World Read Aloud Day Book List: Our Five Favorite Books for February

February 24 is World Read Aloud Day. To celebrate, we’ve selected our five favorite books to read aloud with kids – tomorrow and all year long.

You’ll find silly books with vivid illustrations, beautiful poems in English and Spanish and a nonfiction book about animals. To share with older readers, we’ve chosen a story about our favorite imaginary cat and a novel about Chinese folklore.

Plus, you can see how some of our book experts read them. Click on the videos under each title for a sneak preview!

Ages 4-9

Shhh! We Have a Plan! by Chris Haughton.

This adorable book makes for wonderfully dramatic read-alouds. Kids will relish the suspense!

Ages 4-9

Flutter and Hum (Aleteo y Zumbido) by Julie Paschkis

Lush illustrations and luminous poems about animals appear in both English and Spanish on the pages of this stunning read-aloud. Kids will love hunting for the words that twine their way through the gorgeous watercolor illustrations.

Ages 4-9

Hippos Are Huge by Jonathan London, Illustrated by Matthew Trueman

Kids adore the oversized illustrations and fascinating facts that fill the pages of this awesome nonfiction read-aloud. Bold-faced keywords call attention to great moments to emphasize as you read this book aloud.

Ages 7-12

Crenshaw by Katherine Applegate

Perfect for families or classrooms to read together, this light-hearted novel features a boy and the large imaginary cat who reappears when his family faces the risk of becoming homeless. It’s warm and wonderful.

Ages 7-12

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin

A terrific read-aloud for kids of all ages, this novel inspired by Chinese folklore offers a rich adventure starring a resourceful girl and a friendly dragon. Pure magic!