What should we celebrate this month? No matter the holiday, we should definitely 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
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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 Walking Day
My City Speaks by Darren Lebeuf is the story of a young girl and her father who explore all the sounds, scents, and textures of the city as they walk from place to place including the garden and the playground.
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: Take Action for Libraries Day
Saving Eli’s Library by Ruth Horowitz is inspired by a Vermont’s town that came together to help their flooded library. In this story, we meet Eli, his father, and a whole community who rescue the books from the flood waters of the river and then rebuild their community treasure.
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: Easter
The Easter Egg Artist by Adrienne Adams is out of print, but hopefully, you can find a copy at the library. A family of bunny artists decides to take a vacation before their busy season starts and hopes the time away will inspire their child to embrace the family business. During the trip, their son finds his own style and his parents learn to appreciate it.
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: Banana 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 Uruguray. 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: National Crayola Day
Harold and the Purple Crayon by Crockett Johnson is the story of a little boy with a very big imagination. Oh, a pretty important purple crayon stars too. Use my Harold and the Purple Crayon Activities too.
April 26th: National Bookmobile Day
Moose’s Book Bus by Inga Moore is the story of a moose who brings the world of books to his small community for all the animals to enjoy.
April 27th: Poem in Your Pocket Day
Digger, Dozer, Dumper by Hope Vestergaard is full of poems about all things construction vehicles.
For more poetry books perfect for circle time, see this list.—> Poetry Books for Circle Time
April 28th: Arbor Day
Be Thankful for Trees: A Tribute to the Many & Surprising Ways Trees Relate to Our Lives by Harriet Ziefert has a little bit of everything about trees from things we make with trees to the environmental dangers to trees.
For more books about trees (and there are a lot) check out this list.—-> Books About Trees
April 29th: National Go Birding Day
Bird Count by Susan Edwards Richmond is a must-read if you are doing bird counts with children. It explains how to identify as well as other bird-watching requirements. Plus, we get to learn about lots of different birds and using tally marks.
For more books about birds, check out my big list.—> Books About Birds for Kids
April 30th: 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.
Printable List of April Holiday Books
Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.
More Book Lists
Tanja evans says
Jodie,
I am an i. Home childcare provider and I would like to include a book in each of my childten’s Easter basket. My children range from 10 months to 15 years! Do you have some suggestions for me?
Thank you for any ass you can give me!
Tanja Evans
Jodie Rodriguez says
I think you’ll find this post helpful: https://growingbookbybook.com/literacy-inspired-easter-basket-ideas/
Best,
Jodie