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.
Kids’ Books for Women’s History Month
March is Women’s History Month! It’s a good moment to highlight and celebrate the groundbreaking contributions women have made to our world. From blazing new trails in meaningful fields to embarking on monumental careers as inventors, authors, athletes, and so much more, women have made a tremendous impact in society.
It’s never too early to learn about how women have shaped the course of history. If you’re looking for some empowering books to enjoy with your child for Women’s History Month, check out contributor Karen Williams’s picks for inspiring picture books by and about a diverse set of amazing women. You also won’t want to miss early-childhood-educator Chrysta Naron’s piece on 11 fabulous female authors for your child’s bookshelf.
Ramadan Picture Books
Ramadan is one of the most important times of year for Muslims, a holy month of fasting, prayer, and introspection that’s meant to help believers strengthen their faith, self-control, gratitude, and compassion for the less fortunate. As contributor and early-childhood-educator Carlene Murray writes, children are exempt from fasting, but they can engage in introspection and cultivate these same qualities through thoughtful shared reading, including sharing Ramadan books for kids.
Murray offers a selection of children’s books about Ramadan to share with your little ones, whether to teach them about their own cultural and religious heritage or to introduce them to another tradition. Note that Ramadan is celebrated in the ninth month of the Islamic year, which is slightly shorter than our Western calendar, meaning it happens at a different time each year.
March Madness Basketball + Baseball Picture Books
Plaaaaay ball!
It’s March Madness and baseball season… and that’s one more reason to pick up some new picture books.
Sports picture books can be a great way to engage little fans in reading, plus impart life lessons about teamwork, discipline, perseverance, and resilience. What’s more, there are some wonderful sports stories that are just right to spark important conversations about history, racism, progress, and values.
Check out Courtney Runn and Chrysta Naron’s thoughtful roundups of awesome baseball picture books, basketball picture books, and kids’ books for March Madness to find curated titles.
Books for Surviving Spring Break
If you have kids in school, spring break is a challenge and an opportunity. It’s a challenge to keep your little ones happily employed while school is closed, and it’s an opportunity to get in some bonding time, educational experiences, and even travel if you’re able. And some great reads will help with both aspects!
To engage, educate, and entertain your kids during their break, browse our many themed lists of books for kids, our roundups of audiobooks for toddlers and audiobooks for preschoolers, and our article about using books to prepare young children for successful visits with extended family.
Story Time Activity: Literacy Soccer
Kid can’t sit still? Don’t make them! With the weather getting warmer, you can practice reading or pre-reading skills while you toss or kick a ball around together outside. Just find an old soccer or playground ball, grab a sharpie, and follow these tips to teach your child to read with a DIY soccer game.
We’ll be back next month with our guide for what to read to your child in April. 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.