As a parent, the time you spend with your child—reading aloud, chatting, and interacting in countless ways—is pivotal in helping them develop and thrive as a reader, writer, and thinker. From teaching your child the alphabet to playing rhyming games, you instill crucial knowledge and skills through fun, playful time together. Best of all, it builds your relationship, too—and can even help you feel happier and more fulfilled.
That’s why each month we share a special list of featured reads and literacy activities. Expect fun seasonal reading recommendations, complemented with activity tutorials and free printables for an all-out story time experience with your little one.
Here are some topics to delve into with your child this month:
Picture Books for Earth Day
Whatever else unites or divides us, our planet is truly everyone’s business. And on April 22, Earth Day provides a powerful opportunity to remember that, as well as to pass on a message of stewardship to the next generation.
From fostering environmentalism to inculcating habits of physical activity and mindfulness, Earth Day opens the door to a plethora of valuable lessons. And you can introduce and reinforce them all with a few choice reads. Find recommendations for awesome picture books to read on Earth Day, plus fun activities, in our free DIY Earth-shaped bookmark printable post, our article on Earth Day activities, and our article about easy ways to teach kids to care for the planet.
Kids’ Books about Easter and Passover
The world’s major monotheistic religions all have important holidays this spring. It’s a great time to share some picture books to celebrate your family’s traditions and/or to learn about other cultures. Last month, we shared Ramadan picture books.
For April, check out our list of Passover picture books, and your local library should have plenty of great titles featured for Easter and Passover.
You can also find a bunch of sweet Easter-themed literacy activities & crafts on the site:
- Follow a super-easy Read with Me Recipe for “Easter Egg Bread”
- Make an adorable Easter Bunny puppet & reading buddy
- Upcycle plastic Easter eggs into maracas & use them to support literacy
- Craft DIY storytelling dice for a sweet Easter basket gift or activity
- Put on a sight-word Easter egg hunt for your emerging reader
Books to Welcome Spring
Did you know that being in nature can help kids learn better, may combat ADHD as effectively as medication, and can soothe stress? So welcome the springtime and inspire your little nature explorer by reading about all the growth and new life happening at this time of year—and then go out and see it for yourself.
Try this sweet bird-watching activity for preschoolers (and don’t miss the great picture book recommendations at the end). You’ll also want to take a look at our list of picture books about gardens and gardening to teach your child about nature and where our food comes from. Then consider starting your own garden together, even if it’s just a single tomato plant on the windowsill!
Story Time Activity: Honor Earth Day
Taking your story time with your child and transforming it into a story time activity is a powerful way to build engagement, literacy, and comprehension. It’s also an important means of driving home a book’s message. Click here to read about three simple ways to create a sweet Earth Day story time activity, from taking a nature walk story time to helping your child create recycled art.
We’ll be back next month! Meanwhile, go ahead and browse around the site for more tips and tutorials. We’re so happy to have you here!
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Welcome! It’s lovely to have you here. I’m Maya, an author, literacy advocate, and mom. On this site, I publish articles, advice, book recommendations, and activities for busy parents. Through it all, my goal is to help parents like you feel equipped and confident to support your children in reading. Let’s start by understanding what you bring to the effort—your unique superpower.
Find your raise-a-reader superpower now.