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Five to seven is the magic window when reading clicks. A child who loved being read to starts sounding out words alone, then - gloriously - wants to read you the story for a change. The right book at this age is the difference between reading as a chore and reading as a joy. The best of them are funny, fast and just hard enough to feel like an achievement.
The short answer
- The one to start with
- Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas & Korky Paul — funny, magic and beautifully drawn
- Best for giggles
- Oi Frog! by Kes Gray & Jim Field — rhymes that beg to be read aloud
- Best first chapter book
- Mercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo — short chapters and a toast-loving pig
What makes a great book for early readers?
Look for short chapters, big friendly text and a laugh on every other page. At this stage a child is doing two hard things at once - decoding the words and following the story - so warmth, humour and plenty of pictures keep them going when the effort gets real. A beloved series is gold: once a child falls for one Horrid Henry or one Princess in Black, the next ten books feel like old friends. The titles below are the ones that turn 'I have to read' into 'just one more chapter'.
Our pick of the best books for 5-7 year olds
Winnie the Witch by Valerie Thomas & Korky Paul
A scatty witch, a long-suffering black cat and gloriously detailed pictures; funny, magical and made for new readers.Horrid Henry by Francesca Simon
The naughtiest boy in fiction in short, hilarious chapters - the series that hooks reluctant and eager readers alike.“A day devoted to stuffing your face with sweets and playing horrid tricks: Horrid Henry and Hallowe’en are made for one another!”Our review, by the LoveReading4Kids team
Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamClaude in the City by Alex T. Smith
A dapper little dog and his beret-wearing adventures; warm, witty and perfectly pitched for the first solo read.Oi Frog! by Kes Gray & Jim Field
Riotous rhyming about who sits where; read-aloud gold that helps early readers predict and join in.The Princess in Black by Shannon Hale & Dean Hale
A princess with a monster-fighting secret identity; short, action-packed chapters and a brilliant heroine.“In a nutshell: princesses can be masked avengers too!”Our review, by the LoveReading4Kids team
Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids teamMercy Watson by Kate DiCamillo
A toast-loving pig who causes loveable chaos; bright, funny and beautifully judged for readers finding their feet.Dirty Bertie by Alan MacDonald & David Roberts
Gleefully grubby, laugh-out-loud stories in bite-sized chapters; catnip for five-to-sevens who think they don't like books.The Owl Who Was Afraid of the Dark by Jill Tomlinson
Gentle, reassuring and quietly classic; a baby owl conquers his fear in a story that's perfect for bedtime reading practice.“How can Plop, the baby owl who is afraid of the dark, overcome his problems?”Our review, by the LoveReading4Kids team
Reviewed by the LoveReading4Kids team
Chosen by experts, not an algorithm
Every title is chosen by LoveReading4Kids' children's-book specialists - people who share books with real children every day. We've recommended on merit since 2005, and through our Schools Reading Programme we see which stories genuinely get newly independent readers turning pages. When you buy through us, up to 25% of the cover price can go to a school of your choice.
Each is named, with a photograph and full biography, on our editorial experts page.
Members of the panel include:
Julia Eccleshare MBEAward-winning children’s literature expert and former Guardian Children’s Editor
Andrea ReeceChildren’s literature expert, editor and former children’s publisher
Joy CourtLeading children’s literature expert and former Chair of the CILIP Carnegie & Kate Greenaway Medals
Amy McKayFormer UK School Librarian of the Year and Yoto Carnegies National Coordinator
Helping a new reader fly
Take turns - you read a page, they read a page - so the story never stalls while they decode. Let them reread favourites as often as they like, and don't rush them off picture books; the two happily overlap. A child who feels successful is a child who keeps reading.
Your questions answered
What books are best for a 5-7 year old just learning to read?
Short chapter books with big text, lots of pictures and plenty of humour work best - Winnie the Witch, Mercy Watson and The Princess in Black are ideal. At this age a funny, fast story matters more than length; it keeps a child going while they do the hard work of decoding.
My child can decode words but won't read for fun. What helps?
Comedy and a series. Horrid Henry and Dirty Bertie hook children who think reading is dull, and once they love one book the next in the series feels easy. Take turns reading pages aloud so the story never stalls, and let them choose - ownership builds enthusiasm.
How do you decide which early-reader books to recommend?
By reading them - and by watching what works with real children. Our LoveReading4Kids experts and the Schools Reading Programme tell us which books genuinely hook a newly independent reader, so these picks reflect classroom-tested judgement rather than a bestseller chart.
Should a 5-7 year old still have picture books read to them?
Absolutely. Reading aloud to a child well beyond the age they can read alone builds vocabulary and a love of story, and picture books and first chapter books happily overlap. Keep sharing books together - it's one of the best things you can do for a new reader.