Let’s 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 holidays in September. Enjoy reading a book a day with the children in your life.
Books for Kids About September Holidays
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Did you know that September is National Literacy Month? Banned Books Week is also the last week in September. And, September is also National Library Card Sign-Up Month.
September 1st: National Tofu Day
Tofu Takes Time by Helen H. Wu is the story of a young girl who makes homemade tofu with her grandmother. Tofu making is a test of patience as the process takes time. But, the taste is worth the wait.
September 2nd: World Coconut Day
The coconut tree takes center stage as the letters climb up it in Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin Jr. And, enjoy lots of different activities to go with the book too.—> Chicka Chicka Boom Boom Activities
September 3rd: National Skyscraper Day
The text is sparse but the vocabulary is rich in Skyscraper by Jorey Hurley. If you live close to a city, head out to stand under a skyscraper after reading.
September 4th: National Wildlife Day
Do you know what the names of different animals are called? Learn about the name of groups of animals and how they work together in a great book called Packs: Strength in Numbers by Hannah Salyer.
September 5th: International Day of Charity
One Hen by Katie Smith Milway is the story of how one idea to raise money for food grew into a huge food resource. Change happens one idea at a time by one person at a time. I loved the resourcefulness and determination showcased throughout the story.
September 6th: National Read a Book Day
Albert’s Quiet Quest by Isabelle Arsenault is a beautiful book about getting lost in a book. We all know how it can be tough to find just a little quiet to read and dream and Albert has the same problem.
September 7th: Salami Day
Sausages are missing and the thief must be found. Read One Hundred Sausages by Yuval Zommer to find the culprit and claim the reward.
September 8th: National Iguana Awareness Day
Manana, Iguana by Ann Whitford Paul is a variation of The Little Red Hen. In this story, Iguana is planning a fiesta but the lazy trio of friends don’t seem to want to help get ready.
September 9th: Teddy Bear Day
A little boy needs his bear. Can you spot the bear? Try it out in Where is Bear? by Jonathan Bentley. And, get ready for a surprise ending.
September 10th: Grandparent’s Day
This next book features a grandchild and grandpa, but could easily work with a grandma too. Goldie’s Guide to Grandchilding by Clint McElroy provides you with everything you need to know about grandchilding (taking care of a grandparent) from how to feed them to how to get them to sleep. Super silly and laugh-out-loud funny read-aloud time is on the horizon with this one.
For more books about grandparents, check out this list.—> Books About Grandparents
September 11th: 9/11 Awareness Day
This Very Tree by Sean Rubin is a beautiful book that focuses on the surviving tree at the scene and the care of the tree after it was removed from the 9/11 site. It’s told in the voice of the tree and all that it witnessed.
For more 9/11 Awareness Books, check out my whole list.—> Remembering 9/11 Books for Kids
September 12th: Video Games Day
The Boy Who Thought Outside the Box: The Story of Video Game Inventor Ralph Baer by Marcie Wessels is the story of how video games came into existence. In this book, we get to meet Ralph Baer who brought us the first gaming system.
September 13th: National Fortune Cookie Day
Fortune Cookie Fortunes by Grace Lin celebrates that favorite part of a Chinese meal- the fortune cookies. Do those fortunes come true?
September 14th: National Coloring Day
When you think colors, you think crayons. Learn all about the inventor of the Crayola crayon in The Crayon Man by Natascha Biebow.
September 15th: International Dot Day
The Dot by Peter H. Reynolds is the story of a caring teacher who encourages a resistant Vashti to “make her mark.” The young girl’s breakthrough begins with a simple dot on a piece of paper. Her teacher encourages her to set off on a journey of creating, discovering, and inspiring others.
Celebrate the day with these International Dot Day book activities.
September 16th: Collect Rocks Day
We are talking big rocks in this next pick. How to Make a Mountain: in Just 9 Simple Steps and Only 100 Million Years! by Amy Huntington walks us through the steps of mountain making. But, you have to be very patient because it takes a really long time.
September 17th: National Pet Bird Day
Love Is by Diane Adams is a precious little story of the love between a girl and her duckling. We walk through all the highlights of love and the tough times that require love to pull us through.
For more books about birds, check out this list.—> Books About Birds
September 18th: National Respect Day
All Are Welcome by Alexandra Penfold is an AMAZING book that every classroom and home should own. It doesn’t matter what your background is, what color your skin is, or what your religion may be. All Are Welcome inside the school community.
September 19th: Talk Like a Pirate Day
Give Me Back My Bones by Kim Norman is packed with fun learning and a fun read for Talk Like a Pirate Day.
“Now I need my gnaw bone, my chicken-chomping saw bone.
I’ll starve without my jawbone. I miss my mandible!”
I even have an early literacy activity for you to do with the book.—> Give Me Back My Bones Book Activity
September 20th: National Care for Kids Day
It’s not the size or shape of a family that makes it a family. It’s love that makes a family. Love is a Family by Roma Downey is a story of a young girl discovering that what truly makes a family is love and that can come in all shapes and sizes.
September 21st: World Gratitude Day
In Giving Thanks by Jonathan London, a young boy and his father take a walk practicing gratitude for all the gifts of nature.
For even more books about gratitude and thankfulness, check out this list.—> Books About Gratitude
September 22nd: National Ice Cream Cone Day
There can be a lot of waiting for that dreamed-about ice cream cone. There’s the waiting in line to get your ice cream. Trying to time it right so it doesn’t drip down your arm. And friends coming to the rescue just in time. Enjoy Ice Cream Face by Heidi Woodward Sheffield.
Read more ice cream books.—>Books About Ice Cream and Popsicles
September 23rd: National Baker Day
A village has many businesses and jobs that provide for the villagers from fishermen to the baker. This book highlights a variety of jobs but focuses on the impact of the baker and the interworkings of a village by the sea. Read The Baker by the Sea by Paula White.
September 24th: National Punctuation Day
Imagine if punctuation marks took a vacation. Would chaos ensue? Read the postcards for each punctuation mark that they send back to the class in Punctuation Takes a Vacation by Robin Pulver.
September 25th: Math Storytelling Day
Pigeon Math is Asia Citro’s first picture book. The narrator is trying to tell a story but the pigeons keep flying back and forth from the line disrupting the story of the narrator. It’s comical. It’s educational. And, it’s a super creative math-related book perfect for enjoying as a read-aloud and extending into further learning.
And use these book activities to go with the book.—> Pigeon Math Book Activities
September 26th: National Dumpling Day
Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai is the story of an apartment building filled with cooks making dumplings and one little girl who ensures everyone gets the right ingredients for their recipe. Join in on the tasty journey and discover lots of dumplings along the way. A recipe for baos is included in the backmatter.
September 27th: National Crush a Can Day
I learned quite a bit about how aluminum cans are made in The Adventures of an Aluminum Can by Little Green Books. Told in a diary format, we follow from a piece of alumina underground to the transformation into a can followed by the journey the can takes becoming all sorts of things. Kids will learn lots of vocabulary words including bale, bauxite, and refinery.
September 28th: Read a Child a Book You Love Day
Share a book you love with a child today. It’s your choice!
September 29th: Inventors Day
Magic Ramen: The Story of Momofuku Ando by Andrea Wang and his invention of quick cooking ramen. It took a lot of trial and error, but determination won out and a staple was born.
September 30th: #BeWhoYouAreDay
Todd Parr celebrates each of us being uniquely ourselves so to celebrate his books and message, September 30th is #BeWhoYouAreDay. There are even some fun ways to participate which can check out to celebrate the day.—>Todd Parry Be Who You are Day Resources
Of course, read Be Who You Are by Todd Parr too.
Printable List of September Holiday Books
Grab a printable list of the books to enjoy with the kids.
Happy reading!
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