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

Are you on the hunt for the perfect way to engage your little one's senses and imagination? Look no further! Our guide to sensory books for 5-year-olds is packed with delightful reads that promise to captivate and educate. From touch-and-feel to sound-based books, we've curated a variety of sensory books that are perfect for curious young minds. Keep reading to discover our top picks for sensory books that will surely become new favorites in your child’s library!

Fun Sensory Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Pat the Bunny by Dorothy Kunhardt
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Sensory, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This touch-and-feel book invites young readers to interact with the story by patting a bunny, feeling daddy's scratchy face, and looking in a mirror.
  • Why we recommend this book: It engages multiple senses, making reading a full-body experience that is both fun and educational for young children.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who enjoy tactile experiences and interactive reading sessions.

• The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Educational
  • Synopsis: This classic book tells the story of a caterpillar eating its way through a variety of foods before finally pupating and emerging as a butterfly.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines simple counting with a transformational life cycle story, enhancing both reading and scientific knowledge.
  • Perfect for: Young children who are curious about nature and enjoy vibrant, engaging illustrations.

• Press Here by Hervé Tullet
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Concept Book
  • Synopsis: This innovative book invites kids to press dots, shake pages, and use their imagination to interact with the book in a playful way.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages creativity and interaction, making reading a dynamic and participatory activity.
  • Perfect for: Kids who love interactive play and parents seeking a fun way to engage with their children during reading time.

• Touch the Brightest Star by Christie Matheson
  • Genre(s): Interactive, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: This magical journey through the night sky invites readers to touch, tap, and swipe through the pages to engage with the stars and the natural world.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines the wonder of nature with interactive elements to captivate young readers' senses and imagination.
  • Perfect for: Children who are fascinated by the night sky and enjoy bedtime stories that involve participation.

• Never Touch a Dragon by Rosie Greening, illustrated by Stuart Lynch
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Sensory
  • Synopsis: This playful book features silicone touch-and-feel elements on every page, where children are advised humorously never to touch a dragon.
  • Why we recommend this book: The tactile elements add a fun twist to reading, enhancing sensory development and engagement.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy mythical creatures and interactive, sensory experiences.

Educational Sensory Books for 5-Year-Olds

• Fuzzy Fuzzy Fuzzy! by Sandra Boynton
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Sensory, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This cuddly board book features various textures that little hands can explore, from a cow's fuzzy nose to a pig's sticky tongue.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory awareness, animal recognition, tactile exploration
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a delightful sensory experience that introduces young readers to different animals and textures.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who love animals and exploring the world through touch.

• Whose Mouse Are You? by Robert Kraus, illustrated by Jose Aruego
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Sensory
  • Synopsis: This book asks the reader questions about a little mouse, with each page offering tactile and visual elements to engage the senses.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Problem-solving, question-response interaction, sensory skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines simple questioning with sensory exploration, making it fun and educational.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who enjoy interactive reading and sensory play.

• Animal Kisses by Barney Saltzberg
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Sensory, Children's Fiction
  • Synopsis: This charming book invites young readers to feel different types of animal kisses, from a scratchy squirrel kiss to a slimy fish kiss.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Sensory exploration, understanding of animal behaviors, empathy
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a playful way to learn about animals and the sense of touch, promoting both emotional and sensory development.
  • Perfect for: Young children who love animals and interactive, sensory experiences.

• Quiet Loud by Leslie Patricelli
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Concept Book
  • Synopsis: This book contrasts quiet and loud scenarios, from whispers to shouts, helping children understand the concept of sound levels.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Auditory discrimination, vocabulary related to sounds, concept of opposites
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches young readers about sound through engaging, relatable examples and vibrant illustrations.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers beginning to explore the concepts of volume and noise.

• Baby Touch and Feel: Animals by DK
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Sensory, Educational
  • Synopsis: This touch-and-feel book introduces babies to various animals through different textures, from a fluffy duck to a scaly fish.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Animal recognition, tactile senses, early language skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It's designed to grab the attention of the very young, helping them to learn about animals through direct sensory experience.
  • Perfect for: Infants and toddlers who are just beginning to explore the world around them with their hands.

Challenging Sensory Books for 5-Year-Olds

• The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, illustrated by Rosana Faria
  • Genre(s): Concept Book, Sensory, Experimental
  • Synopsis: This unique book describes colors as perceived through the senses other than sight, using textured pages and Braille to convey the experience of colors to the reader.
  • Why this book is challenging: It introduces the concept of non-visual perception of colors, encouraging children to think about and experience colors through touch and description rather than visually.
  • Why we recommend this book: It broadens the reader's understanding of perception and encourages empathy and understanding towards those who experience the world differently.
  • Perfect for: Visually impaired children and any child interested in a unique sensory and cognitive experience.

• Texture by Patty Rodriguez and Ariana Stein, illustrated by Citlali Reyes
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Sensory, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book introduces young readers to various textures through a tactile exploration of everyday objects.
  • Why this book is challenging: It uses real-world examples to teach abstract concepts like rough and smooth, providing a more in-depth understanding of textures.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a hands-on learning tool that enhances tactile recognition and cognitive development through sensory play.
  • Perfect for: Preschoolers who are developing their sensory and descriptive vocabulary.

• Can You Feel What I Feel? by Helen Oxenbury
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Sensory
  • Synopsis: This book invites children to explore their surroundings by touching different materials and textures depicted in the book, accompanied by charming illustrations.
  • Why this book is challenging: It encourages children to connect the tactile sensations in the book with real-world objects, enhancing their sensory integration skills.
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes active learning and sensory exploration, making it an engaging read for young children.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy interactive and sensory-rich experiences.

• See, Touch, Feel: A First Sensory Book by Roger Priddy
  • Genre(s): Board Book, Sensory, Educational
  • Synopsis: This book is designed to stimulate the senses, featuring pages that children can poke, shake, and look at to see different sensory effects.
  • Why this book is challenging: It combines sensory exploration with simple cognitive tasks like pattern recognition and counting, offering a more complex sensory learning experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's an excellent tool for developing fine motor skills and sensory awareness in a playful, engaging manner.
  • Perfect for: Toddlers and preschoolers who are exploring their senses and developing early learning skills.

• Out of Sight by Francesco Pittau and Bernadette Gervais
  • Genre(s): Lift-the-Flap, Sensory, Educational
  • Synopsis: This interactive book includes more than fifty lift-the-flaps and die-cut pages encouraging children to guess what lies beneath, focusing on unusual animals and their unique traits.
  • Why this book is challenging: It requires critical thinking and prediction skills, as children must use clues to guess what's hidden before lifting the flap.
  • Why we recommend this book: It combines sensory play with educational content, making learning about animals exciting and interactive.
  • Perfect for: Curious children who enjoy nature and discovering new facts about animals through an interactive format.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Sure, let's dive into some fun and effective exercises that can help 5-year-olds get the most out of sensory books. These activities are designed to be engaging and beneficial, fostering a love for reading while developing essential skills.

• Texture Treasure Hunt
  • What it is: A game where children find items in the book that match textures around them.
  • How it helps: Enhances sensory recognition and vocabulary.
  • Tips: Use a variety of materials like fabric, paper, and items from nature to keep it interesting.

• Smell and Tell
  • What it is: Incorporate scented stickers or objects that relate to the story.
  • How it helps: Strengthens memory and association skills.
  • Tips: Choose familiar scents to make connections with the story's events or characters.

• Sound Out the Story
  • What it is: Use sound-making objects to add audio elements to the reading experience.
  • How it helps: Improves auditory processing and makes the reading session interactive.
  • Tips: Allow the child to choose the objects and decide which parts of the story they enhance.

• Follow the Leader
  • What it is: The child leads the reading session, deciding when to turn pages and what to discuss.
  • How it helps: Encourages independence and decision-making.
  • Tips: Ask open-ended questions to guide the discussion without taking control.

• Create a Story Map
  • What it is: Draw or construct a map based on the story’s settings and events.
  • How it helps: Aids in comprehension and recall of the story sequence.
  • Tips: Use simple materials like crayons and construction paper for map making.

These exercises are not only fun but are also a great way to build foundational reading skills. By integrating sensory elements into reading time, you're helping your child develop a multi-sensory approach to learning. This can enhance concentration, understanding, and enjoyment. Happy reading and exploring together!