April Must Reads

April is here, so it’s that time for your April Must Read List! In this month we have Richter Scale Day, World Aquatic Animal Day, Earth Day and so much more. Below you will find a list of 10 books, for all ages, that can help students learn more about the special days in April. We hope you enjoy!

Earthquakes by Anastasia Suen

April 26th is World Richter Scale Day. Take time to teach your students about the Richter scale, which is the scale used to measure the strength of earthquakes across the world. This book, using the search-and-find framework, allows emergent readers to learn simple facts about earthquakes.

My Life with Deafness by Mari Schuh

National American Sign Language Day takes place on April 15th. This text tells the story of Danton, a young boy who loves dogs and football. Danton is also deaf, so he communicates using ASL, the predominant sign language of the Deaf communities in the United States. This is a perfect story to share with students to help teach inclusivity as it explores differences and disabilities in a respectful manner. After reading, we suggest teaching students the alphabet in sign language using this video from PBS kids.

Bat Count by Anna Forrester

Did you know, without bats we would not have bananas, avocados or mangoes? That’s because over 300 species of fruit depend on bats for pollination. This story follows Jojo, a young girl who is tracking the bat population near her family farm after noticing the population has been decreasing. We love this book because it helps bring attention to the importance of a healthy bat population. Educators, you will love the teaching resources that comes with this book. Lesson plans, videos, reading questions and more, you have access to it all!

The Party for Papá Luis by Diane Gonzales Bertrand

April 18th is National Piñata Day! This fun read “presents a charming look at a big family gathering that celebrates the patriarch’s birthday.” At this birthday, there is of course a piñata, a staple of many Hispanic/Latino birthday celebrations. Sharing this book with your students would be a great way to affirm the identity of your Hispanic/Latino students while also teaching other students about Hispanic/Latino culture. And educators, here is a teaching guide, provided by the publisher, to use with this book!

Hand to Earth: Saving the Environment by Jessica Cohn

This book, designed for students in grades 3-6, dives into why the environment needs our help. It even shares tips om things we can do to reduce our carbon footprint to save the environment. This would be a great resource to help introduce Earth Day. At the end of the book you can find “Explore More” resources, but one of our favorites is Kids For Saving Earth. On their website you can find project ides, action programs, music and even more resources to use on Earth Day and beyond!

Explore China: 12 Key Facts by Marne Ventura

Did you know? Chinese is one of the six official languages of the United Nations. In order to promote equal use of each language, and to promote linguistic and cultural diversity, the UN has launched Language Days. Chinese Language Day falls on April 20th and this book is a great way to learn more about Chinese language and culture. When you’re done reading, take advantage of these resources from Columbia University and teach students more about the Chinese language.

Animal Helpers: Wildlife Rehabilitators by Jenifer Keats Curtis

National Wildlife Week is April 3-9 and brings attention to the different species living in diverse habitats across the United States. It also aims to teach others how to protect wildlife so they can live safely and happily, just like we want to do! This books takes readers behind the scenes at four different wildlife rehabilitation centers and introduces the different ways people care for precious wildlife. You can even take learning to another level by using the book resources available for this book.

All about Sharks by John Locyer

Did you know? There are over 350 species of sharks in the world. This book teaches student that and so many more fun facts about these fascinating creatures making it perfect to read on World Aquatic Animal Day. We love this book because it also can be used to teach units of measurement. On almost every page, there is a “Let’s Explore Math” section which tests students on their measurement skills.

DNA by Wendy Conklin

This year’s National DNA is extra special! That’s because on April 25th we are also commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Human Genome Project’s completion. This nonfiction text introduces students to DNA, genes, chromosomes and so much more! While this topic can seen daunting, the author of this text has done a great job of teaching it in a way that students can easily understand.

Build it Green by Courtney Farrell

Earth Day is all about protecting the environment, and so is this book! This text, designed for students in grades 4-8, teaches reader about eco-friendly building materials and techniques. It also describes the science behind these building materials making this a more STEM focused read. Throughout the book, we have added links to educational videos to help take learning to another level.

Which book are you going to read first? Or did you use any of the additional resources that are included with a few of these books? Let us know in the comments!