These fun books can help your 5-year-old build on word recognition and vocabulary, and introduce more complex and engaging stories and concepts.
Recommended Books for 5-Year-Olds
ON THIS PAGE
- Concept
- Nonfiction
- Poetry/Song
- Predictable Text
- Storybooks
How Are You Peeling? Foods With Moods
In this book, fruits and vegetables show feelings and words to help children understand how they and others feel.
How Big Were Dinosaurs?
In this book, Lita Judge uses kid-friendly text and seriously silly illustrations to put dinosaurs next to modern animals so that children can see exactly how they compare.
My Heart Is Like a Zoo
In this book, the author/illustrator uses heart shapes to create a variety of zoo animals, and similes to describe a child’s characteristics and feelings.
Oh, the Things You Can Do That Are Good for You!
This Cat in the Hat book is full of simple, fun physical activities and kid-friendly, healthy recipes to teach about staying healthy.
Superhero ABC
In this fun and engaging book, there is a superhero for every letter of the alphabet.
Take Away the A
Use this book to play with words and sounds to strengthen your child’s pre-reading skills.
Yesterday I Had the Blues
In this award-winning children's book with illustrations by R. Gregory Christie, a boy explores the ranges of moods and emotions that he and his family members feel.
I Have Diabetes: A Children’s Book about Juvenile Diabetes
This book, written by a mother whose daughter was diagnosed with juvenile (type 1 diabetes), will help children and adults understand what it’s like to live with this condition.
National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals
The National Geographic Little Kids First Big Book of Animals is an informational book filled with more than 200 photographs and child-friendly facts.
Throw Your Tooth on the Roof: Tooth Traditions From Around the World
This book allows children and parents to explore customs from around the world.
Gathering the Sun: An Alphabet in Spanish and English
Alma Flor Ada uses simple poems and illustrations to tell the stories of migrant farm workers in orchards and farm fields.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama
This delightful and relatable tale will help your preschooler develop strong beginning reading skills — especially oral language.
Oh, the Things You Can Do That Are Good for You!
This Cat in the Hat book is full of simple, fun physical activities and kid-friendly, healthy recipes to teach about staying healthy.
The Circus Ship
Based loosely on an historic event from the 1800s, this rhyming tale will take your child back in time.
Woof A Love Story
A fun tale about one dog’s love for a cat to stir your toddler’s imagination.
A Chair for My Mother
This is a heartwarming story about overcoming hardship.
Arlo Needs Glasses
Arlo is an active dog and a trusty companion who glasses. The reader will be captivated by this interactive book with moveable parts and try-on glasses.
Chu's First Day of School
Chu, a lovable little panda with a big sneeze, is the star of this series of books written by award-winning author Neil Gaiman.
Cora Cooks Pancit
An engaging story that may expose your toddler to another culture and more aware of different foods.
Dear Juno
This recommended children's book is about Juno learning to communicate with his Korean grandmother through drawings.
Giraffes Can’t Dance
Read about Gerald in Giraffes Can't Dance with your 5-year-old to help build important pre-reading skills like oral language, phonological awareness and letter knowledge.
How Rocket Learned to Read
This book includes important reading readiness skills like oral language, beginning writing, letter knowledge and phonological awareness skills like blending and segmenting words.
Koala Lou
Find out how Koala Lou can be reassured that her mother loves her even though her mother has to spend a lot of time with her younger brothers and sisters.
Llama Llama Holiday Drama
This delightful and relatable tale will help your preschooler develop strong beginning reading skills — especially oral language.
Max’s Words
The recommended children's book Max’s Words captures how exciting learning new words can be.
Pizza at Sally’s
Author Monica Wellington brings us on a “garden to table” experience in her book, Pizza at Sally’s.
The Circus Ship
Based loosely on an historic event from the 1800s, this rhyming tale will take your child back in time.
The Lonely Scarecrow
This book will take your child on a journey into the wheat field where the animals play and a lonely scarecrow worries that he will never make a friend because of the way he looks.
The Monster at the End of This Book
In this book, Grover fears the monster at the end of the story, so he tries to keep the reader from reaching the end.
The New Small Person
You and your child will find much to love in this engaging story about Elmore Green, who experiences the trials and joys of having a new sibling.
The Otter Who Loved to Hold Hands
This recommended children's book is about a little otter who is afraid to let go of his parents’ hands.
Thunder Cake
Thunder Cake is the story of a little girl who is afraid of thunderstorms. The book is easy for children to relate to and rich in sophisticated vocabulary.
Tuesday
This is an award-winning wordless book that takes the reader on an imaginative and whimsical adventure through the night.
Woof A Love Story
A fun tale about one dog’s love for a cat to stir your toddler’s imagination.