Best Literature & Fiction Books for 5 Year Olds

Here are the top 30 literature & fiction books for 5 year olds. Please click Read Review to read book reviews on Amazon. You can also click Find in Library to check book availability at your local library. If the default library is not correct, please follow Change Library to reset it.

1. Oh, the Places You’ll Go! Deluxe Edition (Classic Seuss)

by: Dr. SeussDr. Seuss
Release date: Apr 19, 1993
Number of Pages: 56
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This cloth-bound, slip-cased deluxe edition is the perfect elegant gift for high school, or college grads! With Dr. Seuss’s trademark use of humorous verse and illustrations, he addresses the ups and downs life presents while encouraging readers to find the success that lies within them all.

Perfect for display and destined to become a family keepsake, it features a full-color cover insert on the cloth slip-case; a full-color printed book case; a bookplate for personalizing; and the Good Doctor’s famous commencement speech “My Uncle Terwilliger on the Art of Eating Popovers” ( a.k.a. the “Popover” Poem) printed inside.

“Don’t be fooled by the title of this seriocomic ode to success; it’s not ‘Climb Every Mountain,’ kid version. All journeys face perils, whether from indecision, from loneliness, or worst of all, from too much waiting. Seuss’ familiar pajama-clad hero is up to the challenge, and his odyssey is captured vividly in busy two-page spreads evoking both the good times (grinning purple elephants, floating golden castles) and the bad (deep blue wells of confusion). Seuss’ message is simple but never sappy: life may be a ‘Great Balancing Act,’ but through it all ‘There’s fun to be done.'”—(starred) Booklist.

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Dr. Seuss

2. Little Blue Truck board book

by: Alice SchertleJill McElmurry
Release date: Jul 07, 2015
Number of Pages: 30
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Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up–that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to do whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
With a text full of truck sounds and animal noises to read aloud, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.
 
Includes a downloadable party kit for even more fun!

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Farm Animals

3. Little Blue Truck Lap Board Book

by: Alice SchertleJill McElmurry
Release date: Mar 03, 2015
Number of Pages: 30
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Beep! Beep! Beep! Meet Blue. A muddy country road is no match for this little pick up–that is, until he gets stuck while pushing a dump truck out of the muck. Luckily, Blue has made a pack of farm animal friends along his route. And they’re willing to whatever it takes to get their pal back on the road.
Filled with truck sounds and animals noises, here is a rollicking homage to the power of friendship and the rewards of helping others.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Farm Animals

4. Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site Book and Plush Gift Set

by: Sherri Duskey RinkerTom Lichtenheld
Release date: Aug 02, 2016
Number of Pages: 32
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The New York Times bestselling bedtime book (four years-and-counting!) is now available in mini format with a cute plush!

Snuggle up with a plush Excavator and this portable mini edition of the international bestseller.
As the sun sets behind the big construction site, all the hardworking trucks get ready to say goodnight. One by one, Crane Truck, Cement Mixer, Dump Truck, Bulldozer, and Excavator finish their work and lie down to rest—so they’ll be ready for another day of rough and tough construction play! With irresistible artwork by bestselling illustrator Tom Lichtenheld and sweet, rhyming text, this book will have truck lovers of all ages begging for more.

This adorable plush + book gift set will be a bedtime favorite for construction-crazy kids everywhere. Love the story and need even more excitement? You and your little reader can CRUNCH, VROOM, BEEP, YAWN and SNORE along with Goodnight, Goodnight, Construction Site SOUND BOOK—also available!

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life > Sleep

5. Thank You, God, For Daddy

by: Amy Parker
Release date: May 10, 2011
Number of Pages: 20
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Daddies do so much for us! It’s time to thank God for the blessing they are.

In this adorable board book, a little lion cub thanks God for his wonderful daddy-a daddy who gives big hugs and piggy back rides, who takes great care of him, and most importantly, who offers love, guidance, and encouragement.

Thank You, God, for Daddy;
He scares monsters away.
When Daddy says, “Don’t be afraid,”
I know that it’s okay.

The love and sacrifices of fathers will be celebrated by children everywhere each time they snuggle up to read Thank You, God, for Daddy.

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Religious Fiction > Christian

6. Lady Pancake & Sir French Toast

by: Josh FunkBrendan Kearney
Release date: Sep 01, 2015
Number of Pages: 40
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A thoroughly delicious picture book about the funniest “food fight” ever! Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast have a beautiful friendship—until they discover that there’s ONLY ONE DROP of maple syrup left. Off they go, racing past the Orange Juice Fountain, skiing through Sauerkraut Peak, and reeling down the linguini. But who will enjoy the sweet taste of victory? And could working together be better than tearing each other apart? The action-packed rhyme makes for an adrenaline-filled breakfast . . . even without a drop of coffee!
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Stories In Verse

7. Mother Bruce

by: Ryan T. HigginsRyan T. Higgins
Release date: Nov 24, 2015
Number of Pages: 48
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Bruce the bear likes to keep to himself. That, and eat eggs. But when his hard-boiled goose eggs turn out to be real, live goslings, he starts to lose his appetite. And even worse, the goslings are convinced he’s their mother. Bruce tries to get the geese to go south, but he can’t seem to rid himself of his new companions. What’s a bear to do?
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Bears

8. I Will Surprise My Friend! (An Elephant and Piggie Book)

by: Mo WillemsMo Willems
Release date: Jun 03, 2008
Number of Pages: 64
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Gerald is careful. Piggie is not.
Piggie cannot help smiling. Gerald can.
Gerald worries so that Piggie does not have to.

Gerald and Piggie are best friends.


In I Will Surprise My Friend!, Gerald and Piggie want to play a game and surprise each other-but the biggest surprise is the one they least expect.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Elephants

9. We All Went on Safari: A Counting Journey through Tanzania

by: Laurie KrebsJulia Cairns
Release date: Sep 30, 2003
Number of Pages: 32
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Everyone is invited to join Arusha, Mosi and Tumpe as they set out on a counting journey through the Tanzanian plains. Along the way, they spy all sorts of animals – including elephants, lions and monkeys – while learning to count from one to ten in both English and Kiswahili.
tags:

Children’s Books > Geography & Cultures > Explore the World > Africa

10. The Little Brute Family (My Readers)

by: Russell HobanLillian Hoban
Release date: Nov 08, 2011
Number of Pages: 40
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They eat sand and gravel for breakfast and a stew of sticks and stones for dinner. No one says “please” or “thank you.” Instead, they kick and yell and punch and shove. Then one day everything changes, when Baby Brute happens upon “a little wandering lost good feeling in a field of daisies.” When he brings it home in his pocket, nothing is ever the same for the little Brute family.

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Family Life

11. Wolf Story (New York Review Collections (Hardcover))

by: William McCleeryWarren Chappell
Release date: Sep 11, 2012
Number of Pages: 88
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This irresistible book is about: a father; his five-year-old son, Michael (intelligent, crafty, addicted to stories); Michael’s best friend Stefan (stalwart listener, equally addicted to stories); and, well—what else?—a story. 

Oh, and a wolf. It is as Michael always demands: a Wolf Story, which begins one night at bedtime and spins wildly on through subsequent bedtimes and Sunday outings to the beach and park in a succession of ever more trickily tantalizing episodes. Waldo the wolf is sneaking up on Rainbow the hen, when Jimmy Tractorwheel, the son of the local farmer, comes along. After that, there’s no knowing what will happen next, as while stalled in traffic jams or nodding off at night, the boys chime in and the story races on and Waldo finds, if not necessarily dinner, his just desserts.

First published in 1947 and wonderfully illustrated by Warren Chappell, William McCleery’s Wolf Story is a delicious treat for fathers and sons and daughters and mothers alike.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Birds

12. You Should, You Should

by: Ginny Tilby
Release date: Oct 01, 2013
Number of Pages: 32
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Hippo’s morning starts off good,
until friends say, “You should! You should!”
You should prance! You should sing!
Wear this hat! Stretch your wing!
Though Hippo wants to be a friend,
he wonders when the shoulds will end.

Hippo and friends will soon find out
that being yourself is what life’s about.

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

13. Creatrilogy Boxed Set

by: Peter H. ReynoldsPeter H. Reynolds
Release date: Sep 10, 2013
Number of Pages: 54
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Express yourself! The three best-selling, award-winning picture books in the Creatrilogy by Peter H. Reynolds celebrate the power of original thinking. Presented in a beautiful set, this trio of titles includes: The Dot- an enchanting invitation to self-expression! Don’t worry, just make a mark — and see where it takes you. Ish- a creative spirit learns that thinking “ishly” leads to a far more wonderful outcome than “getting it right.” Sky Color- the sky’s no limit in this gentle, playful tale — a reminder that if we open our eyes and look beyond the expected, inspiration will come.
tags:

Children’s Books > Arts, Music & Photography > Art

14. Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People to Freedom (Caldecott Honor Book)

by: Carole Boston WeatherfordKadir Nelson
Release date: Aug 08, 2006
Number of Pages: 48
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This poetic book is a resounding tribute to Tubman’s strength, humility, and devotion. With proper reverence, Weatherford and Nelson do justice to the woman who, long ago, earned over and over the name Moses.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Difficult Discussions > Prejudice & Racism

15. How the Grinch Stole Christmas! Book and Grinch (Classic Seuss)

by: Dr. Seuss
Release date: Sep 22, 2015
Number of Pages: 64
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A Grinch book and plush package perfect for holiday gift-giving!
 
Is there any better holiday gift than a copy of Dr. Seuss’s beloved classic How the Grinch Stole Christmas? Yes! A copy of the book packaged in a sturdy gift box with a 14-inch tall, exclusively-available soft plush Grinch! Now children of all ages can read the story while they cuddle with the iconic character whose heart grows three sizes when he learns the true meaning of Christmas. Also included exclusively in this package is a 32-page paperback “Good Deed Journal.” Filled with simple activities and room for children to write and draw, it’s the perfect way to encourage children to grow their own hearts by helping others.
tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Poetry > Dr. Seuss

16. The Donut Chef (Turtleback School & Library Binding Edition)

by: Bob StaakeBob Staake
Release date: Sep 24, 2013
Number of Pages: 40
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FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. In this tasty tale, a baker hangs out his sign on a small street, and soon the line for his donuts stretches down the block. But it’s not long before the competition arrives and a delectable battle of the bakers ensues.
tags:

Children’s Books > Humor

17. The Donut Chef (A Golden Classic)

by: Bob StaakeBob Staake
Release date: Sep 09, 2008
Number of Pages: 40
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IN THIS DELICIOUS tale, a baker hangs out his shingle on a small street, and soon, the line for his doughnuts stretches down the block. But it’s not long before the competition arrives and a battle of the bakers ensues. In the competitive frenzy, both bakers’ doughnuts become “quite bizarre, like Cherry-Frosted Lemon Bar, and Peanut-Brickle Buttermilk, or Gooey Coca- Mocha Silk!” Some are not even very tasty: “Donuts made with huckleberry (don’t be scared, they’re kind of hairy).” One day, Debbie Sue, just barely two, enters the bakery, and searches in vain for her favorite doughnut, where “the choice of donuts left her dazed. Said Debbie Sue, “But I want . . . glazed.” A fun lesson in keeping it simple in which our hero chef decides to go back to the basics, and wins over the whole town.
tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life

18. What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo

by: Grace MillsapsRyan MurphyJohn Clark IV
Release date: Jul 15, 2013
Number of Pages: 44
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Winner of an IPPY silver medal for picture books!

Rhinos rock out. Alligators stroll under limbo polls. Elephants pound the piano. Pelicans cater.

Ever wonder why the animals at the zoo are always so sleepy? What the Sleepy Animals Do at the Audubon Zoo will answer your questions once and for all.

When Renee asks her father why the zoo animals are snoozing all day, he dreams up an elaborate answer. At night, the monkeys steal the zookeeper’s keys, and all of the animals come out of their cages to dance, eat, and play. By the time the visitors arrive in the morning, the animals are all tuckered out. Renee doesn’t believe her father s tale, but dads have a way of being right about these things…

The manuscript was awarded Best New Orleans Children’s Book at 2012 New Orleans Children’s Book Festival.

A whimsical, fantastical tale Times Picayune/NOLA.com

This book has beautifully detailed illustrations and off-the-charts imagination. Indiegogo

It s clear these guys know NOLA and the sometimes-sleepy animals that live there, and their love for the city shines through in this sweet story. Nerdy With Children

tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Zoos

19. Love is You & Me.

by: Monica SheehanMonica Sheehan
Release date: Dec 20, 2011
Number of Pages: 38
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Love is me, and love is you.

You see, when you smile I smile too.

When you’re around, the skies are blue.

It’s like being happy . . . times two!

Monica Sheehan’s delightful follow-up to Be Happy! reminds readers about the surprisingly simple acts that demonstrate love: giving a hug, sharing your toys, being a good friend, and much more. This vibrant, uplifting title all about love makes a perfect gift for Valentine’s Day or any time of the year!

tags:

Children’s Books > Growing Up & Facts of Life > Friendship, Social Skills & School Life > Emotions & Feelings

20. Amos Likes to Jump

by: Margaret LowderEllen Davis
Release date: Apr 28, 2015
Number of Pages: 24
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Amos Likes to Jump is a vibrant board book for early readers. This award-winning children’s book about the lovable dog Amos teaches young ones the value of individuality, and why being “you” is the best way to be. The story, authored by Margaret Lowder, is cheerful and fun. The illustrations, by Ellen Davis, are bright and energetic – just like Amos himself! This quality board book is substantial in size, and durable enough for children of all ages. Amos Likes To Jump is the first in the Series of Amos Tales. This delightful series lets children explore the world with Amos the dog, while learning that “being me is the best way to be!” The Amos Book Co. creates beautiful, fun books for children of all ages. Our illustrations are vivid and full of energy, perfect for a child’s development. Come along with Amos as he jumps through life!
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Dogs

21. First Snow in the Woods: A Photographic Fantasy

by: Carl R. SamsJean Stoick
Release date: Oct 15, 2007
Number of Pages: 48
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Children of all ages will enjoy this enchanted tale of change by the wildlifephotographers/authors who created two New York Times bestsellers: Strangerin the Woods and Lost in the Woods.
tags:

Children’s Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature

22. Slinky Malinki Open the Door (Hairy Maclary and Friends)

by: Lynley Dodd
Release date: Jul 28, 2009
Number of Pages: 32
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When Slinky Malinki and Stickybeak Sid are left in the house on their own, they cause absolute mayhem by opening all the carefully shut doors in the house – and leave a trail of destruction from bathroom to bedroom to kitchen. But then Slinky Malinki opens the final door and comes face to face with his old adversary – Hairy Maclary!
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Birds

23. Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors (Sidman, Joyce)

by: Joyce SidmanPamela Zagarenski
Release date: Apr 06, 2009
Number of Pages: 32
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With original and spot-on perceptions, Joyce Sidman’s poetry brings the colors of the seasons to life in a fresh light, combining the senses of sight, sound, smell and taste. In this Caldecott Honor book, illustrator Pam Zagarenski’s interpretations go beyond the concrete, allowing us to not just see color, but feel it.

tags:

Children’s Books > Science, Nature & How It Works > Nature

24. Ladybug Girl and Bingo

by: Jacky DavisDavid Soman
Release date: May 01, 2012
Number of Pages: 40
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This hardcover picture book in the New York Times bestselling Ladybug Girl series explores the theme of responsibility for a pet and the fun of a first camping trip.
 
Lulu and her dog Bingo the basset hound are best friends. Whenever they play outside, Bingo always stays close by Lulu’s side. When they go camping for the first time, Lulu does her best to be responsible and hold tight to Bingo’s leash. But what happens when Bingo wants to explore the forest on his own and runs off? This is a job for Ladybug Girl! She will find Bingo in time for toasting marshmallows at the campfire. 
 
For fans of Fancy Nancy and Toot and Puddle, the Ladybug Girl series honors a love of the outdoors, family, and creativity!
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Dogs

25. A Story for Bear

by: Dennis HaseleyJim LaMarche
Release date: Apr 01, 2002
Number of Pages: 32
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When a young bear finds a scrap of an old letter, he is so curious about the mysterious marks that he searches out their source–a cabin in the woods. There he meets a young woman and is mesmerized by the sound of her voice. Though he cannot understand her words, he returns every day to hear the woman’s stories of sailors, goddesses, and far-off lands.
Dennis Haseley’s magical fantasy and Jim LaMarche’s luminous illustrations together celebrate the joy of reading. A book sure to delight any child who has ever been read to.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Bears

26. LEGO City: All Aboard! (Level 1)

by: ScholasticSonia Sander
Release date: Aug 01, 2010
Number of Pages: 32
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Build your LEGO City library with these adventures!

The cargo train is busy loading and unloading. Move the fork lift! The big crane can lift a car onto the train! Destination: LEGO City! Emerging readers will be on the right track with this Level 1 reader.

tags:

Children’s Books > Literature & Fiction > Chapter Books & Readers > Beginner Readers

27. A Soup Opera

by: Jim GillDavid Moose
Release date: Jan 15, 2009
Number of Pages: 32
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A Soup Opera is a richly illustrated story about a man, a bowl of soup, and the man’s comically frustrating quest to eat that soup. Characters in the cast of the opera include a waiter, a police officer and the President of the United States! Each book is packaged with a fully orchestrated CD that includes the narration, dialogue and instrumentation for the comic opera. The CD includes additional tracks created for teachers and others to use in dramatizing the book with children.
tags:

Children’s Books > Activities, Crafts & Games > Activity Books

28. Hubert’s Hair Raising Adventure (Sandpiper Books)

by: Bill Peet
Release date: Sep 19, 1979
Number of Pages: 40
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Hubert the lion, terribly vain about his beautiful mane, tries everything to make it grow back after it goes up in smoke.
tags:

Children’s Books > Humor

29. Jayce

by: Calvin Reynolds
Release date: Nov 17, 2015
Number of Pages: 48
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Jayce is a courageous honeybee without a stinger. In order to save his home colony, Jayce embarks on a desperate adventure with his friends. In a race against time, they must retrieve the key element of their survival from the clutches of the diabolical wasps. During their incredible journey, Jayce discovers his inner greatness and learns the value of teamwork and friendship.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals > Bugs & Spiders

30. Cat Says Meow: And Other Animalopoeia

by: Michael Arndt
Release date: Mar 04, 2014
Number of Pages: 36
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Dog says woof . . . pig says oink . . . cow says moo. Animals and the sounds they make are paired up in playfully compelling ways in this eye-catching illustrated gift book featuring bold colors and an engaging use of onomatopoeia. Kids and parents will delight in discovering the ways in which the letters that spell out each animal’s sound are key elements of that animal’s illustration. With so much to see and to sound out, kids will relish this unique visual and educational experience, brimming with color and letters. Plus, this is a fixed-format version of the book, which looks nearly identical to the print version.
tags:

Children’s Books > Animals

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Last updated: Monday, December 5, 2016 4:28 AM