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Books are essential when it comes to the development of our children, whether it would be helping them with their imagination, their feelings, or their vocabulary. I’m sure that we can all agree that books are definitely a need for raising children. There are many children books out there, which makes finding the best books for 6 year olds more difficult than it should really be.
So, if you’re someone who has a pretty hard time when it comes to choosing the right book for your child, then we have a lot for recommendations that I’m sure you’ll be interested in.
What are the Best Books for 6-year-olds?
The Rough Patch: A Caldecott Honor Award Winner
Oh this is one of my wife’s favorites. The Rough Patch, both written and illustrated by Brian Lies, is probably one of the best children books out there, especially when it comes to losing as well as disappointment. The Rough Patch was awarded a Caldecott Honor, it is an ALA Notable Book and features stunning paintings.
This book features Evan, a fox whose dog dies. The story is sad! It created a lot of questions to my son but it helps raise empathy.
- I really love the book but if you feel that your child isn’t ready such heavy topics, then you may skip it.
- We love this book because it can definitely raise your child’s empathy or if someone close to them has died. This wholesome book with stunning illustrations probably eases the story and makes it as good as it is.
- I would buy it, again and again.
The Storm Whale
The Storm Whale has beautiful and rich illustrations, and a story that is creative and moving. The art style is distinctive and unique, and really stands out amongst other picture books.
- There could be a greater emphasis on the narrative in this story, as the visuals take up a lot of attention.
- You are going to like it if you enjoy books with a unique story and a fantastic and original art style.
One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Dr. Seuss
This book, “One fish, two fish, red fish, blue fish,” written by the one and only Theodor Seuss “Ted” Geisel. He uses the pen name, Dr. Seuss. This book’s first copies were published on March 12, 1960, which means it is pretty old. But age doesn’t tell the quality of a book.
Gift Ideas:
- 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.
- 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.
The Little Prince
The Little Prince is also a classic that I’m sure you’ll love. Written by Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s classic and published back in the year 1943, this story has captured every person’s heart who has read this book. The whimsical and wholesome story will surely captivate your child’s attention. This story is about a prince who tries to discover what is important to him by retracing who he was and where he had traveled to before.
Gift Idea:
- Please check the editions that are circulating in the various bookstores. Some are not worth their money.
- The book is not just a children’s book. I love it till now.
Fortunately, the Milk
Neil Gaiman is one of my favorite authors. Fortunately, the Milk, written and published in the year 2013, is a more sci-fi story than other books intended for a younger audience. It will definitively excite your child’s imagination! This story features a family whose mother left for a business trip, leaving dad in charge. Mom leaves a lot of things to do, including buying milk. And, it can be kind of mind-blowing thinking about how aliens and a time-traveling professor was able to fit into this story.
- 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.
- This story talks about dads, sci-fi and kids. So what’s not to like 🙂
Hans Christian Andersen’s Complete Fairy Tales
The book, published in the year 1835, features many fairytales, which I’m sure that we’re all familiar with, like Thumbelina, The Ugly Duckling, and many more fairytales. This book has many classic stories written by Hans Christian Andersen that I’m sure not only your child, but you will enjoy it as well.
- 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.
- If you like the classics and you can get away with the “bad” of the book then you can consider it.
Something Else
Published back in the year 1994 and written by Kathryn Cave, this is a story that would be a great choice if your child feels like they don’t fit in. But it can also just be a good and heartwarming story that you can share with them. It’s a simple story about s creature who just doesn’t fit in no matter what because he’s different. But one day, something turned up wanting to be friends with this creature.
- The story does not fit well with younger kids.
- 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!
Very Tricky Alfie Atkins
This book has a really sweet and original story. There is some tension and ultimately a very happy ending. The story also has a great and positive message.
- The book could perhaps have some more emphasis on visuals, as it can be difficult for 5-year-olds to read for extended periods without some pictures to look at.
- You are going to like Alfie if you enjoy stories that are clever, uplifting, and positive.
How to Hide a Lion (How to Hide a Lion, 1)
Published and illustrated by Helen Stephens back on February 1 of 2010, this book is the best when it comes to teaching your child about friendship. This heartwarming, as well as funny storybook, follows a girl who is friends with a lion. She then tries to continue hiding her friend lion in her house without her parents ever finding out. Can she really keep hiding her friend lion forever?
Gift Ideas:
Dog Man: From the Creator of Captain Underpants (Dog Man #1)
Coming from the creator of captain underpants, Dav Pilkey, I’m sure that you’ll end up loving this book just as you loved Captain Underpants. The main character, dog man, continues to defeat all the bad guys, like robbers, crooks, or pretty much just criminals.
Now that you are here, check out the Halloween themed Dav Pilkey book then check The Hallo-Wiener.
Gift Idea:
- Captain Underpants was a bit better. Also it involves a lot of pooping 🙂
- 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.
The Adventures of Pippi Longstocking
Originally published back in 1997, this story about Pippi Longstocking, who never listens to her parents. This is truly a classic that many children have fallen in love with.
- 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 🙂
- My kids loved the story. We also sat and watch the old TV series show.
Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
Don’t let the pigeon drive the bus is one of the very first books from Mo Willems that was supposed to be for children. Since being published in 2003, this book has received a lot of praise for its minimalistic, beautiful art, as well as the hilarious story. This story follows a bus driver who wants to take a break from driving, so the pigeon keeps on asking if it can drive the bus. He then asks the reader not to let the pigeon drive the bus.
Gift Ideas:
- The story may be too simplistic for children.
- The book is entertaining with great artwork.
We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
This story, written and illustrated by Ryan T. Higgins, follows the main character, Penelope Rex. Penelope can’t wait to meet her classmates finally, but she knows it would be hard to keep herself from eating all of her human friends. But while she meets her class, she soon realizes that she isn’t t the top of the food chain.
- This story helps if your child feels like they don’t fit in since this story does touch on that topic. But the whole concept of Penelope trying not to eat her classmates may be too dark for a 6-year-old.
- If your kid loves dinosaurs AND you are ok with a T. Rex eating her classmates (with a twist) than you will like it.
I hope you like the above listings. As soon as we read a great new book for kids that we love I will update this page.