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Six is the transition year.
My kids at six were ready for more. Longer stories. Harder questions. Books that didn’t wrap everything up neatly. They still wanted pictures, but the plots could handle some complexity.
Six-year-olds are starting to read independently but still love being read to. They’re ready for early chapter books but aren’t done with picture books. These are the ones that bridged both worlds for us.
Jump to: Top Picks | Big Feelings | Funny Books | Classics | Chapter Books | What’s Next
Top Picks Every 6-Year-Old Will Love
These worked for both my kids. Engaging stories, great illustrations, and enough depth to hold their attention.
How to Hide a Lion
Iris finds a lion and hides him in her room. The premise is absurd. The execution is perfect. Helen Stephens’ illustrations are warm and funny. My daughter loved the idea of having a secret friend. Good for sparking imagination and understanding friendship.
What We Like Less:
The story is simple. Almost too simple. Some kids will want more plot. Works better for younger readers who love the absurdity.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
A girl hides a lion from her parents. Action, humor, a sweet friendship. Moves fast. My kids loved the absurdity of hiding something that big. Good for kids who lose interest in slow books.
The Rough Patch
My wife’s favorite on this list. Evan the fox loses his dog. The garden they tended together becomes overgrown. This book handles grief honestly without being overwhelming. Caldecott Honor winner. Created a lot of questions from my son, but it helped raise empathy.
What We Like Less:
Heavy topic. If your kid hasn’t experienced loss yet, this might introduce concepts they’re not ready for. Read it yourself first to decide.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Evan and his dog do everything together, including gardening. Then the dog dies. Evan destroys the garden. Slowly, he learns to grow things again. Brian Lies won a Caldecott Honor for this. Beautiful illustrations. Real emotions. My wife recommends this one for kids dealing with loss.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
The pigeon wants to drive the bus. The bus driver says no. The pigeon tries everything. Mo Willems’ minimalist art and hilarious dialogue make this one kids want to read over and over. My kids quoted this one for years.
What We Like Less:
Simple concept that might feel repetitive after the 50th read. But honestly, that’s the point. The pigeon’s persistence is the joke.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Mo Willems is a genius. The pigeon begs, pleads, and negotiates to drive the bus. Your kid will yell ‘NO!’ at every page. Interactive without being gimmicky. My son did the pigeon voice for weeks after we read this. Caldecott Honor book.
Books About Big Feelings
Six-year-olds have big emotions. These books help them process without preaching.
The Storm Whale
Noi lives by the sea with his father who’s always working. He finds a whale washed up on the beach. The story is about loneliness, connection, and letting go. Benji Davies’ illustrations are stunning. One of the most beautiful picture books we own.
What We Like Less:
It’s melancholy. The whale leaves. If your kid struggles with sad endings, even bittersweet ones, this might not land well. Also sparse on text. More of a mood piece than a story.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
A boy finds a whale washed up after a storm. Takes it home. Has to let it go. Benji Davies created something beautiful and a little sad. The illustrations are stunning. Good for kids who are ready for stories with emotional weight.
Something Else
Something Else doesn’t fit in. No matter what he tries, he’s always different. Then Something turns up at his door. This book handles the pain of not belonging and the surprise of finding your people. Simple story, powerful message.
What We Like Less:
The story does not fit well with younger kids.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
It is a straightforward story with a beautiful lesson. But this book can also end up teaching your child about labels. My kids love it!
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
Penelope Rex is a T-Rex starting school with human classmates. She keeps eating them. She has to learn self-control. Hilarious premise, surprisingly useful for talking about impulse control and making friends. My kids loved the twist at the end.
What We Like Less:
There’s cartoon violence (dinosaur eating kids). It’s played for laughs but might not land with every family. Also, Penelope doesn’t fully learn her lesson until the very end.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Penelope Rex is a T. Rex starting school. She’s nervous. She’s excited. She also keeps eating her classmates. Ryan T. Higgins wrote something genuinely funny about fitting in and impulse control. My son thought the goldfish subplot was hilarious.
Funny Books They’ll Love
Six-year-olds get humor. These deliver.
Fortunately, the Milk
Dad goes to get milk. He’s gone a long time. When he returns, he has a wild story involving aliens, pirates, and a time-traveling professor. Neil Gaiman at his most absurd. This is the book that made my son realize books could be genuinely funny. Illustrated chapter book, perfect for this age.
What We Like Less:
Maybe the illustrations are a bit dark and do not expect a well structured plot that makes sense. It’s a sci-fi story and you can love it or hate it for that.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
This story talks about dads, sci-fi and kids. So what’s not to like 🙂
Gift Idea: Neil Gaiman/Chris Riddell 3-Book Box Set
Very Tricky Alfie Atkins
Swedish classic about a boy who outsmarts a bully. There’s tension, clever thinking, and a satisfying resolution. Alfie Atkins books have a different feel from American picture books. My kids liked that Alfie solves his own problems.
What We Like Less:
Text-heavy compared to most picture books. The illustrations are there but not the main event. Might be a stretch for kids who need pictures every few sentences to stay engaged.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Alfie Atkins is huge in Sweden, less known here. The story is clever with a genuinely happy ending. Gunilla Bergstrom created something with real tension that resolves satisfyingly. My son liked the trickery aspect.
Dog Man
From the creator of Captain Underpants. Part dog, part policeman, all ridiculous. Graphic novel format with flip-o-rama pages. If your 6-year-old is resistant to reading, this might be the gateway. My son devoured the entire series.
What We Like Less:
Captain Underpants was a bit better. Also it involves a lot of pooping 🙂
Why You Are Going to Like it:
Even though this is a story about defeating criminals, it is not as serious as it may seem. The funny and brilliant illustrations that can be found in this book are amazing.
Now that you are here, check out the Halloween themed Dav Pilkey book then check The Hallo-Wiener.
Gift Idea: Dog Man (9 book series)
Classics That Still Work
Some books last for a reason. These have been favorites for decades.
The Little Prince
A pilot stranded in the desert meets a small prince from another planet. The story is simple enough for six-year-olds to follow but has layers they’ll discover as they grow. We read this one multiple times at different ages. Published in 1943, still relevant.
What We Like Less:
Please check the editions that are circulating in the various bookstores. Some are not worth their money.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
The book is not just a children’s book. I love it till now.
Gift Idea: The little Prince Deluxe Pop-up Book
One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish
Classic Dr. Seuss. Rhymes, nonsense creatures, and just the right amount of weird. Good for early readers because of the simple vocabulary and repetition. Published in 1960, still works.
What We Like Less:
There is no one coherent story for the book, so there is not much of a message to the narrative. Some editions seem to have issues too. We heard the audio book.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
There are so many things to love bout this book, it’s silly rhymes, and it’s beautiful and colorful images, which makes this book much easier to fall in love with.
Gift Ideas:
The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Pippi lives alone, has superhuman strength, and does whatever she wants. She’s chaotic, kind, and unforgettable. Astrid Lindgren created a character kids still love. This compilation has all three original books.
What We Like Less:
The thing about Pippi not listening to her parent may end up being a wrong message, so you should be careful about it. But hey, its an older book and nothing happened to us 🙂
Why You Are Going to Like it:
My kids loved the story. We also sat and watch the old TV series show.
Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales
The originals. The Ugly Duckling, Thumbelina, The Little Mermaid, The Snow Queen. These are darker than Disney versions. Published in 1835, still being read. Good for kids ready for stories with real stakes.
What We Like Less:
The book has no illustrations, so don’t buy it for that. It is a beautiful book though with nice cover. It’s fonts are also a bit small.
Why You Are Going to Like it:
If you like the classics and you can get away with the “bad” of the book then you can consider it.
Early Chapter Books
Ready to move beyond picture books? These bridge the gap.
Fortunately, the Milk (listed above) is an illustrated chapter book perfect for transitioning from picture books. Short chapters, lots of pictures, genuinely engaging plot.
Dog Man (also listed above) works well here too. Graphic novel format makes it accessible. There are 12+ books in the series, so if they like the first one, you’re set for a while.
What’s Next?
Looking for younger? Check our Best Books for 5-Year-Olds
Want the overview? Read A Dad’s Guide to Children’s Books by Age
About These Recommendations
I’m George. I read to my kids for 10+ years before they started reading on their own. My wife’s a therapist who helped pick books that actually matter for development. Everything on this site got tested on our family first.
FAQ: Books for 6-Year-Olds
Most 6-year-olds are emerging readers. They can handle simple picture books independently and are starting to decode longer words. But they still benefit from being read to. Don’t rush independent reading. Read aloud together.
Picture books with more complex plots, early chapter books with illustrations, and graphic novels. Six-year-olds can handle stories about emotions, friendship conflicts, and even some darker themes like loss. They’re ready for books that don’t have neat endings.
Yes. Picture books aren’t just for preschoolers. Many are sophisticated enough for adults. Reading aloud builds vocabulary and comprehension faster than independent reading. Keep reading together as long as they’ll let you.
Absolutely. Graphic novels like Dog Man build reading skills just like traditional books. The visual storytelling helps comprehension. Many reluctant readers become avid readers through graphic novels.
They can sit through longer read-aloud sessions, they’re asking ‘what happens next’ at the end of picture books, and they’re interested in series characters. Start with illustrated chapter books like Fortunately the Milk or Mercy Watson.
One chapter book chapter per day, or 2-3 picture books. Bedtime reading is still valuable at this age. Let them pick sometimes, even if it’s the same book again.