These fantastic books for 5-year-old boys show your little guy that being a boy can mean oh-so-many great things. Check out our awesome list!
Great Picture Books for 5-year-old Boys!
I am the proud mom of two young boys, and I want nothing more than for them to dream big, act with compassion, and always be true to themselves.
If there is one thing I refuse with everything in me, it is to adhere to outdated gender norms telling my kids who or what they should be.
Do I hope my boys grow up strong? Of course – but in our home, strength means more than simply having the biggest muscles. Do I hope they are tough? Indeed – provided your definition of tough means raising confident children who stand up for what they believe in and won’t back down from their values when faced with a moral dilemma. Do I hope they play sports? Yes, but because being a part of a team helps foster collaboration, turn-taking, cooperation, and sportsmanship. They certainly don’t need to bring home a trophy to learn those valuable skills.
See what I’m talking about here?
Books for 5-year-old boys showcase important values!
Over the last several years, there have been an abundance of girl power books, which is nothing short of amazing. After all, who doesn’t want to celebrate fabulous female trailblazers that model courage, honor, persistence and compassion? These stories have undoubtedly helped create a new ideal for young girls to attain.
But for those of us parents of boys, we’ve been left with some important questions.
Where are the books for boys showcasing that strength in men means more than physicality and whether your biceps are as big as baseballs?
Where are the books celebrating boys who share their feelings, act with compassion, dance and color and love dressing up in addition to playing sports or playing with trucks?
They have finally arrived, and there are now so many stories combating gender norms and showing boys having fun in a multitude of different ways.
Now, let me be straight here.
To clarify, I do not believe in “girl books” or “boy books.”
Children’s literature is for children, it’s as simple as that. Books starring male main characters can (and should!) be read and loved by girls, and the opposite holds true as well.
That being said, in the same way that books depicting strong and smart gals are vital for girls to read so they can identify with these trailblazing women, it is important for our boys to have books like this too. Our boys need stories with male characters and role models who exemplify sensitivity, compassion, creativity and generosity in addition to the typical display of brawn. And, of course, all kids need books that bring on the fun!
We adore these books for 5-year-old boys!
I am so excited to share this list of awesome stories with you, and I hope you read and cherish these books as we do. These books celebrate all kinds of boys — their spirit, their gentle nature, their wild energy, their creativity, their courage, and their unique selves. Some of these books showcase boys having fun in various ways, and some show boys expressing their emotions and their worries. Others, however, are simply stories that kids love and make them laugh out loud.
We couldn’t love them more, and we know you will adore this selection of books for 5-year-old boys. Enjoy!
Happily Ever Elephants participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Read more about these links in my disclosure policy.
Frequently Asked Questions
It’s is important to remember that all kids are different! Some children begin sounding out words in pre-kindergarten when they are only four years old. Others begin reading in kindergarten, typically around five or six, with formal instruction by their teachers. Some countries don’t even begin teaching kids to read until they are seven years old! The best thing you can do for your children is to read with them as frequently as possible. When they are ready to learn to read, they will be sure to let you know. Children become readers at different ages, and that is a-ok!
Nope. I firmly believe that all kids books are for all kids. Books featuring male protagonists can (and should!) be read by girls, and the opposite holds true as well.
That being said, just as books featuring strong and smart female characters are vital for girls to read, it is important for our boys to have books like this too. Boys need to read stories with male characters who exemplify sensitivity, compassion, creativity and generosity in addition to the typical display of brawn. This is how we combat harmful and archaic biases.
There are so many! I absolutely love John’s Turn, by Mac Barnett and Kate Berube, for the way it combats gender stereotypes and conveys such a beautiful message that we all have different gifts, and that’s something to embrace. I also love the message in A Boy Like You, by Frank Murphy and Kayla Harren, for the way it shiens a light on the many different ways a boy can be courageous and brave! Both of these books are featured below.
Books we love for 5-year-old-boys!
This fabulous book walks kids through all of the things that make a boy unique, and it doesn’t shy away from conveying to children that there is more to being a boy than sports, putting on a hard exterior, and being tough or daring. Instead, this book beautifully describes all of the ways a boy can be brave and courageous, which includes letting tears flow, raising his hand, and asking for help when he needs it. This book elegantly and perfectly combats gender stereotypes, allowing all readers to see that being a boy has many different and awesome meanings other than the ones that first come to mind. For our full review of A Boy Like You, click here!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
It’s Sharing Gifts day at school, and it’s John’s turn to take the stage. He’s a bit nervous, though, because his gift is different than the other boys. In the beginning page spreads, readers can feel John’s nerves — as he waits, as he prepares, and as he takes the stage. But from the moment he begins his special gift, ballet dancing, the change in his demeanor is palpable. Not only does John beam as he performs, but the audience is mesmerized too – and their show of enthusiasm at the end is simply magical. I adore this story in so many ways, but especially for the way in which it combats gender norms. A gem!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is one I can’t keep in my library, because my younger students simply love it. Everyone gets sad — even boys, even dads, even ninjas and superheroes and wrestlers! This is the perfect book to challenge the ridiculous notion that a boy should always be tough and strong. Boys do cry, and this book beautifully conveys to children that expressing their feelings is a-ok!!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is the perfect love letter to your sons and other special boys in your life. Boys, too, need reminders that they can be cool even if they aren’t tough, that they can be special even if they show their feelings, and that being good at sports also means having — wait for it! — good sportsmanship. Each spread offers words of wisdom and advice for the young reader. It reminds boys to make friends with people that are both like and unlike them, that being truthful will never lead them astray, and that it’s perfectly ok to cry on days you’re feeling cloudy. Just what I needed for my kids and students! For our full review of Dear Boy, click here!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This inventive book tells the story of a boy and his family taking a road trip to celebrate Grandma’s birthday. Though the car ride starts off entertaining enough, the long drive eventually gets boring. When things get boring, well, let’s just say time slooooows down — and then begins to go backward! A wild romp through the ages ensues, complete with pirates and pyramids, princesses and dinosaurs. Will this family ever make it to grandma’s birthday? You literally have no idea know how each page will ask to be read, nor do you know how each spread will fit into the book as a whole. The manner in which Santat manipulates time and space is truly ingenious, and I never fail to laugh out loud when reading this one to children!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is everything a kids book should be. Empowering. Affirming. An ode to childhood confidence, courage, and imagination. The text is creative and lively, with sentences that stop you in your tracks and beg to be read again. The illustrations are luminous, showing Black boys of every shade under the sun achieving and playing and celebrating and going through their days with respect and love. Friends, this is a must-read. It is a powerful “mirror” book for Black boys around the world, a tremendously important “window” book for all other children, and a story to remind each and every one of us that the Black community matters, they always have, and they always will. What a remarkable masterpiece by this indomitable duo.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
I have yet to meet a child who doesn’t think this book is totally and utterly hilarious! Do you have your battle pants on? Because from the moment you turn the first page, you’ll be immersed in the legend of the three great warriors who began the epic game of Rock, Paper, Scissors. Your kids will be in stitches, and you will get bonus points if you read it like you’re the announcer for a professional wrestling match. Too. Much. Fun! Your 5-year-old imaginative little guy is going to obsess over this one!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
What is it about kids and superheroes?! In this story, all of the superheroes make mistakes. They blunder, they stumble, they slip up and err. And when this happens, do they shout, “it’s not fair?” Absolutely not! Real superheroes fess up and admit their mess-ups. They take responsibility for their actions. This may make them sweat, blush or get really nervous, but owning up to where they went wrong is the key to becoming an even greater superhero. This is a fabulous book for helping kids recognize that everybody makes mistakes and no one, not even a superhero, is perfect. It is how we handle our mistakes, even when the admission of our own guilt is so scary, that leads to growth.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Epic has moves. He’s got tricks. And when his feet touch his skateboard, he’s a kickflipping, big rail king. But when he moves to a new town, his skills no longer feel fresh without a crew of pals to see them. Why be Epic if no one can even see his moves? His dad encourages him to keep an open mind, and when he gets back on his board, he may just discover that being himself is the best way to make new friends. This one is adorable and a lovely celebration of Black joy!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
We adore all of Van Dusen’s books, but this one just takes the cake! Randy is a boy that is obsessed with two things — science and baseball — but he’s much better at the former than the latter. When he sees through his telescope that a giant fireball is headed straight for his town, he’s got to find a way to hit that ball out of the park – and save his neighborhood from danger. Will he succeed? This classic is just so much fun!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This is a darling book about being true to who you are, and we simply adore Blaine! Blaine is a young boy who loves to sparkle, and the more shimmer and shine he can cover himself with, the better! Unfortunately, though, Blaine’s bling makes some people stare, and others bully him for his unique ways. This causes Blaine to lose his glow, until some of his friends decide to deck themselves out in glitter, too. After all, happiness comes to all when you throw glitter, not shade!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This has been on heavy rotation in our house since the day it came in the mail, so much so that when my son had to dress as a book character for a party at school he chose to go as Jasper Rabbit in his ghoulish, glowing underwear. I mean, take a pair of neon green underpants, smack a creepy, Frankenstein-esque face on them, and mail them to China (only to have them immediately returned with a pair of chopsticks!), and it’s clear you have a winner on your hands. Need I say more?
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
What is it about grandparents giving gifts kids don’t always love?! One little boy asked his grandfather for a house for his dolls. Much to his dismay, however, his grandfather surprises him with…. a toolbox. The child is less than enthused and knows the perfect hiding spot, until he realizes that he can use that toolbox to create his dream dollhouse — and maybe a treehouse, too. We love the way this book shows children that even gifts that are not what we were hoping for can be used in ways to achieve everything you desire. Absolutely love the child’s creativity and the grandfather’s patience in this story!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
What a tremendously powerful book to convey that some children have words that get stuck in the back of their mouths, words that don’t come out the way they want them to. This story centers around a young boy who stutters and his loving father who uses the river to help the boy find his voice. Just as the river ebbs and flows, so, too, does the child’s voice. This important story pulls children into the world of those with dysfluency, written by the author’s own personal experiences.
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Andrea Beaty and David Roberts do it again! In the latest installment of The Questioneers picture books, the dynamic duo tells the story of Aaron Slater, a young boy who loves stories and dreams of telling them himself. Yet how can he write his own stories when he struggles to read, and all the letters look like squiggles to him? When Aaron is asked to write a story in class, he finds a way to tell a tale that is totally, uniquely his own. I love the way this empowering book imparts that there are so many ways to tell stories. Learning disabilities like dyslexia don’t define us and instead encourage our creativity and resilience. A gem!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This gorgeous book tackles one boy’s journey as he learns to love his beautiful eyes. The child comes to realize his eyes are just like those of his family before him. All of their eyes are ones he loves, values, and finds extraordinarily safe and beautiful. What I adore most about this book is the brilliant way Ho weaves Chinese culture throughout the story to bolster the child’s growing confidence in, and love for, his eyes. As with its companion, Eyes that Kiss in the Corners, this is an absolute stunner of a story that helps children learn to love and cherish their unique and beautiful selves. From illustration to message, it’s all perfectly on point!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
This book was on heavy rotation in our house for years, and it is hands down become our favorite book to tackle fear of the dark. Yarlett takes something frightening — darkness — and personifies it in the friendliest way possible. She gives darkness a cuddly body, a shy smile, and a gentle hand to hold. When the main character explores night with his new friend, scary noises become familiar and the unknown expanse of darkness isn’t nearly as frightening as it once seemed. Pair this concept with adorable foldouts and you can see why we think this story is an absolute treasure. It’s one of our favorite books for 5-year-olds!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
Sam and Dave have one single mission: to dig a hole until they find something spectacular. So they dig and dig until their hole is so deep that their heads are underground. Though the boys think something spectacular does indeed happen in the end, it’s not what the reader anticipates… and this is just one of the things that makes this story so fantastic. We absolutely love funny children’s books where the textual and visual narratives tell two different stories, each serving to support and enhance the other while at the same time carrying their own weight. And this one is just the best!
BUY THIS BOOK FROM:
RELATED: We have so many more great books for 5 year olds, including these books for beginning readers and these kindergarten read alouds. Check them out!
Leave a Reply