Book Gifts for 5 to 7 Year Olds
Ages 5–7 · kindergarten to 2nd grade
For a 5 to 7 year old, give a picture book an adult will happily read aloud fifty times, or a first chapter book if they already read on their own. The eight below are mostly Caldecott winners, and most are rarely set as school reading, so they are unlikely to be a book the child already has from class.
Not for a child who already reads long chapter books alone: start at the 8 to 10 page instead.
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Hot Dogby Doug Salati · Grades K–2nd · 26 pages · 2022
Winner of the 2023 Caldecott Medal — a very hot dachshund gets a very good day at the beach. Recent, short, and already a modern classic.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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Watercressby Andrea Wang · Grades K–4th · 35 pages · 2021
Winner of the Caldecott Medal, a Newbery Honor, and the APALA Award — Andrea Wang's story about a Chinese immigrant family and the memories that shape us.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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We Are Water Protectorsby Carole Lindstrom · Grades K–4th · 23 pages · 2020
Winner of the 2021 Caldecott Medal — a lyrical picture book about protecting water for the next generation, illustrated by Michaela Goade.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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Corduroyby Don Freeman · Grades K–3rd · 32 pages · 1968
A department-store bear looking for his missing button and a home — 32 pages, one sitting, and a genuine holiday-gift-shop setting.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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Where the Wild Things Areby Maurice Sendak · Grades K–3rd · 48 pages · 1963
Winner of the 1964 Caldecott Medal and one of the most-taught picture books in K–2 — 20+ million copies in print, still the first 'monster' book most classrooms own.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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Last Stop on Market Streetby Matt de la Peña · Grades K–3rd · 32 pages · 2015
The first picture book ever to win the Newbery Medal (2016), plus a Caldecott Honor.
On national book lists, but no state school list in our data
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The Snowy Dayby Ezra Jack Keats · Grades K–2nd · 32 pages · 1962
Winner of the 1963 Caldecott Medal — Peter's day in the first snowfall of winter is the original snow-day picture book, still in print six decades later.
On school lists in 1 state (most often kindergarten)
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The Mouse and the Motorcycleby Beverly Cleary · Grades 2nd–4th · 192 pages · 1965
A mouse, a toy motorcycle, and pure fun. The gateway to a lifelong reader.
On school lists in 8 states (most often 3rd grade)
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What reads well at ages 5–7?
At this age most children are still read to. Picture books of 23 to 48 pages finish in one sitting, which is what makes them re-readable. The Mouse and the Motorcycle (192 pages) is the step up for a child who reads alone or likes a chapter a night.
How were these picked?
Each book comes from one of ReadingList's hand-checked lists, and the awards named are the award bodies' own. The school-list line counts the states whose reading lists include the book in our data (see how we source lists). Books set in fewer states come first, because a gift they already read in class is a wasted gift.
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