction Children’s Books About Animals
- Nonfiction Books for 6 Year Olds About Our World and Our Bodies
- Nonfiction Kid’s Books About People and Places
These Books Help Kids with Mastering Sight Words and Decoding Text!
We were out for dinner one night when I noticed my 6-year-old studying something out the window intently. I asked him what he was looking at.
“Jah-puh-nees,” he said slowly. He pointed at something outside, and when I gazed out the window, I saw red lights flashing from across the street. Japanese Restaurant, they said.
I looked at him, astonished, as he’d only been in kindergarten a few months and had just begun decoding simple words.
“What did you say?” I asked.
“That light. It says Jah-puh-nees,” he said again slowly. Then, “Japanese! I bet they have sushi there.” His eyes sparked with light, two small fireflies dancing in the night.
“You just read that all by yourself!” I said. My son beamed, his face radiating happiness, and I was on cloud nine the rest of the night. My first baby was reading!
And then I knew that it was time to stock up on beginning books for our house. I wanted to get him a variety of stories to choose from, books that would hook him on reading right from the start.
But this only happens when he has just the right books – books that won’t overwhelm or discourage new readers.
What makes for an awesome book for 6-year-olds?
If you haven’t yet noticed, beginning books are VERY different from easy chapter books. Beginning bookshave distinct characteristics, making them different from chapter books and even picture books.
The font in beginning books is usually large, and the sentences are short.
The illustrations typically provide supporting clues to the reader, and you will often notice that the text is repetitive in structure, containing word families and rhyme.
In beginning books, the words are fairly simple and easy to decode.
Is your child ready to tackle beginning books?
Your kids are ready for this list of beginning books for 6 year olds if you see the following:
- (1) they are mastering sight words,
- (2) they begin to decode unknown words, often through chunking the text (breaking words up into smaller components),
- (3) their reading fluency is becoming smoother and less robotic, and
- (4) they self-correct when the word they are reading doesn’t make sense.
When selecting books for 6 year olds, it is important to remember that each publisher has different leveling criteria. Thus, a “Level 1” book published by one imprint may be slightly easier or more challenging than a different publishers’ Level 1 books. That being said, no matter the publisher, you will know that as the numbers increase, so too does the complexity of the text.
My big one and I have tested out even more books since we published our first beginning reader books post, and these are the stories that we keep coming back to. I’ve got an insanely curious kid on my hands, so we have included a bunch of fascinating non-fiction titles, too.
One important reminder: coming back to books for a second, third and even fourth and fifth read is a FANTASTIC thing! The more your child reads a particular book, the more he sharpens his reading skills, and the more his fluency improves.
Since practice is key when it comes to reading, repetition is awesome. So what does this mean? Our goal as parents and educators should be to get books into kids hands that they will want to read again and again. Why? It’s easy…
a terrific beginning book will help foster your child’s love of stories!
And now, without further ado, here is our list of books for 6 year olds. As you read through these titles, keep in mind that within each particular category, the titles start off easy and increase in complexity as you get further down the list in that section. Enjoy!
DISCLOSURE: Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and the Bookshop.org affiliate program. As affiliates, I earn a tiny percentage from qualifying purchases which helps me keep this blog alive! Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Fun, Fiction Books for 6 Year Olds!
Did you know the creator of the famous Dog Man and Captain Underpants series also writes beginning books for kids? This collection of five simple stories captures the friendship — and hilarious shenanigans — of Big Dog and Little Dog, both entertaining your children and developing their reading skills at the very same time. This collection was a huge winner in our house when Pickle first made the jump to beginning readers.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Calling all tiny dancers! Your ballet loving kiddos will love this rhyming story featuring large text and easy words that moves from ballet class to dress rehearsal to the final curtsey at the end of their big performance. Your dancing queens (and kings!) will pirouette with this beginning book all around the house!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Danny is one dinosaur loving kid, and when he visits the museum one day, he can’t help but voice how cool it would be to play with a dinosaur for real. And then magic happens, because the dinosaur he is checking out decides it would be pretty awesome to play with Danny, too! In this classic, your new reader will join Danny and the dinosaur on adventures that make even the must mundane activities seem extraordinary!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We are loving this new series for beginning readers, with its big pictures, big text, simple prose, and plots that will undoubtedly make your kids laugh as they perfect their new reading skills. Is there anything better than that? With a rascal named Jack, a dog named Rex and a lady with different colored lipsticks, you never know what trouble will arise. So much fun — this is a series to keep an eye on!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
If you have a an emerging or newly independent reader who is sometimes hesitant to pick up books, why not engage him with an interactive joke book? My kids love this one, because not only is the text simple and supported by funny illustrations, but they love guessing the answers to the riddles. It makes for a fun family read aloud, and my newest reader loves being the star of the show by reading the questions to us.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Even dogs must get ready for picture day! When this special day arrives at the dog park, all the pups need to undergo some serious grooming. What do they do? They head to Shampoodle, of course, where they get scrubbed and pampered — until some curious cats come by and things get more than just a little bit messy!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
If you have a unicorn lover at home who is ALSO starting to read on her own, this is the perfect beginning book! Here, Unicorn can make rainbows. Even cooler? He can heal wounds with his horn. But what he really wants is to fly! Unicorn thus sets off on a quest to find himself some wings. This one is adorable, and a favorite new gift for unicorn-obsessed kindergarteners!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Harold is the smallest player in the baseball league, and no matter how hard he tries, he’s just no good at the game! He can’t catch a ball, he runs too slow, and he spends more time on the field than on the bench. But one day, during a big game, little Harold has the chance to make a big, big play. If you have a sports lover in your home, you don’t want to miss this book!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
In this Geisel Honor early reader series, Big Duck constantly bosses around her little brother, Little Duck. And this means that when Porcupine joins their crew, Big Duck is definitely the leader. Yet, even though Little Duck is too young to speak, it seems he just might have the know-how to outsmart his big sister and get this darling trio out of whatever pickle they find themselves in. This is an absolute delight, and we love Salina Yoon’s work!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
In this classic book, a group of animals discover… an egg? But when a boy comes along and is excited to find his football, the animals realize their mistake and then learn a thing or two about this awesome sport! This is such a fun story to hook your new readers — who are also sports fanatics – on great books!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
I’m loving this new Acorn line of books from Scholastic for early readers. Do You Like My Bike is the first book in the Hello, Hedgehog series, and in this fun story, Hedgehog loves his new bike and wants his friend Harry to go for a ride with him. Harry, however, does not want to go. Is it because Harry doesn’t like the bike? Or could it have something to do with the bike’s lack of training wheels? This one is absolutely adorable, and we can‘t wait to get our hands on the rest of this series!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
In the first of a witty and fun new series, best friends Monkey and Cake grapple with some of life’s most perplexing questions. In this book, the two wonder what lies inside Monkey’s mysterious box. How on earth will they find out? Your little ones’ imaginations will take flight with this fun — and thought provoking — book, and if you love Elephant and Piggie, we have no doubt that you will love these books too!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is another new Acorn series by the great Dav Pilkey, and this book is just darling. Poor Dragon simply wants to find a friend… and finally, he finds one! But — can an apple really be a true friend? And what happens when the apple falls ill? This beginning book will make your little ones laugh out loud, and your kids will love this charming story of love and loss.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We absolutely love this story of friendship, compromise and sharing secrets with the one you trust most. Sparkles the Pony and Ballet Cat are best friends… best friends who always play ballet in their free time. But Sparkles has a secret — he really doesn’t enjoy ballet but he is scared Ballet Cat will no longer be his best friend if he shares the truth. Ballet Cat has a secret of her own though, and it just may be that there is something she loves even more than ballet!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Penny just loves to sing, and she has a really special song. But when she gets home from school, no one wants to listen to her because — shhhh! — the babies are sleeping. Will Penny ever find the right time to sing to her family, or will she be forced to keep singing to herself? This book is such a gem!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Lulu is so nervous about her first day of witch school. She rides her broom to school and loves her new witchy teacher, and she does great on broom riding practice around the cemetery. The one thing she doesn’t love, though, is little miss Sandy Witch who seems to do everything better than Lulu. This one is perfect for kids who have a strong ability to read on their own, but still need a little bit of help and guidance!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is an oldie but goodie for your sports lovers about one boy who is so good at baseball — except when it comes to actually hitting the ball! He can run, slide and catch, but he just can’t hit. Or can he? With a lot of hard work and perseverance, Bobby may find he has what it takes to get a home run. We love this awesome story to teach growth mindset!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
I cannot adequately express how much Pickle loved this book and the other two books in this series. To say he was cracking up as we read this is an understatement! This is the story of Mac and Mac, two hollow headed noodles who are pretty easy to fool… especially when their friend Meatball gets involved. If you love Fly Guy, we have no doubt that you will be big fans of the Noodleheads!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Nonfiction Children’s Books About Animals
Do you have a dinosaur obsessed kiddo in your house? If so, she will love this beginning book that explores everything we know about these majestic creatures. Following different dinosaurs from the hatching of eggs to adulthood, this is an awesome introduction to some of the world’s most fascinating babies of all time!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This exciting line of non-fiction books features spectacular animals, easy to read text, and stunning photographs from the Wildlife Conservation Society. This edition features information about gorillas, from their families to their striking similarities to people, and animal lovers will be mesmerized by both the facts inside and the beautiful pictures.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Kids are fascinated by the mesmerizing transformation of a caterpillar to a butterfly. Now, they can continue learning about these delicate, beautiful creatures with this engaging read that takes readers on the exquisite, 2,500 mile migration journey of the monarch butterfly.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Pickle is totally fascinated by this super cool book that describes how various animals engage in bizarre behaviors, particularly when they feel threatened. Your kids will be intrigued when learning that a mimic octopus can change its shape and color to blend in with its surroundings, and that one particular type of goat actually faints whenever it feels threatened. Fascinating, fun and fabulous for your kids that are becoming more proficient readers!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Nonfiction Books for 6 Year Olds About Our World and Our Bodies
The most beautiful planet in the whole solar system is the one we get to enjoy calling home: Earth. In this fun, easy introduction to our planet, kids will learn very basic facts about Earth with the engaging robots from Storybots.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
When Jack hurts his foot, he and his family head to the hospital where they meet all different types of doctors. For any child who is intrigued by medicine and claims he wants to be a doctor when he grows up, this beginning book gives readers a behind the scenes look at different types of doctors, what they do, and how they help other feel better.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We adore this look at what takes place underneath our skin! If your kids have any interest in how the human body works, this is a fabulous beginning book that explains everything from bones to joints to muscles. This is the perfect book for any child who wants to learn about the skeletons inside each and every one of us!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
“Mommy, how does it rain? Why does it rain? What makes it thunder?” Sound familiar?!?! If your child has questions like mine do, they will be totally intrigued by this great book about what causes the weather events we experience regularly — and not so regularly. We are so in love with this series which is absolutely perfect for your fact obsessed new readers!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Have a child that is intrigued by the solar system? This book is awesome! Complete with photos from NASA and engaging and fascinating facts about the final frontier, this book features information about the planets and explains how earth is just one tiny part of the entire universe. Wonderful for your space obsessed kids!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Nonfiction Kid’s Books About People and Places
This book is just the coolest, as it takes kids on a journey through ancient Egypt to learn all about the majestic pyramids. From architecture to mummies to tombs and more, this beginning book explains these amazing wonders to new readers, and discusses why they continue to be important today.
National Geographic Kids also has a line of beginning books to teach kids about important and fascinating historical figures. Obviously, we love them! This book brings the story of Amelia Earhart alive for new readers, describing her life, her legacy, her determination to fly and her eventual disappearance.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Kids across the United States learn about the Statue of Liberty from an early age! In this beginning book, illustrations and easy text describe how this iconic statue was built, brought to the United States from France, and unveiled, making it one of the most significant and revered symbols of freedom around the world.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Do you have a kiddo who is mesmerized by American presidents? In this beginning book, children are introduced to George Washington, one of the most influential American leaders of all time. This story provides an easy to read and informative glimpse into the life of our first president, journeying from his childhood to the American Revolution to his presidency and his eventual retirement.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Readers will be mesmerized by the life, obstacles and achievements of Helen Keller, a woman who was both deaf and blind, but refused to be held back by her challenges. This biography beautifully showcases the admirable, inspiring woman whose quest for knowledge enabled her to help others facing similar disabilities.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Rosa Parks is an American hero many kids learn about as early as Kindergarten. This wonderful beginning biography teaches children all about her refusal to give up her seat on the bus, and how her actions in Montgomery, Alabama were a catalyst to ending racial segregation in America.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We love Fly Guy, and his non-fiction series totally rocks! Kids are fascinated by the White House, and in this beginning book, Fly Guy and Buzz take new readers on a tour of this American icon that is home to the President of the United States.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We hope this fabulous list of beginning books for 6 year oldsgets two trunks up in your home, too!
LOVE IT? PIN IT!
Leave a Reply