Picture Books for Older Readers

You may think that picture books are just for young children, but there are plenty of picture books which older children will also find equally engaging.

Children's picture books for older readers, aged five and above, tend to have more text on each page and may use more sophisticated vocabulary or a more involved story.

If your child is of this age, she may be starting to learn to read, but it is still really important that you continue to read aloud to her and have lots of fun while doing it. You can explain new words she doesn't understand and discuss some of the more complicated themes or emotions portrayed in the books. Also, at an age when your child's growing independence can make one-on-one time with her harder to find, it can be wonderful for you both to continue the routine of cuddling up and reading a book together.

To try to come up with a definitive list of the best picture books for older readers I combined over 20 highly regarded lists of children's books including winners of prestigious children's books awards, reading lists from reputable sources and bestselling books of all time. Those books mentioned on more than one list are shown below, with books at the top receiving the most mentions.

"The Polar Express" comes out top, appearing six times in the source lists. Dr Seuss appears twice, with the two oldest books in the list: "Horton Hatches the Egg" and "How the Grinch Stole Christmas". The most recently written book to appear is "The Man Who Walked Between the Towers", a fascinating true story of a Frenchman who strung a tightrope between the two unfinished towers of the World Trade Center in 1974 and walked, ran and danced between them for almost an hour.

1. The Polar Express
by Chris Van Allsburg
First published 1985

2. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day
by Judith Viorst
illustrated by Ray Cruz
First published 1972

3. Horton Hatches the Egg
by Dr. Seuss
First published 1940

4. Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters: An African Tale
by John Steptoe
First published 1987

5. The True Story of the Three Little Pigs
by Jon Scieszka
illustrated by Lane Smith
First published 1989

6. A Chair for My Mother
by Vera B. Williams
First published 1982

7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
by Dr. Seuss
First published 1957

Activities using this book

8. John Henry
by Julius Lester
illustrated by Jerry Pinkney
First published 1994

9. Lilly's Purple Plastic Purse
by Kevin Henkes
First published 1996

10. Lon Po Po
by Ed Young
First published 1989

11. Stellaluna
by Janell Cannon
First published 1993

Activities using this book

12. Sylvester and the Magic Pebble
by William Steig
First published 1970

13. Tar Beach
by Faith Ringgold
First published 1991

14. The Giving Tree
by Shel Silverstein
First published 1964

Activities using this book

15. The Jolly Postman
by Janet and Allan Ahlberg
First published 1986

16. The Little House
by Virginia Lee Burton
First published 1942

17. The Man Who Walked Between the Towers
by Mordicai Gerstein
First published 2003

New readers may also be interested in children's chapter books, which are short novels where the story moves fast and each chapter is short enough to be read in one sitting.

If your favorite children's book is not on the list, then please do share it with us. We'd love to hear about it. Just click here to share your favorite picture books for older readers and follow the instructions.

For more ideas of classic children's books, check out these lists of top children's books or these Caldecott Award winners.