Reading should not be presented to children as a chore, a duty. It should be offered as a gift. —Kate DiCamillo

The goal of World Read Aloud Day on February 5, 2020, is to motivate people of all ages to celebrate the joy of reading aloud and advocate for literacy as a human right.

Since 2010, millions of people in classrooms, libraries, organizations of all kinds, and homes have dropped everything to read-aloud. Many people hold events such as Read-A-Thons and Book Drives.

There are lots of ideas, resources, and free activity guides here on the litworld.org website to help anyone get started.

I also wanted to share some of my own new personal favorite classroom books that are sure to make many children ( and teachers) even more excited about reading, help promote social emotional awareness, and also celebrate diversity.

Grow Grateful by Sage Foster-Lasser and Jon Lasser PhD is a perfect book to teach mindfulness, help children become aware of feelings, and encourage children to be grateful and kind to all.

The main character Kiko goes on a camping trip with her class and discovers different things she appreciates about her family, friends, and her many opportunities.

The messages within the book are powerful, yet simply explained, which makes it a wonderful read aloud for even the youngest children.

My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero is a beautiful celebration of the love of a father and daughter and the vibrant immigrant neighborhood they live in. They appreciate the sights, sounds, and smells all around them and cherish their heartwarming memories.

While reading this book aloud children, and adults as well, will be captivated by the infectious look of joy on the daughter’s face throughout the entire story. Daisy and her Papi are realistic characters you will be glad you have ‘met.’

We learn the importance of community and family while being entertained by this darling daddy and daughter duo.

Love From the Crayons by Drew Daywalt is part of the delightful ‘Crayon’ series and this Valentine’s Day themed addition makes a perfect read aloud choice for this time of the year.

This line alone will melt the hearts of all who listen, “Love is red because love comes in all shapes and sizes.” Every page describes love in a different way, comparing it to all the colors in the crayon box, with their many shades and personalities.

After reading Love From the Crayons it would be so fun to have the children create their own version of the book. They could each choose a color and it’s description of love (ex. love is yellow and orange because love is sunny and warm) and illustrate what that means to them. They could then be combined into an engaging classroom book.

Another idea is for each child to choose a color and crayon’s description and create an entire book of their own about why love is that color to them. For example, a book could be titled “10 Reasons Why Love is Purple to Me.”

It’s a fun read aloud, reminds us all that love is different for many people and celebrates diversity.

Thurgood by Jonah Winter fits in perfectly with Black History Month. Thurgood Marshall took on the laws that discriminated against Black Americans. In this book, students learn about the pivotal Brown vs. Board of Education case that ended legal segregation of schools and about how Marshall became the first black Supreme Court justice.

This book is full of gorgeous detailed illustrations and text full of energy and intensity. It’s a great way to teach important history while also exposing children to beautiful literature.

Rise!: From Caged Bird to Poet of the People, Maya Angelou by Bethany Hegedus honors the 50th anniversary of Angelou’s classic ‘I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings’ and includes a foreword by her grandson.

This beautiful biography of Maya Angelou describes how she rose above a childhood of trauma and emotional pain to become one of the most inspiring women of our lifetime. The lessons of perseverance and the way her grandson, Colin A. Johnson, describes the way her love of literature and poetry helped her rise above adversity make this a ‘must’ read aloud.

The words of Hegedus and artwork of Tonya Engel are full of truth and powerful emotion. It’s definitely more appropriate for students in grades 4 and up and especially recommended for kids not yet mature enough for the actual works of Angelou or as scaffolding to introduce Angelou before reading “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.”

Fry Bread: A Native American Family Tradition by Kevin Noble Maillard is all about time spent with family and how important community is. It’s a wonderful taste of history with extensive back matter explaining the story of fry bread as an integral part of the story of Native Americans.

Even the very youngest children will enjoy this really sweet read aloud and also learn so much about the modern culture and important traditions of Native Americans. The author also includes a fry bread recipe that would be so fun to make with a class after enjoying the story together.

The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijiab and Family by Ibtihaj Muhammad teaches us that the first day wearing hijiab means being strong. In the story, Asiya’s mother explains this to her. So, when some children call her names, Asiya keeps her head held high, steadfast in her faith, and proud of her blue, “ocean waving to the sky” hijiab.

This is not only a gorgeous book, but an important book that will help some children be seen and also help others be more understanding. The message is powerful for adults and children of all ages.

The author, Ibtihaj Muhammad is the first Muslim American woman in hijiab to compete for the U.S. in the Olympics.

Mario and the Hole in the Sky: How a Chemist Saved Our Planet by Elizabeth Rusch is the story of Mario Molina, a Mexican American chemist and Nobel Prize winner. Children will learn how he discovered the Earth’s ozone layer, which protects the planet from sun’s rays, had a hole in it.

Molina is a modern day hero who helped solve the ozone crisis of the 1980s. He grew up in Mexico City and was always very curious, studying hidden worlds through a microscope. As a young man in California, he discovered that CFCs, used in millions of refrigerators and spray cans, were tearing a hole in the earth’s protective ozone layer.

He knew the world had to be warned -and quickly! His story will amaze and inspire all to make a difference in the world.

What is Given From the Heart by Patricia C. McKissack is such a beautiful story and really so perfect for this time of year. One Sunday before Valentine’s Day, Reverend Dennis makes an announcement during the service- the Temples have lost everything in a fire, and the church is collecting everything that may be useful to them.

James thinks long and hard about what he could add to the Temple’s “Love Box” and finds it hard to find something he had that was worth giving. He learns, and all who hear this story will learn, that what is given from the heart, reaches the heart.

Just Like Me by Vanessa Brantley Newton is a beautiful collection of poetry that is meant to be shared and celebrated again and again! There are all these wonderful mini stories about girls of all kinds: girls who feel happy, sad, scared, powerful; girls who love their bodies and girls who don’t; country girls, city girls, girls who love their mother and girls who wish they had a father.

The illustrations are so vibrant, with unique patterns and brilliant fabrics, and there is a clear message of positivity that just needs to be shared far and wide. It is a perfect read aloud that both boys and girls will want to hear again and again.