Read Across America Day is back again this year! With a new list of books to appreciate reading and diversity.
13 Books For Elementary Children
We have compiled the approved list of “Read Across America Day” recommended books. Whether you are school teacher looking for books for elementary children or a parent wanting to offer your child the biggest gift of their lives, here is a book for each month for the next year and one more:
Alfie: (The Turtle That Disappeared)
A sweet story about a young girl, Nia, and her pet turtle, Alfie: The Turtle That Disappeared follows Alfie’s journey to win over Nia’s affection by doing something special for her 7th birthday! It gives a positive message of love and appreciation, where small gestures can sometimes also be enough in winning someone over,
Alma and How She Got Her Name
A young girl, Alma, comes to appreciate her incredibly long name as she learns more about her own history and how her names connect her to her family.
Alma and How She Got Her Name encourages children to learn a bit more about their own names and the beauty of the names of people around them. It’s a great book to help children understand how to form their own identities and be proud of their own cultural traditions that ultimately mold them into the unique individuals that they are.
Chester Nez and the Unbreakable Code: A Navajo Code Talker’s Story
This is a book about cultural pride and heritage, where Betoli is forced to give up his language, his heritage, and his name, and was forced to adapt to a more English way of life. Its an excellent story filled with action for the adventurous reader.
Do Not Lick this Book
‘Do Not Lick this Book’ follows Min the Microbe on her adventures throughout the book, aimed at teaching children an important lesson on self-care and hygiene. It explains what germs are, what they do and how easy they are to transfer from one person to another.
Finding the Music / En Pos de la Musica
Reyna accidentally breaks her grandfather’s vihuela, a type of string instrument used in Mexico. Upon trying to repair it, she discovers her grandfather’s legacy in the community as a mariachi player! This book encourages its readers to learn more about their communities and build an appreciation for their family legacies. It helps them identify what makes their individual communities unique.
You can help your children understand the importance of contributing to their neighborhoods with this book.
I Am Jazz
I Am Jazz is a first-person account of a transgender girl named Jazz Jennings and the life that she leads as a transgender female. It’s a great means to start a conversation about gender with your children and about what being transgender actually means.
Julian is a Mermaid
A young child, Julian, makes his own mermaid costume using his grandmother’s curtain and potted fern. And in doing this, he ends up making a bit of a mess. Julian is a Mermaid explores the imaginative spirit of children.
If you’re looking for books for elementary children, this book will help evoke feelings of empathy amongst its young readers.
Malala’s Magic Pencil
Malala’s Magic Pencil follows Malala, as she wishes for a magic pencil to bring a bit of happiness to the world around her. Throughout the book, Malala slowly realizes that there are more important things to wish for. She understands the importance of dedication and hard work in making her wishes come true.
This book will help your young readers to understand the importance of their own voice. How they can actively work to bring a positive change in the world that they live in.
Midnight Teacher: Lilly Ann Granderson and Her Secret School
Midnight Teacher teaches an important lesson about the difficulties that others may be going through, that something as simple as reading may be considered a privilege to some. The story follows Lilly Ann, a girl born into slavery. In this book, Lily Ann secretly learns how to read and write. She then ends up teaches others as well! This book gives an important lesson in dedication and perseverance.
Pie is for Sharing
Pie is for sharing is a simple yet sweet story about sharing food and fun with others on the Fourth of July! It encourages children to think of ways to make another person’s holiday a little bit more special. Without having to sacrifice too much! Pie is for sharing, after all!
Saffron Ice Cream
Saffron Ice Cream is a story of a young girl, Rashin, reminiscing of her life in Iran and the fun that she had with her Azadeh while eating ice cream and going to the beach. It explores friendship and the fun that it can add to an individual’s life. It’s a great way to encourage young readers to not be nervous when making new friends.
Song of the Wild: A First Book of Animals
A colorful book with descriptive poems about wildlife from around the world, ‘Song of the Wild’ will get its readers thinking about the massive variety of wildlife that coexists with us on our planet. This book is excellent if you want to raise awareness of wildlife conservation among your kids. I find kids are also so kind and loving to animals. This book can be a good direction for them.
They Say Blue
Following the natural curiosity of a young girl through a period in her life, ‘They Say Blue’ encourages children to observe the world around them, use their imagination, seek information and ask questions.
To make your reading experience more enjoyable, here’s a printable to keep track of your reading:
I hope that you enjoy reading these 13 books for elementary children with your kids at home or school! If you do, please share in our FREE Facebook community. Haven’t joined yet? Please do! It’s a great community where parents can celebrate successes, look for support, and share in the parenting journey. We would love to have you.
As always, if you have concerns about your child’s development and would like to set up a free consultation to discuss your concerns, please reach out! I would love to help you determine your child’s individual needs. We are here to support you as you help your child blossom!
If you enjoyed reading 13 Books for Elementary Children, you might also like reading:
Building Your Preschooler’s Vocabulary
5 Activities to Develop Receptive Language Skills
