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A great collection of books and activities to celebrate all month long! Grab a copy of this calendar featuring read alouds and activities that are perfect for preschool and elementary classrooms.
Spring has sprung, and it’s time to change out the seasonal books in your basket of read-alouds. The books featured below, and the corresponding activities, will keep your students engaged and entertained all month long!
April Read Alouds Calendar
April is full of fun and quirky holidays in addition to the holidays that everyone is familiar with – Easter, Earth Day, etc. This book list (and printable read alouds calendar) is a great resource to have on hand throughout the month.
April is…
• National Humor Month – This month, start your school day with a joke of the day. You’ll never run out of jokes to tell with these joke books on hand.
• National Poetry Month – Poetry doesn’t have to be intimidating or boring. Here’s a small collection of children’s poetry books to read from this month.
April is full of quirky holidays that you can celebrate in your homeschool or classroom. Take a look at the books and activities featured below:
April 2 – National Peanut Butter and Jelly Day
Read The Giant Jam Sandwich. Then choose one (or all) of the activities in this lapbook to complete.
April 3 – World Party Day
Read Curious George and the Birthday Surprise. While you read, let students munch on banana chips or banana pudding for a sweet treat.
April 4 – World Rat Day
Read Adopting Adele. When you’re done reading, kids can make this adorable peek-a-boo rat craft.
April 5 – National Dandelion Day
After reading The Dandelion Seed with your students, let them create a nice thumbprint dandelion picture to display.
April 6 – California Poppy Day
The Poppy Lady explains how the poppy became the symbol for honoring WWI soldiers. After you’ve read this story to your kids, they can make a simple cupcake liner poppy craft.
April 8 – Zoo Lover’s Day
Kids will love listening to you read Put Me in the Zoo. When you’re done, let them make their on polka-dot leopard.
April 9 – Name Yourself Day
Read Chrysanthemum, a story about a young mouse who learns to love her unique name. Then have your students write a paragraph describing the meaning behind their own names.
April 10 – National Siblings Day
Sisters and Brothers is a unique spin on books about siblings. This one focuses on animal siblings and features animal facts and engaging artwork.
April 14 – National Dolphin Day
Read Dolphins: Voice in the Ocean for a great non-fiction look at dolphins. Let your students color one of these dolphin color pages as you read.
April 15 – Titanic Remembrance Day
If You Were a Kid Aboard the Titanic introduces kids to what it was like traveling on the Titanic. When you’re done, let kids paint their own picture of the Titanic.
April 16 – National Librarian Day
What will happen to Alia Baker’s library when war comes to her town in Basra, Iraq? Read The Librarian of Basra: A True Story from Iraq.
April 17 – Bat Appreciation Day
One of my all-time favorite picture books features a fruit bat named Stellaluna. Give your students some patterned paper, and let them create this bat craft that explores shapes.
April 20 – Look Alike Day
What happens when twins who’ve always shared everything grow up and need their own space? Find out in The Twins’ Blanket.
April 21 – Kindergarten Day
Read Miss Bindergarten Gets Ready for Kindergarten and explore the alphabet with your students.
April 22 – Earth Day
After reading Thank You, Earth, let your students write a thank you letter of their own.
April 25 – World Penguin Day
Celebrate World Penguin Day by reading If You Were a Penguin to your students. Or, choose one of these 5 penguin books. Then, do this fun science experiment to teach kids how penguins stay dry.
April 26 – National Pretzel Day
Pretzel is the longest dachshund in the world, and he will have your kids engaged from page one! When you’re done reading this book to your kids, try making some easy no knead, no rise soft pretzels.
April 27 – Babe Ruth Day
Baseball fans will love Babe Ruth Saves Baseball! Afterward, let kids pair up to practice math with a math facts baseball game.
April 28 – Great Poetry Reading Day
Roald Dahl offers his own comic twist to six classic fairy tales in Revolting Rhymes. Can your kids write a revolting rhyme of their own?
April 30 – National Honesty Day
Read The Honest-to-Goodness Truth. Discuss truth and honesty with your kids with one or more of these activities that teach children about telling the truth.
For the days on which no holiday falls, I suggest the following books which focus on spring.
Print out the April Read Alouds Calendar. Hang it in a prominent place for daily read-aloud inspiration. Take it to the library so you don’t forget any of the book suggestions. Enjoy!
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LOVE these projects!! How wonderful. Thank you for including some our crafts!! Will pin!!!