Picture book reading is essential in the early stages of learning and development. The current study aimed to incorporate picture books to improve first graders' scientific thinking, including scientific reasoning and creativity. The study adopted a quasi-experimental research design. There were 24 students in the experimental group and 23 in the control group. The chi-square test was used to analyze the difference between the two groups. The teacher innovatively employed the 5E model strategies to aid students in the experimental group focus on the scientific knowledge and methods proposed in the picture books. The results revealed that students in the experimental group outperformed their counterparts in scientific thinking with small to large effect sizes. Besides, according to students' attitudes and the types of books borrowed, picture book teaching with the 5E model was appropriate for first graders to improve their scientific thinking.