It’s a tough time when the picture books in your kid’s bedroom (the ones that’ve been read a hundred times) suddenly look a bit young.
But the chapter books on the big shelf look a little grown up. The pages packed with words and barely any bright, beautiful pictures to hold on to.
If your child is somewhere in between, finding something to bridge the gap can feel hella daunting.
I’m pleased to say there’s a whole collection of books built for this precise moment in time. The best first chapter books for 6 year olds have short chapters, pictures on nearly every page, and one simple story that a child can actually finish.
You can browse the whole age band over on books for 6-year-olds, but here are the ones i’d hand over first.
Picture book vs chapter book: what’s the difference?
Picture books tell the story through the pictures as much as the words. They’re short, you read them in one go (usually out loud), and the pictures carry a big chunk of what’s actually happening.
Chapter books flip that round. The words do most of the work, the story is split into chapters, and there are far fewer pictures. A child reads them over a few sittings instead of all at once.
First chapter books are the bit in the middle. Short chapters, but still loads of pictures on the page. One simple story, just split up so it feels like a proper grown-up book. They’re the stepping stone from one to the other, without the jump feeling scary.
What age are first chapter books for?
Roughly five to seven. They’re the ‘inbetween’ years, when a child knows their letters and can follow a story on their own, but a whole novel is still a stretch.
That said, it’s more about stage than birthday. A keen five-year-old might fly through them. A seven-year-old who’s only just clicked with reading might want them a while longer. Both are completely normal.
If your child can read a few lines without too many tricky words, and likes a story split into bite-sized chunks, they’re ready. (And there’s no harm starting them off as a read-aloud first either.)
What makes a good first chapter book
A few things separate a brilliant first chapter book from one that puts a child off reading completely:
- Short chapters. Five to eight pages, done in one bedtime. That little boost of finishing a whole chapter is the thing that keeps them going. (Same goes for most of us if we’re not sure about a book, right?)
- One storyline. No big cast to keep track of, no two things happening at once. Just one child (or creature) and one problem.
- Pictures on most pages. The illustrations do half the work and stop the page feeling like homework.
- And a series. If they love book one, you don’t want to be scouring the bookshelves for a different one tomorrow night.
Six first chapter books for 6 year olds to start with
The Naughtiest Unicorn, by Pip Bird
The Naughtiest Unicorn
Mira has waited her whole life to start Unicorn School. Her big sister goes, and won’t stop banging on about it. But when Mira finally arrives, all the sparkly unicorns have been picked. The only one left is Dave (excellent name). Dave is grumpy, greedy, much more interested in his lunch than in any magical quest, and he keeps running off the second Mira climbs on.
It’s daft and funny and exactly the right length. There are loads more in the series once Dave wins them over (and he will).
Dirty Bertie: Worms! by Alan MacDonald
Dirty Bertie – Worms!
Bertie is the kind of boy who will happily eat a worm. He’ll skip a bath, pick his nose, and do absolutely anything to wriggle out of going to a pink party (sounds like someone we all know i think…). This one is three short, very silly stories in a row.
If your child finds silly toilet humour type things hilarious (most six-year-olds do), this is the one that gets them turning pages on their own.
Isadora Moon Gets in Trouble, by Harriet Muncaster
Isadora Moon Gets in Trouble
It’s ‘Bring Your Pet to School Day’, and Isadora just wants to take her pink rabbit. Then her older cousin Mirabelle turns up with a much more exciting idea.
Why bring a rabbit when you could bring a dragon? What could possibly go wrong…
Isadora is half vampire, half fairy, and never quite sure where she fits, which is part of why kids love her. The pink-and-black pictures are gorgeous too and they add a lot of the fun.
Lulu and the Cat in the Bag, by Hilary McKay
Lulu and the Cat in the Bag
A bag turns up on Lulu’s doorstep. Inside is a cat. Not a small one either, a huge, neon-orange cat that nobody asked for. Lulu’s grandmother is not thrilled. But Lulu can tell straight away that the cat means no harm. It just needs a home.
This one’s for the animal-mad child. A cosy story with a lovely ending that leaves you all feeling a bit warm and fuzzy.
Princess Mirror-Belle and the Party Hoppers, by Julia Donaldson
Princess Mirror-Belle and the Party Hoppers
Ellen looks in the mirror and her reflection climbs out. Her name is Princess Mirror-Belle, she’s bossy, she’s full of stories, and she causes the most enormous fuss wherever she goes.
Birthday parties, the fair, the first day at a new school, Mirror-Belle turns all of it upside down.
Yes, it’s the same Julia Donaldson who wrote The Gruffalo, now writing short funny chapters for slightly bigger readers. Good for the child who likes a bit of mischief.
Magical Venice: The Girl of Glass, by Holly Webb
Magical Venice – The Girl of Glass
On a little island near Venice, the glassmakers turn sand into swans and chandeliers. Mariana’s father is one of the best. When her little sister Eliza dies, he uses his skill, and a dash of magic, to make a girl out of glass in Eliza’s image. The glass girl sings and dances and talks. But as she grows more and more like the real Eliza, Mariana starts to wonder what she actually is.
This is the longest of the six, so save it for the child who’s found their feet a bit (or share as a read aloud). The Venice setting is lovely and there are three more to read after it.
Two more, for either end of the leap
- For the child only just stepping off picture books, try Pugly On Ice by Pamela Butchart. Pugly the pug is certain he is the greatest ice skater the world has ever seen. Trouble is, someone else wants that gold medal very badly, and they’ll do anything to get it. Tiny chapters, big pictures, very funny.
- If they want something a bit more challenging, try Kitty and the Moonlight Rescue by Paula Harrison. Kitty has secret cat-like powers, but having powers and being brave aren’t the same thing. To rescue a frightened kitten stuck up the city clock tower, she has to find her courage first. The chapters are a touch longer, so it’s a gentle next step towards proper novels.
When they’re ready, we’ll keep up
If your child isn’t reading fully on their own yet, don’t worry about it.
Every one of these works just as well read aloud, a chapter a night. There’s no rush, and there’s no wrong way in.
When they are flying though, that’s where we come in.
Little Reads is 3,000+ hand-picked books, sorted by age so the next right one is always a tap away.