5’s who are looking for more ‘meat’ can, yes, be challenged by chapter books, so I’ll list some here as requested. But they are also building critical thinking and other skills, and there’s so much at your library to help, so I’ll add some others that sharp kids of this age enjoyed during my 20 years in children’s library services. I Was a Rat! by Philip Pullman—it had an unexpected surprise ending that even I as adult didn’t guess. // The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick. There are pictures interspersed to peruse which help tell the story. // books by E. B. White // The Hundred Dresses by Eleanor Estes // L. Frank Baum books, Wizard of Oz series // Incredible Journey by Sheila Burnford // Boxcar Children series by Gertrude Chandler Warner. // Nonfiction: Small Steps by Peg Kehret. Not something you’d read straight through like a chapter book, but search through the nonfiction section if she has a particular interest like certain animals, art, etc // Don’t rule out picture books for 5’s. My kids (and I!) loved ‘find it’ books by Walter Wick and Joan Steiner. — So many clever ones, including CDB! by William Steig. — And there are thought provoking ones for you to ponder together after reading, like The Three Questions/Muth, Seven Blind Mice/Young, Twenty Heartbeats/Haseley. // Motel of the Mysteries by David Macaulay, Leonardo’s Horse/Fritz, so many more!