Growing Book by Book

Read-Alouds for June Holidays

Jodie Rodriguez — Tue, 19 May 2026 18:38:42 +0000

Every day is a new holiday from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays. Try these read-alouds for June holidays. Read a book a day with the kids in your life.

Books for Kids About June Holidays

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

June 1st: Dinosaur Day

Roar: A Dinosaur Tour by Michael Paul is a basic introduction to dinosaurs and some of their characteristics.

For more books about dinosaurs, check out these lists.

Dinosaur Books for Toddlers

Dinosaur Books for Preschoolers

June 2nd: I Love My Dentist Day

I love William Steig’s books so I’m picking Doctor DeSoto. Doctor DeSoto is small in stature but works on creatures great and small. But, he doesn’t like to work on dangerous animals. But, when a fox begs relief, will Doctor DeSoto help him?

June 3rd: World Bicycle Day

Wild Blue by Dashka Slater is the story of a child who has outgrown her training wheel bike and is ready for the next size up. But, the first time she rides the new big bike she falls and falls again. But, she is determined to tame this new wild blue and find the confidence to persevere. It’s ok to try something new, face challenges, and overcome setbacks.

Enjoy more books about bikes, check out this list.—> Books About Bikes

June 4th: National Hug Your Cat Day

A cat’s day is filled with exploring and lounging. Prowl your way alongside a cat in Cat’s Very Good Day by Kristen Tracy. The illustrations by David Small are so enjoyable and accompany the rhyming text. This is a fun one to snuggle up with.

For more books about cats, enjoy this list.—> Books About Cats for Kids

June 5th: National Gingerbread Day

Children will have to solve the riddles in Catch That Cookie! by Hallie Durand to find the missing gingerbread man. Get ready to go all through the school. This is a fun one to set up your own runaway gingerbread cookie adventure.

For more gingerbread variation books, check out this list.—> Gingerbread Man Books

June 6th: National Eyewear Day

Arlo Needs Glasses by Barney Saltzberg is an interactive book about discovering your need for glasses all the way to picking out your favorite frames.

June 7th: National Chocolate Ice Cream Day

Imagine being the king of an ice cream castle. Well, that’s just what the character in The Ice Cream King by Steve Metzger dreams about. But, the best thing about ice cream is getting two spoons and sharing with someone else.

June 8th: World Oceans Day

My Ocean is Blue by Darren Lebeuf shows us all the things that the ocean can be and teaches us about opposites too. Oceans can be shallow and deep. They can be dull and sparkly. There is just so much an ocean can be.

For more books about the oceans and the beach, check out this list.—> Books About the Ocean

June 9th: National Call Your Doctor Day

Helping Hospital : A Community Helpers Book by Lindsay Ward looks at the vast opportunities of jobs associated with a hospital from the admissions department to different types of nursers and doctors. We explore the hospital and the workers while we travel with different patients visiting the hospital.

June 10th: National Iced Tea Day

Phoebe Dupree Is Coming to Tea by Linda Ashman is all about prepping for the tea party. Abby has invited Phoebe over for a tea party. And, she wants everything to be perfect because she perceives Phoebe to be perfect.⁣ But, plans never go perfectly and that is perfectly ok. Because true fun comes when things don’t go exactly according to plan. Phoebe and Abby have a grand time.⁣

For more books about tea: Tea Books for Kids

June 11th: Yarn Bombing Day

If You Want to Knit Some Mittens by Laura Purdie Salas shares all the steps needed for creating your own pair of marigold mittens. You’ll need to start with keeping a sheep comfortable all summer and then planting the marigolds for your natural dye for the yarn you will create. Playful illustrations make this a fun and informative read.

June 12th: Little League Girls Baseball Day

Never let tell you can’t do something based on your gender. That’s the message takeaway in Catching the Moon: The Story of a Young Girl’s Baseball Dream by Crystal Hubbard. Make sure to check out the read-aloud on Storyline Online too.

June 13th: National Weed Your Garden Day

In a Garden by Tim McCanna takes inside the day-by-day workings of a garden with lyrical text. You’ll meet worms, slugs, ants, and more.

June 14th: Flag Day

F is for Flag by Wendy Cheyette Lewison looks at our flag, what it symbolizes, and how it is used in our country.

June 15th: Global Wind Day

When the Wind Came by Jan Andrews is the story of all the feelings that a child or really any person has about an approaching storm from worry to fear to eventually gratefulness for rebuilding.

June 16th: Fresh Veggies Day

The Ugly Vegetables by Grace Lin is the story of growing a child embarrassed by the “ugly” Chinese vegetables growing in her garden compared to the flowers in the neighbors’ yards. But, her mother shows her that those vegetables make the most beautiful and tasty soup that even the neighbors enjoy. A recipe is included.

Enjoy these activities to go with The Ugly Vegetables too.—> The Ugly Vegetables Activities

June 17th: Global Garbage Man Day

Jashar Awan is a master at early childhood read-alouds. Every Monday Mabel highlights that glorious event each week for so many kiddos. The day the refuse collector arrives on the block. Mabel lives for this even each week with purpose and satisfaction. The kids will enjoy this read-aloud over and over again.

And, check out these Every Monday Mabel activities.—> Every Monday Mabel Book Activities

June 18th: National Go Fishing Day

Do you love to fish? Well, Bear, Porcupine, and Otter do. But, Squirrel does not. Read We Love Fishing! by Ariel Bernstein to find out how this group’s fishing trip goes.

June 19th: Juneteenth

The Juneteenth Story: Celebrating the End of Slavery in the United States by Alliah L. Agostini explains Juneteenth and traces the timeline of events that led to Juneteenth becoming a nationally celebrated holiday in 2021.

June 20th: World Refugee Day

Wishes by Mu’o’n Thi Van is a beautifully illustrated book about a family having to pack and leave in the middle of the night not knowing what lay ahead but wishing it will be better than how they are living now.

June 21st: Father’s Day

The Daddy Book by Todd Parr celebrates dads of all shapes and sizes. I love how inclusive this one is.

June 22nd: World Rainforest Day

Sing your way through the rainforest in The Rainforest Grew All Around by Susan K. Mitchell. It is set to the tune, “The Green Grass Grew All Around.” The sidebars provide additional information about the rainforest including animal facts, plant information, and adaptations. Plus, there is a recipe for Rainforest Cookies.

For more books about the Rainforest, check out this list.—> Rainforest Books for Kids

June 23rd: National Typewriter Day

Click, Clack, Moo Cows That Type by Doreen Cronin highlights that almost obsolete correspondence tool- the typewriter. The cows in the barn have some demands. Will the farmer oblige?

June 24th: Farmer Day

Behind every farm is a family that spends their days tending to it. Join Sophie Blackwall as she takes us inside a Farmhouse to see all the details of the home and the family who lives there.

June 25th: Leon Day

Leon is Noel spelled backward. Today marks the halfway mark to Christmas. So, let’s read a Christmas book today.

I Got the Christmas Spirit by Connie Schofield-Morrison walks you through the streets during the Christmas season. The sights and sounds can only fill you with spirit from the “jingle jingle” of the red kettlebell to the “fa la la” of Christmas carolers.

For more Christmas reads, check out this big list.—> Christmas Books for Kids

June 26th: National Canoe Day

Travel north to the Boundary Waters on the Minnesota-Canada border in One Summer Up North by John Owens. This wordless picture book plops you right in the canoe to explore the wildlife and beauty of nature with a family on a camping trip.

June 27th: National Sunglasses Day

Don your sunglasses with Pete the Cat and His Magic Sunglasses by the Deans and your mood will immediately lift.

June 28th: International Lightning Safety Day

When the Storm Comes by Linda Ashman walks us through the preparations that animals and people take before a thunderstorm rolls in.

For more books about the weather, see my big list.—> Books About Weather for Kids

June 29th: International Mud Day

Lots of young children enjoy playing in spring puddles or squishy mud. Mud by Mary Lyn Ray celebrates the ooey gooey and gloppy mixture that many little ones love to cover every inch of themselves in on a summer day.

June 30th: National Meteor Watch Day

Meteor was Polacco’s first children’s book and is based on a true story. A meteor actually landed in the Michigan town where she lived! This funny story captures the magic that captivated the town over this event.

Printable List of June Holiday Books

Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.

Enjoy reading all month long.

The post Read-Alouds for June Holidays appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Soccer (Fútbol) Books for Kids

Jodie Rodriguez — Thu, 07 May 2026 11:48:03 +0000

FIFA World Cup fever is strong especially since the 2026 games are happening in North America. Let that sports enthusiasm carry right into the books you are sharing with the kids. I’ve got a list for that is sure to score a goal. Enjoy these soccer books for kids. There is even a book list you can download below.

Fútbol/Soccer Board Books

Even our youngest listeners can get in on the action with these read-alouds.

Learn about the positions, uniforms, and other soccer vocabulary in this cute and super informative read, Hello, World! Soccer by Jill McDonald.

Push, pull, and slide the ball down the field in this interactive book that introduces little ones to the game in I Love Soccer: A Push, Pull, Slide Book.

Picture Books About Soccer

From teamwork to the ins and outs of the game, these are a read-aloud score.

I really like this new series on careers and this one is fitting for our topic today. Soccer Star
by Phoenix Bright illustrates the proper nutrition and training needed to have a career in the sport. At the back of the book is an interview with a soccer player too.

Maisy is a beloved preschool character and she’s playing soccer in Maisy Plays Soccer by Lucy Cousins. She needs her uniform and friends for a fun game of red team vs blue team.

Frank and Bert: The One Where Bert Plays Soccer by Chris Naylor-Ballesteros is a comical story of Frank teaching Bert everything he knows about the game. But, when a soccer whiz comes on the scene, Frank drops everything to play with her. What about Bert?

The kids have to clear the field for a game of soccer (fútbol) to play and nothing can stop them including a downpour until their momma’s call. The fun game is in The Field by Baptiste Paul.

I’m all about books that showcase resourcefulness and a strong desire to pursue passions. And, that’s just what you will take away from The Floating Field: How a Group of Thai Boys Built Their Own Soccer Field by Scott Riley.

In October of 2016, Haiti suffered devastating loss from Hurricane Matthew. It’s not the first time that this country has been hit by a natural disaster. Hope for Haiti by Jesse Joshua Watson was written after a devastating earthquake struck the country. The kids turned to soccer and learned a lot about hope in the process.

New to the game of soccer? No worries, Max is pretty new too, but he’s full of “expert” tips in Max Explains Everything: Soccer Expert by Stacy McAnulty.

Go even deeper into the field with the Soccer Atlas by James Buckley Jr. This one has facts, figures, maps, and diagrams.

Winners Never Quit by Mia Hamm encourages us all to keep trying. Even when we feel like quitting, just keep going. This lesson shines through on the soccer field in this story.

Soccer/Fútbol Books for Beginning Readers

Young readers can venture into books on their own with these reads.

Kick It, Mo! by David A. Adler is the story of a young child who has worked hard on his kicking skills and is eager to share his new skills during the Billy Goats new season.

This is book eight in the series and this time second grader, Lola Levine, is trying to navigate all of her interests from soccer to volunteering in Lola Levine Runs Out of Steam by Monica Brown.

The Who Was series covers a handful soccer players from Messi to Ronaldo and there is even a book dedicated to the World Cup. Good books for kids who are really into learning more about some of the famous players.

Printable Soccer Book List

Grab a printable copy of the book list shared above.

Related Posts

Books About Balls for Preschoolers

The post Soccer (Fútbol) Books for Kids appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Read-Alouds for May Holidays

Jodie Rodriguez — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 14:09:37 +0000

The series of posts celebrating and honoring different holidays of the year from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays continues. Try these read-alouds for May holidays.

Books for Kids About May Holidays

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

May 1st: National Mother Goose Day

I love that Nina Crews uses photographs of children in her collage images in The Neighborhood Mother Goose. And, I appreciate that children of color are represented which is not easy to find in nursery rhyme books. Little ones will love pointing at all the things they find in the illustrations.

For more Mother Goose and nursery rhyme books, check out this list.—> Nursery Rhyme Books

May 2nd: Baby Day

Babymoon by Hayley Barrett is a beautiful look at those beginning days with a newborn. Oh, what a special time that is.

May 3rd: National Two Different Colored Shoes Day

You see all sorts of kicks walking down a city street. Come celebrate them all in City Feet by Aixa Pérez-Prado.

May 4th: International Firefighters Day

Yes, women can be firefighters and I’m so glad there is a book out there that highlights that fact. My Mom is a Firefighter by Lois G. Grambling is a must-read.

For more books about firefighters—>Books About Firefighters

May 5th: Museum Lover’s Day

Imagine if the art came to life and gave you items from the paintings and sculptures. You might not be able to touch the art but the art can touch you in the wordless book, Mayhem at the Museum: A Book in Pictures by Luciano Lozano

May 6th: National Nurses Day

Helping Hospital : A Community Helpers Book by Lindsay Ward looks at the vast opportunities of jobs associated with a hospital from the admissions department to different types of nurses and doctors. We explore the hospital and the workers while we travel with different patients visiting the hospital.

May 7th: Spring Astronomy Day

Take a walk through the city in search of the moon in City Moon by Rachael Cole.

May 8th: National Give Someone a Cupcake Day

Pete the Cat and the Missing Cupcakes by Kimberly and James Dean encourages us to count down by twos from ten as the cupcakes start to disappear.

May 9th: National Lost Sock Memorial Day

One Red Sock by Jennifer Sattler is a fun book to work on color identification.⁣ This purple hippo has a problem. She can only find one red sock. As she searches her drawer she finds lots of socks but can she find a perfect pair?⁣

May 10th: Mother’s Day

Saturday by Oge Mora is the story of a young girl and her mother who only get Saturdays to spend the whole day together so they like to plan special things to do with each other. However, on this particular Saturday, it seems like their plans are going to be spoiled. But, we discover that as long as they get to be with each other that is all that matters.⁣

For more Mother’s Day Reads—> Books for Mother’s Day

May 11th: National Eat What You Want Day

When all the food trucks converge in one spot you have a Food Truck Fest! by Alexandra Penfold. Talk about favorite foods or cuisines that each student enjoys.

May 12th: International Day of Plant Health

In this story, Jesús has an important job of caring for Mamá’s house plants. All is going well until one of the plants goes crashing to the ground. Yikes!⁣ Enjoy Mamá’s Magnificent Dancing Plantitas by by Jesús Trejo.

May 13th: National Apple Pie Day

How to Grow an Apple Pie by Beth Charles is the story of a little girl who waits six years to pick up apples from her family’s apple trees. Children will learn about pruning, the role of bees, and how to pick apples from the tree while listening to the story too. Yep, an apple pie recipe is included.

May 14th: Dance Like a Chicken Day

How Do You Dance? by Thyra Heder showcases lots of dance moves from bopping to stomping. You are only limited by your imagination. Is there one best way? Nope. Dance however you feel comfortable. This is a great one for recognizing what makes us each unique and using our imagination. You’ll definitely want to turn on the music after reading and have a dance party.

May 15th: Bring Flowers to Someone Day

A Crown for Corina by Laekan Zea Kemp allows us to walk through Aubela’s garden to collect meaningful flowers for a birthday crown. Each flower represents something special to Corina that celebrates her past, present, and future.

For more books about flowers.—> Books About Flowers for Kids

May 16th: Drawing Day

Bridget loves to draw and believes that every artist wears a beret. But, what happens when she loses her beret? Find out in Bridget’s Beret by Tom Lichtenheld.

May 17th: National Graduation Tassel Day

Graduations are all about the completion of one chapter and the beginning of a new chapter.

Sometimes You Fly by Newbery Medalist, Katherine Applegate starts with the major accomplishments of learning to eat all the way to eating that graduation cake. We have lots of messy starts to accomplish great things.

For more graduation books, check out this list.—> Books to Give for a Graduation

May 18th: National Visit Your Relatives Day

Soul Food Sunday by Winsome Bingham is a love song to the foods that bring families together each Sunday. There is so much to love in this book from the mouth-watering foods of mac-n-cheese, greens, ribs & sausage, and sweet tea to the vibrant moving images to o the cadence of the words. It’s all a win. Oh, and there is a mac ‘n’ cheese recipe in the back of the book that you must try.

May 19th: National May Ray Day

Celebrate the rays of sunshine today.

Get all the hot details about the sun in Sun by Stacy McAnulty. Lots of bright bold pictures and even more facts.

May 20th: National Flower Day

The Night Flower by Lara Hawthorne takes us to the desert and introduces us to the bloom of the saguaro cactus. Meet all the animals that come to visit it too from the mice to the fruit bats.

May 21st: International Tea Day

Teatime Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth is one of my favorite tea-related books. Did you know that it is common to add yak butter to tea in Tibet? Or, that pulled tea is the national drink in Malaysia?⁣ This book is filled with interesting tidbits that only enhance the read-aloud experience.⁣

For more books about tea, enjoy this list.—> Books About Tea

May 22nd: Buy a Musical Instrument Day

A is for Oboe: The Orchestra’s Alphabet by Lera Auerbach and Marilyn Nelson is for all music lovers. Take the letters one at a time to discover something about the orchestra from b is for bassoon to s is for solo.

May 23rd: World Turtle Day

One Tiny Turtle by Nicola Davies helps us understand the long journey of the loggerhead turtle.

May 24th: National Escargot Day

Get ready to use your best pretend French accent in Escargot by Dashka Slater. How many books feature a snail as the main character? It’s clever, fun to read, interactive, and just might get kids to eat a salad with carrots. Those are huge wins.

May 25th: Memorial Day

An incredibly gorgeous book pays tribute to our fallen and unnamed soldiers.⁣ I love picture books that can be used with older students and this one definitely fits that bill.⁣ Twenty-One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld is a perfect reading pick for Memorial Day or Veteran’s Day. But, really it can be shared any day of the year.⁣

Children will learn about how the tomb of the unknown soldier came to be and the practices that are put in place every hour of every day of the year there.⁣

May 26th: Scripps Spelling Bee

How Do You Spell Unfair? by Carole Boston Weatherford is the story of MacNolia Cox and her experience with racism at the National Spelling Bee in the 1930s. This true story really opens our eyes to unfairness and racism.

May 27th: National Grape Popsicle Day

Paletero Man by Lucky Diaz is the story of a child on a mission to find the palatero man. He grabs his money and races through the neighborhood greeting neighbors along the way. But, when he reaches his destination for a cool treat, he discovers that his dinero has been lost. Now, how will he pay for his paleta?

May 28th: National Hamburger Day

Lift the flaps and discover lots of things you would never want to eat on a hamburger in Sam’s Hamburger by David Pelham. Kids will be giggling and gagging at all the gross things inside Sam’s burger.

May 29th: National Alligator Day

Petite Rouge by Mike Artell takes us to the bayou in this Cajun spin. Grand-mère is in need of some gumbo. Petite Rouge Riding Hood will encounter a hungry alligator on the way to make this delivery. You definitely need to practice reading this one aloud a few time before sharing with the kids.

May 30th: International Hug Your Cat Day

Cat Ladies by Susi Schaefer is the story of Princess who takes care of her human ladies and even makes room for taking care of one more “lady” after she has been trained.

May 31st: National Smile Day

Looking for Smile by Ellen Tarlow is the story of a bear and a smile who are always together. But, then one day smile is gone and the bear can’t figure out how to reunite with it. Luckily, a tweeting bird helps.

Printable List of May Holiday Books

Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with students.

Happy May reading!

The post Read-Alouds for May Holidays appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Read-Alouds for April Holidays

Jodie Rodriguez — Thu, 26 Mar 2026 00:33:32 +0000

What should we celebrate this month? No matter the holiday, we could celebrate with books for kids. These April holiday read-alouds celebrate different holidays of the year from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays.

Books for Kids About April Holidays

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

April 1st: April Fools’ Day

Unlimited Squirrels in Who is the Mystery Reader? by Mo Willems has a little of everything. The squirrels are busily trying to figure out who is the masked mystery reader among them. Could it be Zoom Squirrel, Flappy Squirrel, Zowie Squirrel? Hmmm…see if your readers or listeners can figure it out. Not only is there a fictional story in the book, but there is also a nonfiction section which is all about the history of writing. Plus, there are lots of corny jokes .

April 2nd: National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day

Peanut Butter and Jelly: A Play Rhyme by Nadine Bernard Westcott is a true ear worm. It will be running through head all day. But, it’s totally worth it to celebrate National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day.

April 3rd: National Find a Rainbow Day

Learn about the colors of the rainbow and all the glorious flowers that come in those colors in Planting a Rainbow by Lois Ehlert. A perfect spring read.

Today’s also a great day to start our Read the Rainbow Reading Challenge. It’s easy and fun.

April 4th: International Carrot Day

Will your friends help you out if your house is so full of carrots that there isn’t any room left? That is what Rabbit finds out in Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson.

April 5th: National Body Care Day

The Grateful Giraffe by Giselle Shardlow is just one of the many books Giselle offers. In this story, you explore feelings through yoga. You’ll also want to check out her website Kids Yoga Stories.

April 6th: National Student-Athlete Day

Sisters and Champions by Howard Bryant highlight two of the most well-known sisters in sports. Read all about them.

April 7th: International Beaver Day

A fascinating story about rescuing and relocating beavers is told in When Beavers Flew by Kristen Tracy and Luisa Uribe.

April 8th: National Zoo Lovers Day

If you have a zoo, then you have a lot of poo. And, kids love to say poo. What Do They Do With All That Poo? by Jane Kurtz is funny and super informative at the same time.

Did you know a wombat’s poo is cube-shaped? Or, that some zoos sell Zoo Doo or Zoo Manoo as compost for residential use? This book is so interesting and will definitely hold up as whole class read aloud.

April 9th: National Unicorn Day

The Teeny-Weeny Unicorn by Shawn Harris reminds us that everything is about perspective. And, really we are all unique unicorns.

For more books about unicorns, check out this list.—> Books About Unicorns

April 10th: National Encourage a Young Writer Day

It’s all about imagination and fun. So, when you are stuck for an idea to write, just pick up the pencil, imagine, and have fun. Check out My Pencil and Me by Sara Varon to inspire young writers.

April 11th: National Pet Day

Some Pets by Angela DiTerlizzi highlights the huge variety of pets and the things they can do. But, the one thing they all have in a common is being a good companion friend.

For more books about pets, check out my whole list.—> Books About Pets for Kids

April 12th: Drop Everything and Read Day (DEAR)

Just Read! by Lori Degman celebrates reading anywhere and everywhere and with anyone or anything.

April 13th: National Make Lunch Day

The Bear Ate Your Sandwich by Julia Sarcone-Roach is a tall tale of a bear who leaves his home in the forest, explores a city, and stumbles across a sandwich. It’s not until the very end that the reader discovers that the sandwich didn’t really disappear because of the bear and that the whole story is just a tall tale to cover up the real sandwich theft.

For activities to do with the book, download these ideas.—>The Bear Ate Your Sandwich Activities

April 14th: National Gardening Day

The Bear’s Garden by Marcie Colleen is based on a true story of a community garden in Brooklyn, NY.⁣ A community comes together to transform an empty lot into a beautiful space. And, this one was inspired and named after a teddy bear found in the weeds.⁣

April 15th: National Laundry Day

Laundry Day by Jessixa Bagley is the story of two bored badgers who take their mother’s suggestion of hanging the laundry a little too far. My son loved to notice all the details of the things the badgers hung on the clothesline. The illustrations are gorgeous.

April 16th: Day of the Mushroom

Who knew that fungus could be so interesting to learn about. But, I was mesmerized reading Fungus is Among Us by Joy Keller. The book is filled with rhyme making it a rhythmic read-aloud and it is packed with information about you guessed it- FUNGUS.

April 17th: National Bat Appreciation Day

You’ll find a crisp, clean, and well-organized layout full of information in The Bat Book by Charlotte Milner. There’s lots of information that you can take in bits and pieces in this browseable nonfiction work.

For more books about bats, check out this list.—> Books About Bats

April 18th: National Animal Crackers Day

Will the animal crackers listen to the gingerbread girl as she shares her knowledge about the sly fox in The Gingerbread Girl Goes Animal Crackers by Lisa Campbell Ernst?

April 19th: Humorous Day

Grab a banana and enjoy the super silly and ridiculous Piranhas Don’t Eat Bananas by Aaron Blabey. Brian the piranha loves bananas and all other fruits, but his fish mates try to remind him that they are meat eaters.

April 20th: Volunteer Recognition Day

A Castle on Viola Street by DyAnne Disalvo takes us into a community where volunteers are helping to build homes for deserving families and rebuilding communities.

April 21st: National Tea Day

Teatime Around the World by Denyse Waissbluth explores how tea is enjoyed in different countries from Japan to Egypt to Uruguay. A super fun and informative book to pour over.

April 22nd: Earth Day

Thank You, Earth by April Pully Sayre is a breathtaking photographic journey around planet Earth. The text is a love letter to the beautiful planet we live on each day. Kids will be inspired to take a camera outside and capture the beauty around them.

For more books about Earth Day, check out my big list.—>Books About Earth Day

April 23rd: National Picnic Day

The basket is loaded with goodies in We’re Going on a Picnic by Pat Hutchins. But, will the picnic basket still be filled when the fowl get to their destination?

April 24th: Fashion Revolution Day

What We Wear: Dressing Up Around the World by Maya Ajmera is a photographic journey around the world looking at clothing that is worn in different areas.

April 25th: World Penguin Day

Penguin Problems is a funny story showing that life in Antarctica isn’t all that you think it might be.

April 26th: Alien Day

April 27th: World Pinhole Photography Day

Not about pinhole photography, but rather a well-known photographer, we have Dorothea Lange: The Photographer Who Found the Faces of the Depression by Carole Boston Weatherford.

April 28th: National Superhero Day

Join Duck and his long-suffering friends Frog, Sheep and Goat as they take off on their latest unforgettable adventure in Super Duck by Jez Alborough.

April 29th: Poem in Your Pocket Day

Words with Wings and Magic Things by Matthew Burgess is a delightful read-aloud collection of poems that feature yetis, eagles, and more.

For more poetry books perfect for circle time, see this list.—> Poetry Books for Circle Time

April 30th: National Adopt a Shelter Pet Day

Pick a Pup by Marsha Wilson Chall is the story of a boy wondering how he will ever find the perfect dog at the shelter. Turns out that a special dog finds him.

Printable List of April Holiday Books

Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.

More Book Lists

Books About Spring

Literacy Rich Spring Preschool Unit

The post Read-Alouds for April Holidays appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Young Child Read-Alouds

Jodie Rodriguez — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 10:35:00 +0000

Celebrate the Week of the Young Child with different read-alouds for each themed day. Reading aloud to children is one of the ways to celebrate children and honor their learning. So, let’s enjoy some books for kids.

Week of the Young Child Themes

2026 marks the 55th anniversary of the Week of the Young Child. “Each April, the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) invites educators, families, and communities to come together for the Week of the Young Child® (WOYC)—a joyful celebration of early learning, young children, and the adults who support them.”

The 2026 dates are April 11th-17th.

Here are some read-alouds to help you celebrate the theme of each day.

Music Monday

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Singing and dancing during storytime? Yes!

Sung to the tune, “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star,” Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Sheepy by Lucy Ruth Cummins is fun for right before nap time or putting your stuffies to bed. Practice this one a few times before reading with the kids to get your pacing just right.

“Over in the Meadow” gets a garden remake in Over in the Garden by Janna Matthies. You might just be inspired to start some seeds.

A garden party dance party sounds fun after reading.

For more books about moving and grooving—> Moving & Grooving Books for Kids

Enjoy more books to sing.—> Singing Books for Kids

Tasty Tuesday

Whether it’s a themed storytime snack or using a book that leads you to creating food with children, I’ve got books to inspire you.

Cue the griddle for hotcakes after reading Plenty of Pancakes by Carrie Finison. The race is on to make enough pancakes before a special friend wakes up from a long winter’s nap.

Bake up a batch of cookies for it is time for reading aloud Bookie & Cookie by Blanca Gómez.⁣ I adore the illustrations in this sweet book about friendship. ⁣
⁣
Our two friends in the story love to spend time with each other over cookies and books. But, it seems they always end up at one particular house and that becomes a problem. ⁣How will these friends solve their problem? Grab a cookie and find out.⁣

Check more books that inspire you to cook with kids.—> Cooking with Kids Books

From doughnuts to pizza, I’ve got book lists galore.—> Food Books for Kids

Work Together Wednesday

Playing together, creating together, exploring together…these books inspire community building and teamwork.

Letter Setters in Fun! by Ethan Long takes us to the beach and watching a group of doggies learn that working together to make sandcastles is the best idea.

A sand sensory table paired with this read-aloud would be a hit.

Sometimes we are the helper and sometimes we need the help. That is what Wheetle learns in Wheetle
A Little Wagon with a Big Heart by Cindy Derby.

Wagon rides would be fun after reading.

Artsy Thursday

Books to inspire creativity and exploring of art all around us.

The Don’t Touch series invites kids right into the books. And, this time we are “warned” not to draw in the book. But, get those fingers ready for lots of tracing action. Invite whole groups of kids to do the tracing in the air, in the palm of their hand, or on the rug in front of them. Enjoy reading Don’t Draw in This Book!
by Bill Cotter.

Of course, pulling out lots of drawing materials on this day would be ideal too.

The Stuffie Stand by Maddie Frost works well for Artsy Thursday, but it could also work for Work Together Wednesday. Moose has opened a stuffie stand filled with stuffies he sews himself. and business is really taking off. Mabel also enjoys bedazzling stuffies and asks Moose if she can sell hers too at the stand. At first Moose, is resistant, but quickly realizes he does need help.

It would be fun to have the kids bring in their own stuffies on this day and then could create a necklace, tie, or something else bedazzling for them to wear.

Dive more into the world of art.—> Art Books for Kids

And, explore the world of color too.—> Color Books for Children

Family Friday

Celebrate families learning and growing together with these read-alouds.

A mother and daughter hurry to the park for a party. After missing the event they still make the most out of the day. The illustrations are beautiful in While We’re Here by Anne Wynter. One of my favorite illustrated books of 2026.

Head outside and spend time together just noticing things in nature after enjoying the read-aloud.

Mom and Kiona play catch in Catch! by Trish Cooke. Wonderful for inspiring good old family play.

Play a fun game of catch with items of varying sizes and shapes after reading.

Printable Book List of Books for Young Children

Download and print this hand list to help you celebrate all week long.

Happy reading and learning.

The post Young Child Read-Alouds appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Books About Eggs For Kids

Jodie Rodriguez — Sun, 08 Mar 2026 15:37:44 +0000

Which came first- the chicken or the egg? Well, I did create a chicken book list first so I guess we’ll go with that. But, today I have books about eggs for kids for you to enjoy reading aloud to the children in your life.

Egg Board Books

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

Where Are the Eggs? by Grace Lin invites us to walk around and look behind, in the middle, and next to things to locate the eggs.

Egg, Egg, Egg! by Sarah Finan celebrates the variety of way to eat eggs- scrambled, fried, poached… How do you like them?

Picture Books About Eggs

Egg by Kevin Henkes seems like a simple book but it is full of things to notice. Three eggs hatch and one doesn’t. What will the birds discover about the green egg.

How to Hatch: A Gosling’s Guide to Breaking Free by Sara Holly Ackerman is an informational book about the hatching of a gosling told in a funny and engaging way.

Eggs From Red Hen Farm: Farm to Table with Mazes and Maps by Monica Wellington invites readers right into the book. ⁣Many of the page spreads have a map/maze the students can use their fingers to maneuver around based on the text. ⁣Help Ned and Ruby get the eggs from the farm into the hands of people who can use them.

Speaking of birds, enjoy the beautiful wordless book,Nesting by Henry Cole. Get up close and personal with the beautiful robin blue eggs.

An Egg is Quiet by Dianna Aston explores all the eggs that appear in nature. How many colors of eggs do you think there are? Who lays eggs? What sizes do them come in. Take a nature walk and see in the pages of this book.

Shake a Leg, Egg! by Kurt Cyrus is the story of the one last goose egg that is slow to hatch. We get a close-up and birds-eye-view of the highly anticipated scene.

The Good Egg by Jory John is book two in the Food Group Series. Our Good Egg has trouble staying good under all the pressure around it. It really can be tiring always trying to be perfect especially in an imperfect world. We all need a little balance.

The Donkey Egg by Janet Stevens and Susan Stevens Crummel is the story of bear tending to a donkey egg. Say what? Look closely and you’ll see that the egg is very green and fruity. But, it does end up bearing a donkey and another sweet reward.

Peg’s Egg by Jo Renfro would pair nicely with the book above. This time we have another egg want to be that isn’t what it appears. Cue the giggles.

The farm has been invited to Eggday. Will goat, horse, pig, or chicken have the best decorated egg? Nope, duck wins with a real life surprise. Check out Eggday by Joyce Dunbar.

Humpty Dumpty has to face his fears and overcome them in After the Fall by Dan Santat.

Easter Egg Books

The Great Easter Egg Hunt by Rachel Piercey will keep young children busy looking for eggs in the detailed beautiful pictures.

Forget Christmas tree farms. How about Easter egg farms? That’s exactly what happens in The Easter Egg Farm by Mary Jane Auch.

Bentley & Egg by William Joyce follows a frog who is in charge of watching a duck egg. He decides that the white egg is boring and colorfully decorates it. Well, it is mistaken for an Easter egg and the adventure begins.

Get ready to make some decorated eggs in The Easter Bunny’s Assistant by Jan Thomas. And, wait until you meet the assistant!

Printable Book List of Egg Books

Grab a printable list you can download and take to the library.

RELATED RESOURCES

Egg Sound Mat

Literacy Activities to Do With Plastic Eggs

The post Books About Eggs For Kids appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Read-Alouds for March Holidays

Jodie Rodriguez — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 19:10:00 +0000

Celebrate and honor different holidays of the year from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays. Try these read-alouds for March holidays. Read a book a day with the children in your life.

March Holidays with a Book a Day

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

March 1st: National Pig Day

Huff & Puff by Claudia Rueda is an interactive variation perfect for engaging young children. The students get to actually blow through the holes on the pages.

For more Three Little Pigs variations, check out this big list.—>Three Little Pigs Variations

March 2nd: International Rescue Cat Day

Ethan and the Strays by John Sullivan is the story of two brothers who befriend some stray cats in their neighborhood. After seeing a sign encouraging “catch, neuter, release,” they help out. And in the end, Ethan even gets to adopt one of the cats he’s grown close to.

March 3rd: National I Want You to Be Happy Day

Layla’s Happiness by Maria Hadessa Ekere Tallie will warm you and send sensations of happiness through your veins as you see the simple things in life that make 7-year-old Layla happy.

March 4th: National Grammar Day

A clever story that also helps kids understand how punctuation works. This is a fun one to act out or to do as reader’s theater. Semicolons, Cupcakes, and Cucumbers by Steve Newberry is a great book to add to your elementary classroom and use during writer’s workshop.

March 5th: National Potty Dance Day

Goldilocks and the Just Right Potty by Leigh Hodgkinson is a silly tale about a little girl looking for that just right potty. Then, she has to find that just right time when she needs to go potty. My older kids even thought this was pretty funny.

March 6th: National Dentist’s Day

Take the anxiety out of going to the dentist with ABC Dentist by Harriet Ziefert. Each letter highlights a different experience from A for appointment to S for saliva. A vocabulary-rich pick.

March 7th: National Cereal Day

Ketchup on Your Cornflakes? by Nick Sharratt is a fun interactive read. It’s a mix and match book so the kids can create lots of funny combos such as, “Do you like toothpaste in your bed?”

A fun project to do today would be to take a an empty cereal box, cut out the front and back to make book covers, add blank pages between, bind, and you have your own blank book.

March 8th: International Women’s Day

Little Leaders: Bold Women in Black History by Vashti Harrison gives a glimpse of 40 different amazing women who have impacted our lives. This is a neat one where you can read about a different woman each day throughout the month.

Read more throughout Women’s History Month in March.—>Books Celebrating Women’s History Month

March 9th: National Meatball Day

Imagine food raining from the sky. That is what happens in Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett.

March 10th: National Pack Your Lunch Today

Hopefully, you can find this one at your library because I believe it’s out of print. Monster’s Lunch Box by Marc Brown is exactly what you would expect monsters might eat for lunch from spider Jell-O to a ball of belly button lint. Get ready for the giggles, snorts, and groans with this one.

March 11th: Dream Day

Dream of a better world. Think peace in The Peace Book by Todd Parr. Fill the world with friendship, caring, and acceptance.

March 12th: National Plant a Flower Day

From the crocuses that blossom announcing to spring to the tulips that blaze with bursts of color, celebrate all the flowers in A Season of Flowers by Michael Garland.

March 13th: National K9 Veterans Day

Dogs can be amazing companions even during a time of war. Stubby : A True Story of Friendship by Michael Foreman is a story of a dog who served in WWl who sniffed out danger and was loyal to soldiers.

March 14th: Learn About Butterflies Day

Señorita Mariposa by Ben Gundersheimer is a sing-along bilingual book about the yearly migration of the Monarch butterfly.

Keep reading about butterflies.—>Books About Butterflies

March 15th: National Shoe the World Day

When a kind and resourceful shoe man repairs old shoes, he makes sure that rich and poor can get shoes in Shoebox Sam by Mary Brigid Barrett.

March 16th: Panda Day

Xander is throwing a party in Xander’s Panda Party by Linda Sue Park and the guest list keeps growing and growing.

March 17th: St. Patrick’s Day

Green Shamrocks by Eve Bunting is the story of a rabbit who plants shamrock seeds in hopes of having enough to create a necklace to wear to the St. Patrick’s Day parade. But, then his pot of shamrocks disappears. Can he find them in time?

March 18th: Global Recycling Day

One Plastic Bag by Isatou Ceesay is the story of how a group of women took a problem of too much trash and turn it into an art that became a money maker.

Read more books about recycling.—>Recycling Books for Kids

March 19th: Let’s Laugh Day

Warning…Crash, Splash, Moo! by Bob Shea is not the one to read if you are trying to quiet the kids. This is one that will stir all their sillies. This is one that will make them laugh. This is one that will make them say, “Read it again!” It is game show meets book and your kids get to be the contestants.

Keep laughing with these read-alouds.—>Silly Books for Kids

March 20th: First Day of Spring and The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day

Abracadabra, It’s Spring! by Anne Sibley O’Brien ushers in all that signals spring. It’s almost magical how things change in the spring.

Keep reading about the new season.—>Books About Spring

March 20th also happens to be The Very Hungry Caterpillar Day. Enjoy the book and all these awesome literacy activities I have to go with the book too.—->Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities

March 21st: National Countdown Day

Determined chickens are about to break out of the pen. Count along as they do so in Chicken Break!: A Counting Story by Cate Berry. But, just as soon as they break, they have to get back home for another kind of break.
⁪
This is a fun one for counting to ten and back down again. You can also use it for rhyming and talking about the multiple meanings of “break.” Makes a perfect circle-time read-aloud pick.

March 22nd: World Water Day

One Well The Story of Water on Earth by Rochelle Strauss takes readers on a fascinating look into the water on our planet.

March 23rd: National Puppy Day

We all know that puppies can be a lot of work and get into lots of mischief. We find ourselves calling the puppy a lot and that’s what is highlighted in Please, Puppy, Please by Spike Lee and Tonya Lewis Lee.

March 24th: National Chocolate Covered Raisins Day

It’s always so fascinating to think about the people and places behind where our food comes from. Travel to the Ivory Coast in Grandpa Cacao: A Tale of Chocolate From Farm to Family by Elizabeth Zunon. A father tells his daughter about her grandfather and his work of harvesting the cacao as a farmer. Eating chocolate-covered raisins while reading is optional.

March 25th: International Waffle Day

Baron Van Waffle is lounging in his Onion Ring Cave in Lady Pancake and Sir French Toast in the Stinky Stench by Josh Funk. Can help the fridge mates discover what is causing such a stink? No, he has no idea. But a little sleuthing by the others help uncover the odor.

March 26th: Wear a Hat Day

Twelve Hats for Lena by Karen Katz walks us through the months of the year as Lena makes a new hat for each month. We also learn about the symbols associated with each month. I think the kids would like to make their own sets of hats after being inspired by this book.

March 27th: International Scribble Day

Never Let a Unicorn Scribble by Dian Albers is the story of a unicorn who eats crayons even though her owner pleads with her to scribble with them. So, the child ties a wad of crayons to her horn and well that horn did something pretty magical with them.

March 28th: National Weed Appreciation Day

A poetry book to enjoy about flowers is Moving Words About a Flower by K. C. Hayes. Some consider a dandelion a weed but it’s probably one of the most picked flowers by little ones! Learn about how the seeds of a dandelion travel in these concrete poems..

March 29th: Mermaid Day

The Mermaid with No Tail by Jessica Long is the story of a mermaid with no tail. Even though she is made fun of for not having a tail, she decides to compete in the Mermaid Games. With the support of her adoptive parents, friends, and coach she trains and wins.

March 30th: Doctors’ Day

Masked Hero: How Wu Lien-teh Invented the Mas that Ended an Epidemic by Dr. Shan Woo Liu and Kaili Liu Gormley takes us to the person who invented the first version of the N95 mask in 1910 during a plague.

March 31st: National Crayon Day

When you think colors, you think crayons. Learn all about the inventor of the Crayola crayon in The Crayon Man by Natascha Biebow.

Printable List of March Holiday Books

Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.

Enjoy sharing books with children this March.

The post Read-Alouds for March Holidays appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Books to Enjoy for Hat Day at School

Jodie Rodriguez — Tue, 03 Feb 2026 11:57:00 +0000

Are you a hat person? Hats can say a lot about person from causes or teams they support to hats worn for religious significance. And, sometimes hats are worn for fun such as on crazy hat days at school. Let’s read books to enjoy for hat day at school or any day of the year.

Hat Day Books for Toddlers

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

My son’s favorite book of his early years was Blue Hat, Green Hat. I love the humor in the story. This one also helps with recognizing colors.

Hats of Faith by Medeia Cohan is a simple board book that identifies different headdresses worn for religious reasons.

Cats in Construction Hats Sudipta Bardhan-Qualle is filled with colorful cats in colorful hats using construction equipment to build a house. Also check out Cats in Conductor Hats. (releasing June 2026)

Hat Day Picture Books

We all think we know what a hat is. But, this book challenges you to think outside the box.⁣
⁣Hats are really everywhere you look.⁣
-Bubbles make great bath time hats.⁣
-Some jobs require certain hats.⁣
-Clouds can airplane hats.⁣
⁣A fun and playful read-aloud that will engage kids and have them looking for all those less obvious hats.⁣ Enjoy Very Good Hats by Emma Straub.

Mac Wears a Hat by Vicki Johnson is the story of how empowering a child feels when hats are worn. There are even directions for making your own paper hat in the back of the book. (releasing April 2026)

Tiara’s mom is a very talented hat maker. But, a new hat store is on the block and Momma’s studio business dries up. Tiara launches a plan to showcase Momma’s hats again in Tiara’s Hat Parade by Kelly Starling Lyons.

We all want our kids to love themselves. Old Hat by Emily Gravett is a sweet story of a dog in search of the perfect hat. But when he acquires the newest and best hat, his friends make fun and say it’s an old and out of style. He just can’t keep up with the newest trends. Disgusted, Harbet decides to ditch the hats and just be himself and soon everyone wants to be just like him.

I Want My Hat Back by Jon Klassen is an award winning book about a bear in search of its missing hat. Watch the illustrations closely as the bear searches and asks over and over for his hat back.

Hooray for Hat! by Brian Won takes us on a journey of cheering up friends with a parade of hats. This is a fun one to celebrate hat day at school.

The Hat by Jan Brett is a companion book to the class, The Mitten. A stocking becomes a hat on a hedgehog causing quite the scene amongst the animals.

Hat Day Beginning Reader Books

In The Favorite Hat: Ready-to-Read Level 1 Ariel Bernstein, Olive and Oscar discover that a hat can be a multipurpose tool.

Printable Book List About Hats

Grab this list to take to the library.

RELATED POSTS

Clothing Books for Preschoolers

The Mitten Book Activities

The Jacket I Wear in the Snow Book Activities

The post Books to Enjoy for Hat Day at School appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

Read-Alouds for February Holidays

Jodie Rodriguez — Mon, 26 Jan 2026 01:56:27 +0000

We continue our series of posts celebrating and honoring different holidays of the year from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays. Try these read-alouds for the February holidays. Enjoy reading a book a day with the children in your life.

Books for Kids About February Holidays

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

February 1st: World Hijab Day

Hana’s Hundreds of Hijabs by Razeena Omar Gutta is the story of a young girl who loves hijabs and accessories. But, her collection is overflowing and she needs a fashionable plan to deal with it.

February 2nd: Groundhog Day

It’s Groundhog Day and Brownie steps outside to see her shadow. Disappointed she travels on when a fox pounces right on her. Brownie convinces the fox that he’ll have to wait for a meal. Together they continue on looking for signs of spring all the while teaching the fox not to eat her for a snack. Read Brownie Groundhog and the February Fox by Susan Blackaby.

And, read even more books to celebrate the day.—> Groundhog Day Books

February 3rd: American Painters Day

I’ll admit I wasn’t familiar with Horace Pippin until I read A Splash of Red: The Life and Art of Horace Pippin by Jen Bryant. That’s the great thing about children’s books. Even adults can learn from great picture books. Meet an incredible artist who overcame obstacles and pursued his talent.

February 4th: Thank a Mail Carrier Day

Good-bye Curtis by Kevin Henkes will inspire you to write a thank-you note to your mail carrier.

February 5th: National Monarch Day

Winged Wonders: Solving the Monarch Migration Mystery by Meeg Pincus uncovers the mystery that was solved in 1976 about where the monarch butterflies go each year.

February 6th: Pay a Compliment Day

Pass it On by Sophy Henn is a beautiful message to share kindness all around from a smile to a laugh.

February 7th: National Periodic Table Day

What words or images come to mind when you think of the color purple? Did you know that purple was pretty hard and smelly to create until 1856? That’s when William Henry Perkin accidentally invented a new way. Read all about him and the chemistry behind purple in Perkin’s Perfect Purple by Tami Lewis Brown and Debbie Loren Dunn.

February 8th: Opera Day

The Story Orchestra The Magic Flute illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle takes Mozart’s opera and melds story, music, and illustrations into a beautiful book. As you read, press buttons to hear sounds from different acts.

February 9th: National Pizza Day

How to Eat Pizza by Jon Burgerman starts out with a slice of pizza asking the question, “How do you eat pizza?” and that leads to first picking the right slice. Perhaps you like chili flakes or basil on your piece. But, when “the” slice of pizza determines we are about to eat him, he tries to sway us to try another slice. My kids were totally amused by the “crusty bottom” pages.

Keep reading.—>More Pizza Books for Kids

February 10th: National Umbrella Day

The Big Umbrella by Amy June Bates and Juniper Bates seems like a very simple story, but when you let it soak in there is a great message about inclusion and the fact that there is room for everyone no matter size, race, or preference.

February 11th: International Day of Women and Girls in Science

Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating takes you deep into the sea to study those feared creatures-sharks. Well, Eugenie Clark wouldn’t say they needed to be feared.

February 12th: National Lost Penny Day

A Penny’s Worth by Kimberly Wilson is a clever treat. Penny feels great coming off the minting press. But, soon she discovers that the bigger denominations are the ones who get all the love. Does Penny have a place in the world? Full of puns and a quick primer on basic coin values.

February 13th: National Apology Day

A sincere apology has different parts. Learn all about apologizing in How to Apologize by David LaRochelle.

February 14th: Valentine’s Day

My Creepy Valentine by Arthur Howard is the story of Mitzi the Witch and her quest to create the perfect valentine for someone special. She definitely has a way with words that will have the kids giggling. And, of course, there is a sweet ending.

Keep celebrating the day.—>Valentine Books and Activities

February 15th: National Hippo Day

Who knew that learning about hippos could be so fascinating. But, Hippos are Huge! by Jonathan London will captivate your group of preschoolers. It’s packed with interesting facts, danger, and huge everything.

February 16th: National Almond Day

So we aren’t reading specifically about almonds today. But, we are going with the nut theme.

Norman and Bella are craving donuts. In fact, they can smell them in the air. But, they have to figure out how to outsmart a donut food truck baker first in order to get some in ⁣ Donut Feed the Squirrels. Turns out they create a sensational new donut flavor in the process in Donut Feed the Squirrels by Mika Song.⁣

February 17th: Random Acts of Kindness Day

Every Little Kindness by Marta Bartolj is the a look at the chain reaction one small act of kindness can have on the world.

Keep the kindness going.—> Books About Kindness

February 18th: Pluto Day

How do you think Pluto felt getting that call that it wasn’t a planet anymore?⁣ Well, Adam Rex, has some ideas in this fun and informative read-aloud.⁣ The kids will be giggling and soaking up lots of solar system information as they enjoy the text and playful illustrations in Pluto Gets the Call.

February 19th: National Dance Day

Waltz of the Snowflakes by Elly Mackay takes us along on a first outing to the ballet and theater to see The Nutcracker for the first time. There is an interesting play with color in the illustrations.

February 20th: National Muffin Day

If You Give a Moose a Muffin is part of a very fun series by Laura Numeroff. When a moose comes to visit, you will have to give him a muffin. And of course, if you give him a muffin, he will want some jam to go with it. One thing will remind him of another until eventually, we circle back to him wanting a muffin again at the end of the story.

Of course, you need to make these yummy hot chocolate muffins too.—>If You Give a Moose a Muffin Recipe

February 21st: Language Day

My First Book of Korean Words: An ABC Rhyming Book of Korean Language and Culture is a series of seven books. You can also check out the Filipino, Japanese, Chinese, and more books.

February 22nd: National Cook a Sweet Potato Day

Strong family ties and creative problem-solving are in store when you enjoy Sweet Potato Pie by Kathleen Lindsey.

Sadie’s family is faced with a drought. Sweet potatoes are the only crop that can be saved. With money being tight, the family comes up with the idea to turn those sweet potatoes into sweet potato pies and sell them at the Harvest Celebration.⁣
⁣
It takes a lot of hard work to pull off the pie-making process. All hands are on deck.⁣
⁣
Best of all…there is a recipe for sweet potato pie including a homemade flaky crust in the back of the book.⁣

February 23rd: Play Tennis Day

Names that immediately come to mind when you think tennis! Check out Game Changers: The Story of Venus and Serena Williams by Lesa Cline-Ransome.

February 24th: National Tortilla Chip Day

Run through the desert in The Runaway Tortilla by Eric A. Kimmel. Check out Kimmel’s other book variations for tales too. We love his Three Little Tamales. Along the same lines of the Runaway Tortilla, try Senorita Gordita by Helen Ketteman.

February 25th: Quiet Day

Listen… it’s something I think we can all do more of with each other.⁣ Listen by Gabi Snyder challenges us to not just listen to all that is going on around us, but listen to what is going on inside of each of us too.⁣

February 26th: National Tell a Fairy Tale Day

Frederico is on his way to visit his Abuelo when he runs into a hungry wolf Federico and the Wolf by Rebecca J. Gomez. Of course, he outwits him and celebrates with a yummy treat with his Abuelo in the end. This story is an American-Mexican variation of Little Red Riding Hood. And, it’s a delight to read. Plus, you can follow the recipe for pico de gallo.

February 27th: National Strawberry Day

I LOVE Strawberries! by Shannon Anderson is diary-style book will inspire you to plant your own strawberry patch this spring.

February 28th: National Tooth Fairy Day

How to Trick the Tooth Fairy by Erin Danielle Russell is full of mischief. The tooth fairy meets a cunning little girl named Kaylee who loves to pull pranks. The two try to outwit each other until they eventually become great friends.

Printable List of February Holiday Books

Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.

Enjoy reading with the kids this February.

And, get ready to read in March too.—> March Read-Alouds

*This post first appeared 1/24/22 and has since been updated.

The post Read-Alouds for February Holidays appeared first on Growing Book by Book.

I’m Hungry!/¡Tengo Hambre! Book Activities

Jodie Rodriguez — Sat, 24 Jan 2026 15:00:14 +0000

I do enjoy when you suggest a book for me to create book activities for and today is one of those days. Today I bring you early literacy activities to use with I’m Hungry ¡Tengo Hambre! by Angela Dominguez.

I’m Hungry ¡Tengo Hambre! Book

Full Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links.

A little blue bird encounters a feeling down dinosaur and tries to get to the bottom of what is troubling the dino. The dinosaur replies that it is “¡Tengo hambre!” and the blue bird asks many questions of what it might like to eat. But, in the end that just right food that will hit the spot is discovered- cookies.

This book is told in English by the blue bird and Spanish by the dinosaur.

Book Activities for I’m Hungry! ¡Tengo Hambre!

Activity One: Counting Cookies in English and Spanish

Before reading, ask the kids what they notice on the front cover. The dinosaur is holding a slice of pizza. As the kids if they think the dinosaur might want to eat it. Then turn to the front set of endpapers. What do the kids notice.There are lots of whole cookies. You can even count them with the kids. Ask the kids why they think there are so many cookies.

After reading, show the kids back endpapers. Compare them with the front endpapers.

Now, let’s practice some hands on cookie counting. Each child will need a set of colored cookies (see printable below). Practice counting in the cookies in English and Spanish from 1-5.

1/Uno, 2/Dos, 3/Tres, 4/Quarto, 5/Diez

Here’s a little poem/chant to use with the cookies too. This will help to practice color recognition and counting.

Five Little Cookies
Five little cookies with frosting galore.
_____ (insert the name of a child or faculty member) ate the orange one, then there were (pause here and have the kids figure out the answer)four.

Four little cookies with sprinkles for me.
_________ ate the yellow one, then there three.

Three little cookies, but before I knew,
______at the blue one, then there were two.

Two Little Cookies, oh, what fun.
_____ ate the green one, then there was one.

One little cookie, watch me run.
I ate the pink one, then there were none.

Activity Two: Retelling of I’m Hungry! and Building Vocabulary

Use the words cards (see download below) to sequence and retell the story. The cards can also be used to work on vocabulary. The English and Spanish words are printed on the cards.

Download the Printables for I’m Hungry! ¡Tengo Hambre!

The printables for the activities are a thank you gift for becoming a free member of the Growing Book by Book community. Click the purple button to have the printables emailed to you.