Books for kindergarteners to read on their own

Books for grade K kindergarten children aged 5-6

Books for grade K -this list of recommended reading books for kindergartners has been compiled by teachers and school librarians for elementary school children aged 5-6. There is a range of inspirational and engaging books for emerging and more confident readers, including picture books, nursery rhymes, books to share, and books suitable for first independent reading. There are also books to promote discussion, thought, imagination, writing ideas, and provide an impetus for creative art. This list of kindergarten reading recommendations includes titles by Janet Squires, Matt de la Peña, Emily Tetri, Akiko Miyakoshi, and Mary Ann Hoberman.

We Don’t Eat Our Classmates by Ryan T. Higgins

Penelope is really looking forward to starting school and meeting her new classmates. That is, she’s really looking forward to eating them because she’s a T-Rex dinosaur. Soon, however, the tables are turned in this compelling and fun book for children aged 3-5.

School story

Leave Me Alone! by Vera Brosgol

A multi-award-winning picture book that will both amuse and entrance. All Granny wants to do is to be allowed to finish knitting sweaters for her large family – but she keeps being interrupted. To find peace, she leaves home. Her travels take her as far as the moon – meeting goats, bears and aliens along the way. Will she ever finish her knitting?

Classic

Hey, Water! by Antoinette Portis

A delightful non-fiction resource book for the classroom or at home. Learn all about water in its many forms, discover all the words used to describe water features, and link them to the illustrations. The simple text explains the entire water cycle and demonstrates why water is so important to us all.

Narrative non fiction

I Don’t Want to Be a Frog by Dev Petty

A clever moral tale about a young frog who finds it difficult to see the good in how things are and instead yearns to be something else. His father, however, is adept at grounding him in reality. A great book for parents to read with their children, or for teachers to read and discuss with a class.

Animal story

The Lion & the Mouse by Jerry Pinkney

A charming story – based on an Aesop fable – about friendship and loyalty in which a mouse who rescues a trapped lion after the lion decides not to eat him. Stunning artwork helps to convey the scale and magnificence of the lion and its Serengeti surroundings.

Fable

Ten on a Twig by Lo Cole

A wonderful counting story – full of repetition – that is ideal for less confident readers to share with adults and read aloud. The inventive and vibrant artwork could provide a great starting point for bulletin boards and classroom displays.

Picture book

Grumpy Monkey by Suzanne Lang

Jim’s friends have lots of helpful suggestions to try and make him feel happier. But the more they try to help, the grumpier Jim becomes until he has a meltdown. With sparkling and funny artwork throughout, this is a useful story to help younger children discuss empathy. Norman the gorilla is fabulous.

Picture book

I Am Enough by Grace Byers

An award-winning and beautifully illustrated book that teaches children to think positively, believe in themselves, and embrace diversity in the world. A great book to spark questions and conversations.

Diverse

What Color Is Night? by Grant Snider

An imaginative picture book with dream-like nightscapes to capture the imagination of Kindergarten readers. A beautiful book for reading at bedtime.

Bedtime story

Locomotive by Brian Floca

An evocative and thrilling picture book full of onomatopoeic words to thrust the reader into the sights, sound, and atmosphere of railroads and locomotives. A fantastic book for children who are interested in machines.

STEM | Picture book

Shh! We Have a Plan by Chris Haughton

A funny story that helps kindergarten-aged children to understand that it’s not always the loudest person that has the best ideas. When a gang of four friends tries to catch a bird, they fail spectacularly, until they listen to the quiet observant member of the group.

Humor

The Gingerbread Cowboy by Janet Squires

The traditional Gingerbread Man fairy tale is morphed into a Wild West setting with cacti, cattle, and coyotes. Yeehaw! A wonderful, fun, and immersive rhyming story that uses clever repetition and catchy language.

Modern fairy tale

The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

Jerome doesn’t collect trading cards, coins or stamps – instead he collects words. Short words, long words, complicated words, and unusual words make up his collection – as well as words that can change and words that persuade. A highly original picture book that is perfect for developing a child’s imagination and interest in language.

Picture book

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies

A charming and poetic picture book story following the life of one loggerhead turtle as she completes a migration of thousands of miles over three decades. Enlightening, uplifting, and beautifully illustrated, this story is ideal to read and share with younger children.

Animal story

The Adventures of Beekle by Dan Santat

An enchanting story that follows an imaginary friend that sets out on a long journey to try and find a child to adopt him. Inventive and original, this is a great picture book to help spark creative writing and narrative storytelling ideas.

Picture book

Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña

When CJ and his grandma travel to and from church every Sunday, he sees places that are very different from where he lives. An atmospheric picture book story that introduces kindergarten children to a diverse range of neighborhoods, people, and backgrounds – sensitively and thoughtfully.

Classic

Pink Is for Boys by Robb Pearlman

A stereotype-busting story that shows children that they can be whatever they want to be – whether it is playing baseball, trying on different colored clothes, or liking unicorns. A good book to provoke discussion and help children develop a sense of empathy and acceptance.

Diverse

Tiger vs. Nightmare by Emily Tetri

Tiger has a monster that lives under the bed. But this is no ordinary monster – each night it scares aways any nightmares so Tiger can get some sleep. But one day there’s a nightmare too big to scare away. Will Tiger and Monster be able to summon enough courage to overcome the nightmare? An ultimately uplifting and inspiring bedtime story.

Bedtime story

The Way Home in the Night by Akiko Miyakoshi

An atmospheric picture book that’s full of awe and wonder. A young bunny wonders what goes on in the world of night and embarks on an imaginative journey. A great book to spark story ideas in kindergarten classes.

Animal story

The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman

When a busy mother has seven children who each want something different to eat all sorts of chaos ensues in funny rhyming verse. A great story to sensitively suggest to children that fussy eating has downsides.

Classic

Ish by Peter H. Reynolds

Ramon loves to draw, but when one insensitive comment by his older brother threatens to destroy his confidence, his sister Marisol opens his eyes to see problems and obstacles in a new light. An inspirational book, and one that is ideal to read to reluctant and unsure children.

Family

Good Night, Gorilla by Peggy Rathmann

As the zookeeper says goodnight to each animal at bedtime, someone or something very furry and very naughty is following him, with a set of keys. A riotously funny bedtime story with lots of clever visual cues and wordplay repetition.

Classic

Steam Train, Dream Train by Sherri Duskey Rinker

In this colorful picture book for emerging readers, each car on the train is boarded by a different animal, and each animal fills the car with more and more unlikely and amusing luggage and cargo. A great story to encourage children in grade K to read independently.

Rhyming

Goodnight Already! by Jory John

When all exhausted Bear wants to do is go to sleep after a long day, his over-enthusiastic neighbor, Duck won’t stop trying to talk to him. A very funny picture book that helps teach children to respect boundaries and be careful not to annoy others.

Bedtime story

Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall

A visually engaging story that teaches young readers to overcome fears and realize goals. When Jabari thinks he’s ready to jump off the diving board, suddenly doubts begin to form. Fortunately, his father is on hand to inspire courage.

Diverse

Wolf in the Snow by Matthew Cordell

When a girl walking home from school and a lost wolf cub get caught in a white-out, they both help each other to find the way back home. The lyrical storytelling and atmospheric artwork will inspire children to imagine the situation for themselves.

Animal story

Over the Hills and Far Away: A Treasury of Nursery Rhymes by Elizabeth Hammill

A wonderful collection of beautifully illustrated traditional nursery rhymes, collected from a diverse range of cultures around the world. A great classroom resource for kindergarten.

Nursery rhymes

The Doctor with an Eye for Eyes: The Story of Dr. Patricia Bath by Julia Finley Mosca

An award-winning and inspirational story, telling the life of Dr. Patricia Bath who achieved her life’s dreams despite her difficult start in life. Fighting injustices, her determination, and courage shine through in this illustrated biography written in rhyme.

Biography

Finding Winnie: The True Story of the World’s Most Famous Bear by Lindsay Mattick

When WW1 vet Harry Colebourn helps rescue a young bear, he decides to name her after his hometown – Winnipeg. The story follows Winnie’s amazing journey around the world to London Zoo which later inspired the famous book Winnie-the-Pooh. An enthralling read.

Narrative non fiction

If you would like to order all or most of the books in this kindergarten reading list; or if you want to order classroom sets or multiple copies of books; or if you are ordering from outside the US,  have a look at our ‘bulk orders’ page which makes this process easy.

Click for more reading recommendations – Grade K books (this page) | Grade 1 books | Grade 2 books | Grade 3 books | Grade 4 books | Grade 5 books | Grade 6 books | Grade 7 books | Grade 8 books | Grade 9 books | Grade 10 books | Grade 11 books | Grade 12 books

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21 Kindergarten Books That Will Wow and Inspire Your Little Readers!

Inside: Kindergarten books are vitally important for early readers, and these are some of our favorites. Check them out!

Watching my oldest son’s development while he was in kindergarten was nothing short of amazing.

He began the year mesmerized by books but not at all able to read them. Yet, by the time June came around, he had his own stack of awesome books for kindergarten readers (all of which he could read fluently,) he knew exactly which stories were “just right” for him in our school library (ok, ok — so I may be his school librarian — but it’s exciting nonetheless!!), and he would stay up way past his bedtime reading with his special book light.

It was incredible. And, of course, it made my book-loving heart so, so happy.

Just as he grew, so did his love of reading. I credit so much of this love not only to great kindergarten read-alouds, but also to getting the perfect books into his hands when he began his reading journey.

When our children begin kindergarten, most of us typically have one thought in mind: my child will read this year! After all, is there anything more synonymous with kindergarten than this singular goal?

Finding the “right” kindergarten books is therefore essential. We want to give them books that will excite them, delight them, make them laugh and boost their confidence as they begin to tackle a brand new challenge.

So how do you know if a book is perfect for your beginning reader? What makes a great kindergarten book different from an easy chapter book? Check out these tips!

Large Fonts Help Kindergarten Readers Comprehend

Believe it or not, larger fonts really make a difference for new readers! Larger fonts have been linked to a boost in decoding skills, in addition to greater fluency and enhanced comprehension. Larger text in kindergarten books is also much less intimidating to new readers, as pages inherently have more white space and less words. It allows children to easily see where their eyes should go next.

Simplicity is key for new readers. Why? The longer the sentence, the more confusion your child will feel. Remember — kindergarten books are for those kids who are just learning to read. That means they have not yet mastered fluency and speed, nor do they understand the nuances of punctuation. And forget about a sentence extending over a page turn — these are the things that do nothing but frustrate our new readers. Thus, short and simple is key!

Repetitive books for kindergarteners are like the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. These are the best! This type of story includes both repetitive structures and vocabulary words. Repetition in early readers allows children to master new words and skills. On their first read through, a child may stumble and pause frequently as they sound out what they see on the page. Yet, the more frequently they read a passage, sentence or word, the more flow and fluency will improve. The best part? When fluency improves, so does confidence.

Many beginning readers and kindergarten books incorporate easy to read words. But what are those words? These early readers contain not only sight words, but also words that can be decoded easily using the rules of phonics and “chunking” strategies (ie., breaking words up into smaller components.)

Illustrations in kindergarten books should not just be engaging, but they should also provide supportive, or “context” clues to the reader. This means that a great early reader contains pictures that correspond to the text, support both the plot and mood of the book, and help readers decode unknown vocabulary words.

These Kindergarten Books Will Engage and Captivate Your New Readers!

Keep in mind that the easiest of these books are at the top of the list, and the more challenging (and longer) reads are at the end.

Enjoy!

The Adventures of Otto: See Pip Flap, by David Milgrim: We absolutely love these books about Otto the Robot and all of his great adventures! The Adventures of Otto stories are perfect kindergarten books for brand new readers who are beginning to master sight words and decode text all on their own. Several books in this set have won Theodore Seuss Geisel Award Honors for being distinguished books for beginning readers. We can’t rave about this starter set enough! Shop See Pip Flap & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Stop! Bot!, by James Yang: Winner of the 2020 Geisel Award, this is a darling picture book mystery with simple text and fabulous illustrations that tell much of the story in and of themselves. A young boy stops to show a doorman his new “bot,” but the bot suddenly gets away from him and floats high into the air like a balloon! As the doorman rushes from floor to floor in the building, the people on each floor get zanier and zanier. Will they be able to rescue the bot before it’s too late? Vibrant and engaging, we simply love this one! Shop Stop! Bot! & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Go, Dog, Go!, by P.D. Eastman: This was one of the first books my son read aloud from start to finish, and there is so much to love about it! From big dogs to little dogs, dogs going in to dogs going out, fast dogs, red dogs, blue dogs and more, children for years have adored this silly story that is also a perfect one for beginning readers to share aloud. Read it once, your kids will laugh. Read it twice, and your kids will forever ask everyone “do you like my hat?” The best! Shop Go, Dog, Go! & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

The Cat and the Rat and the Hat, by Em Lynas and illustrated by Matt Hunt: This book is such a delight, and such fun, too! We love reading this aloud because it undoubtedly has kids erupt into giggle fits each and every time. This is the story of cat sitting on a mat when a rat arrives wearing a very nice hat. Need I say more? Between the silly text and the hilarious pictures, it’s sure to be a hit. It will go over especially well with kids  learning the “at” family of sounds, too.  Shop The Cat and the Rat and the Hat  & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Look, by Fiona Woodcock: This simple book contains just one word on each page, each of which contains the diagraph “oo.” Here, a brother and sister wake up in the morning and go spend some time at the zoo, were they see kangaroos and bring home balloons! This engaging book and its fabulous, creative illustrations make this one a winner, especially as the repeated “oo” diagraph is an important early literacy concept. Shop Look & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Cat the Cat, Who is That?, by Mo Willems: Cat the Cat loves her friends, and she’s pretty sure you will, too. It’s only natural, then, that she wants to introduce the reader to all her pals. With simple text, a repetitive structure, and Willems’ trademark humor, this short early reader will boost confidence in children who want to read a story on their own but aren’t quite ready for longer beginning books. Shop Cat the Cat Who is That? & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

What will Fat Cat Sit On, by Jan Thomas: In this funny story, Fat Cat is looking for a seat — and all of the animals in this silly story are hoping Fat Cat won’t sit on them! With each animal hoping he is not the victim, they have got to find something else for Fat Cat to sit on. Will a chair suffice? And if so, what will Fat Cat do for lunch? This one is so much fun! Shop What Will Fat Cat Sit On & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Big Dog and Little Dog Tales of Adventure, by Dav Pilkey: Did you know the creator of the famous Dog Man and Captain Underpants series also writes beginning books for kids? This collection of five simple stories captures the friendship — and hilarious shenanigans — of Big Dog and Little Dog, both entertaining your children and developing their reading skills at the very same time. This collection was a huge winner in our house when my oldest first made the jump to beginning readers. Shop Big Dog and Little Dog & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

The Book Hog, by Greg Pizzoli: If you guessed that the book hog loves books, you guessed correctly! He loves everything about them — from the way they feel to the way they smell. One thing he doesn’t love, though? He can’t read them. Leave it to a special librarian to help him unlock the magic within each story! We love this one, a Geisel Honor from 2020. Shop The Book Hog & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Flubby is Not a Good Pet, by J E Morris: Flubby is a big, fat cat, but unfortunately, he can’t do what a lot of other pets do. Flubby can’t sing or catch — he can’t even jump! But Flubby needs his owner – and his owner needs him, too. And that’s enough. A sweet book, with repetition, simple text and pictures that help tell this adorable story. Another 2020 Geisel honor book! Shop Flubby is Not a Good Pet & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Fox the Tiger, by Corey R. Tabor: Fox desperately wishes he was a tiger. Why? Tigers are sneaky! Fast! Big! This leaves Fox with an important mission- he will turn himself into a tiger by painting himself some stripes! Soon other animals join in the fun— but when it comes right down to it, Fox quickly discovers one very important lesson- the best thing to be is himself. Clever, fun and with an awesome message to boot, it’s no wonder this great book won the 2019 Geisel Award. For our full review of Fox the Tiger, click here! Shop Fox the Tiger & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Jack at Bat, by Greg Pizzoli: We are loving this new series for beginning readers, with its big pictures, big text, simple prose, and plots that will undoubtedly make your kids laugh as they perfect their new reading skills. Is there anything better than that? In this book, it’s up to Jack to make a winning run during a baseball game… but on the way to the plate, he spots some snacks. Uh oh! Between Jack the rabbit, his funny dog, and a cranky old lady, this series is a delight! Shop Jack at Bat & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

My Kite is Stuck! and Other Stories, by Salina Yoon: In this Geisel Honor early reader series, Big Duck constantly bosses around her little brother, Little Duck. And this means that when Porcupine joins their crew, Big Duck is definitely the leader. This darling book contains stories about making lemonade, new friends, and kite flying. We love this lively and engaging series! Shop My Kite is Stuck & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Harold and Hog Pretend for Real, by Dan Santat: What happens when Harold and Hog pretend to be Elephant and Piggie? The two love Gerald and Piggie, and they even don costumes to get into character. But uptight Hog can’t be quite as carefree as Piggie — and Harold can’t be quite as careful as Gerald. This one is so much fun, a perfect kindergarten book for home or the classroom, and a great twist on the beloved Elephant and Piggie stories! Shop Harold and Hog Pretend for Real & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Little Bear, by Else Holmelund Minarik and illustrated by Maurice Sendek: In this classic early reader, Little Bear’s mama always seems to know just what he needs. Something warm to wear when he is playing in the snow, a hot lunch after he returns from a trip to the moon, and a special birthday surprise. You can never go wrong when Sendak illustrates a children’s book, and this one has staying power for all the right reasons. Repetition and easy to decode words give kids a confidence boost when reading aloud this “longer” book! Shop Little Bear & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Frank and Bean, by Jamie Michalak and illustrated by Bob Kolar: What happens when calm and quiet Frank meets toot-toot-tooting Bean who just loves playing his trumpet? These two total opposites may be in trouble when they end up camping right next to each other. Can two seemingly different characters find a way to be… friends? This goofy kindergarten book is perfect for your kids who want a longer story to read where they can practice their skills and laugh at the very same time. Shop Frank and Bean & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Smell My Foot!, by Cece Bell: if you want someone to smell your foot, no matter whether you think that scent will be good or bad, you better make sure to use your manners and say please!! My big one could not get through this book without laughing hysterically. And when I read it with him for the first time, I too was laughing so hard I could not catch my breath. If you want a book that’s sure to be a hit for new readers, with easy to read text, hilarious illustrations, and bucket loads of fun, this one is a must! Shop Smell My Foot! & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Tiger vs. Nightmare, by Emily Tetri: In this graphic novel for early readers, Tiger and Monster play together — a lot. Monster would never scare Tiger, but he does have to scare something. So what should he scare? Maybe he can scare Tiger’s nightmares away. It works, to a point. Until a nightmare comes that’s so big and so brave, Monster knows he can’t fight it alone. For beginning readers ready for graphic novels, this one is wonderful. It shows the value of teamwork, friendship, and courage, too! Shop Tiger vs. Nightmare & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Don’t Worry, Bee Happy, by Ross Burach: Bumble and Bee cause lots of mischief in the pond, and their cranky best friend Frog isn’t all that happy about giving up his peace and quiet. He won’t smile for pictures! He won’t do a waggle dance! Nonetheless, these guys are best friends… despite their very different personalities. This is another great graphic novel and part of Scholastic’s Acorn line which is aimed at children who are learning to read. We love the Acorn books and its various series that have been recently published! Shop Don’t Worry, Bee Happy & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Beneath the Bed and Other Scary Stories, by Max Brallier and illustrated by Letizia Rubenni: Another book in Scholastic’s Acorn line, this one is perfect for your brave readers who love the thrill of a scary children’s book! What kind of monsters are hiding under the bed, and what on earth is scratching at the window? These five stories will give kids a fright — and a giggle. There’s just one question – will they be brave enough to turn the lights off? Shop Beneath the Bed & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

Henry and Mudge, by Cynthia Rylant and illustrated by Sucie Stevenson: Meet Henry and Mudge, companions, friends and forever partners! Henry has no siblings and no friends on his street, so he convinces his parents to get him a pup — who grows into a very large dog. These delightful stories are terrific for children moving just beyond beginning readers, as they feature more complex sentences, longer paragraphs and short chapters. A classic series for newly independent readers looking for easy chapter books! Shop Henry and Mudge & support local bookstores here! Shop Amazon here!

10 funny children's books for independent reading

If you choose the right literature with bright pictures and interesting stories, then children will not need to be forced to read, they themselves will not want to part with books. Our blogger Anna Fedulova has collected ten books for independent reading.

What kind of books do children like to read the most? Colorful stories filled with kind and understandable humor. Remember yourself in childhood. Surely, your any heroes were Mole, Winnie the Pooh, Carlson, Peppy or Pencil and Samodelkin. The list of funny books is almost endless, so today we will talk about those stories that children can read both with their parents and on their own.

1. “Magic Sneakers”, Julia Donaldson

The girl Josephine loved to run. Her old sneakers became too small for her, and she went to the store for new ones. I chose, tried on, and noticed the label: "Magic sneakers." Even Phil Knight does not have such sneakers: in the snowy mountains they turn into winter boots, on the slalom they turn into ultra-fast skis, in the swamp they turn into waterproof boots, in sea water they turn into sports flippers. Why does an ordinary girl living in the city need all this? Apparently, the city is also magical, because in ordinary cities, polar bears do not often go to shoe stores!

"Magic Sneakers" - a new story from Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks. The literary translation was made by Marina Yakovlevna Boroditskaya.

2. Tales of Rudyard Kipling, stories for kids

Which of us in childhood did not laugh at a baby elephant, whose short nose was made into a long trunk by a crocodile? Or about the story of a rhinoceros, to which a man poured crumbs from the pie into the skin? Each of us has read Kipling's fairy tales and still remembers his heroes. Unfortunately, the large volume and complex turns do not allow reading these stories with children under seven. But you really want to, don't you?

A collection of adapted stories by Rudyard Kipling can be read from the age of three or four. It contains six stories: "How the Elephant got a trunk", "How the Leopard became spotted", "Why the Rhino has such a skin", "Where does the Whale get such a throat", "How the Camel got a hump" and "Why the Kangaroo jumps".

3. "I invented a pie in my dream!", Ramon Besora

One morning the little rabbit woke up terribly hungry. All night he dreamed of a magnificent and delicious cake! After some thought, the rabbit decided to cook. To make a pie, you need flour, an egg, honey, anise ... Where can you get all this? Seeing the sad rabbit, the forest dwellers decided to help: each brought the right ingredient. The rabbit baked a cake, and the forest dwellers divided it among themselves. However, some still refused their share and preferred green lettuce leaves to the pie.

This is the story that will inspire your child to bake a cake together using the ingredients listed in the text.

4. School of Repair, Emily Andren

On the outskirts of the city there is a small and very cozy auto repair shop. Work above the roof: cars arrive every day, we urgently need to change tires and fix something. A new sports car hit a pothole at full speed, the driver lost control, and the car folded into an accordion. Toure, who was passing by, helped the driver get out of the pit, organized repair work together with Elvira, the road foreman, and put up new road signs so that no one else fell into the road trap! Toure himself also had problems: he forgot to refuel his tractor and now he cannot move. It's good that true friends are always ready to help and that good comes back with good!

An excellent book for lovers of technology, funny stories and funny illustrations!

5. "Charlie turns into a chicken", Sam Copeland

The book is able to make even the gloomiest autumn day laugh. Despite the title and the iridescent gold cover, there is no smell of tricks-pocus here. Charlie MacGuffin is an ordinary boy, or rather he wanted to be one. But Charlie had a big secret - he began to turn into animals. He doesn't like it at all. Is it a joke to turn into a spider and run away from your own cat or suddenly become a dove at school! The trouble is that Charlie transforms not when he wants to, but when he is worried. Now he and his friends urgently need to figure out what to do with it.

The book is written easily. It will help you understand more about excitement and anxiety and learn to live more calmly through difficult feelings.

6. “Great worries of cheerful rabbits. In Search of the Blue Carrot”, Sebastian Telleschi

Bright book by modern French illustrator and designer Sebastian Telleschi about the life and adventures of funny rabbits. Here everyone is busy with something, and everything around is made of carrots: medicines, bread, gasoline, and even concrete! Considering all the amazing details of the rabbit hole and reading about the fun rabbit life will be interesting not only for a child, but also for an adult.

In addition to its huge size, colorful illustrations and interesting stories, the book introduces you to a variety of professions: firefighters, doctors, builders, race car drivers, musicians and others.

7. Cowardly Clyde, Bill Peet

Having gained international recognition as a cartoonist for the Walt Disney Animation Studios, Bill Peet has also found success in children's literature. Love for animals and an excellent sense of humor, multiplied by a reverent concern for the environment and a respectful attitude towards the feelings of others, immediately make his books successful. These are light and funny stories, instructive lessons on communicating with animals, nature and yourself. The illustrations depict funny fictional creatures (sea serpents, ogres, good dragons, talking worms and mysterious wumps), which naturally develop the fantasy and imagination of readers.

Clyde the Cowardly includes three stories at once: Clyde the Cowardly, The Elephant and the Ant, and Cyrus the Sea Serpent. Unusual fairy tales will certainly appeal to children aged 4-10 years.

8. "Winnie the Witch and a New Year's Surprise" by Laura Owen

Winnie the Witch and her faithful cat Wilbur confidently continue to walk around the planet. In 2017, they finally flew on a broomstick to Russia. However, for Winnie, a broom is not the only comfortable mode of transport, she cuts through on a magic carpet, balloons, a parachute umbrella and even riding a whale! Winnie is not afraid of new things: she learns new professions, tries unusual dishes and goes in for the strangest sports. Together with readers, bustling friends-wizards will have to prepare for the New Year and make a gift from Santa Claus!

9. “Keshka. All stories about an extraordinary cat, Andrey and Natalia Snegirev

In France and Belgium - Tintin, in Finland - Moomin-Troll, and in Russia - Keshka. Recently, the comic book hero celebrated a quarter-century anniversary. The book contains all the adventures of an extraordinary cat: more than 90 episodes, short and long. Here Keshka had a chance to catch mice in the house, go to the North, try out a time machine, and visit the Moon.

Natalya and Andrey Snegiryov's comics are wonderful for starting to read on your own.

10. “Nalle Lapson”, Josta Knutson

On a spring morning in the thicket of the forest Nalle Lapson the bear cub woke up and was surprised: he was all alone, except for a fussy squirrel that jumped at the entrance to the lair. It can't be that mom left and left him unattended. Surely there is an explanation for everything. And Nalle Lapson must certainly find him!

Nalle Lapson was created by the Swedish writer, translator and filmmaker Josta Lars August Knutson in 1949. In the Scandinavian countries, Nalle Lapson is no less famous than his brothers Winnie the Pooh or Paddington. Funny stories about a bear cub are perfect for independent reading.

You may also like this touching selection of 10 Children's Books About Friendship, Loyalty, Dreams and Hope.

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Photo: Shutterstock (Raul Mellado Ortiz)

13 Options for children from 5 to 10 years old

Polina Kalmykova

Literary critic and mother

Author's profile selection of the first book for independent reading - a very trepidable moment: a very trepidable moment I want the kid to get such a publication that will make him fall in love with reading once and for all.

But this rarely happens, and in order for reading to become a favorite habit, you need to gradually cultivate this skill, year after year, surrounding the child with interesting and high-quality literature. This article contains examples of books that will help children get used to reading.

Choose for what age the book is needed:

• 5 years
• 6 years
• 7 years
• 8 years
• 10 years

What to read at 5 years

Five years is the time of the first books that children read on their own. Special publications will help you master a new skill, the authors of which use short sentences and divide words into syllables.

So that in the future reading is not associated with boredom, difficulties and moralizing, during this period it is important not to overload the baby with text and interest in stories. For example, short fairy tales or stories with familiar plots from life are suitable.

Whose side?

Author: Tatyana Russita
How much: 545 Р
Where to buy: on the site of the publishing house "Mann, Ivanov and Ferber"

"Whose side?" — a set of eight microbooks for those who have just learned how to put letters into words. Each book has only a few pages on which a simple plot unfolds: a boy runs away from a swarm of wasps or a cat wakes up the whole family at night.

There are only two or three words on each page, and the words themselves have no more than four letters: it will be easy for even a completely novice reader to keep their attention. The books come with stickers with the inscription "Read" - they help the child mark progress and stimulate reading the next book in order to mark it with a sticker as soon as possible.

For the kids who coped with this set, the author came up with the following: "House for Foxes" with six-letter words, "One, two, three - freeze!", where seven letters can meet in a row, and "Cat Sock" - with words of any length.

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corn flakes and “Children's menu”: than you should not dig up a child

each dachshund need a house

Author: Elena Matveeva
How much: 375 R 2 Where to buy: in Bookvoed

Elena Matveeva specializes in teaching children to read: she is not only a children's writer, but also a developer of Russian language and reading textbooks for elementary grades. In this book, the author helps to move from reading by syllables to ordinary texts: the words are already written “in an adult way”, but the sentences are still simple and short, and a complete story is placed on the page.

The protagonist of all the stories is the dachshund Lamba, who gets to know the world around him: he sees icicles for the first time, meets an ill-mannered goose and helps his owners with cleaning. Each story is accompanied by a large colorful illustration: if reading is tired, you can look at the pictures and try to guess what the next story will be about.

What to read at age 6

Six years is a transitional year between kindergarten and school. Toddlers are preparing for the first grade and developing skills that will be useful in the classroom: for example, to hold attention longer and read confidently - not only aloud, but also to themselves.

Long texts can still be difficult, but books with a gradual development of the plot will definitely work: in the choice of publications for a six-year-old reader, it is not necessary to limit one page stories - you can offer more extended stories.

Super ordinary day

Author: Beatrice Alemana
How much it costs: 880 r
Where to buy: in "Readi-Gorod"

Beatrice Alemana-artist and author of children's books, in her works of illustrations are not decorated with illustrations text, but play the same important role in history as words. A Super Ordinary Day is no exception: although there is very little to read, the book unfolds a full-fledged story about turning a gray and boring day into a bright and saturated one - including literally, at the level of colors and colors.

The protagonist is an ordinary boy who is bored at the dacha: it is raining outside, his mother is busy with work, and all he has left to do is play the console. But everything changes when the hero is on the street, and the prefix - alas! - falls out of the pocket: the world around begins to change and show its secrets and miracles.

The book is better to read without parents: the story that life outside of computer games is no less interesting and exciting, looks more convincing if you see it through the eyes of another child, rather than hear it from adults.

Bruce goats go to school

Author: Björn Rurnik
How much it costs: 580 R
Where to buy: on the site of the Schitkota

“Kozliki Bruda go to school” - another book, another book, another book, another book in which illustrations and text tell a story together, but are much less classical in both content and image style. The pictures in the book are drawn as if the same preschooler was working on them, and the writer is not shy about toilet humor and other children's jokes: they may seem strange to parents, but they will definitely cause laughter in kids.

The plot is about three goat brothers who go to school for the first time, although they do not really want to. There they face a variety of situations: for example, they try not to get lost in the corridors on the way to the toilet, or they learn scary stories about the new director from high school students.

All this will help a preschooler to imagine what the classes really look like and get rid of anxiety in front of the unknown: goats successfully cope with all difficulties, and laughter helps to overcome any fears.

What to read at 7 years old

At the age of seven, children go to school for the first time: they adapt to new tasks and conditions, get used to stress and begin to read much more - though, first of all, textbooks.

So that reading is not limited to lessons, it is better to dilute cognitive literature with entertaining stories from the life of peers or fairy tales - seven-year-old readers still respect them.

My happy life

Author: Ruse Lagercrantz
Price: 434 Р
Where to buy: in the "Labyrinth"

"My happy life" is a book about a first grader Dyunne, who every evening remembers the happy events of her life and even writes them down in a special notebook. True, sometimes something sad happens to her: for example, her best friend moves to another city, and while playing football, Dunne breaks her head. And although throughout the book the girl experiences different feelings, in the end the feeling of happiness returns to her. The story helps readers to see that everyday troubles can be fixed, and global troubles can be overcome, even if right now they seem hopeless.

Despite the seriousness of the issues discussed in the book, it is written very lightly and concisely. Chapters take up five or six pages, half of which is devoted to illustrations. And for readers who can handle My Happy Life in no time, there are sequels. In each subsequent book, the text becomes a little larger: this helps children gradually get used to reading, while all attention is focused on the events of the life of their beloved heroine.

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Children's camps, in which they will teach to prepare, program and shoot cinema

Letters only for their

Author: Toon Tolylegen
How much cost: 914 r
Where to buy: in the Labyrinth

" only for their own” is an unusual book, most of which is occupied by letters: on long winter evenings, forest dwellers write them to each other. Although the letters are small in size, readers have something to think about: for example, what did the squirrel want to say in the letter, repeating only two words - “dear” and “ant”? Or who will receive a letter from a carp addressed to "the one in charge of water"?

The book has a very cozy and trusting atmosphere that will help the child take a break from noisy school days and switch to a quiet home mode. And following the example of the heroes, the child himself may want to send someone a letter: a good reason to hone your spelling skills in a playful way.

What to read at 8 years old

By the second grade, the child is already getting used to school, and curiosity comes to the fore.

Both books devoted to certain topics, such as space, dinosaurs or pirates, can satisfy interest in the world, as well as more extensive encyclopedias if the student has not yet decided on the object of close attention or parents want to introduce him to something new.

Theater of the human body

Author: Maris Wicks
Price: 771 R
through theatrical performance. The main actor is a skeleton, with each new performance he "puts on" new layers - muscles, blood vessels, organs and, finally, skin, in order to become a full-fledged person in the finale.