Best Books for 6-Year-Olds

From best-selling series to graphic novels and early chapter books, our top picks for six-year-olds will keep young readers turning pages.

Apr 12, 2024

Age

6

Best Books for 6-Year-Olds

Apr 12, 2024

It’s an exciting time in your six-year-old’s literacy journey! In kindergarten, they developed critical independent reading skills, and by now they’re probably using phonics to sound out words. Their vocabulary — and confidence — is growing daily, and knowing where your little reader is on their journey will help you choose the right books for their reading level.  

At this stage, it’s important to keep in mind that all children’s reading development varies. While some are still building a foundation for reading with picture books, others are reading independently. But one thing is for certain: The only way to foster a love of reading and build a foundation for literacy success through elementary school and beyond, is to give your child access to as many books as possible now. 

Explore Best-Selling Series and Chapter Books

There’s nothing like the feeling of seeing your child get hooked on a book series — this is the glorious moment you know you’re raising a reader! Once your child finds the series that speaks to them, they’ll want to read the entire collection to explore new worlds and find out what happens to the characters. Your child’s reaction to the first book in the series is all-important — and will tell you a lot about your child, including their reading progress and developing interests.  

Published by Branches — Scholastic’s early chapter book line for new independent readers — Press Start  follows the adventures of Super Rabbit Boy through his very own video game adventure. Younger readers will be on the edge of their seat as the hero protagonist defends Animal Town from evil foes in the Press Start adventure stories. 

Another popular series by Scholastic’s Acorn imprint for growing readers is Unicorn and Yeti. This adorable collection of stories and cute pictures explores an unlikely friendship between a big fluffy yeti and a sparkly unicorn. Filled with life lessons about love and friendship, this magical book series is perfect for beginning readers. 

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Revisit Old Favorites 

Just because your six-year-old isn’t in kindergarten anymore, it doesn’t mean you can’t still enjoy family read-aloud time with a beloved classic or picture book. Your child most likely still has a strong emotional connection to the titles you read together when they were younger. These books are often written using simple words and sentence structures, so early readers will be able to use the illustrations to help them decode the words. 

Using simple words and vivid illustrations, No, David is a classic children’s book about a little boy who just can’t seem to stop getting into trouble. Young David’s adventures are guaranteed to have readers roaring with laughter no matter their age. 

Boys and girls alike will enjoy the award-winning Paperboy by Dog Man creator Dav Pilkey. This beautifully illustrated book follows a young boy and his pet dog finding happiness and solace in the routine of delivering morning newspapers. 

Foster a Love of Nonfiction and STEAM 

As your six-year-old’s educational journey really begins to pick up steam in first grade, you can foster their love of learning with nonfiction and STEAM titles. These books are an effective way to keep kids interested in topics they care about while building their literacy skills. 

For kids who love animals, Jerry Pallotta’s Who Would Win? series imagines fierce creatures going head-to-head in battle. The books are full of fun facts, photos, and realistic illustrations, and lets young readers compare and contrast the battling beasts before revealing the winner.

Meanwhile, the beloved Magic School Bus series has inspired generations of children to  develop a passion for science through the adventurous field trips of Ms. Frizzle and her class. Your kid will learn about everything from the human body to the solar system

Discover all the latest book releases every month to grow your home library and keep your kid reading and learning. Plus, shop more books and activities that kids love at The Scholastic Store.

Encourage a love of reading with help from our guide, which includes book recommendations by interest, tips for getting your child to read for fun, and much more. Plus, look ahead with favorite books for 7-year-olds

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