Our year-long series of posts celebrating and honoring different holidays of the year from the well-known holidays to the odd, funny, and wacky holidays continues again this month. Let’s enjoy these read-alouds for August holidays. Share books with the children in your life.
Books for Kids About August Holidays
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August 1st: Woman Astronomers Day
The Astronomer Who Questioned Everything: The Story of Maria Mitchell by Laura Alary is the story of a woman who pursued her childhood curiosity that led her to an amazing discovery- a comet. Step back into the 1800s and meet this woman.
August 2nd: Take a Penny/Leave a 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 denomination 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.
August 3rd: National Watermelon Day
An award winner is The Watermelon Seed by Greg Pizzoli. We are introduced to a crocodile who has a fear of swallowing watermelon seeds.
August 4th: US Coast Guard Birthday
The Coast Guard does amazing work but sometimes they can use a helping hand. All Hands on Deck! by Robert Neubecker is the story of the Cajun Navy, a group of small boats that band together to help rescue people stranded by hurricanes in Louisiana. They are a big help to the Coast Guard.
August 5th: Sandcastle Day
Have you ever tried to build a sandcastle only for it to be destroyed by something? That’s just what happens in this wordless book, A Day for Sandcastles by Jon Arno Lawson.
August 6th: National Tree Day
Under My Tree by Muriel Tallandier & Mizuho Fujisawa is the story of a young girl who visits her grandmother and finds a special tree. She explores the tree and notices all sorts of things about it through the changing seasons. After reading, young children will want to go and find “their” tree and observe all the things that make it special. Because trees are truly magical.
For more books about trees, check out this list.—> Books About Trees
August 7th: National Lighthouse Day
Hello Lighthouse by Sophie Blackall was a 2019 Caldecott winner. The illustrations are absolutely stunning. Blackall is one of my favorite illustrators.
August 8th: International Cat Day
Marigold is a cat with a personality. Marigold Bakes a Cake by Mike Malbrough is a funny tale of a cat who just wants to spend his Monday making a cake. But, things don’t go according to plan.
Keep reading about cats.—> Books About Cats
August 9th: National Book Lovers’ Day
Help Wanted Must Love Books by Janet Summer Johnson is the tale of a girl looking for a replacement bedtime reader. Is there anyone who can fill her dad’s shoes?
August 10th: World Lion Day
Lost in the Library by Josh Funk is the story of the two stone lions outside of the NYPL. The two give us a tour of all the sights and sounds of the library at night.
August 11th: National Hip-Hop Day
Hip Hop Lollipop by Susan Montanari is the story of a little girl who hip-hops her way to bed. This one works really well for building vocabulary and sequencing too.
August 12th: World Elephant Day
The Elephant’s New Shoe by Laurel Neme is based on a true rescue story of a baby elephant with a badly injured foot. The foot is unable to be saved, but some very caring individuals work to build the elephant a special prosthetic boot.
For more elephant reads, check out this list.—> Books About Elephants
August 13th: Builders’ Day
Someone Builds the Dream by Lisa Wheeler we are introduced to all of the people behind the scenes that bring a product to life from bridges to books. There are so many hands that touch a project before the end product is available.
August 14th: Love Your Bookshop Day
Have you ever entered a bookstore to discover a resident cat? The Bookstore Cat by Cylin Busby introduces us to the 26 sides of a bookstore cat from the adorable to the zig-zagging cat.
August 15th: National Back to School Prep Day
Also, check out the newer Tool School by Holub about a group of tools that learn to work together to get things done.
For more back to school books, check out this list.—> Back to School Books
August 16th: National Airborne Day
Have you ever traveled on a 747 before? Airplane lovers will adore Chris Gall’s book, Jumbo: The Making of Boeing 747. The illustrations are big and bold just as they should be for talking about the making of this plane. It’s very evident that Gall has a passion for planes. Learn about thrust, drag, a Waddell’s Wagon, and more in this fascinating book.
August 17th: National I Love My Feet Day
Hello Toes! Hello Feet! by Ann Whitford Paul is pure silly wiggly fun.
August 18th: Never Give Up Day
Mindset is huge when it comes to achieving goals. The Magical Yet by Angela DiTerlizzi reminds us to add the powerful word “yet” to those “I can’t” statements we tell ourselves.
August 19th: National Potato Day
Mr. Crum’s Potato Predicament by Anne Renaud has a fun opening, “George Crum loved to cook. He fricasseed and flambeed, boiled and braised, poached and pureed.” So much vocabulary is packed into two lines.
So legend has it that George Crum invented the potato chip in 1853 while working at a restaurant. A picky customer returned their potatoes complaining they were undercooked and too thick. So George decided to go to the opposite extreme for the customer. The book is a playful variation on that legend that is packed with entertainment. And, the illustrations are beautiful.
August 20th: National Bacon Lover’s Day
Yes, do not forget the bacon! Enjoy Don’t Forget the Bacon by Pat Hutchins.
August 21st: Poet’s Day
Red Sings from Treetops: A Year in Colors by Joyce Sidman vividly brings colors to life as they depict different characteristics of the seasons.
August 22nd: National Tooth Fairy Day
Tooth Fairy: Flight of the Tooth Fairy by Jaren Ahlmann gives us a glimpse of the tooth fairy who magically appears to collect our teeth that have fallen out and who lives a gift behind.
August 23rd: Hug Your Sweetheart Day
I Need a Hug by Aaron Blabey is the story of a porcupine in need of a hug. But, no one wants to hug a porcupine. Will porcupine find the hug?
August 24th: Pluto Demoted 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, Pluto Gets the Call. The kids will be giggling and soaking up lots of solar system information as they enjoy the text and playful illustrations.
August 25th: National Second-Hand Wardrobe Day
Rosie and the Pre-Loved Dress by Leanne Hatch is the story of a young girl who visits a thrift shop and finds a beautiful yellow dress that has the name Mila written on the tag. She envisions Mila wearing this dress and doing all sorts of things. Rosie loves the dress but eventually outgrows it. So, she takes a marker and writes her name on the tag before donating it back to the thrift shop.
August 26th: Musical Yoga Day
Enjoy I Am Yoga by Susan Verde and then do some yoga with Emily Arrow’s song to compliment the book.
August 27th: World Rock Scissors Paper Day
The End of Something Wonderful by Stephanie V.W. Lucianovic is a how-to guide for putting on a backyard funeral no matter if the child has lost a pet fish or guinea pig. The story is told with practicality as well as a sensitivity and bit of a humorous touch.
August 29th: National Sports Day
The kids have to clear the field for a game of soccer (futbol) 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.
August 30th: National Beach Day
Summer usually means exploring the beach for many. Look What I Found at the Beach by Moira Butterfield, is full of things to explore and learn about the beach. It is a little bit seek and find and a lot of facts about all the things you’ll discover at the beach. Learn about different crabs, explore shell shapes, and discover mermaid’s purses in this informative book.
August 31st: Eat Outside Day
When I think of eating outside, I think of visiting food trucks. Boy or boy are there some good ones. Try Little Taco Truck by Tanya Valentine. In this tale, the Taco Truck is having a hard time finding a parking spot as more and more food trucks crowd the area. It has to stand up for itself in the sea of food trucks.
Printable List of August Holiday Books
Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.
Happy Reading!
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