10+ Best Story Books for 6-Year-Olds w/ Exercises (2024)

Are you on the hunt for the perfect story books for 6-year-olds that will captivate their imagination and enhance their love for reading? You've come to the right place! Whether you're a parent, guardian, or educator, finding age-appropriate and engaging books can be a delightful challenge. Keep reading to discover our carefully curated lists of story books that are just right for 6-year-old readers. Let's dive into a world of adventure and learning together!

Fun Story Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A young boy named Max, dressed in a wolf costume, makes mischief and is sent to bed without supper. In his room, a mysterious wild forest and sea appear, and he sails to the land of the Wild Things.
  • Why we recommend this book: It celebrates imagination and the power of a child's creativity, showing how adventures can lead to growth and understanding.
  • Perfect for: Energetic kids who love using their imagination and exploring new worlds.

• The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt, illustrated by Oliver Jeffers
  • Genre(s): Humor, Picture Book
  • Synopsis: The crayons in Duncan's box are tired of how they're being used and decide to go on strike, each expressing their grievances in a letter to him.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a humorous story that encourages creativity and problem-solving, teaching kids to think about everyday objects in new ways.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy colorful illustrations and a good laugh, while learning about expressing feelings and conflict resolution.

• Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
  • Genre(s): Children's fiction, Rhyme, Humor
  • 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 rhythmic text makes it an ideal read for young readers, helping them build phonics and word recognition skills.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are just starting to read on their own and enjoy playful, repetitive text to improve their reading skills.

• The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: A mouse walks through the woods and encounters several dangerous animals who all wish to eat him. He invents a monster called the Gruffalo to scare them away, but then he meets the real Gruffalo.
  • Why we recommend this book: It features clever storytelling and encourages strategic thinking as the mouse outsmarts the creatures he meets.
  • Perfect for: Children who love stories with clever protagonists and a bit of suspense.

• Charlotte's Web by E.B. White, illustrated by Garth Williams
  • Genre(s): Fiction, Classic
  • Synopsis: This beloved tale follows the friendship between a pig named Wilbur and a spider named Charlotte. When Wilbur is in danger of being slaughtered, Charlotte writes messages praising Wilbur in her web to try to save him.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches important values like friendship, loyalty, and the reality of life and death in a gentle manner.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who are ready for a slightly more challenging book that offers both warmth and a depth of emotion.

Educational Story Books for 6-Year-Olds

• Miss Rumphius by Barbara Cooney
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Fiction
  • Synopsis: The story follows Alice Rumphius, who aspires to make the world a more beautiful place by planting lupine flowers everywhere she goes.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Environmental awareness, responsibility, and the impact of individual actions
  • Why we recommend this book: It inspires children to think about how they can contribute positively to the world.
  • Perfect for: Children who enjoy nature and are interested in making a positive impact on their surroundings.

• The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Multicultural
  • Synopsis: Unhei, a young Korean girl, moves to America and decides she needs an American name. Her classmates help her choose a name by filling a jar with suggestions, which leads to a journey of self-discovery and acceptance.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Cultural diversity, self-esteem, and social skills
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches the importance of cultural identity and being proud of who you are.
  • Perfect for: Kids who are navigating their own cultural identities or learning to appreciate the diversity of others.

• The Story of Ferdinand by Munro Leaf, illustrated by Robert Lawson
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Classic
  • Synopsis: Ferdinand is a bull who prefers sitting quietly under a tree rather than jumping and butting heads like other bulls. His peaceful nature eventually leads to unexpected adventures.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Emotional intelligence, peace, and individuality
  • Why we recommend this book: It promotes the values of being true to oneself and the acceptance of differences.
  • Perfect for: Children who feel different from others and need reassurance that it's okay to be themselves.

• Ada Twist, Scientist by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by David Roberts
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, STEM
  • Synopsis: Ada Twist is a very curious girl who embarks on fact-finding missions and conducts scientific experiments to understand the world around her.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Scientific inquiry, problem-solving, and critical thinking
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages curiosity and perseverance in pursuing knowledge and answers.
  • Perfect for: Young scientists who are always asking "why?" and "how?"

• Last Stop on Market Street by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Christian Robinson
  • Genre(s): Picture Book, Urban Fiction
  • Synopsis: A young boy named CJ travels with his grandmother through the city, learning to appreciate the beauty in everyday things and understanding the value of helping others.
  • Skills and subjects this book improves: Empathy, gratitude, and community awareness
  • Why we recommend this book: It highlights the importance of seeing beauty in the world and helping those in need.
  • Perfect for: Kids who live in or are curious about urban settings and learning about different lifestyles and perspectives.

Challenging Story Books for 6-Year-Olds

• The Tale of Despereaux by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Timothy Basil Ering
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure, Fairy Tale
  • Synopsis: This story follows Despereaux Tilling, a small mouse with big ears, who loves music and stories, and his adventures from being banished from his mouse colony to saving a human princess.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features complex vocabulary and narrative structure, including themes of bravery, darkness, and redemption.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a beautifully written tale that combines adventure with heartfelt messages about courage and forgiveness.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy fairy tales and stories of unlikely heroes.

• The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane by Kate DiCamillo, illustrated by Bagram Ibatoulline
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure
  • Synopsis: Edward Tulane, a china rabbit, goes on an epic journey of loss and discovery after he is lost by his original owner, learning about love and the pain of real emotions along the way.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative delves into deep emotional themes and the language is rich and layered, providing a more complex reading experience.
  • Why we recommend this book: It teaches important life lessons about love, loss, and healing in a way that is accessible and moving for young readers.
  • Perfect for: Children who are ready for emotionally rich stories that explore complex themes.

• The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame
  • Genre(s): Classic, Adventure, Fantasy
  • Synopsis: This classic tale follows the adventures of Mole, Rat, Toad, and Badger, four anthropomorphized animal friends in a pastoral version of England.
  • Why this book is challenging: The book uses sophisticated language and explores themes of friendship, morality, and the joys and hardships of life.
  • Why we recommend this book: It's a timeless story that offers rich descriptions of the natural world and thought-provoking insights into personal dynamics and societal norms.
  • Perfect for: Young readers who enjoy stories about friendship and adventures in nature.

• Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, Adventure, Literature
  • Synopsis: Young Alice falls through a rabbit hole into Wonderland, a place filled with peculiar creatures and nonsensical logic, where she encounters unforgettable characters like the Cheshire Cat and the Queen of Hearts.
  • Why this book is challenging: The narrative structure is complex with whimsical language and plays on logic that challenge conventional storytelling.
  • Why we recommend this book: It encourages imagination and critical thinking, as readers navigate through its cleverly crafted absurdities and witty dialogues.
  • Perfect for: Creative minds who delight in puzzles and the unexpected twists of a fantastical plot.

• Matilda by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake
  • Genre(s): Fantasy, School Story
  • Synopsis: Matilda is a young girl with extraordinary intelligence and telekinetic powers who faces off against the cruel Miss Trunchbull, her school's headmistress, and champions her fellow students.
  • Why this book is challenging: It features rich vocabulary and themes of justice and personal empowerment against adult adversaries.
  • Why we recommend this book: It celebrates the resilience and cleverness of children, encouraging readers to believe in their own power to overcome obstacles.
  • Perfect for: Intelligent young readers who enjoy rooting for underdogs and seeing characters their age display courage and wit.

Exercises to Develop a Good Reading Habit

Hey there! If you're looking to cultivate a love for reading in your 6-year-old, you've come to the right place. Here are some fun and engaging exercises designed to help young readers develop good reading habits. Each activity is simple to follow and packed with benefits that go beyond just reading.

• Read Aloud Together
  • What it is: You read a storybook aloud to your child, or you take turns reading.
  • How it helps: Enhances listening skills, vocabulary, and comprehension.
  • Tips: Change your voice for different characters to make the reading session more engaging.

• Picture Walk
  • What it is: Flip through the pages of a book and discuss the pictures before reading the text.
  • How it helps: Builds anticipation and prediction skills, and sets a purpose for reading.
  • Tips: Ask your child to guess what might happen in the story based on the pictures.

• Match the Sound
  • What it is: Find items around the house that start with the same letter/sound as the first letter in the book title.
  • How it helps: Reinforces the connection between sounds and letters, a key reading skill.
  • Tips: Keep this activity playful and use it as a mini scavenger hunt.

• Story Sequencing
  • What it is: After reading, ask your child to retell the story in their own words.
  • How it helps: Improves memory and comprehension, and helps children understand narrative structure.
  • Tips: Use prompts like "What happened first?" or "What came next?"

• Role Play
  • What it is: Act out scenes from the story with costumes or props.
  • How it helps: Deepens understanding of the story and characters, and encourages imaginative play.
  • Tips: Let your child take the lead in choosing scenes and characters to act out.

• Create a Reading Nook
  • What it is: Set up a special, cozy corner dedicated to reading.
  • How it helps: Makes reading a special event and provides a comfortable, inviting space to enjoy books.
  • Tips: Allow your child to personalize the space with their favorite cushions, toys, or decorations.

• Book Selection Day
  • What it is: Have a day where your child picks out what books to read for the week.
  • How it helps: Gives them a sense of autonomy and makes them more excited about reading.
  • Tips: Guide them to pick a variety of books, including some that might be slightly challenging.

These exercises are not just about reading; they're about making reading a fun, integral part of your child's daily life. Try incorporating these activities into your routine and watch as your little one's reading skills blossom. Happy reading!