10+ Best Read Along Books for 5-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to make reading fun and engaging for your little one? Look no further! Our curated selection of Read Along Books for 5-Year-Olds is just what you need. These books are designed to captivate young minds and help them improve their reading skills in the most enjoyable way. Keep reading to discover our top picks and find the perfect read-along adventure for your child!

Fun Read Along Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Max dresses in a wolf suit and makes mischief of one kind and another. After being sent to bed without supper, Max's bedroom transforms into a wild forest where he sails to the land of the Wild Things.
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the essence of childhood adventures and emotions, encouraging imagination and creativity in young readers.
  • Perfect for: Children who love letting their imaginations run wild and those who enjoy tales of adventure and fantasy.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This beautifully illustrated book follows a caterpillar as it eats its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches days of the week, counting, and the life cycle of a butterfly in a simple and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are learning to count and those interested in nature and science.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's literature, Rhyme, Fiction
  • Synopsis: Sam-I-Am persistently follows another character throughout the book, trying to convince him to try green eggs and ham.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its repetitive and rhymical text makes it an excellent choice for early readers to practice their reading skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are just starting to read on their own and enjoy playful, repetitive texts.

• Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin Jr., illustrated by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Rhyming book
  • Synopsis: A big happy frog, a plump purple cat, a handsome blue horse, and a soft yellow duck—all parade across the pages of this delightful book.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its predictable, repetitive text structure and charming illustrations help children anticipate what's coming next, aiding in language development.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy vibrant illustrations and those learning to identify animals and colors.

• Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, illustrated by Clement Hurd
  • Genre(s): Bedtime story, Picture book
  • Synopsis: In a great green room, tucked away in bed, is a little bunny saying goodnight to all the familiar things in the softly lit room.
  • Why we recommend this book: Its soothing, rhythmic text and comforting storyline make it a perfect bedtime read.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy calm, soothing stories before bedtime, helping them wind down after a busy day.

Educational Read Along Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. and John Archambault, illustrated by Lois Ehlert
  • Genre(s): Alphabet book, Rhyming book
  • Synopsis: The letters of the alphabet race each other up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh no - Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom!
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Alphabet recognition, rhythm and rhyme, early reading skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines playful text and vibrant illustrations to make learning the alphabet fun and engaging.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are starting to learn the alphabet and enjoy lively, rhythmic reads.

• If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff, illustrated by Felicia Bond
  • Genre(s): Cause and effect, Humorous
  • Synopsis: A boy gives a cookie to a mouse, setting off a chain of events where the mouse keeps asking for more things.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding cause and effect, predicting outcomes, logical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous exploration of sequences and consequences that encourages children to think about the effects of their actions.
  • Perfect for: Kids who enjoy stories with a funny twist and those learning to predict and analyze outcomes.

• The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Peter explores his neighborhood after the first snowfall of the season.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Observation skills, exploring new experiences, emotional growth
  • Why we recommend this book: It captures the magic and boundless possibilities of the first snowfall through the eyes of a child.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who delight in snowy adventures and exploring the world around them.

• Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! by Mo Willems
  • Genre(s): Humor, Fiction
  • Synopsis: When the bus driver takes a break, the pigeon makes several humorous attempts to get permission to drive the bus.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Decision making, understanding rules, persuasive skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages children with its interactive text and humorous storyline, encouraging them to make decisions and think about consequences.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy interactive stories and those who love to laugh and engage with the characters.

• The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter
  • Genre(s): Classic, Adventure, Animal story
  • Synopsis: Mischievous Peter Rabbit disobeys his mother and ventures into Mr. McGregor's garden, leading to a series of adventures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Understanding consequences, empathy, problem-solving
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches moral lessons through the adventurous misadventures of Peter, engaging children with its charming narrative and illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animal stories and learning about right and wrong through engaging tales.

Challenging Read Along Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A clever mouse uses the threat of a terrifying creature called the Gruffalo to keep would-be predators at bay in a deep, dark wood. But then, he meets the Gruffalo himself!
  • Why this book is challenging: The book introduces sophisticated vocabulary and a clever plot twist that challenges young readers to think critically about the story.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a brilliant tale of wit and bravery that encourages strategic thinking and creativity.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love storytelling and those who enjoy tales where cleverness triumphs over might.

• The Lorax by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Ecological
  • Synopsis: The Lorax speaks for the trees against the greedy Once-ler in a tale that explores the consequences of environmental exploitation.
  • Why this book is challenging: It deals with complex themes like environmental responsibility and industrial impact, presented through a unique narrative style.
  • Why we recommend this book: This book promotes environmental awareness and inspires young readers to think about sustainability and their impact on the world.
  • Perfect for: Environmentally conscious young readers and those interested in stories with a moral.

• Stellaluna by Janell Cannon
  • Genre(s): Animal story, Adventure
  • Synopsis: After being separated from her mother, a young fruit bat named Stellaluna is adopted by a family of birds but struggles to fit in.
  • Why this book is challenging: It explores themes of identity and conformity through rich, complex language and detailed illustrations.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches important lessons about diversity and acceptance, while also providing insights into the lives of bats and birds.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy animal stories and those learning about acceptance and the beauty of being unique.

• The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
  • Genre(s): Picture book, Philosophy
  • Synopsis: A lifelong relationship between a boy and a tree is depicted, showing the tree's selfless giving and the boy's taking.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces philosophical themes about giving and selfishness, encouraging deeper thinking about relationships and altruism.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a touching narrative that can help instill values of kindness and consideration for others.
  • Perfect for: Children who are exploring deeper emotional concepts and those interested in stories that offer life lessons.

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
  • Genre(s): Poetry, Humor
  • Synopsis: A collection of quirky, imaginative poems that explore various themes through playful language and illustrations.
  • Why this book is challenging: The use of poetry with sometimes abstract ideas challenges young readers to interpret meanings and enjoy linguistic playfulness.
  • Why we recommend this book: It fosters a love for poetry and creative thinking, encouraging kids to explore language in a fun and engaging way.
  • Perfect for: Young poets and any kid who delights in silly sounds and whimsical ideas.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to boost your 5-year-old's reading skills with some fun and engaging exercises, you've come to the right place. Read-along books are a fantastic resource, and pairing them with interactive activities can make reading even more enjoyable for your little one. Here are some exercises that you can incorporate into your reading sessions to help develop good reading habits.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Before reading, go through the book and talk about the pictures.
  • How it helps: Enhances prediction skills and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess what might happen in the story based on the pictures.

• Echo Reading
  • What it is: You read a sentence and then have your child repeat the same sentence.
  • How it helps: Improves fluency and pronunciation.
  • Tips: Keep your tone lively to make the repetition fun.

• Fill in the Blank
  • What it is: Pause at key words in the sentence and let your child fill in the blank.
  • How it helps: Helps with vocabulary recognition and understanding sentence structure.
  • Tips: Start with obvious words and gradually move to less predictable ones.

• Role Reversal
  • What it is: Let your child be the storyteller who reads to you.
  • How it helps: Builds confidence and reading skills.
  • Tips: Offer help with difficult words but let them lead the storytelling.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: After reading, ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
  • How it helps: Enhances comprehension and memory.
  • Tips: Use the pictures in the book as prompts to guide the sequence.

These exercises are not only fun but are also incredibly beneficial in nurturing a love for reading and developing essential literacy skills. Try them out during your next read-along session and watch your child's reading abilities flourish!