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Hand-picked by the LoveReading4Kids editorial panel · Last reviewed 12 September 2026 · Meet the panel
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.
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'.
“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
“In a nutshell: princesses can be masked avengers too!” Our review, by the LoveReading4Kids team
“How can Plop, the baby owl who is afraid of the dark, overcome his problems?” Our review, by the LoveReading4Kids team
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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