Did you know National Pet Day, Save the Elephant Day, Big Wind Day, the Month of the Military Child, Financial Literacy Month, National Make Lunch Count Day, and Jazz Appreciation Month are all in April? And loads more! Here is reading, gifting, or library requesting list of picture books for some of the awareness days taking place in April, would love to hear what you’re reading too.
The links below include affiliate links, and I may earn a commission if you choose to make a purchase (thanks!). As always, check your local library first.
These books are generally great for 3-6 year olds, and are listed in alphabetical order.
Here’s what we’re reading in April:
Bob Not Bob!: *to be read as though you have the worst cold ever (Amazon and Bookshop) by Liz Garton Scanlon and Audrey Vernick, illustrated by Matthew Cordell, is one of our family’s all time favorites! The dog Bob makes this our pick for National Pet Day on April 11.
Change Sings: A Children’s Anthem (Amazon and Bookshop) by THE Amanda Gorman who performed at President Biden’s inauguration, illustrated by Loren Long. Our family’s emphatic pick for National Poetry Month.
Garzi the Orphan (direct from the Sheldrick Wildlife Trust) is about a baby elephant who loses her mom to poachers, but the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust is there for her! I visited Sheldrick’s in person and talk about them every chance I get. If you’re choosing one book from this list, this is my pick! And our family’s pick for Save the Elephant Day on April 16.
How Many Jelly Beans? (Amazon and Bookshop) by Andrea Menotti, illustrated by Yancey Labat – A great counting book and our family’s pick for National Jelly Bean Day on April 22.
I’m A Dandelion: A PCS Story For Military Children (Amazon) by Brooke Mahaffey, illustrated by Lidiia Mariia Nyz – a book written from personal experience about Permanent Change of Stations for the Month of the Military Child.
Kate Who Tamed the Wind (Amazon and Bookshop) by the ever great Liz Garton Scanlon, illustrated by Lee White, is about a thoughtful young woman with the creativity and patience to solve a windy problem for her neighbor – our pick for National Big Wind Day (it’s a real thing!) on April 12.
Knut: How One Little Polar Bear Captivated the World (Amazon) is the story of the baby polar bear born to the Berlin Zoo who helped us all better understand how climate change affects the beautiful creatures we live with (warning that Knut passed away in real life, but it isn’t mentioned in this book) – our pick for Zoo Lovers’ Day on April 8
Labyrinth: The ABC Storybook (Amazon and Bookshop) by Luke Flowers is the story of Sarah, her baby brother Toby, and Jareth the Goblin King told in ABC form (and it’s amazing) – our pick for National Siblings Day on April 10.
Lailah’s Lunchbox: A Ramadan Story (Amazon and Bookshop) by Reem Faruqi and illustrated by Lea Lyon is a beautiful story of Lailah working through how to fast while at school during Ramadan, which begins in the U.S. on April 12 this year.
Lemonade in Winter: A Book About Two Kids Counting Money (Amazon and Bookshop) by Emily Jenkins and illustrated by G. Brian Karas – this is our pick for Financial Literacy Month.
My Food, Your Food, Our Food (How Are We Alike and Different?) (Amazon and Bookshop) by Emma Carlson Berne, illustrated by Sharon Sordo, and with music (!) produced by Mark Oblinger – our pick for National Make Lunch Count Day on April 13.
Olivia’s Birds: Saving the Gulf (Amazon and Bookshop) by Olivia Bouler, about a kid who was upset about the Gulf Coast oil spill and volunteered to donate her paintings to Audobon as a fundraiser – our inspiring pick for National Volunteer Month.
The Paper Kingdom (Amazon and Bookshop) by Helena Ku Rhee, illustrated by Pascal Campion – our pick for Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day on April 23rd.
Sweety (Amazon and Bookshop) by Andrea Zuill, about a naked mole rat who find out that being herself is pretty awesome – our pick for World Rat Day on April 4
Thank You, Earth: A Love Letter to Our Planet (Amazon and Bookshop) by April Pulley Sayre is a gorgeous book of photographs of things to be grateful for (we love the duck, the carrot, and the cactus most) – our pick for Earth Day on April 22.
This Jazz Man (Amazon and Bookshop) by Karen Ehrhardt and illustrated by R.G. Roth is another constant favorite, a great counting book that’s also an earworm sung to the tune of “this old man” – our pick for Jazz Appreciation Month.
Looking for more? See if you can check off all 100 Children’s Books to Read in 2021!