The weather outside is frightful (aka COLD!), but the read alouds are so delightful! In January, we learn about snow, penguins, and the life of Martin Luther King Jr. Today, I am sharing 15 of my favorite January read alouds, perfect for those cold, snowy days.
Let It Snow!
The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats
When I think about snow, I instantly think of this classic! Growing up, my winters in Florida did not have snow, so this painted a picture of what a snowy day is really like. The illustrations are simply gorgeous in this one!
Snowmen at Night by Caralyn Buehner
This rhyming read aloud is an imaginative story of what fun and games snowmen are up to at night! This would pair well with a fun writing prompt asking students what they think snowmen do at night.
The Magic of Friendship Snow by Andi Cann
This sweet story about a girl who is looking for a friend, and finds an unusual one made with the magical friendship snow! This would pair well with a fun science experiment of making snow, like the one found here.
Sneezy the Snowman by Maureen Wright
What happens when a snowman drinks hot cocoa?? He MELTS! Luckily, he has some children to help build him back up! This makes an adorable craft and bulletin board, like this one below from the Teachers Pay Teachers seller- From September to Mrs May.
The Mitten by Jan Brett
When a mitten is dropped in the snow, winter animals find shelter in it from the cold snow! This book is a winter classic and a must-read every year!
Over and Under the Snow by Kate Messner
This story shows animals that live both over and under the snow, like squirrels, snow hares, and bears! It is a great introduction to teaching students about hibernation.
Stories About Penguins
Tacky the Penguin by Helen Lester
What's not to love about a penguin wearing a Hawaiian shirt?!? This story is about a misfit penguin who doesn't quite fit in, but becomes an unlikely hero when other animals need his help!
Penguin and Pinecone: A Friendship Story by Salina Yoon
A penguin makes a friend with a small pinecone. When he realizes that the pinecone is far from his home, he goes on an adventure to get it back where it belongs!
Where is Home, Little Pip? by Karma Wilson and Jane Chapman
A little penguin is lost and has to find its family! Follow along as it goes on an adventure to find Little Pip's home. This heartwarming story is from the Bear Sleeps On series author- Karma Wilson.
Baby Penguins Everywhere by Melissa Guion
Your students will love this story all about baby penguins! A momma penguin keeps finding baby penguins everywhere and tries to take care of all of them. I have this book for both my class AND my daughter, it's such an adorable read aloud!
Hello, Penguin! by Kathryn Williams
This is the perfect non-fiction read aloud about penguins brought to you by National Geographic Kids! We like to create a KWL chart and list all the new facts we learn about penguins after reading this book.
Read Alouds About Martin Luther King Jr.
I Have a Dream by Martin Luther King Jr.
His famous speech is now in a picture book for your students to read. I love how the pictures are very realistic! This is a great way to share his important speech and why it still matters today.
Martin's Big Words by Doreen Rappaport
This is a picture book biography about the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr and his impact on the civil rights movement. It is the perfect read aloud for grades K-2 to learn about his life.
I Am Martin Luther King Jr. by Brad Meltzer
This is another great choice to teach your students about Martin Luther King Jr's life. This series “Ordinary People Change the World” has other great biography options perfect for little ones.
The Story of Martin Luther King Jr. by Johnny Ray Moore
This book is geared towards a younger Pre-K- Kindergarten crowd with its illustrations and easy-to-read vocabulary. I also like how it shows him as a younger kid as well.
I hope you found some new books to add to your collection and enjoy during the month of January! Do you have a favorite January read aloud that I didn't mention above? I'd love to hear about your favorites!
Looking for more read alouds to share with your class? See more of my read aloud favorites to share throughout the school year here.
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