Best Piano Books for 5 Year Olds: 5 Books Compared

The first piano book has one job: make the first weeks fun enough that a 5-year-old comes back to the bench. The best piano books for 5 year olds use big print, familiar songs and gentle steps. We compared five books by age fit, songs and contents, value and stated reading age, using only what each listing publishes.

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The picks

#	Product	Shelf Score	Buy
1	Ferrante Piano for Kids	9.6/10	Buy
2	Little Pianist Songbook	9.5/10	Buy
3	Play It! Children's Songs	9.5/10	Buy
4	My First Piano Adventure A	9.4/10	Buy
5	Story Orchestra: I Can Play	9.2/10	Buy

1

Ferrante Piano for Kids

Damon Ferrante·9.6/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Beginner piano book for kids 5 and up with 60 songs and 44 video lessons.

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Pros

• 60 famous songs arranged for kids
• 44 video lessons included
• 106 pages, step-by-step

Cons

• Fewer games than method books
• Video course needs streaming
• 106 pages may feel long for a 5-year-old

2

Little Pianist Songbook

Aria Altmann·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Songbook with 55 large-print songs for both hands, with letters, fingerings and free audio.

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Pros

• 55 songs, easiest to hardest
• Both-hand notes, not just right hand
• Large print with letters and fingerings

Cons

• No theory games or lessons
• Audio files need downloading
• Simplified arrangements only

3

Play It! Children's Songs

Jennifer Kemmeter·9.5/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Level 1 songbook for ages 5 and up with color-coded notes and color labels inside.

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Pros

• Color-coded notes with character icons
• Color labels included inside
• classic songs for beginners

Cons

• fewer than 60-song books
• 66 pages, mid-length
• Level 1 only, no follow-on listed

4

My First Piano Adventure A

Nancy Faber·9.4/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Lesson Book A for ages 5-6 with online audio, pre-reading theory and rhythm games.

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Pros

• Written for ages 5-6 exactly
• Online audio with orchestrated songs
• Pre-reading theory and rhythm games

Cons

• Lesson book, not a songbook
• Online audio needed
• 2007 edition, older

5

Story Orchestra: I Can Play

Rowan Baker (Adapter), Katy Flint·9.2/10 Shelf Score

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The Shelf Score runs from 9.2 to 9.8 and weighs fit for the reader or goal (35 points), contents and edition (25), value (25) and listed reading age or level (10, where the listing gives one), using only what the book listing states. How we pick ›

Press-the-keys sound book with 8 easy classical pieces for the youngest beginners.

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Pros

• Press-the-keys sound book
• 8 famous classical tunes
• One-finger 8-bar melodies

Cons

• 16 pages, the fewest here
• Reading age 3-6, young for 5-year-olds
• One-finger melodies only

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More picks to compare

• My First Piano Lessons48 pages, 10 songs, giraffe teacher guideCheck on Amazon
• Teaching Little Fingers40 pages, classic earliest-beginner methodCheck on Amazon
• Faber Writing Book A64 pages, ages 5-6, theory companionCheck on Amazon
• Alfred Prep Course A48 pages, ages 5+, six-level course startCheck on Amazon
• Bastien Primer A48 pages, ages 5-6, pre-staff notationCheck on Amazon

Compare the picks

Specifications are publisher stated as listed, collected 18 October 2026.

How we scored them

The Shelf Score weighs age fit for 5-year-olds, contents (songs, lessons and extras), value for the stated specs, stated reading age and warranty. No book lists a warranty, so that factor scores zero across the group. How we pick explains the weights.

Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each book’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score. Reading age or level counts on a list where at least one listing gives one, and a book whose listing gives none then scores zero on it. Where no listing gives one, the score is taken over the other 85 points. Books carry no warranty, so warranty is not scored.

How to choose the best piano books for 5 year olds

Familiar songs keep kids playing

Kids practice songs they know. The Ferrante book packs 60 famous songs, the Little Pianist 55, and Play It! classics like Twinkle Twinkle and Mary Had a Little Lamb. More familiar songs mean more reasons to sit down and play.

Method versus songbook

Only one pick here is a method book: My First Piano Adventure Lesson Book A, with pre-reading theory, rhythm games and online audio for ages 5-6. The others are songbooks for playing tunes. For read-aloud choices, see our picture books guides.

Extras that help

Extras bridge the gap for beginners. The Faber book adds online audio, the Little Pianist adds free audio files, the Ferrante adds 44 video lessons, and Play It! adds color-coded notes with color labels inside. For more age-5 picks, see our science books for 5 year olds and sticker books for 5 year olds.

Before you buy

• Check the stated reading age: 5-8, 5-9, 5-10, ages 5-6, or 3-6.
• Songbooks entertain; method books teach. The Faber book is the method pick here.
• A sound book suits first exposure, not piano study.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which book is written exactly for ages 5-6?

My First Piano Adventure: Lesson Book A.

Which have the most songs?

The Ferrante book with 60 songs, then the Little Pianist with 55.

Which include audio?

The Faber book with online audio, the Little Pianist with free audio files, and the Ferrante with 44 video lessons.

Which use color-coded notes?

Play It! with color-coded notes and color labels inside.

Still deciding? Our top pickFerrante Piano for Kids

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Related lists

See every picture books guide and all kids and teens books guides.

More picks: science books for 5 year olds, sticker books for 5 year olds, writing books for 5 year olds.