I love finding brand new books to share with you! It’s amazing how many new books were released this month. Check out these new books from March 2023!
I’m sharing all these books on video as well! Check out the New Books March 2023 episode on my YouTube channel.
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New Books – March 2023
This is a Story by John Schu
With a sea-horse kite in hand, a child heads out with Dad to the library. On the way they stop at a park, joining lots of people, some of whom are flying kites, too. At the library, a person toting a big pile of books hands over a story on a favorite subject: the sea horse. All around, there are readers poring over books, each with their own questions, ideas to explore, hopes for the future, and imaginations ready to spark.
The Knowing by Ani DiFranco
This is an adorable, colorful picture book with multicultural illustrations. Children are perceptive, and this book reinforces the idea that there are things about themselves that they know to be true with their whole heart. It doesn’t mean those things will never change, but in the moment they know.
The Night Before Eid by Aya Khalil
On the night before Eid, it’s finally time to make special sweet treats: Teita’s famous ka’ak. Zain eagerly unpacks the ingredients from his grandmother’s bulky suitcase: ghee from Khalo Karim, dates from Amo Girgis, and honey from Tant Tayseer–precious flavors all the way from Egypt.
Together with Mama and Teita, Zain follows his family’s recipe and brings to life Eid songs and prayers, pharaonic history, and the melodies and tastes of his Egyptian heritage. This Muslim holiday story, featuring a delicious ka’ak recipe, is a satisfying addition to a joyful and expansive Eid.
Whale Fall by Melissa Stewart
This fascinating nonfiction picture book filled with stunning illustrations details the end of life for a whale, also known as a whale fall, when its body sinks to the ocean floor and becomes an energy-rich food source for organisms living in the deep sea.
When a whale dies, its massive body silently sinks down, down, through the inky darkness, finally coming to rest on the silty seafloor. For the whale, it’s the end of a 70-year-long life. But for a little-known community of deep-sea dwellers, it’s a new beginning.
First come the hungry hagfish, which can smell the whale from miles around. Then the sleeper sharks begin their prowl, feasting on skin and blubber. After about six months, the meat is gone. Year after year, decade after decade, the whale nourishes all kinds of organisms from zombie worms to squat lobsters to deep-sea microbes.
We Don’t Lose Our Class Goldfish by Ryan Higgins
Penelope Rex has one fear—Walter, the class goldfish. So when Mrs. Noodleman tells the kids that they’ll be taking turns bringing Walter home, Penelope gets carried away by her anxious imagination. The weekend has a rocky start—from Walter ominously licking his lips to a sleepless night where the fish’s bowl appears to move closer and closer to Penelope’s bed. But after a mix-up with a donation box results in a visit to the local aquarium, Penelope realizes she might just need to confront her fear of Walter—in order to save him.
My Powerful Hair by Carole Lindstrom
Mom never had long hair—she was told it was too wild. Grandma couldn’t have long hair—hers was taken from her. But one young girl can’t wait to grow her hair long: for herself, for her family, for her connection to her culture and the Earth, and to honor the strength and resilience of those who came before her.
The Umbrella by Beth Ferry
In a dreary town where it always rains, a little girl and her dog discover an unexpected way to spread the light. Told with surprise and humor, here is a story of generosity, perseverance, and the way that happiness can be contagious—all it takes is one person and a bright idea.
The Umbrella is an inspiring story of persistence, kindness, and curiosity—a perfect read-aloud, rain or shine.
Twenty Questions by Mac Barnett
Not all questions have answers. Some have more than one answer. And others have endless answers, unfolding out to the edges of the world. In this spare yet expansive narrative, acclaimed author Mac Barnett poses twenty questions both playful and profound. Some make us giggle. Others challenge our assumptions. The result is a quirky, wandering exploration of where the best questions lead—to stories.
How to Talk Like a Bear by Charlie Grandy
Want to learn how to speak Bear? Well, you came to the right place. It’s far more than just growling and roaring (a common misconception). There’s a lot more to it. It’s very easy to accidentally say the wrong phrase when you’re trying to get your point across. For example, saying “ROOOAARR” instead of “ROAAARRRR” is the difference between wanting a sandwich and wanting to get into beekeeping.
Remember by Joy Harjo
US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo’s iconic poem Remember, illustrated by Caldecott Medalist Michaela Goade, invites young readers to pause and reflect on the wonder of the world around them, and to remember the importance of their place in it.
The Fantastic Bureau of Imagination by Brad Montague
Every day, special figment agent Sparky delivers all the mail the FBI receives to the proper department, like the Office of the Unexplainable or the Department of Dreams. It’s a big job, but Sparky keeps everything running smoothly . . . until disaster strikes when the Cave of Untold Stories overflows and threatens to topple the whole bureau. It turns out too many people have been holding in their big ideas, and now Sparky must recruit more agents to share their dreams, songs, and stories with the world.
A Dress with Pockets by Lily Murray
Lucy and Aunt Augusta are dress shopping. And, at the Fabulous Fashion Store, there are dresses to suit just about everyone. There are fancy dresses, frilly dresses, stripy dresses, silly dresses, sundresses, fun dresses, blue dresses, green… But Lucy doesn’t care about frills or lace. She wants a dress WITH POCKETS. And as she wades through the swishy dresses, witchy dresses, very, very itchy dresses, she starts to worry about where she’s going to put her leaves, and nettles, and delicate petals, her magical spells and beautiful shells. The hunt is on: will Lucy find the dress of her dreams?
Big Tune: Rise of the Dancehall Prince by Alliah Agostini
This book opens with a nod to Jamaican singers, rappers and DJs, and immediately sets the tone for this big tune story! Then we meet Shane, a sweet boy with big plans and a fear of not being as good a dancer as his father—the dancehall king. Through rhythmic rhymes and beautiful, vibrant illustrations, young readers experience the cultural richness and dance style of a Jamaican American family. This beautiful story is about Black boy joy, discovering who you really are when you face your fears and selfless acts for the benefit of the community.
When Things aren’t Going Right, Go Left by Marc Colagiovanni
We all, kids and the adults who love them, need to be reminded that we have a choice in how we respond to life’s worries, frustrations and “not right” days. This book is a reminder to deliberately go a different way and to drop the baggage that weighs us down when things go badly.
Which of these new books from March 2023 are you going to share with your class?
Don’t forget to check out the new books from January 2023 and February 2023 too!
Free Picture Book List
Looking for more books to read aloud with your students? Grab this FREE list of books to teach Social Emotional Learning skills! SEL skills are more important than ever before. This book list of social emotional learning topics will make it so much easier to teach these skills to your students. The titles are split up by SEL skill and competency. This will make it easy for you to teach just one at a time!
Save this Book List
Be sure to save this pin to your favorite read alouds board on Pinterest! You’ll be able to come back to this book list when you are ready to read them aloud with your students.
