Love is in the air and it's time to fill your classroom library with your favorite books for February. This list of 33 February read aloud books is everything you need for Valentine's Day, President's Day and Groundhogs Day. Head to your local or school library to grab this list of favorite February read aloud books for first graders.
Valentine's Day
1. The Day It Rained Hearts
This is an adorable picture book about a girl named Cornelia Agustus who goes out for a walk in February and finds it raining hearts! She gathers them up and makes valentines for all her friends in a very special way. Head over here to see how I use this February read aloud book in my lesson plans.
2. Franklin's Valentines
It's Valentine's Day and Franklin is super excited to give his friends the Valentines that he made for them. But when he gets to school he discovers that his Valentines are missing. His friends join in the search and Franklin soon realizes what good friends he has! This will become a favorite February read aloud books to share with your young readers before your classroom Valentine party.
3. Froggy's First Kiss
In this adorable Valentine book, Froggy falls head over heels for Frogilina and makes her a very special Valentine. Your students are sure to get a kick out of this cute February read aloud for first graders!
4. Love Monster And The Last Chocolate
In this sweet tale, Love Monster arrives home from his trip to find a box of chocolates from his friends. He wants to share it with his friends but worries that he might not get a piece for himself. This is one of my favorite children's books to teach kids about friendship and sharing. Head over here to see how we use this book for some sweet opinion writing in February!
5. The Biggest Valentine Ever
Clayton and Desmond are back together in this cute February read aloud for first graders. When their teacher gives the assignment to create a Valentine card they decide to work together but soon end up fighting and ripping their Valentine card. Eventually, they realize that by working together they can make the biggest, best valentine ever!
6. Valentine's Day
For some kindergarten or first grade students this may be the first time they have celebrated Valentine's Day. This non-fiction book is a great way to introduce the holiday in a simple, easy-to-understand way.
7. Valentine Cats
If you're a cat lover this book is for you! This very quick and easy read shows different cats making Valentines and would be great to read before you have your students make Valentine cards in your classroom.
8. The Night Before Valentine's Day
Just as the title says, this is a great February read aloud for the day before your classroom Valentine's party. This cute story shows students making their boxes and cards, getting treats ready, and decorating for the party. It would be a great book to read to prepare your class for the festivities. Head over here to see our classroom Valentine party in action.
9. The Valentine Bears
Mr. and Mrs. Bear usually missed Valentine's Day because they were hibernating, but this year Mrs. Bear decides to make it special. In this cute book, Mrs. Bear sets an alarm for February 14th to surprise Mr. Bear. But she ends up getting a special surprise herself! This is a great February read aloud to use if you want students to try writing a Valentine poem or during your hibernation unit.
10. Today Is Valentine's Day
This is a great book to read on the day of your classroom Valentine party. It shows students in school making Valentine boxes and exchanging Valentines with their friends. Super cute February read aloud book for first graders or kindergarten! Head over here to see how we celebrate Valentine's Day in our classroom.
Letter Writing
11. The Post Office Book
February is a great time to teach students about letter writing and what better way to begin than with a book about the post office? In her usual style, Gail Gibbons gives students a great introduction about how letters are delivered in an easy-to-understand way.
12. The Day The Crayons Quit
This is an adorable book about a box of crayons who decides to go on strike. One day a young boy named Duncan goes searching for his crayons but all he finds is a stack of letters from each of the crayons in his empty box. This is the perfect mentor text to use when teaching students about persuasive writing or letter writing! Your entire class will love this funny book and ask you to read it again and again.
13. Can I Be Your Dog?
In this sweet story, little Arfy is a stray dog who is bound and determined to find a good home with a new friend. He writes letters to people all over town explaining why he'd be a great pet for them. This is another great book to use when teaching students about letter or persuasive writing.
14. Ten Thank You Letters
This is the perfect book to read when teaching students how to write a thank you note. With lots of adorable examples and a funny plot, students will love this book and learn how to write a thank-you note at the same time!
15. Dear Juno
In this heartwarming story, a little boy gets a special letter from his grandmother who lives very far away. This sweet book introduces students to an envelope and what you put on the outside and how to write an interesting letter to a friend or relative. It's great February read aloud for first graders.
Presidents Day
16. Woodrow The White House Mouse
This is a great February read aloud for teaching students about Presidents Day. Written from a mouse's perspective we learn all about the white house and the job of the president. This cute book makes the topic of Presidents Day easy to understand for children.
17. Let's Read About George Washington
No Presidents Day lesson plan would be complete without learning about our first president George Washington. This simple book teaches students about this important man in an easy-to-understand way for children and is a great February read aloud for first graders.
18. Arthur Meets The President
What would you do if you won a contest to meet the president of the United States of America? Well, that's exactly what happens to Arthur but he soon finds out that his nerves are getting the best of him. Throughout the story, the author shows some of the famous landmarks in Washington DC making this a great read aloud for Presidents Day.
Black History Month
19. Sweet Clara And The Freedom Quilt
In this beautiful book, we meet a young girl named Sara who is a slave on a plantation in the south. She dreams of freedom and creates a quilt that is a map to freedom. This is an inspiring tale of creativity and determination and a great February read aloud when teaching students about Black History.
20. Almost To Freedom
Lindy and Sally are best friends. Sally is a little slave girl and Lindy is her doll who goes everywhere with her. This book, written with the doll as the narrator, will touch your heart as you read about the courageous family who escapes to freedom but in their haste to escape the slave catchers, little Lindy gets left behind. This heart-wrenching book will stay with you and your students long after you have finished this February read aloud.
Dental Health Month
21. I Know Why I Brush My Teeth
Why is brushing your teeth so important? In this book, Sam and his mom will teach students all the reasons you should care for your teeth. Head over here to see how we integrate procedural writing with the dental health activities that we do in February.
Kindness and Friendship
22. Can I Play Too?
Mo Willems is a master storyteller and in this tale he has Elephant and Piggie getting ready to play catch. When Snake comes along and wants to play too they aren't sure what to do because Snake isn't like Elephant and Piggie – he has no arms. This book is great for teaching students about understanding differences, sticking up for friends, and accepting people for who they are.
23. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemum thinks her name is absolutely perfect until her first day of school. When students begin to make fun of her name, Chrysanthemum begins to feel bad and isn't sure she likes school at all. This great book by Kevin Henkes is perfect to read at the beginning of the year or when teaching students about being kind to one another and having compassion.
24. Chester Raccoon And The Big Bad Bully
Chester Raccoon is back in this sequel to The Kissing Hand. This time, Chester is having trouble with a bully but he soon finds out that the best way to get rid of an enemy is to make him a friend. This is another great February read aloud for first graders and one of the best books to read when you're talking about friendship and being kind to one another.
25. A Bad Case Of Tattle Tongue
If you're struggling with tattletales in your classroom you need to read A Bad Case Of The Tattle Tongue. Nobody likes a tattletale and this book demonstrates this perfectly. It's a great read-aloud to share at the beginning of the new school year or when teaching students the difference between a tattle and something that is important to tell your teacher. This is a favorite among kindergarten and first grade teachers!
26. Chester's Way
Chester is a great kid but he likes things his way! Luckily his best friend is just like him and they get along perfectly. But when a new kid moves to town Chester finds out that he can't always have things his way. My favorite thing about this book is that it teaches students it's ok to try things that others like to do too. This is a great book to read when teaching 1st graders about making friends, kindness and trying new things.
Groundhog Day
27. Geoffrey Groundhog Predicts The Weather
In this fun story, Geoffrey Groundhog has always predicted the weather but he's become a sort of celebrity! Lights and TV cameras are suddenly making it difficult for him to do his job and nobody is sure his weather prediction will be correct. This is a cute book to use to compare and contrast Geoffrey to Punxetuany Phil – the real Groundhogs Day weather predictor!
28. How Groundhog's Garden Grew
This is a beautiful book to add to your Groundhogs Day read alouds as squirrel teaches groundhog the rewards of gardening all year long.
29. Gregory's Shadow
Gregory and his shadow are best friends and they go everywhere together. But one day they get separated and have to search for one another. To make matters worse, Groundhogs Day is just around the corner and everyone is wondering if Gregory and his shadow will be together! This is perfect to add to your groundhog unit in February.
Bonus – Chapter Books
30. Nate The Great And The Mushy Valentine
If you're looking for a cute chapter book to read during February , your students will love the boy detective Nate The Great! In this cute book, Nate finds a paper heart taped to his dog's house and he goes on the hunt to find out who left this secret Valentine. Along the way he learns about the importantce of friendship.
31. Charlie And The Chocolate Factory
In this classic tale by Roald Dahl a little boy finds a winning golden ticket that invites him on a once in a lifetime visit to Willy Wonka's chocolate factory! For many young readers this will be the first chapter book they'll read. With the candy and chocolate theme it's great to read around Valentines Day.
32. Charlotte's Web
If you're looking for a book about kindness and friendship, this chapter book fits the bill! Wilbur the pig is set to go to slaughter when his friend Charlotte the spider saves the day. Early readers will love this tale of loyalty and friendship.
33. Junie B. My Valentime
This cute book is part of the Junie B. Jones chapter book series. Young students love these hysterical books and it's perfect to add to your February read aloud books for first graders.
270 Free Online Books And Videos
Love all these book suggestions? Save time and money with this ultimate list of free online books and videos that you can use in your classroom. Click here to grab it today.
Check out these other fun ideas for February:
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