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Rally Takes the Train is our own picture book, so it sits at the top of every list. Some links to other gifts are affiliate links: as an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases, at no extra cost to you. Prices are approximate and change often, so check the current price before you buy.
#1 pick · Our own book
Rally Takes the Train
Five sits right at the top of the reading age Amazon lists for Rally Takes the Train, and it is the age when the rhymes really pay off: kindergartners love guessing the rhyming word before you turn the page. It is about a five-minute read, and the dark tunnel moment, where Rally is scared and then finds the light, gives you an easy way to talk about trying new things in a big school year.
Read it once together, then pause before the last word of each rhyme and let your five year old finish the line. Tuck it in with a train gift, or save it for the car ride to see grandparents.
Quick picks
Five is the year a child goes from playing near other kids to playing with them. A five year old can wait for a turn, follow the rules of a short game, tell you a story with a beginning and an end, and count the cars on a train out loud. That makes this a wonderful age to shop for, because the gifts that work best now are the ones they can share: a bingo game at the kitchen table, a fort big enough for two, a toy shop where you are the customer.
We built this list from the 2026 Toy of the Year winners and finalists, the Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Awards and current five year old gift lists, then kept only the gifts that fit what kindergartners are actually doing. You will find four gifts under $25, a wooden train set for kids who love them, and a few big wow gifts for the morning itself. Prices are approximate and change often.
What 5 year olds love right now
By five, the CDC says most children can follow rules or take turns in a game with other kids, tell a story with at least two events, count to ten and stay with an activity for five to ten minutes. In plain terms: short games finally work, and so do toys that let them run a little story of their own.
Bodies are busy too. Five year olds hop on one foot and can work some buttons, so they want toys that let them stomp, launch and stack. The American Academy of Pediatrics says the most educational toy is one that gets a grown-up and child playing together, which is a good test for anything on this list.
- Games with real rules and short rounds, like Zingo and Animal Upon Animal
- Running a pretend shop and taking your order
- Stomping, launching and tossing anything outside
- Acting out longer stories with trains, dinosaurs and sharks
- Big builds they can climb inside, like a glow-in-the-dark fort
- Finding out how things work, from microscope slides to a robot that follows commands
Development notes based on 67 sources below.
The 13 best Christmas gifts for 5 year olds
Rally Takes the Train is number one on our list (above). Here are the other twelve, chosen for this age from current gift lists and reviews.
BRIO World Space Station Set (40-Piece Wooden Railway)
BRIO · Train toy
A five year old runs a whole mission on the track, with a station rover, a glowing alien and a train that has somewhere to be. This Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award winner gives them that story while still being a real wooden railway they can plan and rebuild.4
Good to know: Good Housekeeping grouped it for ages 3 to 5, so five is the top of its range. It works with BRIO and most standard wooden track, which makes it a good add-on if your child already has a set.
MAGNA-TILES Coral Reef 25-Piece Magnetic Construction Set
MAGNA-TILES · Building
Five year olds build a reef, then fill it with a story about who lives there, and the themed pieces nudge them past plain towers. It won a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award in the 5 to 8 group, and because it snaps onto any Magna-Tiles a family already owns, it keeps a well-loved toy feeling new.49
Good to know: It is a small set, so it shines as an add-on. Stick with the name brand: the 2026 CPSC magnet warnings were about unbranded ball-and-stick sets, not Magna-Tiles.
ThinkFun Zingo! Bingo with a Zing
ThinkFun · Games
Five year olds race to match picture and word tiles to their bingo card, so they are practicing early reading and taking turns without noticing. Rounds are quick enough for a kindergarten attention span, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for five year olds.56
Good to know: Rated 4 and up. The tiles are small, so keep it on the table if there is a baby or toddler in the house.
HABA Animal Upon Animal
HABA · Games
Players take turns balancing wooden animals on a growing pile, and five year olds love the suspense of the wobble almost as much as the crash. It quietly builds fine-motor control and patience, and a whole game fits inside their attention span.5
Good to know: This Amazon listing is the compact On the Go edition, which is great for travel; check that it is the version you want. Rated 4 and up.
Stomp Rocket Stomp Racer
Stomp Rocket · Outdoor
A five year old stomps on the air pad and the car shoots across the driveway, then runs to fetch it and does it again, and again. There are no batteries, it makes a great stocking stuffer, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for five year olds.5
Good to know: We could not confirm the manufacturer's age rating, so check the box. It needs a smooth, open surface like a driveway or long hallway.
Exploding Kittens Cat Condo Cornhole Bean Bag Toss Set
Exploding Kittens · Games
Five year olds can finally aim, so a bean bag toss turns into a real game with turns, points and plenty of cheering. It won a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award in the 5 to 8 group, works indoors on a cold day, and is cheap enough to tuck in a stocking.4
Good to know: No matching Amazon listing turned up in our search, so check where it is sold now. Bean bags are soft, but clear the breakables off the coffee table first.
Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope
Educational Insights · STEM
The microscope talks, reading out facts about each slide, so a five year old who cannot read yet still gets the science on their own. It is sturdy, sized for small hands, and on TODAY's 2026 list for five year olds.5
Good to know: It is a talking toy, so check the box for the batteries it needs and have them ready before Christmas morning.
Fun Forts Glow Fort Building Kit (81 Pieces)
Fun Forts · Building
Five year olds snap the rods and connectors into a fort, throw a blanket over it and then live inside it for the afternoon, so it is a building toy and a pretend play set in one. The glow pieces make it a bedtime hideout, and the kit comes apart to build again.5
Good to know: A finished fort takes up real floor space, and expect to help with the first build. It is on TODAY's 2026 list for five year olds.
LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Parlor
LeapFrog · Pretend play
Your five year old takes your order, counts the scoops and names the colors, which is pretend play, counting and conversation all at once. It won a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award, and it is a toy that works best with a grown-up or sibling at the counter.46
Good to know: Good Housekeeping grouped it for ages 3 to 5, so it suits kids who still love pretend play more than kids who have moved on to building kits. It is electronic, so check the battery needs.
Primal Hatch Megalodon Hatching Shark Egg
Spin Master · Pretend play
Primal Hatch was named the overall 2026 Toy of the Year, and the hatching moment is exactly the kind of surprise five year olds talk about for weeks. Once the shark is out, it becomes an interactive creature they keep playing with, and the Megalodon egg is on Target's 2026 Top 50.13
Good to know: A related Primal Hatch listing on Amazon says from 5 years, so it suits five year olds rather than younger siblings. Popular toys sell out, so buy early.
Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Transporter with 2 Cars
Mattel · Pretend play
Five year olds love setting up a chase, and this big vehicle playset comes with track and a chomping T-Rex the cars have to get past. It works with every Hot Wheels car they already own, and it is on TODAY's 2026 list for five year olds.5
Good to know: It is a large toy when set up, so think about where it will live. Hot Wheels cars are small, so keep them away from babies and toddlers.
Learning Resources Cooper the STEM Robot
Learning Resources · STEM
A five year old lines up coding cards, presses the buttons and watches Cooper follow the steps, which is sequencing, the same skill as following the rules of a game. It also reacts to light and objects, and it was a 2026 Toy of the Year Educational Toy finalist.28
Good to know: Rated 5 and up, so it is right at the start of its range. It charges by USB-C, so there are no batteries to buy.
Rally gifts to wrap with the book
Pair the book with something from the Rally shop for a gift that feels finished: hand-painted watercolor art from the same pages.
Christmas gifts for 5 year olds by price
| Budget | Gifts | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Under $25 | ThinkFun Zingo! Bingo with a Zing, HABA Animal Upon Animal, Stomp Rocket Stomp Racer, Exploding Kittens Cat Condo Cornhole Bean Bag Toss Set | Games, Outdoor |
| $25 to $50 | MAGNA-TILES Coral Reef 25-Piece Magnetic Construction Set, Educational Insights GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope, Fun Forts Glow Fort Building Kit (81 Pieces), LeapFrog Scoop and Learn Ice Cream Parlor, Primal Hatch Megalodon Hatching Shark Egg | Building, Pretend play, STEM |
| $50 to $100 | Hot Wheels City Ultimate T-Rex Transporter with 2 Cars, Learning Resources Cooper the STEM Robot | Pretend play, STEM |
| $100 and up | BRIO World Space Station Set (40-Piece Wooden Railway) | Train toy |
Gift tips for 5 year olds
Wrap one game for the whole family
Five is when table games really take off, so a single game like Zingo or Animal Upon Animal can be the gift everyone opens together. The AAP's view is that the best toys get grown-ups and kids playing side by side, and a short game after Christmas dinner does exactly that.
Think about the little siblings
Five year olds are ready for smaller pieces, but toddlers in the same house are not. Bingo tiles, toy cars and magnetic tiles are fine for a kindergartner, so plan a high shelf or a lidded bin for them, and skip unbranded magnet sets entirely after this year's CPSC warnings.
Grow the railway a set at a time
If your five year old already has wooden track from the toddler years, a new BRIO set is a way to extend it rather than start over, since BRIO and most wooden track connect. A new station or theme every Christmas turns into a railway they keep building for years.
Check the box for power and space
Talking, lighting and electronic toys often need batteries that are not included, and nothing stalls a kindergartner's Christmas morning like a toy that will not turn on. Forts, train layouts and vehicle playsets also need floor space, so decide where they will live before you wrap them.
Look inside the book
Story time with Santa in Chicago? Bring Rally home.
Rally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor. It makes a cozy bedtime story after a big day with Santa. Turn a few pages here.
Rally Takes the Train
Eight pages from the book
Turn the page
That's 8 of 25 pages
See who’s waiting at the station
Grandmommy and Papa are at the last stop. Get the full hand-painted book, $16.99 on Amazon.
See the full bookPage 1 of 8
Like it so far? See the full book
25 hand-painted pages, paperback, $16.99 with fast shipping from Amazon.
Every page is real watercolor on paper, painted by hand by Leslie Dunn. Nothing in this book was made with AI.
Questions parents ask
What should I get a 5 year old for Christmas?
Get something they can play with someone else, because sharing play is the big leap at five. A short turn-taking game, a pretend shop, a fort or a building set all fit. If you want one wow gift, the Primal Hatch hatching egg won the overall 2026 Toy of the Year, and a picture book with rhymes they can finish themselves makes a lovely second present.
What do 5 year olds like to play with?
Five year olds like games with simple rules, pretend play with a storyline, things they can build and then climb into, and anything they can stomp, launch or throw outdoors. Most can now take turns, count to ten and stay with one activity for five to ten minutes, so short games and quick builds are the sweet spot.
How much should you spend on a 5 year old for Christmas?
There is no right amount, and a five year old will not measure love in dollars. Some of the most played-with gifts on this list cost about $20, like Zingo, Animal Upon Animal and the Stomp Racer. Set a total that fits your family, then spend it on one or two things they will actually play with rather than a big pile.
How much should I spend on a gift for a 5 year old's classmate?
For a kindergarten friend's party or a class gift swap, around $15 to $25 is a common and comfortable range. A quick game like Zingo or Animal Upon Animal is ideal, because nearly every five year old enjoys it, it is easy to wrap, and it does not compete with the big gifts their family is giving.
What is a good gift for a 5 year old who has everything?
Give something they cannot already have a version of: an experience, a project or a game the family plays together. A glow-in-the-dark fort kit, a talking microscope or a screen-free coding robot opens a new kind of play. A train ride, a museum trip or a picture book with a note inside from you also beats another toy in the pile.
Is a 5 year old still considered a toddler?
No. Toddler usually means ages one to three, and by five most children are preschoolers or kindergartners. You can see the difference in how they play: a five year old follows the rules of a game, tells a story with a beginning and an end, and plays with friends rather than just beside them, so gifts made for toddlers will feel too young.
What are good gifts for a 5 year old with autism?
Start with what the child already loves, because a deep interest is the best guide. Toys with clear cause and effect, like a stomp launcher, a stacking game or a robot that follows a set of cards, are often a good fit, as are calm building toys. Check whether the toy makes loud sounds, and ask the parents about sensory likes and dislikes.
What is the best train set for a 5 year old?
A wooden railway with a theme is the best fit for most five year olds, because they want to build the layout and then act out a story on it. The BRIO World Space Station set, a Good Housekeeping 2026 Toy Award winner, does both. Wooden track also connects to most sets they already own, so the railway can keep growing.
Is an electric train set OK for a 5 year old?
A battery-powered, ready-to-play train set is fine for most five year olds, and some are rated for ages four and up. Sets that plug into the wall need more grown-up help. At five, a pull-back or battery train they can run themselves usually gets more play than a set they are not allowed to touch.
Is a LEGO train set too hard for a 5 year old?
Usually not on their own. The current City train sets are rated 7 and up, with hundreds of small pieces, and those age ratings are based on safety as well as skill. A five year old can enjoy building one with a parent, but a wooden railway or DUPLO train is a better solo gift at this age.
Is a microscope a good gift for a 5 year old?
Yes, if it is made for young kids. A five year old will not focus a lab microscope, but a sturdy kids' model designed for small hands is perfect. The GeoSafari Jr. Talking Microscope reads facts aloud about each slide, so children who cannot read yet still learn something.
Are coding robots good for 5 year olds?
Screen-free coding robots are a great fit at five. Kids lay out cards or press buttons in order, then watch the robot follow the steps, which teaches sequencing in a very physical way. Look for a rating of 5 and up, like Cooper the STEM Robot, and skip app-based robots for now, since those suit older kids.
What board games can a 5 year old actually play?
Five year olds do best with short games that need matching, stacking or quick reactions rather than reading. Zingo, Animal Upon Animal and simple bean bag toss games are good choices. Expect rounds of five to ten minutes, keep the rules simple, and do not be surprised if they want to play the same game ten times in a row.
How many Christmas gifts should a 5 year old get?
Fewer than you think. A five year old usually plays longest with one or two good gifts, and a mountain of boxes can end in overwhelm. Many families use the want, need, wear and read rule, which works well at five: one toy they asked for, something practical, something to wear and a book to read together.
What are good stocking stuffers for a 5 year old?
Small games and active toys are the best stocking stuffers at five. The Stomp Racer, the compact edition of Animal Upon Animal and a bean bag toss game all cost about $20 or less. Add a picture book, a few art supplies or a favorite snack, and skip anything with button batteries or tiny magnets.
Should I buy a tablet or screen gift for a 5 year old?
You do not need to. The American Academy of Pediatrics warns against digital toys replacing hands-on play, and says the most educational toy is one that gets a grown-up and child playing together. A five year old gets more from a game, a fort or a screen-free coding robot than from another screen.
Are hatching egg toys worth it for a 5 year old?
For a child who loves sharks or dinosaurs, yes. The hatching moment is a genuine surprise, and afterward the creature becomes an interactive toy they keep playing with. Primal Hatch was named the overall 2026 Toy of the Year, and a related Amazon listing says from 5 years, so a five year old is the right age.
What should grandparents get a 5 year old for Christmas?
Grandparents can give the gift that gets played with together. A game to bring out at every visit, a train set to build on the living room floor, or a picture book about visiting grandparents with a note written inside all work well. Check with the parents first so the big gift does not double up with theirs.
What is a good last-minute Christmas gift for a 5 year old?
Books and games are the safest last-minute picks, because most stores carry them and nearly every five year old enjoys them. A bingo-style game, a stacking game or a rhyming picture book can all be bought close to Christmas. An experience, like tickets to a holiday train ride, also works and needs no shipping.
Are magnetic tiles safe for a 5 year old?
Name-brand magnetic tiles like Magna-Tiles are a different product from the sets the CPSC has warned about. The danger is loose magnets, and in 2026 the CPSC warned families to stop using unbranded magnetic ball-and-stick sets. Check tiles now and then for cracks, and keep any broken ones away from younger siblings.
Gift guides for every age
- The full 2026 Christmas gift guide for kids
- Christmas train rides by state
- Christmas events for kids near you
- Free Rally coloring pages
- Train trips with kids
- Train museums to visit this winter
- The story behind Rally Takes the Train
Sources
Picks and age notes were checked against the sources below.
- 2026 Toy of the Year winners announced, Spielwarenmesse
- See who made the cut as 100 finalists revealed for 2026 Toy of the Year, Gifts & Decorative Accessories
- Top 50 must-have toys for 2026 holiday season, AZ Big Media
- Shop picks from Good Housekeeping's 2026 Toy Awards, Good Morning America
- Best gifts for 5 year olds, TODAY
- Milestone checklist: 5 years, CDC Learn the Signs. Act Early.
- Best toys go back to the basics, American Academy of Pediatrics, HealthyChildren.org
- Cooper the STEM Robot, Stemfinity
- CPSC warns consumers to immediately stop using magnetic building ball and stick sets, US Consumer Product Safety Commission
