20+ Picture Books for 5th Graders (2024)

Can you read picture books to 5th graders?

Absolutely. I love reading picture books with big kids for so many reasons. They offer simple but meaningful opportunities for kids to learn about the world. They encourage kids to think about themselves, their friends and classmates, their homes, hopes and dreams. They inspire chidlren to stretch their imaginations, foster empathy, and teach everything from social skills to stellar storytelling.
Most importantly, picture books offer kids safe spaces in which to ponder and discuss their fears and their worries, from the big to the small.

When should kids stop reading picture books?

NEVER! Was that too loud? Seriously, though. Kids are never too old for the magic of picture books. You will be surprised at how many of these incredible stories resonate with you as much as they resonate with your kids. Don’t ever stop opening these magical books!

What is your favorite picture book to read with big kids?

I will forever adore The Wall in the Middle of the Book, by Jon Agee, and After the Fall, by Dan Santat. Both of these are phenomenal stories that inspire important conversations – everything from anxiety and resiliency to combating bias and preconceived notions. The below list is truly full of phenomenal picture books for 5th graders, and having to pick favorites was not easy!

Can you recommend great novels for 5th graders?

Of course! Make sure to check out our list of the best books for 5th grade here!

In this powerful story, readers find exactly what the title says – a wall running along the gutter of the book. On one side of the wall stands a knight who proudly proclaims he is safe right where he is on his side of the wall. Any scary dangers, after all, are on the other side of the wall. So what exactly is on that other side? Angry animals and evil ogres, of course. What the knight doesn’t realize, however, is that rising water and a looming crocodile threaten his safety on his safe side of the wall. And when the knight finds himself in need of serious help, the one who comes to his rescue is not at all who the knight anticipated, and the other side of the wall may possess a lot more fun than fright. For our full review of The Wall in the Middle of the book, click here! This is one of my favorite picture books for 5th graders for the way it tackles preconceived notions and helps kids learn to combat bias.

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This brilliant picture book for 5th graders tackles anxiety in the most glorious way. It is the story of what happens after Humpty Dumpty gets put back together and how he manages to overcome his newfound (and crippling) fear of heights. The themes embraced here — anxiety, resilience, and putting oneself back together after a fall — lend themselves well to didacticism, but Santat delivers this story with the lightest touch, enabling it to speak to children at all social and emotional maturity levels. A masterpiece! For our full review of After the Fall, click here!

This fantastic story takes readers on a young girl’s journey as she moves through her day. The child loves the world she lives in, but she also finds ways to self-soothe when surroundings are different and feelings are unfamiliar. Sometimes the things we need to feel safe – from strength to self-confidence to inner peace – are right inside us, and we simply need to discover how to find them in times of need. While we all hope our kids grow up surrounded by great support systems and love from family and friends, teaching them to trust themselves and that they possess all the tools they need to succeed is of vital significance. This beautiful picture book for 5th graders is easy for children to grasp and profound enough that it will resonate with any grownup reading it to the child snuggling next to them. It’s a powerful ode to self-reliance, and it’s a true gift for each and every one of our children.

If you have a child that is a perfectionist, whether it comes to school, hobbies, or creativity, this book is a must! The Book of Mistakes is a stunner, illuminating the inherent beauty that underlies every misstep we make. Readers follow the author on a creative journey, one that perfectly depicts how every “mistake” she makes actually becomes an integral part of her illustrative process. An “oh no” can become an “oh wow!” with just a bit of endurance and a whole lot of heart and imagination. For our full review of The Book of Mistakes, click here! This is a wonderful story to discuss growth mindset with children!

It is not easy to lose a friend to someone else. Especially a best friend. It can feel overwhelmingly sad and unbearably painful, even when a friendship ends with a slow burn and not an explosive fire. Yet there is always a way forward. This fabulous book conveys the importance of self-reliance and letting ourselves feel painful emotions. At the same time, it helps children recognize that when one door closes, another opens. Even if one friend is not as forever as we had hoped, another one may be waiting just around the corner. This is such a perfect picture book for 5th graders whose social relationships can start to get tricky as they get older, validating sadness at losing someone close while simultaneously offering them hope for a bright tomorrow. I’m head over heels in love with this beautiful book about friendship lost and found!

Jay loves his dad’s cool car, hanging with his friends, and the affection from his Grandma. But as Jay grows into a bigger boy, he has to have an important conversation with his family – “The Talk.” In a world where Black and Brown children are frequently treated unfairly, their families are forced to give them The Talk when they are still only children. Parents tell their kids how Black and Brown children go through an impossible transition: though they are seen as adorable youngsters, mindsets change and they are viewed as threatening when they become tweens and teens. Parents must warn their kids about the dangers of congregating in large groups. Parents even tell their Black and Brown children exactly how to act if they are ever stopped or pulled over by the police. This sensitive book is age-appropriate and, in the end, hopeful. Yet it never shies away from conveying the message that The Talk can mean the difference between life and death in a biased and racist world. Moving, profound, and oh-so powerful.

What’s better than one rock-star creator working on a book? Three! Oh. My. Gosh. This book is simply remarkable in every way. Fogliano’s prose is, as always, pitch-perfect, authentic, and ideal for reading aloud. Combine that with illustrations by Caldecott Honorees Idle and Martinez-Neal and you basically have the most gorgeous friendship picture book ever. We simply adore how this story conveys to children that petty character traits do not matter, but caring and sharing and helping do. These are the foundations of relationships, and these actions are what all friendships build upon to become strong and true. Small things may set us apart, but big, beautiful things bring us together. These two unlikely friends will weave their way into your hearts, and your kids will beg for this sweet friendship book for a long time to come. An absolute gem!

We love modern updates to classic books, and in this gorgeous new edition of an old story, one little girl continually asks her mom, will it be okay? From thunder and lightning to bee stings to stage fright to death, mom continues to reassure her child that yes, it will be ok. All of it will be okay, and they will face any and all challenges that come their way together. This beautiful book for anxious kids explores common childhood fears with warmth, authenticity, and tenderness, and I can’t rave about it enough! For kids that like stories with human characters facing hard situations, this is a winner. This is a wonderful picture book for 5th graders as it opens the door to a conversation about fear and anxiety.

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Lubna’s best friend and confidante is a small pebble, found the night she landed in a World of Tents with her father. When a little boy arrives at the World of Tents, lost and cold, Lubna introduces the boy to Pebble. The two become friends in their new, uncertain world. When Lubna learns she and her father have found a real home and will be leaving the World of Tents, Lubna knows she has the most perfect gift to leave with the boy. Stunning, poignant, and moving, this has become an all-time favorite kindness book for kids. This picture book for 5th graders can be used to discuss empathy and compassion, and it can also be used to introduce lessons on refugees and immigation. For our full review of Lubna and Pebble, click here!

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Sweet Violet feels her heart flutter every time she sees one girl in her class. Mira, the girl with a laugh like wind chimes, is so special to Violet, and the only one she wants to give a Valentine to. There’s just one problem – every time Violet tries to share her feelings with Mira, she gets tongue-tied! This is a sweet, sweet story about love and courage, and we love how it normalizes same-sex crushes for children! This story will help so many kids feel seen and is one of our favorite LGBTQ children’s books.

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Something terrible has happened to little Taylor: she cannot get over her devastation when a tower she worked so hard to construct crashes to the ground. Her friends try to help. They offer suggestions and unsolicited advice, trying everything under the sun to get her to calm down. But it is only when the rabbit sits next to Taylor and listens — just listens, quietly, calmly, and with compassion — that she begins to feel better. How I love this one! This is a favorite picture book highlighting the ever-important quality of listening and not trying to “fix” things. Though the character is clearly a very young child, it is always a powerful picture book for fifth graders.

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If you refrain from making a nasty comment to a classmate in person, is it ok to post that comment online instead? This is one of the awesome questions sparked in this smart story, a perfect picture book for 5th graders who are beginning to delve into social media. Reynolds and Davies have given us the perfect book to start a conversation about what it means to be a responsible and respectful internet user, particularly when it comes to social media. I fell in love with this story instantly and believe it should be required reading for students of all ages. For our full review of Nerdy Birdy Tweets, click here!

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Jacqueline Woodson is brilliant! This story packs a powerful punch and is a fabulous picture book for 5th graders. Chloe and her crew won’t play with the new girl in school, casting Maya aside whenever she tries to make friends. One day, Maya stops coming to school. When Chloe’s teacher speaks to the class about how even small acts of kindness can have powerful effects, Chloe is remorseful for treating Maya so poorly. This is a must-have for every classroom and home, sending an anti-bullying message that is as compelling as it is critical.

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This fabulous book teaches point of view to children and is a wonderful story about the sense of sight. As a cat walks through his day, he comes across various animals and is perceived in astonishingly different ways, from predator to huggable house pet. Some view the cat in color, others in black and white, some from up above, and some from down below. This book offers a phenomenal segue for for teaching perspective with children young and old, and it helps them understand that we all have unique relationships with every person (or animal!) we come across.

What a tremendously powerful book to convey that some children have words that get stuck in the back of their mouths, words that don’t come out the way they want them to. This story centers around a young boy who stutters and his loving father who uses the river to help the boy find his voice. Just as the river ebbs and flows, so, too, does the child’s voice. This important story pulls children into the world of those with dysfluency, written by the author’s own personal experiences.

This beautiful new story celebrates identity and self-discovery. Some people believe who we are – and who we are destined to be – can be determined at birth. Yet, for each and every one of us, the possibilities are actually endless. The dancer becomes a coder. The star athlete becomes a poet. The class clown? An inspiring teacher. De la Pena’s lyrical prose always reads like music. When paired with Luyken’s exquisite art, the result is a masterful ode to self-discovery and complexity. Every single one of us is a story that continues to be written. On some days we feel stagnant, on others we grow and learn and grow some more. This growth adds complexity and nuance to our character, empowering each of us to take chances, try new things, and explore our limitless potential. None of us is just one thing, written in indelible ink the day we arrive. Instead, we are “mismatched scraps accumulated over time/ and stitched together/ into a kind of patchwork.” This is an absolute beauty and a phenomenal picture book for 5th graders beginning to think about their own life stories!!