50 best books for 6-year-olds

Victor is a wolf with a head full of worries. He worries about almost everything, from whether he’s brave enough, to what he’s going to have for dinner. One day, Victor shares how he feels with his friend Pablo, who helps him learn how to make his worries feel a little smaller. Giving children the tools they need to talk about and understand their worries, this book is a wonderful way to help young children talk about how they are feeling.

This beautifully presented collection of four stories, each based on a classical ballet is the perfect gift for any ballet-loving girl or boy. From sleeping princesses and sugar plum fairies to majestic swans and magical firebirds, young dancers will love recognising the characters in the book’s gloriously illustrated pages. With a special gold foil cover and vibrant colour throughout, this book will be treasured for years to come.

When Tyrone starts to build a rocket ship to shoot him to the moon, everything seems to go wrong and he’s ready to give up. Luckily, his Grandad Cleveland steps in to teach him that sometimes, all you need to succeed is your imagination and the belief that you can do anything, no matter how tricky it seems. Celebrate the power of positivity in this illustrated story, written by national treasure, Lenny Henry.

This beautiful gift book is packed with facts about the world of Sylvanian Families and the characters that live there. From the cosy cottages of Sylvanian Village to the Sylvanian Land amusement park, Freya the Chocolate Rabbit shows young readers around her world. With facts about each family, beautifully illustrated maps and an original story, this book will be treasured by any young fan.

From Julia Donaldson and Lydia Monks, the creators of What the Ladybird Heard, comes this collection of six magical Princess Mirror-Belle stories. When Ellen meets Mirror-belle, a mischievous princess who appears out of mirrors and causes havoc, her life turns into a non-stop adventure! Designed to support the development of independent reading, the Princess Mirror-Belle books are packed with magic and mischief.

Young Frederick’s sheltered life in his remote mansion is somewhat boring. But when Emily invites him to play outside, Frederick has to say no. After all, he needs to stay safe inside. But Emily refuses to take no for an answer and introduces him to the magic and wonder of the world outside his four walls. Told through the children’s hilarious letters to each other, this charming story of friendship is perfect for early readers.

Doll Constance Hardpenny has led a long and difficult life, but when she is rescued from a rubbish bin by a little boy called Edward, it seems things are looking up. Instead, poor Constance suffers a series of calamities, from being left in the rain to being used as a chew toy by the neighbour’s dog. Will she ever have the serene tea-party-filled existence her doll-dreams are made of? From the creators of The Misadventures of Frederick comes Constance in Peril, a fantastically funny story.

By day Astrid Atomic is a normal 6-year-old human. But when she goes to bed at night, she doesn’t stay there sleeping soundly. Instead, she jets off on the spaceship Stardust to explore outer space! A brand new series from the author-illustrator of the Claude series, Astrid and the Space Cadets is an adventure designed especially for newly confident readers to enjoy independently.

Fall in love with Fern, Charlotte and all their friends on the farm in this deeply touching story by E .B. White. When Fern’s uncle declares that her favourite little pig, Wilbur is going to be taken from the farm and sold for meat, Fern and her animal friends devise a plan to save him. A true classic, Charlotte’s Web has helped young readers all over the world fall in love with the magic of reading.

Isadora Moon isn’t like other children, and that is exactly what makes her special! With a vampire for a dad and a fairy for a mum, Isadora is a bit of both. But when it is time for her to start school, she’s not sure where she belongs. With easy-to-decode sentences and black and pink illustrations to support comprehension, the Isadora Moon books are a wonderful introduction to chapter books.