Looking for some of the best books for 6 year olds to read and enjoy? These 13 children’s books are a great place to start!
Fostering a love of books begins at a young age, and six-year-olds are at a tricky point in their development in terms of reading.
Most six-year-olds will be reading slightly longer and more complex books at this stage, but for those that struggle to enjoy reading alone, it’s important to find books that really appeal to them.
Finding books with a fun, silly sense of humour, exciting illustrations, and an action-packed storyline will be vital.
Six-year-olds still love snuggling up with their parents or carers at night to read together. This is a great way to tackle longer chapter books, and you can enjoy some longer adventures together this way.
If your child doesn’t get on well with fiction, you can try non-fiction instead: there are some beautifully designed books packed with facts that six-year-olds will find really interesting.
From children’s classics to reworked fairy tales, here are 13 books for six-year-olds that your child will love.
13 Best Books For 6-Year-Olds
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Roald Dahl
A classic for children of all ages, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory is one of Roald Dahl’s most famous works.
In case you need a refresher, the main character Charlie Bucket is living in poverty with his parents and grandparents when he stumbles upon a Golden Ticket wrapped in a chocolate bar.
This ticket gains him exclusive access to Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory, and what follows is a magical (and bizarre) adventure.
This is a great story to share with a six-year-old: the humour is really silly, and the characters are so outrageous that they’ll enjoy being righteously indignant with you.
Roald Dahl’s work is iconic, and this particular story is perfectly pitched for primary school kids with a strong sense of justice.
Buy Charlie and the Chocolate Factory: Amazon | Audible
The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark by Jill Tomlinson
The Owl Was Afraid Of The Dark by Jill Tomlinson is a sweet, lovely little story about an owl who is (unsurprisingly) a little bit spooked by the dark.
For an owl, this is obviously a problem! Pip won’t go hunting with his parents and embarks on a journey to discover all the good things about the nighttime.
This is a very comforting book. With soft illustrations by Paul Howard, it’s a beautiful book to share at bedtime and makes for a good choice for reluctant readers.
They can sit and listen to the story with their parents, grandparents, or carers, and it’s a nice way to spend time together at the end of a busy day.
Plus, it’s an excellent story for kids who are afraid of the dark.
Emerald and the Ocean Parade by Harriet Muncaster
From the super-popular author of the Isadora Moon and Mirabelle series comes Emerald and the Ocean Parade. This is a beautifully illustrated book about Emerald, a mermaid princess.
Muncaster’s books are designed with a stripped-back colour palette of usually two or three colours (for example, pink, white and black for Isadora Moon, or purple and black for Mirabelle).
This book is printed in green, white and black, with Muncaster’s signature illustrations, packed with tiny details to enjoy.
Emerald doesn’t enjoy being a princess. She’s too wild, she hates wearing crowns, and she’s determined to do everything her own way.
Learning to be a princess won’t be easy, but Emerald will find a way to make it work. A beautiful gift for independent princesses everywhere.
The Little Prince by Antoine De Saint Exupery
The Little Prince is a classic children’s story and has been translated into over 180 languages. It’s magical, charming, sweet, and a must-share for parents and children across the globe.
It follows a prince visiting different planets and learning about life, friendship, grief, love, and more. It’s a sweet book about human nature and contains a lot of wisdom to share with children of all ages, not just six-year-olds.
RELATED: Books Like The Little Prince
There are many different versions of The Little Prince, including some gorgeous gift editions (the Macmillan Collector’s Library Edition is particularly lovely).
It would make a beautiful present for a Christening, birthday, or another special occasion, and it’s the kind of book you can save and pass on through the generations.
If you want to start collecting classic literature for children, this is a good place to start.
Peter Pan by JM Barrie
Peter Pan is another classic children’s story to add to the shelf! Again, there are some lovely versions to find (the MinaLima Edition is gorgeous and contains a lot of interactive elements, so will keep younger children occupied).
Peter Pan can fly, have adventures, and make friends, but he never grows up. Exploring the magical world of Neverland is a thrilling adventure for kids of all ages, especially those who quite like the idea of staying little for a bit longer.
Little ones will enjoy the larger-than-life characters, including the Lost Boys, Tinker Bell, Tiger Lily, and of course, the devious Captain Hook.
If you can get a nicely illustrated version, this will be a lovely story to share with your six-year-old at bedtime, especially if they’re a reluctant reader and would prefer to listen to a magical story instead.
Plus, it’s a nice one for Disney fans if they want to enjoy the original story.
Flat Stanley by Jeff Brown
If your six-year-old loves to laugh, they need to check out Flat Stanley. Stanley is a normal boy, until one day, a noticeboard falls on top of him. Now he’s flat, and navigating regular life has become a little more difficult.
Illustrated by Rob Biddulph (which may be a selling point if your kid enjoys the Draw With Rob videos on YouTube!), Flat Stanley is a fun character, and little kids will love hearing about his adventures.
Flat Stanley is the first book in a series, so if your child enjoys them, you can move on to the next few books too. There are a whopping twenty altogether, so that’s hours of fun to enjoy.
As your child gets older, they can start reading the series independently, too. (Unless you get into them, in which case, it’s a great excuse to keep the bedtime stories going for as long as possible!)
Supernan’s Day Out by Phil Earle
A must-read for silly, giggly kids everywhere, Super Nan’s Day Out is a really fun story for six-year-olds. With lively illustrations by Steve May, it’s a good story for any superhero fans.
Stanley visits the seaside with his Nan, along with the other residents of her care home. But it quickly goes pear-shaped as a series of events (involving plane crashes, fires, and robberies) start to unfold.
Stanley is a superhero, so he could step in, but then he’d have to reveal his big secret to Nan. Luckily, another superhero is ready to save the day instead.
The ‘big reveal’ will have kids in fits of laughter. It’s perfectly aimed at six-year-olds, and confident readers can tackle it themselves.
The sentences are spaced out enough to prevent it from feeling like an overwhelming task, but if your child is more reluctant to read independently, you can enjoy it together instead.
It’s also a nice one for children to enjoy with their own Nans!
Madam Squeaker by Pip Jones
Madam Squeaker is a sweet little book for six-year-olds to read to their parents or carers.
In Hollyhock House, mice can forage for food, but the Ruling Rats are everywhere, sealing food for themselves.
A tiny little mouse, Minetta, decides to take matters into her own hands. But first, she must learn to be brave, despite the fact that her voice is so small.
It’s a nice story with a good message about finding courage, and it’s empowering for little ones.
Madam Squeaker is a book in the Little Gems series; each book is designed to encourage even nervous readers to try it.
With widely spaced text, engaging illustrations, and the perfect format for smaller hands, these are a good collection to get hold of if you have a hesitant reader at home.
Fearless Fairy Tales by Konnie Huq and James Kay
Have you exhausted the classic fairy tales? You need this collection! Fearless Fairy Tales is a selection of stories for kids with a modern twist.
For example, Sleeping Brainy is a princess who longs not for a prince to come but to achieve her dream of becoming the Chancellor of the Exchequer.
Mouldysocks is a boy who just can’t keep up with his bathing routine.
And Trumplestiltskin is a little man obsessed with becoming rich. (That last one is a bit on-the-nose, admittedly, but it’s also hilarious.)
Fearless Fairy Tales is funny, and it’s not afraid to rewrite the rules of classic fairy tales. If you want something with more up-to-date morals, this is the one to go for.
Plus, it has some excellent illustrations, too. Perfect for six-year-olds (and their grown-ups) who are getting a little bored of Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
The Midnight Panther by Poonam Misty
The Midnight Panther is a gorgeous book.
Packed with the most incredible illustrations, the story follows Panther as he struggles to find his place in the world.
Panther feels inadequate compared to the other big cats – he’s not spotty, like Leopard, he’s not stripy, like Tiger, and he doesn’t have an amazing mane, like Lion.
So what makes Panther special?
Panther explores the jungle and discovers beauty in the darkness.
Up in the treetops, he gazes at the stars and contemplates what makes him strong and beautiful. It’s a gorgeous book with a lovely message, and it’s a great gift for six-year-olds.
Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! by Ben Clanton
If you want something different, it’s worth checking out Narwhal: Unicorn of the Sea! Formatted like a comic book, it’s bright, colourful, and easy to read even for little ones.
It has three short stories about Narwhals and a joke page (which is excellent for six-year-olds with a silly sense of humour, which is most of them).
Narwhal and Jelly are best friends, and they explore the ocean together. Children will learn actual facts about ocean creatures, but they’ll also enjoy a lovely story about two friends getting to know each other.
If your child doesn’t find their school books engaging, you could give this one a try. You might find that the change of format encourages them to keep trying, and if not, you can enjoy it together.
Superbat by Matt Carr
A fun and engaging picture book, Superbat is the story of a little bat learning to find his own strengths. Pat the bat’s friends are all amazing at flying in the dark, and they have incredible hearing.
But when Pat helps a family of mice, he starts to see himself as a superhero. Many six-year-olds still love a colourful picture book, and Superbat has a sweet message that kids of this age can relate to.
This is a great book for classrooms, but it’s also a lovely addition to a child’s bookshelf at home, too. The bold style makes it engaging for six-year-olds, even those with shorter attention spans.
Lots by Marc Martin
If you’re looking for a gift, Lots is a great choice. It’s a great book for children to experience the wonders of the world, from Hong Kong to Antarctica.
While it’s aimed at kids aged 3-6, it’s still detailed enough for those at the upper end of that limit to enjoy.
Every page is packed with beautiful illustrations and interesting facts, and it’s a good book to spark a discussion about the big wide world.
Lots is a lovely non-fiction book. If your child prefers facts over fiction, they’ll enjoy this book. Plus, it’s interesting for adults, too.
The downside is that the writing is not designed for six-year-olds to easily decode alone, but it makes a nice bedtime book for children and their parents/carers.
I hope this has helped you to find some new books for the six-year-old in your life! Children at this age are curious and keen to learn, and reading together is an amazing way to teach them about how the world works.
If you liked this post, check out these:
Best Books for 1-year-olds
Best Books for 2-year-olds
Best Books for 3-year-olds
Best Books for 4-year-olds
Best Books for 5-year-olds
Best Books for 7-year-olds
Best Books for 8-year-olds
Best Books for 9-year-olds
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Megan Bidmead
Guest writer
Megan is a freelance writer based in Somerset, England. When she’s not writing about books, video games, and pop culture, she’s running around after her two kids and trying to squeeze in the occasional walk in the countryside.