37 Best Books for 6 Year Old Boys Who Love to Read

This was one of the first chapter books my son actually wanted to finish on his own. Nate’s detective work is just the right mix of mystery and silliness for this age, and the short chapters make it feel manageable for new readers. It’s a great intro to problem-solving stories without being too complex.

Honestly, I didn’t expect to love this one—but it completely hooked my son. The comic book format, ridiculous humor, and wild characters hit the sweet spot for 6-year-old energy. If your kid likes drawing or laughing at potty jokes (so, most 6-year-olds), this one’s a win.

This series surprised us. My son wasn’t sure about fairies at first, but the adventure and magic won him over. The stories are fast-paced, with just enough suspense and fantasy to keep him turning pages. Great for kids who like friendship-driven adventures.

We read an adapted version together at bedtime, and it was perfect for introducing a classic in a more digestible way. The pirate theme was a big hit, though I’d say this one works better as a read-aloud unless your child is already a strong reader.

These are shorter and simpler than the original Hardy Boys books, and that’s what makes them so good for younger readers. My son liked the idea of brothers solving real-world mysteries, and it sparked a whole detective phase for him—including setting up his own “spy kit.”

This one’s just plain fun. Stanley gets flattened by a bulletin board (because of course he does) and ends up getting mailed across the country. My son thought this was hilarious, and it led to a bunch of creative questions about what else Stanley could do.

We treated this like a weekend activity book. It's not a traditional story, but the scratch-off pages made it feel interactive and special. If your child is already into Harry Potter, it’s a nice way to expand on that world without needing a super high reading level.

This one is pure nonsense in the best way. My son giggled through every page—especially at the part about Mister Magnolia only having one boot. The rhyme and rhythm make it a great read-aloud, and the illustrations are so quirky that we kept finding new things in them each time.

Stick Dog and his friends are on a never-ending mission for food, and my son thinks it’s hilarious. The drawings look like something a kid could sketch, which made it feel super accessible. It's perfect if your child likes offbeat humor and animals that act like chaotic best friends.

We dipped into this one a little earlier than the recommended age, but my son really liked the cartoon-style format and Greg’s exaggerated take on school life. He didn’t get every joke, but he felt like he was reading a “big kid” book, and that alone made it special.

Paddington has such a calm, kind presence, and this book is no different. It’s shorter than the full-length Paddington stories, so it was great for an evening read. The circus setting added some extra fun, and it opened up a whole conversation about clowns and tightrope walkers.

We read this together and took it slow—some of the stories are a bit intense, but my son was fascinated by the gods, monsters, and heroes. It really sparked his imagination, and he started drawing his own versions of the creatures. If your child loves fantasy, this is a great gateway.

Check out even more Greek mythology books for kids.

This one’s been in our rotation for a while. At first, my son just liked the rhymes and funny-looking characters. But as he got older, he started asking more questions about the environment and the “Unless” message. It's a great example of how a picture book can grow with your child.

Aaron’s story about struggling to find his voice really hit home. The illustrations are beautiful, but it’s the message that stuck with my son—especially the idea that there’s more than one way to tell a story. It’s encouraging for creative kids who might not feel confident with words yet.

This series has been a go-to in our house. Jack and Annie’s time-travel adventures are packed with just enough facts to feel educational without being boring. My son especially loved the ones with dinosaurs and mummies—it was like sneaking in a history lesson without him realizing it.

A classic for a reason. We’ve read this one so many times, and the moody artwork still gets his attention. Max’s wild imagination and eventual return home sparked some great conversations about feelings, especially when my son was having tough days.

We started this as a read-aloud, and I wasn’t sure how it would go, but my son was hooked. The idea of kids making it on their own felt empowering to him. He kept asking if we could “camp in the living room like the boxcar kids.”

Anything Mo Willems is a hit here, but this one had my son laughing out loud. The Pigeon’s dramatic overreactions are weirdly relatable when you're six. It also helped ease some of his nerves before his first real roller coaster ride!

We used this before a long road trip, and it made my son feel like the navigator. He liked learning weird facts about each state and spotting landmarks as we went. If you’ve got travel plans (or just want to explore from home), this one adds some real excitement.

Have fun with our travel bingo printable

After loving Dog Man, my son jumped into this series. He was really into the idea of kids making their own comics—and even started drawing some himself. It’s silly, fast-paced, and surprisingly encouraging for kids who like storytelling through pictures.

We started with Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and that opened the door to the rest. These stories are strange, clever, and just the right amount of dark humor for a 6-year-old who likes to be a little spooked without being scared. It’s a great box set to grow into.

Add a Roald Dahl bookmark for a personalized touch.

This was a no-brainer since my son was already obsessed with the game. The graphic novel format made it feel familiar and fun, and the storyline gave some structure to the open-ended world he knows. It even inspired him to build scenes from the book in the game afterward.

He was instantly drawn to this one because of the animal characters and silly humor. The idea of “bad guys” trying (and mostly failing) to be good made him laugh out loud. It also turned out to be one of the first series he wanted to read back-to-back without any prompting.

I got this one hoping for something positive and encouraging, and it delivered. It’s not a book he would’ve picked on his own, but the short, uplifting stories sparked some good conversations about kindness, bravery, and what it means to be a good friend.

Total chaos, and he loved every second. The idea of a zombie goldfish sounded so ridiculous that he had to know more. It’s fast-paced, full of weird science experiments, and perfect for kids who are drawn to anything slightly gross and totally bizarre.

This book is pure silly fun. We brought it on a road trip, and it was great for passing the time. The gross-out humor was right up his alley, and it turned into a family game of who could keep a straight face the longest.

This one felt more serious and thoughtful, and I was surprised how into it he got. Roz the robot’s story is about survival and finding connection in a strange world. It’s not an easy read, but if your 6-year-old is a deep thinker or an advanced reader, this one really sticks with them.

This has become our go-to on rough days. Alexander’s string of bad luck is so over-the-top that it makes us both laugh, and it helps him see that bad days don’t last forever. Plus, it opened the door to watching the movie together, which made it even more relatable.

This one was a bedtime favorite for weeks. My son loved pointing out all the ways the traps wouldn’t work. The bright illustrations and silly rhymes kept him engaged, and it sparked lots of imaginative “dino trap” designs of his own with building blocks.

Instant hit just from the title. The idea of an underwear-wearing dragon is peak 6-year-old humor. It’s got a good balance of funny and brave, and my son loved pretending he was a knight defending the town after we read it.

This one’s more inspirational, with short stories about real boys doing cool things. We didn’t read it in one sitting—it’s more like a book we come back to. It was a nice change of pace, especially after all the goofy books, and helped him see there are all kinds of heroes.

This book has been carried around the house and quoted endlessly. It’s not just jokes either—it has tongue twisters and knock-knock jokes, too. Some made zero sense, but he thought they were hilarious. Bonus: it’s helped with reading fluency because he wants to read them out loud.

See even more of our favorite joke books for kids of all ages.

We read this one together and ended up in a full debate about whether they actually found anything. The story is simple on the surface, but the ending makes you think (even if you’re six). My son kept flipping back through the pictures to look for clues.

This series was a surprise favorite. Each book includes little puzzles and clues to solve along the way, which made my son feel like part of the story. He got super into the mystery-solving aspect and even brought the book in the car to try and finish the “case” during errands.

This one became part of our summer camping tradition. The rhymes are fun to read out loud, and the illustrations are packed with details. My son cracked up at the bear antics, and we ended up reading the whole Mr. Magee series after this.

I hesitated on this one, but let’s be honest—kids this age think farts are hilarious. It’s silly, over-the-top, and had my son in stitches. If you’re okay with leaning into the potty humor phase, this book delivers exactly what the title promises.

We keep this on the shelf for rainy days. It’s colorful, packed with bite-sized facts, and fun to flip through together. My son usually opens it to a random page and ends up asking a dozen questions, which I love. It’s one of the few books he reads on his own and with me.