Eleven Books and A Few Ideas to Help You Celebrate World Read Aloud Day

In a December 31, 2023, post, I introduced you to Marshmallow, our school’s reading buddy. Once a month, Marshmallow and I conduct a read aloud in K-3 classes as part of our schoolwide literacy plan. 

Guess how excited I am for February 7, which has been deemed World Read Aloud Day! A quick Google search elicits results for tons of activities and titles to use to make this a fun-filled day with books. My go-to sites have been LitWorld and the website of children’s author Kate Messner for book titles, virtual author read aloud options, and activities. 

This post contains links to connect you with ideas, book titles, and themes to consider for read alouds that you can access all year. 

In February, I read Stickler Loves the World by Lane Smith. A wonderfully weird and fantastic book about enjoying all the grand and simple wonders in the world. If you want a book that’s quirky, funny, and full of wonders with great illustrations, read this! 

There is endless research on the power of read alouds. Most notably, teachers and parents can share books they love and why they love them. Teachers and parents can reinforce how to choose books, as they share their love of a topic, author, or some other reason the book caught their eye. At the skill level, read alouds improve comprehension, vocabulary, and fluency. The read aloud also allows the teacher and parent to model fluent, expert reading of the text. 

Where to Find Books

The most common question I hear and see posted online asks for suggestions on specific types of books (i.e., Where can I find a funny picture book for primary-aged students? Or, What’s a young reader's book set in Boston? Or, What’s the best historical fiction text for middle grade readers?). 

While I’m not going to answer any of those questions, what I am going to do is provide some resources to guide your search.   

Bookelicious is a resource I access weekly. This group, “feeds kids’ passion for reading. Our professionally curated collection of great books, plus our AI-driven, behavior-based recommendation engine, make it easy for kids to find books they love,” according to its website. This group offers webinars with authors and other opportunities to learn and grow throughout the year. 

Principal leaders can join a year-long Principals’ Clubhouse group. Members receive professional development around literacy topics via monthly Zoom meetings with other professionals around the nation. I also received 10 read aloud children’s books, a copy of John Schu’s The Gift of Story and a professional copy of Gholdy Muhammad’s Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Curriculum. 

Here is a list of read alouds I have used this year from Bookelicious:

Remember by Joy Harjo. Native/Indigenous voices, breathtaking illustrations by Michael Goade, the power of words, poetic. 

Platanos Go With Everything by Lissette Norman and Sara Palacios (illustrator). A love letter to the Dominican Republic, entertaining and informative, cultural and beautiful. 

The Lights That Dance in the Night by Yuval Zommer. Beautiful illustrations, wonder of the northern lights, cute with rhyming text. 

Another resource I access weekly is First Book, whose mission is to provide book access to all students. According to its website, “First Book is dedicated to ensuring that all children, regardless of their background or zip code, can succeed, by removing barriers to equitable education.” 

Dedicated to diversity and book access, here are some great read alouds promoted by First Book:

Stella’s Stellar Hair by Yesenia Moises. Recommended for ages 4-8, enjoy themes of self-empowerment, the beauty of our solar system, and celebration of hairstyles. 

Yes! No! A First Conversation About Consent by Megan Madison. Recommended for ages 2-5, a great text for parents to use with their children to discuss the topic of consent. 

While Black History must be celebrated and enjoyed year-round, First Book offers an entire list of great read alouds at THIS LINK. 

Here are other ideas to consider as you choose a read aloud:

• Themes by events, holidays, seasons, or curricular units; 

• Hot off the press books like Why We Dance: A Story of Hope and Healing by Deidre Havrelock and Aly McKnight (illustrator) with a February 2024 release date and Love is Loud: How Diane Nash Led the Civil Right Movement by Sandra Neil Wallace and Bryan Collier (illustrator), which was released in 2023; 

• Big ideas you want addressed in your school. At my school, we focus on student leadership and Stephen Covey’s ideas around habits, so we might look for books on being proactive, thinking win-win, or demonstrating synergy. Other common ideas may include empathy, compassion, or anti-bullying messages. 

One of the most enjoyable days of my month as a principal are the times I can read aloud to classes. Students are engaged, interested, and let the stories absorb them. How will you celebrate World Read Aloud Day?