By the age of five, most children can create rhymes, match spoken and written words, make story predictions, summarize and sequence a linear narrative, and generally connect what they are reading to the world around them. This collection of phenomenal books includes celebrations of unique cultures, encourages imaginative thinking and creative exploration, honors the enduring beauty of the natural world, and reinforces positive relational skills such as; empathy, self-confidence, and inclusion- all whilst inspiring young learners to fulfill their budding potential.
1. The Pet Dragon by Christoph Niemann
Lin is an adventurous girl searching for a runaway dragon in this thrilling mystery story which cleverly incorporates Chinese characters into the illustrations.
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2. Triangle by Mac Barnett
Who knew learning about shapes could be so much fun? Combining a silly storyline and plenty of sneaky antics, this humorous book makes a great starting point for a geometry lesson.
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3. Rosie Revere, Engineer by Andrea Beaty
This best-selling book is one in a series of STEM-inspired titles that encourage young girls to pursue their passion in science, engineering, and math. Rosie goes from hiding her gizmos and gadgets for fear that they will be made fun of to proudly sharing her contraptions with her family and friends.
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4. Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin
This award-winning book features Farmer Brown’s hilarious struggles as he contends with a group of barnyard animals that have managed to get hold of a typewriter. Follow along as they begin to make their outlandish demands known!
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5. Kindergarten, Here I Come
Celebrating all the significant milestones of the first day of school, this is the perfect book for helping new learners adjust to the kindergarten classroom. Fun rhymes and inventive phrases are sure to have your learners hooked!
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6. Becoming a Good Creature by Sy Montgomery
This charming book shares all the incredible lessons of empathy, caring, and patience that we can learn from our four-legged friends. It’s the perfect gifting choice for animal lovers.
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7. The World Needs More Purple People by Kristen Bell
Becoming a purple person may not always be easy, but it’s certainly worth it! As we learn in this bestselling story, to unite communities on a universal front, we should be curious and confident, and inspire others through our kind actions.
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8. A Camping Spree with Mr. Magee by Chris Van Dusen
With a funny storyline, this fabulous book is part of a more extensive book series; teaching a valuable lesson in overcoming obstacles with beautiful, bright illustrations.
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9. The Hike by Alison Farrell
This classic story features three adventurous young girls, armed with an abundance of girl power. They go on a hike through the great outdoors, discovering all sorts of enchanted forests and magical creatures along the way.
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10. What Do You Do With an Idea by Kobi Yamada
This clever picture book is full of beautiful illustrations and teaches children the power of nurturing a new idea. As the main character’s confidence grows, so too does her capacity to bring her idea to life- inspiring greater creativity in readers along the way.
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11. Becoming Vanessa by Vanessa Brantley-Newton
Vanessa is pretty sure that a shiny, new outfit will be all it takes to make friends on her first day of school, but she soon discovers there’s more to being liked than glitter and feathers. This heartwarming story of being true to oneself is a gem for developing young minds.
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12. From Far Away by Robert Munsch
Famed author, Robert Munsch, received a letter from a young refugee reader and collaborated with her to produce this tale of the immigrant experience. Their heartfelt creation is sure to inspire empathy for all immigrant experiences.
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13. The Proudest Blue by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Being proud of who you are can be challenging when you wear a hijab and look different from everyone around you. With sisterly love, determination, and courage, two young girls learn that it is indeed possible to be proud of your culture and beliefs.
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14. Birdsong by Julie Flett
This moving story of the blossoming friendship between a young girl and an elderly woman will certainly elicit an appreciation for the timeless nature of the true connection.
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15. Here We Are by Oliver Jeffers
This classic from the acclaimed Oliver Jeffers tackles the confounding and miraculous nature of life on planet Earth. While encouraging curiosity about the majesty of creation, he also underscores the importance of the universal value of human kindness.
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16. The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi
What’s in a name? For young Unhei, it turns out that her name is more than just a difficult word to pronounce. It’s also, and more importantly, a beautiful symbol of her Korean roots and traditions.
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17. Maybe: A Story About the Endless Potential in All of Us by Kodi Yamada
This gorgeously illustrated picture book celebrates the unique and rare gifts that each of us carries while inspiring young readers to express and share their infinite potential with the world. The whimsical illustrations transport readers to another world where dreams can quickly become a reality.
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18. A Nest Is Noisy by Dianna Hutts Aston
Have a peek inside the remarkable world of nests! This fact-packed book, enhanced by dazzling illustrations, encourages curiosity about our feathered friends and the elaborate creations they call home.
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19. Ruby’s Worry by Tom Percival
Whatever we resist, persists; and that is especially true for our emotions! While that may seem like an advanced psychological concept, children are more than capable of understanding and applying this truth to their emotional life. As they learn to embrace their emotions instead of suppressing or denying them, they build the emotional intelligence that will serve them well for a lifetime.
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20. Olivia by Ian Falconer
Olivia loves going on fun, whimsical adventures where she can sing, build castles, paint, and dance. This adorable classic makes a great bedtime story and is sure to delight children as they settle into bed after a long, busy day.
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21. You Hold Me Up by Monique Gray Smith
This thoughtful book drives home the importance of connection, empathy, and building supportive relationships while highlighting the cross-generational bonds in the many indigenous communities of the world.
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22. In My Heart by Jo Witek
This textured, interactive book inventively combines pages to create a multilayered heart full of the entire continuum of human emotions. It’s a wonderful gift for those who are learning to express the full range of their feelings and learning to articulate them verbally.
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23. The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
The rainbow fish may be iridescently beautiful, but is boasting about his glimmering scales the way to win friends? Only when the rainbow fish begins to share his coveted possession with the other sea creatures does he realize friendship is the greatest gift of all.
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24. Rapunzel by Chloe Perkins
Isn’t it time we updated our fairytale classics for the modern era? The creators behind this series seem to think so! Rapunzel is one in a larger collection of reimagined fairytales told through an international lens. In this case, set in ancient India, but the series also covers Asia, Europe, and Latin America.
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25. Corduroy by Don Freeman
When a little girl sees a stuffed bear, she immediately falls in love and just has to bring him home! Her mother points out that he is missing a button and might not be the best choice. But this doesn’t seem to dissuade her from emptying her piggy bank and returning to the store the next day. Thus begins the timeless tale of love and connection that has enchanted children for generations.
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24 Top Books For 12-Year-Olds