10 Best Books for 6-Year-Olds
Updated 24 September 2020
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Daniel is our primary content producer here at TheToyZone. He is a big kid at heart and a self confessed geek. His mission is to find toys that kids will treasure, researching and writing about toys he wants to play with himself.
By the time a kid hits the six-year mark, they are already starting to read on their own or at least developing a strong sense of what kind of books and stories they like. All kids at this age are developing fast and reading can contribute to their education. It can also thrill their imaginations. All in all, a book is a perfect gift for any six-year-old.
The market is full of books that are specially tailored to this unique time in a kid’s life, so choosing the right one can be daunting. So we decided to have a thorough look at the market and pick out 10 of the best books specifically for six-year-olds. We chose books that have strong reviews from parents and didn‘t include any with phony reviews.
1Amelia Bedelia Chapter Book 4-Book Box Set: Books 1-4
This box set collection can be a great gift for a budding young reader that's diving into chaptered stories. The chapters are still short and simple so that they might eventually read through the tales on their own. There are even guides to the various idioms that each book has so parents can help kids better understand them.
What we love
- Contains multiple, fast-paced stories
- Books are well-made to withstand frequent use
What We Don't Like That Much
- Black and white illustrations may not be as engaging for some young kids
2How to Babysit a Grandma
This story places focus on the bond between a child and their grandparent. It's a cute tale about how a grandma accepts her grandchild's fun-filled plans for the day and goes along with everything with a smile, which is something that many young children can relate to.
What we love
- Colorful and engaging illustrations throughout
- Features realistic activities kids can do with their grandma
What We Don't Like That Much
- Is geared towards girls rather than both girls and boys
3Nate the Great
Nate the Great inspires kids to use some critical thinking skills as they race off to solve the mystery of the missing picture. The story takes a fun approach to helping children understand logic and reasoning and the illustrations seamlessly go along with the story to assist budding readers.
What we love
- Features a lot of sight words to help kids learn to read without help
- Has exciting activities inside to keep children engaged
What We Don't Like That Much
- The story can feel a little repetitive along the way
4The Bad Guys (The Bad Guys #1) (1)
The Bad Guys is a fun tale on how these so-called "bad guys" strive to become heroes no matter what anyone says. It's a cute book that combines longer sentences with captivating artwork to better aid in transitioning young kids into reading chaptered stories.
What we love
- Features appealing illustrations that help tell the story
- The text is a good size for easier reading
What We Don't Like That Much
- Might benefit from more details so that the story doesn't go by too fast
5Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun: Having the Courage To Be Who You Are
Spaghetti in a Hot Dog Bun is among the 10 best books for six-year-olds that introduces them to some things they may face going off to school, such as acceptance and bullying. It can be a good way to open kids up to treating people with kindness, even people that may not be so nice all the time.
What we love
- Can work as a good teaching tool about behavior and self-esteem
- Uses unique and colorful drawings
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some of the writing flow might be a touch awkward for young kids to read alone
6Waiting Is Not Easy! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)
Young kids are told often to wait for things and Waiting is Not Easy! is a great story to highlight the turmoil they may feel. There's an underlying lesson about patience, while the overall theme centers on friendship. The story is straight to the point, which may be more useful for beginner readers.
What we love
- Has simplistic words with expressive illustrations
- Offers a good lesson without being heavy-handed
What We Don't Like That Much
- Material on the pages might cause some of them to stick together at times
7How to Catch the Tooth Fairy
How many kids have dreamed about the magical moment of losing a tooth and waiting for that illustrious fairy to arrive at night to take it? This lively tale brings that fantasy to life and children are able to enjoy reading how the tooth fairy avoids capture by some determined kids.
What we love
- Vibrant and detailed artwork
- Great way to celebrate a milestone in a child's development
What We Don't Like That Much
- Some of the text could be a bit bigger for young kids
8The Boy with Big, Big Feelings (The Big, Big)
When you search for the best books for six-year-olds, this story in particular proudly stands out as a beautiful way to explain difficult emotions to kids, so they understand that it's normal to have a lot of feelings and it’s important to express them.
What we love
- Stunning artwork that helps illustrate the different feelings
- The story offers a great perspective on various emotions
What We Don't Like That Much
- Could be useful to see a few more coping methods discussed
9Unicorn Academy #1: Sophia and Rainbow
The Unicorn Academy #1: Sophia and Rainbow is among the 10 best books for six-year-olds who are fans of the magical creature. This adorable story addresses numerous themes such as friendship and overcoming obstacles as Sophia and her new unicorn friend race to save the unicorn's magic.
What we love
- Easy-to-read format with simple sentences and large text
- It's a great way to capture a child's imagination
What We Don't Like That Much
- Isn't a standalone story, so you have to read additional books to discover everything
10Awesome Jokes That Every 6 Year Old Should Know!: Bucketloads of rib ticklers, tongue twisters and side splitters (Awesome Jokes for Kids)
This cute, quick read can be a good way to encourage reluctant readers to pick up a book. It features family-friendly, silly jokes that are simple for young kids to read and understand. There are even fun illustrations that go along with the jokes and puns.
What we love
- Easy enough for kids to memorize
- Jokes are age-appropriate
What We Don't Like That Much
- Kids might not understand the author narratives after each joke
