50 best books for 5-year-olds

No matter what stage your child is at on their reading journey, these books for 5-year-olds are brilliant both to read together or for more confident readers to enjoy independently.

With their first school years, budding friendships, wobbly teeth and the challenges of learning to read, every day is different for 5-year-olds. With their bright, colourful illustrations and heaps of adventure, there's a book on this list to delight every young reader. 

For more reading inspiration, discover our favourite picture books for children.

The Gardening Dog

by Cindy Wume

Book cover for The Gardening Dog

Lewis doesn’t find it easy to fit in with other children. So when he meets The Gardening Dog, who has all but given up on being adopted from the rescue centre where she lives, the two strike up an unlikely friendship and work together to create a community garden for everyone to enjoy. A touching story about friendship and togetherness, The Gardening Dog encourages us to celebrate our uniqueness and be ourselves.

The Girl Who LOVES Bugs

by Lily Murray

Book cover for The Girl Who LOVES Bugs

Little Evie loves the great outdoors. Every spare moment she can find, she’s outside searching under logs to find new critters to add to her secret bug collection, much to the distaste of her mums and brother. On the day that Evie’s scary Great Gran is meant to arrive, she discovers her bugs have escaped, and are scuttling all over the house! The Girl Who LOVES Bugs is a fun story of family love and the power of curiosity.

Book cover for The Duck with No Luck

The Duck with No Luck

Gemma Merino

Book cover for The Dragon Who Didn't Like Fire

The Dragon Who Didn't Like Fire

Gemma Merino

Book cover for The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water

The Crocodile Who Didn't Like Water

Gemma Merino

Book cover for Harry in a Hurry

Harry in a Hurry

Timothy Knapman

Book cover for Boo!

Boo!

Kate Read

Book cover for The Littlest Elephant

The Littlest Elephant

Kate Read

Book cover for The Big Bad Bug

The Big Bad Bug

Kate Read

Book cover for One Fox

One Fox

Kate Read

I am Oliver the Otter

by Pam Ayres

Book cover for I am Oliver the Otter

It’s never too early to start teaching children about how precious our natural world is, and Pam Ayres’s delightful rhyming picture book will help you do just that. Telling the story of Oliver the otter, whose life changes forever when he meets Ottilie in the green rushes of his waterway home, this heartwarming tale of one of our nation’s best-loved mammals would make a perfect gift for young animal lovers.

My Mum is a Lioness

by Swapna Haddow

Book cover for My Mum is a Lioness

From the creators of My Dad is a Grizzly Bear comes a story about a boy with a loving family and a vivid imagination. His mum isn’t a regular mum, she’s a lioness, and he can prove it! She runs as fast as a cheetah, pounces and squeezes him tight for a hug, and roars at the top of her voice when he scores a goal at football! And most importantly of all, she takes care of her little ones just like a protective lioness does.

Book cover for Victor, the Wolf with Worries

Victor, the Wolf with Worries

Catherine Rayner

Book cover for Arlo The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep

Arlo The Lion Who Couldn't Sleep

Catherine Rayner

Book cover for Tumford the Terrible

Tumford the Terrible

Nancy Tillman

Book cover for Tumford's Rude Noises

Tumford's Rude Noises

Nancy Tillman

Book cover for Bill and the Dream Angel

Bill and the Dream Angel

Lucinda Riley

Book cover for Rosie and the Friendship Angel

Rosie and the Friendship Angel

Lucinda Riley

Book cover for Alfie and the Angel of Lost Things

Alfie and the Angel of Lost Things

Lucinda Riley

Book cover for Grace and the Christmas Angel

Grace and the Christmas Angel

Lucinda Riley

The Misadventures of Frederick

by Ben Manley

Book cover for The Misadventures of Frederick

Young Frederick’s sheltered life in his remote mansion is somewhat boring. But when Emily invites him to play outside, Frederick has to say no. After all, he needs to stay safe inside. But Emily refuses to take no for an answer and introduces him to the magic and wonder of the world outside his four walls. Told through the children’s hilarious letters to each other, this charming story of friendship is perfect for early readers.

Winnie-the-Pooh and Me

by Jeanne Willis

Book cover for Winnie-the-Pooh and Me

Introduce your young reader to Winnie-the-Pooh and his friends in the Hundred Acre Wood in this charming new rhyming story, inspired by A.A. Milne’s classic poem ‘Us Two’. When Winnie-the-Pooh and Christopher Robin get ready to head off on an adventure, they find they’ve been joined by an unexpected guest. Join the pair as they try to solve the mystery of who it might be.

Book cover for The Snail and the Whale

The Snail and the Whale

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for A Squash and a Squeeze

A Squash and a Squeeze

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for Room on the Broom

Room on the Broom

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for The Singing Mermaid

The Singing Mermaid

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for Luna and the Sky Dragon

Luna and the Sky Dragon

Bethan Woollvin

Book cover for Three Little Vikings

Three Little Vikings

Bethan Woollvin

Book cover for The Worry Tiger

The Worry Tiger

Alexandra Page

Book cover for The Fire Fox

The Fire Fox

Alexandra Page

Milly-Molly-Mandy Stories

by Joyce Lankester Brisley

Book cover for Milly-Molly-Mandy Stories

The Milly-Molly-Mandy stories have been charming young readers for almost a century, and this collection introduces them to a new generation. From her idyllic village in the countryside, Milly-Molly-Mandy gets up to all sorts of adventures, from picking blackberries as summer ends to having fun with her friends Susan and Billy Blunt. With easy-to-decode text and bold illustrations, these stories offer a great way for children to practise reading aloud at home.

Now We Are Six

by A. A .Milne & E. H. Shepard

Book cover for Now We Are Six

Join Christoper Robin and Winnie-the-Pooh in this delightful collection of poems about the joy of childhood as Pooh helps Christopher with his schoolwork and they explore the great outdoors and celebrate Christmas together. Told through the eyes of six-year-old Christopher Robin, A.A. Milne’s Now We Are Six would make a wonderful gift for any young reader in your life.

Book cover for Colours, Colours Everywhere

Colours, Colours Everywhere

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for Animalphabet

Animalphabet

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for Counting Creatures

Counting Creatures

Julia Donaldson

Book cover for Starbird

Starbird

Sharon King-Chai

Book cover for Robin Robin

Robin Robin

Daniel Ojari

Book cover for The Smallest Girl in the Class

The Smallest Girl in the Class

Justin Roberts

Book cover for Coming to England

Coming to England

Floella Benjamin

Book cover for The Complete Alice

The Complete Alice

Lewis Carroll

Green Eggs and Ham

by Dr Seuss

Book cover for Green Eggs and Ham

He does not like them in a box, with a fox, on the stairs or anywhere! The grumpy grouch does not like green eggs and ham, no matter how many times Sam-I-Am asks him. That is until he’s persuaded to finally try a plate. Dr Seuss’s classic rhyming story is a wonderful introduction to the joy of poetry, guaranteed to make children of all ages giggle and want to join in as you read the book together.

The Cat in the Hat

by Dr Seuss

Book cover for The Cat in the Hat

Sally and her brother think they’re in for a boring day at home, but when the Cat in the Hat turns up at their doorstep, he brings everything they need for a day filled with mayhem and fun, including his friends Thing One and Thing Two! A fun-filled rhyming story that has inspired millions of young readers to read along, The Cat in the Hat is a modern classic by iconic storyteller Dr. Seuss.

Book cover for Slime? It's Not Mine!

Slime? It's Not Mine!

Clare Helen Welsh

Book cover for Wee? It Wasn't Me!

Wee? It Wasn't Me!

Clare Helen Welsh

Book cover for Poo! Is That You?

Poo! Is That You?

Clare Helen Welsh

Book cover for Sometimes I Am Furious

Sometimes I Am Furious

Timothy Knapman

Book cover for You Can Do Anything, Tyrone!

You Can Do Anything, Tyrone!

Sir Lenny Henry

Book cover for Whose Dog is This?

Whose Dog is This?

Andrew Sanders

Book cover for Constance in Peril

Constance in Peril

Ben Manley

Book cover for Mr Badger's Christmas Wish

Mr Badger's Christmas Wish

Lily Murray