Calling all elementary teachers looking for Father’s Day read alouds or simply children’s books that feature father figures! This list of picture books is exactly what you need! All of the stories feature father characters and are very popular among elementary students. They are great spring read alouds! Check out the full list of Father’s Day read alouds below!
This post highlights the following Father’s Day read alouds:
- My Papi Has a Motorcycle
- Jabari Jumps
- Hair Love
- Eyes That Speak to the Stars
- The Gruffalo’s Child
5 Father’s Day Read Alouds
Below are 5 great Father’s Day read alouds. Your students will love these Father’s Day picture books!
1. My Papi Has a Motorcycle by Isabel Quintero
In My Papi Has a Motorcycle, Daisy has learned a lot from her Papi, from engines to the importance of determination, and she looks up to him. As soon as she hears his truck driving down their street, she runs to get their helmets. The two are going to take a ride through the city together on her Papi’s motorcycle.
The motorcycle passes by all the different shops and churches that make up the city. Daisy thinks about how the city is changing, especially when they find out their favorite place to get shaved ice is closed. Papi takes Daisy to see the new homes he has been building and they even pass by friends and family as they drive.
As the two return home, Daisy’s young brother and Mami wave them home. Daisy knows that even though her city is changing, things will always stay the same with her family in their house.
Check out these My Papi Has a Motorcycle activities!
2. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
In the book Jabari Jumps, Jabari is at the pool with his father and sister. He has just finished swimming lessons and passed his swim test. Today is the day he will jump off the diving board for the first time and he is really excited. However, when he gets in line to climb the ladder, Jabari starts to feel nervous. He lets other kids go before him, takes a rest, remembers to do his stretches, and even decides tomorrow is a better day for jumping.
Thankfully, his father is there to help. He explains that it is okay to be a little scared and explains it helps to take a deep breath and tell yourself you’re ready. Jabari starts to climb up the tall ladder once more and steps out onto the diving board. After a deep breath, he leaps into the air and falls down into the water. Everyone is happy when he emerges from the water and Jabari is ready to jump again.
Check out these Jabari Jumps activities!
3. Hair Love by Matthew Cherry
In Hair Love, Zuri loves her hair! She loves the way it makes her feel. She feels likes a princess when it is in braids, and a superhero when it is in puffs. There is nothing her hair can’t do!
One day, Zuri needs an extra special hairstyle. She sets off to create the perfect look. Her dad volunteers to help, and he creates many different hairstyles for her. Through trial and error and hard work, they eventually create the perfect one! Zuri is ready for her special day.
Students will love this story about a girl who loves her hair. They will start to think about the things they love about themselves, and what makes them special.
Check out these Hair Love activities!
4. Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho
One day, a young boy did not run to his dad when he picked him up, like he usually does. When asked what was wrong, the boy shares that a friend drew a picture of him with straight lines for eyes.
His father then shares the importance of this generational trait, as the eyes speak to the stars and make them visionary. We see this trait in the boy’s grandfather, brother, and dad, who all have the potential to change the world.
This story incorporates themes of emotions, growth mindset, and diversity. We learn about Chinese culture and the way we are bonded to members of our family.
Check out these Eyes That Speak to the Stars activities!
5. The Gruffalo’s Child by Julia Donaldson
One stormy night, the Gruffalo reminded his daughter about the terrible mouse out in the deep, dark wood. This big, scary mouse has a long and scaly tail, is terribly strong, and has eyes of fire. And with that, they both fell asleep by the fire.
Feeling curious and bored, while her dad was sleeping, the Gruffalo’s Child went out to explore, looking for this so-called terrible mouse. Each page of this story provides descriptive detail, opportunities to make predictions, and fun rhythm that will keep students engaged! Will she ever find this terrible mouse?
Check out these The Gruffalo’s Child activities!
Or Get All of the Activity Packets for 600+ Picture Books!
Starts with a Story is a collection of hundreds of book companions based on high quality children’s literature that support you in delivering highly-engaging interactive read alouds with follow up activities. Each book companion includes:
- reading comprehension questions with sample student responses
- 30 writing prompts targeting 10 different types of writing
- SEL lesson ideas based on character and events from each story
- printable student activities
- editable teaching slides with book-based clipart
- and more.
Learn how to get unlimited access to all 600+ book companion packets below!
Teachers Love these Other Father’s Day Activities for Kids
We have lots of Father’s Day activities you can use in your classroom. Check out the blog post Father’s Day Activities for Kids to get more ideas and teaching resources!
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One Last Thing Before You Go… Grab this Free Reading Resource!
If you want to get more book ideas to read aloud to your elementary students, then grab this reading freebie for 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade classroom teachers. It includes:
- seasonal read aloud books lists for teachers
- printable reading logs to track students’ reading
- monthly reading challenges to motivate students to read more
It will have you covered for the entire school year, as well as the summer months! Grab this free elementary reading packet now!
In closing, we hope you found this list of Father’s Day read alouds helpful! If you are a member of Starts With a Story, you have access to all of these book companion activities. Lastly, you may also be interested in these spring books for kids if you love read alouds like us!
