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
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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: National Brothers and Sisters Day
The New Small Person by Lauren Child tells the all-familiar tale of a child who is less than excited about having a new sibling. Elmore Green liked being the only child and now the new small person wants to do everything he does. But, one night everything changes!
May 3rd: National Teacher Appreciation Day
Have you ever seen a teacher out in the wild? My students were always so surprised to see me at the grocery store. Rescuing Mrs. Birdley by Aaron Reynolds is a hilarious read about finding your teacher out of her natural habitat and the lengths a student will go to return her where she belongs.
Make sure to thank a teacher today!
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: National Astronaut Day
Mae Among the Stars by Roda Ahmed is the story of the first African American woman to travel in space, Mae Jemison. It’s a beautiful story about believing in your dreams.
For more books about space, check out this list.—> Books About Space for Kids
May 6th: National No Pants Day
Naked by Michael Ian Black is a super funny story. The little boy in the story loves to run around the house naked and imagines life being naked. He soon decides that the only thing better than being naked is being caped. The little superhero flies around the house until he is all tuckered out.
May 7th: National Train Day
You will want to decorate your wooden train tracks after enjoying Old Tracks New Tricks by Jessica Petersen.
For more books about trains, I’ve got a big list for you.—>Books About Trains
May 8th: 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 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: Clean Your Room Day
Yes, one can have too many toys especially when we all know that the very best toy is an empty box. Be inspired to do some cleaning, sorting, and giving away unused toys in Too Many Toys by David Shannon.
May 11th: National Eat What You Want Day
With a family of selective eaters, there is no better out to eat option than a food truck festival. So on National Eat What You Want Day, I thought a food truck bonanza book was perfect.
When all the food trucks converge in one spot you have a Food Truck Fest! by Alexandra Penfold. This is a fun one to talk about favorite foods or cuisines that each student enjoys.
May 12th: National Limerick Day
Get ready for National Limerick Day with The Book Of Pigericks by Arnold Lobel. You have 38 choices all centering around the manners of pigs.
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: Letter Carrier’s Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive Day
Saturday at the Food Pantry by Diane O’Neil is the story of a young girl and her mother who get food from a food pantry and all the feelings around that from feeling embarrassed to feeling grateful.
For more books about hunger, see my complete list.—> Books About Hunger
May 15th: Take Your Parents To The Playground (Park) Day
My Day in the Park by Marta Orzel invites us into a park that has it all-people, nature, and fun! The book even encourages readers to find, count, and explore throughout the book.
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: World Bee Day
The Honeybee Man by Lela Nargi is the story of a New York beekeeper who tends to his hives on the top of a building. We learn how the bees live and work to create that sticky treat.
Read even more about bees.—> Books About Bees
May 21st: National Learn to Swim Day
In Saturday is Swimming Day by Hyewon Yum we meet a little girl who is not very eager to start her swimming lessons. In fact, her head hurts, and her tummy aches. In the first lesson, she totally stays on the sidelines. But, class by class, she summons the courage to take that next little step, and eventually, she’s floating, splashing, and enjoying herself in the water.
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: National Brown-Bag It Day
One Little Bag: An Amazing Journey by Henry Cole is GORGEOUS. The preface pages show how a tree transforms into a paper bag. Then, we begin the journey of one of those bags through three generations. The bag is a carrier of many things and a keeper of memories. And, in the end, we get to see it become part of the circle of life. Don’t miss the author’s note about Henry Cole’s personal experience of the first Earth Day and a special bag in his life.
May 26th: National Paper Airplane Day
Zephyr Takes Flight by Steve Light is the story of a young girl who adores airplanes. After being sent to her room, Zephyr unlocks a hidden imaginative door full of flight.
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
Princesses can build and princes can sew in Princesses Can Fix It! by Tracy Marchini. The king has an alligator problem and the princesses know how to fix it. But, the king doesn’t think the princesses can. Well, they will show him.
May 30th: 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 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!
Brenda says
Thank you for always sharing awesome resources. You are appreciated! Smiles!
Jodie Rodriguez says
Thank you, Brenda!