11 great books for 6 year olds

Pat the bat is bored. Everyone else is asleep, but Pat doesn’t want to be like everyone else, he wants to stand out. He dreams of being as special as the superheroes in his favourite comics. He dreams of being… Superbat!

This beautiful book celebrates the world we live in: there are LOTS of people, places, landscapes and cultures to see. Marc Martin’s illustrations capture the spirit of every place and culture, igniting the travelling bug for young explorers.

Everything in this sausagey counting book works perfectly: from the big, bold illustration to the satisfying rhyme that works well for preschoolers. It will also entertain adults and older children, who will really get the silly humour.

Kitty’s mum is a superhero with cat powers, and Kitty wants to be just like her. Kitty’s night-time adventures feature a cast of lovely cat characters and there’s a gentle theme of friendship, bravery and being yourself. 

Nathan Bryon and Dapo Adeola’s charming picture book gifts us with a gorgeous character in Rocket, a girl whose passion for all things space is as inspiring to the reader as her heroine Mae Jemison is to her. 

Sofia Valdez isn’t just a do-gooder: she’s a do-better, visiting people in her community who can’t get out much, or just stopping for a chat. Andrea Beaty’s brilliant rhyming text tells Sofia’s story flawlessly, and David Roberts’ characters and imagery are stunning.

Dave Pigeon, the brilliant pigeon mastermind, is determined to find and eat all of your biscuits. The expressive illustrations complete a perfect funny book for younger readers.

Colourful, action-filled and laugh-out-loud funny, with plenty of burps, farts and catchphrases, HILO is the first in a bestselling US graphic novel series for younger readers. It’s also a genuinely well-told, gripping sci-fi story.

When the royal castle is destroyed in an Unfortunate Incident involving a fire-breathing dragon, the King and his best friend, the cat, are forced to find an alternative home.

Wilfred the Narwhal and Neville the Walrus are the odd ones out at Miss Blubber’s School for Arctic Mammals… but will things change when Betty the Beluga joins the class? A stunning, empowering must-read for all children.

This inspirational non-fiction picture book introduces children to extraordinary people from across the world and throughout history. Selected from a range of disciplines, the 15 featured individuals are united by common themes of hard work and perseverance.