Reach Out and Read for Parents and Educators
 
Doctor-Recommended Children's Books for Every Time of Year

Reach Out and Read

It's always a good day to read aloud to your children! Below are some of our providers' favorite children's books for different times of the year.

Chinese New Year

  • Hiss! Pop! Boom! Celebrating Chinese New Year by Tricia Morrissey
    The best way to start the new year is with a bang!
  • The Dancing Dragon by Marcia Vaughan
    Preparations for the Chinese New Year are described in rhymes.
  • Moonbeams, Dumplings & Dragon Boats by Nina Simonds
    A treasury of Chinese holiday tales, activities, and recipes.
  • Lanterns and Firecrackers: A Chinese New Year Story by Jonny Zucker
    Festivities and food are to be the center of this family celebration.
  • Bringing in the New Year by Grace Lin
    Prepare for the lunar new year!

Valentine's Day

  • The Biggest Valentine Ever by Steven Kroll
    How do you make the best valentine ever? Together!
  • Roses Are Pink, Your Feet Really Stink by Diane Degroat
    How much trouble can a valentine get you into? Plenty!
  • Clifford's First Valentine's Day by Norman Bridwell
    Clifford is a dog with a very big heart.
  • The Night Before Valentine's Day by Natasha Wing
    Twas the night before Valentine's Day, and glitter was flying!
  • The Day It Rained Hearts by Felicia Bond
    Valentine's Day at school is important!

Mother's Day

  • A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
    Together, a family gets through tough times.
  • Hazel's Amazing Mother by Rosemary Wells
    There is nothing that Hazel's mother cannot do.
  • Mother's Day by Anne Rockwell
    What will we celebrate on this Sunday in May?
  • Little Critter: Happy Mother's Day! by Mercer Mayer
    Things don't go as expected on this day…
  • T. Rex and the Mother's Day Hug by Lois Grambling
    Dinosaurs love their mothers very much.

Father's Day

  • Father's Day by Anne Rockwell Each child in the class thinks about what makes their father special.
  • Little Critter: Happy Father's Day! by Mercer Mayer
    Things don't go as expected on this day…
  • Bea and Mr. Jones by Amy Schwartz
    A father and daughter trade places.
  • A Perfect Father's Day by Eve Bunting
    What to do to make this day the best ever for Dad?
  • My Father's Dragon by Ruth Stiles Gannett
    The story of how one boy's father rescued a dragon.

Fourth of July

  • Red, White and Blue by John Herman
    This is the day to celebrate America's independence.
  • My Big Brother by Miriam Cohen
    A young boy is proud of his brother in the Army.
  • The Fourth of July Story by Alice Dalgiesh
    The story of Independence Day.
  • The Flag We Love by Pam Muñoz Ryan
    The story of the American flag.
  • A is for America by Devlin Scillian
    An alphabet book of America.

Halloween

  • The Night Before Halloween by Natasha Wing
    All through the house and the goblins were stirring!
  • Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman
    A witch enlists her ghoulish friends for a Halloween project.
  • Room on the Broom by Julia Donaldson
    Take a ride with the scariest creatures of the night!
  • Moonlight by Cynthia Rylant A Halloween cat on its favorite night!
  • Curious George Goes to a Costume Party by Margret and H. A. Rey
    Everyone's favorite monkey is going to have fun!

Thanksgiving Day

  • Thanksgiving Day by Anne Rockwell
    Taking part in a play, a boy explains the traditions of this American holiday.
  • Thanksgiving Is for Giving Thanks by Margaret Sullivan
    Children celebrate all that they are thankful for every day.
  • Five Silly Turkeys by Salina Yoon
    These turkeys are not your ordinary turkeys!
  • My First Thanksgiving by Tomie dePaola
    A board book for children learning about the holiday.
  • The Night Before Thanksgiving by Natasha Wing
    All through the house, mother was stirring!

Chanukah

  • Hanukkah Moon by Deborah Da Costa
    Traditions blend in this heartwarming story.
  • My First Hanukkah Board Book by DK Publishing
    A board book about the holiday for the youngest celebrants.
  • Runaway Dreidel! by Leslea Newman
    Catch that dreidel!
  • Latkes, Latkes, Good to Eat: A Chanukah Story by Naomi Howland
    Will there be enough latkes?
  • Moishe's Miracle: A Hanukkah Story by Laura Krauss Melmed
    Holiday miracles do happen!

Christmas

  • Bear Stays Up for Christmas by Karma Wilson
    What will Bear see if he stays awake for Christmas?
  • My First Christmas by Tomie dePaola
    A board book about the holiday for the youngest celebrants.
  • The Night Before Christmas: A Visit from St. Nicholas illustrated by Mike Terrell
    The classic poem with glorious illustrations.
  • The Christmas Baby by Marion Dane Bauer What happened at the stable that long ago night?
  • Merry Christmas, Curious George! by Margret and H. A. Rey
    It's a grand holiday for all!

Kwanzaa

Books for a celebration of the seven symbols and the seven principles of Kwanzaa.
  • Seven Days Of Kwanzaa by Melrose Cooper
  • My First Kwanzaa Book by Deborah Chocolate
  • The Children's Book of Kwanzaa: A Guide to Celebrating the Holiday by Dolores Johnson
  • The Sound Of Kwanzaa by Dimitrea Tokunbo
  • The Gifts of Kwanzaa by Synthia Saint James
Doctor-Recommended Children's Books
Questions?
Contact the National Programs Coordinator at info@reachoutandread.org

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