April is a wonderful month, as the weather changes into a beautiful spring (hopefully)! Check out these read aloud books for April to celebrate different national holidays throughout the month.
I’m sharing all of these books on video too! Check out the Read Aloud Books for April on my YouTube channel:
This post contains affiliate links. Read my full disclosure here.
April Read Aloud Books
April 3rd – Find a Rainbow Day
Who doesn’t love rainbows?? For Find a Rainbow Day, I have two different picture books to share with you!
Share Your Rainbow is a wonderful book that provides hope for our future. When the pandemic hit in March 2020, 18 artists came together to create this story. It is inspired by kids across the country who displayed rainbows in their windows. Each illustration depicts the every day things that we are looking forward to when the pandemic ends.
Pride: The Story of Harvey Milk and the Rainbow Flag traces the life of the Gay Pride Flag. It starts with social activist Harvey Milk in 1978 and moves up to the flag’s role in today’s world. A story of love, hope, equality, and pride!
April 4th – School Librarian Day
We all need to celebrate school librarians! Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpre is an inspiring story! This picture book biography is about New York City’s first Puerto Rican librarian. It also includes informative backmatter and suggest further reading.
Author Anika Aldamuy Denise is a wonderful author!
April 7th – Book Mobile Day & April 8th – Zoo Lovers Day
Wild About Books! is the perfect story for Book Mobile Day and Zoo Lovers Day! When a librarian drives her bookmobile into the zoo by mistake, things get a little silly. In true librarian fashion, she manages to find the perfect book for every animal. A funny book that your students will love!
April 15th – Titanic Remembrance Day
The Bravest Man in the World is another powerful story from Patricia Polacco. It tells the story of Wallace Hartley, the musician who played with his band to calm the passengers of the Titanic as the ship sank. It truly express the power of music and how much of an impact it can have.
April 17th – Haiku Day
DogKu is my favorite book written in a haiku poem! A stray dog finds himself on the back step of a family’s house. They take him in for the day. The dog then tells us about his day, from his point of view, all in haiku! Will he get to stay with his new family at the end of the book?
After reading DogKu, make your own haiku book with your class! Students write haiku poems all about their day in the classroom.
April 21st – Kindergarten Day
Celebrate this day with The King of Kindergarten! This story, a collaboration between Derrick Barnes and Vanessa Brantley-Newton, tells the story of a young boy who is nervous about starting kindergarten. He decides he is going to be the King of Kindergarten, though! He is up to the challenge of new experiences and new friends.
April 25th – Guide Dog Day
Rescue & Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship is the true story of Jessica and her service dog, Rescue. Rescue is worried that he won’t be a good service dog. Then he meets Jessica and, together, they figure out how to work together. Based on a real-life partnership, this is a heartwarming story of love and teamwork.
April 25th – Penguin Day
And Tango Makes Three is another true story. This one is about two male penguins in the Central Park Zoo. Together they want to have their own family. With the help of zookeeper, they get the chance to welcome a baby penguin of their own!
April 29th – International Dance Day
Giraffes Can’t Dance is one of my favorite books and it’s perfect for International Dance Day! Gerald the giraffe wants to dance, but it is hard for him. With some encouraging words from an unlikely friend, he learns to dance to his own tune. An inspiring, but fun book!
April 30th – Poem in Your Pocket Day
April is National Poetry Month! The last day of the month is Poem in Your Pocket Day. Kwame Alexander’s Out of Wonder celebrates poets through the use of poetry. A wonderful book to read aloud to your class!
What are some of your favorite read aloud books for April? Share in the comments below!
Since April is Poetry Month, check out this post about poetry picture books and this post about poetry books for upper elementary students.
Want to save these book ideas for later? Just pin the image below!
