7 Great Reads for Kids on Labor Day

For most kids, Labor Day marks the first day off at the start of a new school year. Labor Day signals the end of summer vacation, a final hurrah before the descent into fall and winter. But this holiday offers so much more than celebrating the end of summer. Labor Day gives us the unique opportunity to celebrate and commemorate the small and large victories of the everyday worker. On this day, we celebrate the working heroes of the past and present who get things done everyday for our fellow citizens, our country, and the world.

Here are 7 great books to celebrate Labor Day with kids:

Clifford Gets A Job by Norman Bridwell
Ages 2-6 
In order to pay for his dog food, Clifford, a big red dog, decides to get a job.

Busy, Busy Town by Richard Scarry
Ages 3-8 
Welcome to Busy town where everyone is on their way to work.

The Berenstain Bears on the Job by Stan & Jan Berenstain
Ages 3-8
Brother and Sister meet Firebear Bob, Police Officer Marguerite, and others as they try to discover “What will I be when I grow up?”

Mommies At Work by Eve Merriam
Ages 3-8
Examines many different jobs performed by working mothers, including counting money in banks and building bridges.

When I Grow Up by Mercer Mayer
Ages 4-8
Little Critter’s sister dreams about all the wonderful things she’s going to do when she grows up.

Labor Day (Holiday Histories) by Mir Tamim Ansary
Ages 9-12
Introduces Labor Day, explaining the historical events behind it, how it became a holiday, and how it is observed.

The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck  
For the more advanced reader, ages 12-15
Steinbeck’s 1939 classic reminds us of exactly how paralyzing the economic hardship brought on by unemployment can be.