At the tender age of 6, many children may be starting to read on their own. Every child’s interests and reading abilities vary. Thus, it is crucial for parents to pick suitable books that will not only capture the attention of their children, but also encourage them to pick up the habit of reading. We’ve listed the best storybook for 6 years old and older to help your kids foster a love for reading.
Why it’s important for kids to read
There have been numerous scientifically-proven benefits of reading, especially for young children who are at their developmental age of 6 years and older.
Reading will help your child in their cognitive development, which includes their language development, information processing, reasoning ability and intelligence.
Furthermore, it will also improve their writing ability and vocabulary. If they are reading English books, it will thus improve their grasp of the English language.
The knowledge gained from books will also increase their knowledge about the world and encourage creativity and imagination. Through reading stories, children will develop soft skills like empathy and learn values like respect and honesty.
On top of all these benefits, reading also provides a great opportunity for parents to bond with their children and build a stronger relationship.
How to choose storybooks for kids 6 years old and above
So, how should you begin choosing books for your child?
Books they enjoy.
Start them off with any storybook that you think they will enjoy based on their interests. Alternatively, you could allow your child to pick a book of their preference.
Reading ability.
Choose books suitable for their reading ability. You can refer to the back of the book to see the reading level or you can visit the 6 years+ section of the library or bookstore.
Another option to check would be to flip to any page in the book and see if there are less than three words that they are unsure of.
Best storybook for 6 years old and above
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Book
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Best For…
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Matilda
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Must-Read Classic Children’s Book
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How to Train Your Dragon
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Best Storybook Series for 6 Years Old and Above
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Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
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Best Interactive Storybook Book for 6 Years and Above
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Where the Wild Things Are
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Book with Fantastic Illustrations
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The Magic Faraway Tree
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Well-Loved Storybook Trilogy
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Evolution Colouring and Activity Book
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Best Colouring Book
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Best Storybook For 6 Years Old And Above
 | Matilda Book Must-Read Classic Storybook |  | View Details | Buy Now |
 | How to Train Your Dragon Series Book Best Storybook Series for 6 Years Old and Above | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Book Best Interactive Storybook for 6 Years Old and Above | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Where the Wild Things Are Storybook Book with Fantastic Illustrations | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | The Magic Faraway Tree Trilogy Well-Loved Storybook Trilogy | | View Details | Buy Now |
 | Evolution Colouring and Activity Book Best Colouring Book | | View Details | Buy Now |
Must-Read Classic Storybook
Written by the world’s number 1 storyteller Roald Dahl, Matilda is a classic children’s book that is good for your child to begin their reading journey. Matilda is a story about a prodigal young girl who is treated poorly by her parents.
In school, she faces Miss Trunchbull, a child-hating headmistress, who seems to be out for Matilda. After an encounter, Matilda discovers she has superhuman powers. Matilda will inspire your child’s sense of imagination, wonder and love to read.
With colourful pictures and clear text, this book is not only an interesting read, it also teaches children to stand up against bullies and to not be afraid to be who you are.
Suitable for: This book is suitable for 8-year olds and older.
Best Storybook Series for 6 Years Old and Above
How to Train Your Dragon is a favourite series for many.
It follows the story of Hiccup Horrendous Haddock III, the son of the chief of the Hairy Hooligan tribe, who struggles to pass the initiation test of his Viking clan by catching and training a dragon.
The story delves into a fantastical world with Hiccup and Toothless, Hiccup’s dragon companion. Not only will this book spark your child’s imagination, it will also open up a world of adventure for them!
The funny characters, adorable illustrations and enjoyable plot from How to Train Your Dragon will invoke a love of reading for your child.
Along with the highly-raved movie that was inspired from the books, this book series will take your child on a ride and encourage them to explore the world of reading.
Suitable for: This book is suitable to be read aloud to 6-7 year-olds, and is good for 8-9 year-olds to read on their own.
Best Interactive Storybook for 6 Years Old and Above
A hilarious and highly engaging book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! is perfect for your 6 year-olds who are starting out reading.
The concept of the book is eye-opening, where the bus driver and the pigeon break the fourth wall and directly involve the readers. It induces responses from your child as well, which makes it the perfect read-aloud book!
As a book that teaches children not to give in to peer pressure and about the importance of safety, this book will definitely elicit a response from your child and promotes expressive reading.
It is widely-enjoyed by numerous children, and hence, is a good choice of storybook for your 6 year-old.
Suitable for: This book is suitable for 6 year-olds.
Book with Fantastic Illustrations
A classic book that inspired the production of a movie and an opera, Where the Wild Things Are has the perfect illustrations for your kids. It involves a young boy, Max, who was sent to bed without his supper by his exhausted mother.
In Max’s room, he imagined sailing away to a land where the Wild Things are, where he became King of the Wild Things. After some fun and adventure, Max sailed back to his home and found supper waiting for him.
This iconic book was also a winner of the Caldecott Medal for the Most Distinguished Picture Book of the Year. Where The Wild Things Are is sure to engage your young ones while reading!
This book touches on some mature topics, like the perplexities of entering adolescence. Through Max’s adventure, it teaches your 6 year-old about growing up and how one can often count on his or her mother’s love at the end of the day.
Suitable for: This storybook is suitable for kids 6 to 8 years old.
Well-Loved Storybook Trilogy
The Magic Faraway Tree follows Joe, Beth and Frannie on an adventure to the Enchanted Woods, where the Magic Faraway Tree lies. They go on exciting adventures and discover strange lands along the way.
One of the best storytelling books, your child will be itching for more books by the beloved author Enid Blyton after reading The Magic Faraway Tree.
Parents mentioned that their children thoroughly enjoyed reading this book. The book uses simple language that kids will be able to understand easily.
With its interesting characters and lovely illustrations, this book has shaped the childhood of many and would definitely be a worthwhile read for your child!
Suitable for: This book is suitable for 7 to 9 year-olds.
Best Colouring Book
The Evolution Colouring and Activity Book is a fun colouring book that is perfect for aspiring scientists as there are pockets of knowledge about evolution on the pages of the book.
Your child can colour on the pages while also reading the facts about variation, competition, and the evolution of animals!
Parents have claimed that this book is very informative and explains evolution in a succinct way, and it is also a great way to teach your child about evolution through taking part in a fun activity like colouring.
If you’re looking for a more hands-on, multipurpose book, the Evolution Colouring and Activity book is the one for your child.
Suitable for: This book is suitable for 6-9 year-olds.
Price Comparison Table
After reading through our reviews on recommended storybooks for 6 years old and above, we have prepared a price comparison list to help with your decision-making!
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Book
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Price
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Matilda
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$12.49
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How to Train Your Dragon Collection (12 books set)
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$59.99
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Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!
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$12.54
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The Magic Faraway Tree Trilogy
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$19.94
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Evolution Colouring and Activity Book
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$16.03
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Where the Wild Things Are
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$13.88
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Note: Each item and price is up to date as of October 12, 2021; however, an item may be sold out or the price may be different at a later date.
Now that you have a list of storybook titles for your kids, let’s discuss some issues some parents have with their children’s reading habits.
How to encourage your 6 year old to read more
If your child expresses a general disinterest in reading, you can become the role model for them by picking up reading during your free time.
Children pick up cues and reading habits from their parents. Thus, if your child sees how reading can bring you joy, they would more likely want to pick up reading on their own as well. Alternatively, you could try to make reading more creative and interactive.
Acting out scenes in the book or watching shows from books will more likely pique your child’s interest towards books, for instance, like watching the movie “How to Train Your Dragon" which was inspired by the book.
Rereading the same books to your young ones, especially those with rhymes or repeated phrases, will also catch their attention. They will learn what comes next and can chime in with you.
Most importantly, if they are starting to read on their own, your child should be reading books they can understand. Encountering many unknown words in a text will likely discourage them from reading.
Finally, you can also incorporate social activities with reading, like joining a book club. Kids may look forward to reading more when they can interact with their friends.
How to improve your 6 year old’s reading skills
For parents who are worried that your child may be slower in their reading skills, fret not! We have a few tips for you for this as well.
Firstly, you could establish a regular reading routine with your child. Setting aside time to read every day will instill in them the importance of reading.
Secondly, incorporate reading from their surroundings. Simple things like asking your child to read road signs, items on the menu or food labels will create more awareness about reading in their everyday lives.
Lastly, do not give up! Every child will learn at their own pace. Remember to support them in their reading journey and focus on teaching them the joy in reading and learning.
To encourage your kids creative imagination, buy them car beds. Check out: Best Car Beds For Your Kids: Transition Your Little Ones From Cot To Bed
