Veterans Day is one of those holidays that opens the door to truly meaningful conversations in your classroom. Your students may know it’s a day off from school, but most kids don’t yet understand what it really means to serve or to remember those who have.
For me, Veterans Day has always felt personal. I was born on a military base, my husband is active duty, and my son attended preschool on base. My father, both of my grandfathers, and my father-in-law all served. I’ve seen how military life shapes families in quiet, powerful ways—the pride, the worry, and the gratitude that come with each chapter of service.
Reading Veterans Day books for kids is a gentle and powerful way to help your students connect with the ideas of service, sacrifice, and gratitude. These stories bring history to life through characters and experiences your students can relate to. Some are based on real people, others are fictional, but all of them invite reflection, empathy, and hope.
In this post, you’ll find a list of my favorite Veterans Day read-alouds for elementary students, along with activities that help your students dig deeper and make personal connections. These books open the door for discussion, writing, and creative expression that honor our veterans in an age-appropriate way.
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📚 Book List + Activities
1. The Poppy Lady: Moina Belle Michael and Her Tribute to Veterans by Barbara Elizabeth Walsh
Why it’s special: This book tells the real story of Moina Belle Michael, the woman who inspired the poppies as a symbol of remembrance. It’s a tribute to one person’s vision and persistence, and it connects strongly to the imagery of poppies that many students already know from “In Flanders Fields.”
Activity idea:
- Poppy Writing or Art Tribute: After reading, invite students to write a short “letter to a veteran,” or one sentence about what “thank you” means to them. Then have them make a paper poppy using tissue or construction paper. Display all poppies around the classroom or create a “Wall of Remembrance.”
- Research Connection: Students can research poppy campaigns in different countries and compare how each uses the poppy as a symbol of remembrance.
2. Twenty-One Steps: Guarding the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier by Jeff Gottesfeld
Why it’s special: This is a lyrical and respectful account of the changing of the guard at Arlington. It reveals the precision, dedication, and symbolism behind each step and helps students understand what it means to honor the fallen.
Activity idea:
- Silent Reflection Walk: Have students stand and walk exactly 21 steps in silence. Ask them to think about what each step might represent, such as respect or remembrance.
3. The Wall: A Vietnam War Story by Eve Bunting
Why it’s special: This book is simple but powerful. It shows the Vietnam Veterans Memorial through the eyes of a child and uses silence, reflection, and imagery to help readers understand grief and remembrance.
Activity idea:
- Name Reflections: Ask students to imagine whose name they might write on a memorial and have them write a short tribute or poem.
4. Tucky Jo and Little Heart by Patricia Polacco
Why it’s special: This touching story shows the lasting impact of kindness during war. Polacco connects a WWII soldier and a young girl from the Philippines in a story about friendship, compassion, and how memories can bring people together again years later.
Activity idea:
- Family Connection Project: Have students interview a family member or neighbor about someone they know who served in the military. Create a class display called “Our Family Heroes.”
- Comic Strip Retelling: Ask students to re-create a favorite part of the story as a comic strip that shows what the characters are feeling and thinking.
5. Veterans: Heroes in Our Neighborhood by Valerie Pfundstein
Why it’s special: This story reminds students that veterans are not distant heroes but part of our everyday communities. It’s perfect for helping kids recognize that heroes can be anyone around them.
Activity idea:
- Letter Writing: Have students write thank-you letters to veterans, either for a class display or to send to a local veterans’ organization.
6. Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle by Major Brian Dennis, Mary Nethery, and Kirby Larson
Why it’s special: This true story of a Marine and his dog in Iraq teaches lessons about loyalty, friendship, and courage. It’s a great example of how love and perseverance can thrive even in hard circumstances.
Activity idea:
- Cause and Effect Chart: Students track key events in the story and discuss how each shows compassion or bravery.
- Thank You Notes: Write thank-you notes to veterans, service members, or even animal rescue organizations that support military dogs.
7. H Is for Honor: A Military Family Alphabet by Devin Scillian
Why it’s special: This book introduces students to key terms and concepts related to military service in an age-appropriate way. It works well for introducing vocabulary and exploring the values of respect and courage.
Activity idea:
- Alphabet Mini-Posters: Divide students into groups and assign each a letter. Each group creates a mini-poster that defines the word, gives an example, and includes an illustration.
- Vocabulary Foldables: Students create a foldable with the term on the front, and inside they write the definition, sentence, and picture.
8. America’s White Table by Margot Theis Raven
Why it’s special: This story explains the tradition of the “white table” set in honor of missing soldiers and prisoners of war. It’s rich with symbolism and helps students connect tangible objects with deeper meaning.
Activity idea:
- Symbol Table Design: Students design their own “table of honor” using symbolic items and write a short paragraph explaining each choice.
Closing Thoughts
These Veterans Day books for kids remind your students that bravery, sacrifice, and kindness come in many forms. Whether it’s a story about a soldier, a family member, or a simple act of remembrance, each one helps your students see the human side of history.
Which of these books will you be reading with your students this year?
