Father’s Day books showcase Father’s Day which is a special occasion dedicated to honoring and celebrating dads, father figures, and the influence of fathers in our society. It is a time to show appreciation and gratitude for all the love, care, and support that fathers also provide to their kids.
If you read my Mother’s Day post, you may remember how I discussed that one meaningful way to celebrate Mother’s Day in the classroom is through read-alouds. The same is true for Father’s Day. Read-alouds involve a teacher reading a book aloud to students, providing an opportunity to engage with rich language and vocabulary, make connections, explore new ideas, and spark meaningful discussions. For all of you mom readers out there, I also took advantage of every holiday including Father’s Day to read themed books to my own kids (hint: right after you finish a book is a good time to get kids to make a homemade card or craft because they are excited about the holiday then).
When selecting Father’s Day books for your read-alouds, consider choosing books that celebrate the bond between fathers and children, highlight the diverse experiences of families, and emphasize the values of love and gratitude. So I checked out numerous Father’s Day themed books from my local library and read them myself . This way I would be able to choose only the best books for teachers and parents to read with their students or their own kids. Book choice for me as a mom or a teacher was often specifically planned to teach my own kids or my students a lesson without me having to lecture them about it. Or to get them to want to make a Father’s Day gift (which is way more meaningful) instead of just buying something.
Father’s Day Themed Books
Here are some wonderful titles to consider for your Father’s Day read-aloud books (affiliate links ahead):
A Father’s Day Thank You by Janet Nolan is a great story to use with your kiddos to teach them about being a thoughtful gift-giver. Harvey is trying to find the perfect gift for his dad and is having a hard time deciding what to do. He proceeds to ask all of his family members what they are going to give Dad but learns that thinking about how Dad is as a person will help him decide what to get him.
Father’s Day by Ann Heinrichs is probably my favorite book for this holiday. It is a picture book and also a chapter book. It teaches about the history of Father’s Day, how Father’s Day is usually celebrated and how it is celebrated around the world, poems, a craft and a recipe idea.
Father’s Day by Anne Rockwell is a sweet story about students making a book for their fathers as a gift for Father’s Day. Each kid in the book introduces the reader to the many different adventures that kids have with their fathers and what makes those experiences special.
The Night Before Father’s Day by Natasha Wing-This series of books always got my kids excited for a holiday and I always read these books to them the night before as the title says. This book I especially liked because it shows kids that DOING something for their father figure is just as great (if not better) than buying them a present. A present can be a good deed.
I Have A Step-dad by Colleen LaMaire is a great book as a read aloud to show the love and the bond between a step-dad and his step-kids. This book would be great if you had students in your class who have a step-dad or for your own child who is getting or already has a step-dad. This author also had a book titled I Have Two Dads that would be great for students who come from a family that has two dads.
It would not be a holiday if Charlie Brown and Snoopy were not involved. That is why I had to include the book It’s Father’s Day, Charlie Brown based on the comic strips by Charles M. Schulz. Charlie Brown is having a dilemma. He does not know what gift to get his dad for Father’s Day. After trying to solve this problem, he learns a valuable and incredibly sweet lesson.
One of the best authors of our time is definitely Eve Bunting. It took me awhile to find her books but when I did, I started looking specifically for a book by her when I needed a book for a holiday or a lesson. This book is called A Perfect Father’s Day. Susie has planned many activities for her dad so that he has the perfect Father’s Day. Kids have to figure out if it really is the perfect day for her dad though.
Remember, Father’s Day is a time to celebrate and honor the incredible fathers and father figures who play a significant role in shaping our lives. Through read-alouds, we can come together to explore and appreciate the diversity of experiences and relationships that make the world a more loving and compassionate place.
Enjoy your Father’s Day, and may your celebrations be filled with love, joy, and appreciation for the fathers in your lives!
