If you’re searching for some good Veterans Day books for kids, get ready to hit your school library! The teachers of the Teach Starter team sat down to look through our shelves and pulled out our favorite read-alouds for Veterans Day.
We’ve covered every grade from kindergarten through sixth grade with our picks, including books about Veterans Day itself, plus some of our favorites that look at different ways we can pay tribute to and thank those who have served our nation. Pick and choose the right books for your classroom library, and follow your read-aloud up with one of the activities we’ve included on our list!
Veterans Day Books for Kids
The Wall by Eve Bunting
This read-aloud book focuses on a little boy who makes a visit to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial — sometimes called the Vietnam Wall — in Washington D.C. with his dad.
In the story, the little boy learns about the significance of the wall, which bears the name of his grandfather, a man who died in the war. The little boy discovers the emotional impact it has on those who come to remember and honor the fallen, people like his dad.
The grandparents of many of today’s elementary school students lived through the Vietnam War — and hundreds of thousands served. If you are inviting veterans into the classroom for a veterans tribute, reading this book beforehand will help them to better understand the war in which they served.
Best for Grades — 2-4
Veterans Day: November 11 by Jacqueline S. Cotton
Why do we set November 11 aside to honor our nation’s veterans? That’s the topic of this book, which provides a brief history of Veterans Day and explains its significance in honoring and paying tribute to all veterans. We suggest reading this one during your morning meeting to prepare your class for a thank you card writing activity later in the day.
Best for Grades — 1-3
Hero Mom by Melinda Hardin
Did you know that more than 2 million kids in America have at least one parents serving in the military? Perhaps you even have students in your classroom today whose parents are serving our country?
Hero Mom is a favorite book to read on Veterans Day because it acknowledges the many brave women who are in our armed forces today and who have served in the past. Celebrate the courage and dedication of all the moms serving in the military with a read-aloud!
Best for Grades — K-2
Hero Dad by Melinda Hardin
Of course, moms aren’t the only ones serving in our military. This companion book to Hero Mom looks at the dads who are putting on a uniform each day to bravely serve our country. The books can be read together or separately, but it may help to talk about the fact that Veterans Day is a holiday that’s dedicated to everyday people, people that your students may have in their own families.
Best for Grades — K-2
The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara E. Walsh
Have you been making poppies in class and examining the symbolism of this patriotic flower?
Dig deeper with this picture book about the Poppy Lady. This favorite read-aloud for Veterans Day tells the true story of Moina Belle Michael, a Georgia teacher who inspired the tradition of wearing red poppies to remember and honor veterans.
Best for Grades — 3-5
Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Jeff Gottesfeld
Every single day for almost 100 years, a soldier has stood guard in Arlington National Cemetery, honoring a national treasure — the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The book Twenty-One Steps highlights the deep respect and honor shown to those who gave their lives for their country, explaining the story of those special guards who stand sentry through rain, sleet and snow to ensure that the tomb is never left unguarded.
Why not take a virtual field trip to Arlington National Cemetery with your class after reading the book this Veterans Day?
Best for Grades — 4-6
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