It’s that exciting time again when publishers release fresh picture books that have the potential to become your students’ new favorites. As educators, we know the power of the right book at the right moment—how it can spark curiosity, build connections, and create those magical classroom moments we treasure.
This month’s releases offer incredible opportunities to enhance your read aloud program across multiple subjects and learning objectives. From poetry that brings joy to stories that help students navigate big emotions, these books provide meaningful content that aligns with your teaching goals while genuinely engaging your students.
Let’s explore these new treasures and discover how they might enhance your classroom library and instructional practice.
Building Joy Through Poetry
Blue Jelly & Strawberries: Poems to Tickle Your Tastebuds by Attie Lime brings a refreshing perspective to children’s poetry with this delightful debut collection. What makes this book particularly valuable for classroom use is how it finds humor in everyday situations that resonate with young learners.
The poems celebrate those moments children know well—struggling with a push-pull door, splashing in puddles with rain boots, or discovering the magic in ordinary objects. Food appears throughout the collection in unexpected and delightful ways, with a pancake becoming a “cancake” and beans transforming into something magical.
The variety of poetic styles, from traditional verse to shape poems, makes this collection especially versatile for classroom use. You can use individual poems during transitions, incorporate them into poetry units, or simply share them when your students need a moment of lightness and laughter.
Classroom Applications:
- Perfect for introducing different poetic forms and structures
- Excellent for vocabulary building through playful language
- Great for encouraging student creativity in their own writing
- Ideal for connecting to everyday experiences and observations
Exploring Friendship and Independence
Norman and the Smell of Adventure by Ryan T. Higgins continues the beloved series with another story that perfectly captures the complexities of friendship. Norman, a porcupine, and his best friend Mildred, a tree, have established comfortable routines together. When Norman wants to try something new but Mildred has other plans, Norman decides to venture out on his own.
This story addresses themes that resonate deeply with elementary students: the desire for independence, the challenge of navigating disagreements with friends, and the understanding that needing space doesn’t diminish friendship. Higgins masterfully balances humor with genuine emotional depth, creating opportunities for meaningful classroom discussions.
The book’s exploration of friendship dynamics makes it an excellent choice for social-emotional learning discussions. Students will recognize their own experiences in Norman’s journey and gain valuable insights about maintaining relationships while growing as individuals.
Discussion Opportunities:
- How do we handle disagreements with friends?
- What does it mean to be independent while still valuing friendship?
- How can we respect others’ need for space while maintaining connections?
- What makes a friendship strong enough to survive challenges?
Inspiring Scientific Curiosity
A Universe Big & Small: A Story About Carl Sagan by James Yang offers an inspiring introduction to one of science’s greatest communicators. This Geisel Award-winning author takes readers on a journey through the cosmos, inspired by Carl Sagan’s life and approach to scientific inquiry.
The book emphasizes the importance of asking questions—both big and small—as the foundation of learning and discovery. Sagan’s sense of wonder about everything from tiny atoms to vast galaxies demonstrates how curiosity drives scientific understanding and helps us comprehend our place in the universe.
This picture book works beautifully as an introduction to scientific thinking, encouraging students to embrace their natural curiosity about the world around them. It connects perfectly with STEM learning objectives while inspiring a sense of wonder that extends beyond the classroom.
Cross-Curricular Connections:
- Science: Introduction to astronomy, space exploration, and scientific method
- Reading: Biography and informational text features
- Social Studies: How individuals contribute to human knowledge
- Philosophy: Big questions about our place in the universe
Seasonal Stories with Educational Value
This month brings several Halloween-themed books that offer more than just seasonal fun. These stories incorporate valuable learning opportunities while celebrating the excitement of the holiday.
Building Problem-Solving Skills
Evelyn Witch Gets a Pet by Beth Ferry presents an endearing story about patience and resourcefulness. Evelyn has everything a witch needs except for one thing—a pet. When she can only afford a mystery egg, she must wait and watch for it to hatch. When patience alone isn’t enough, Evelyn heads to the library to research solutions.
This story beautifully demonstrates research skills, problem-solving strategies, and the value of persistence. The library setting reinforces the importance of books and research in finding answers, making it an excellent choice for connecting to information literacy skills.
Familiar Patterns with Fresh Twists
Chicka Chicka Tricka Treat by Julien Chung brings Halloween excitement to the beloved alphabet chant format. The letters don their costumes and sneak up the coconut tree for Halloween adventures. When a witch appears and sends them tumbling down, readers discover whether this marks the end of their Halloween fun or just the beginning.
The familiar rhythm and structure make this book immediately accessible to young readers while reinforcing letter recognition and phonics skills. The Halloween theme adds seasonal relevance without overwhelming the educational content.
Building Anticipation and Observation Skills
It’s Almost Time for…Halloween! by Maisha Oso captures the excitement building toward Halloween through various preparation activities—decorating, costume-making, and pumpkin carving. The story includes a delightful element where not everyone recognizes the signs that Halloween is approaching.
This interactive element encourages careful observation and prediction skills. Students will enjoy identifying the Halloween preparations before the characters do, creating opportunities for engaging discussions about context clues and inference.
Celebrating Cultural Traditions
This Moment is Special: A Día de Muertos Story by John Parra offers a beautiful exploration of Day of the Dead celebrations through the eyes of a young boy preparing for the holiday. The story emphasizes how every moment—large and small—holds special meaning as we remember family and those who have gone before us.
Parra’s approach helps students understand that cultural celebrations are about more than activities and decorations. They represent connections to family, memory, and tradition that give meaning to our daily experiences. The book’s focus on mindfulness and appreciating present moments adds another layer of educational value.
This story provides excellent opportunities for discussing cultural diversity, family traditions, and the universal human experience of remembering loved ones. It can serve as a bridge for students to share their own family traditions and celebrations.
Supporting Social-Emotional Development
Building Strong Sibling Relationships
I Got You by Derrick Barnes celebrates the special bond between brothers through Rasheed’s admiration for his older brother Anthony. Anthony serves as teacher, protector, and guide, sharing everything from nature exploration to important life skills like buttoning shirts and riding bikes.
The story thoughtfully addresses a common childhood experience: learning that beloved older siblings sometimes need space for their own friendships and activities. Rather than dismissing Rasheed’s feelings, Anthony validates them while explaining that love remains constant even when physical presence changes.
When the family announces a new baby on the way, Rasheed feels prepared to be the kind of big brother Anthony has been to him. This progression demonstrates how positive relationship modeling creates a foundation for future caring behaviors.
Managing School Transitions
Tiny T-Rex and the First Day Oopsies by Jonathan Stutzman, the fourth book in this popular series, addresses first-day anxieties with humor and reassurance. Despite Tiny’s careful preparation—complete with oversized backpack and good-luck bowtie—unexpected challenges still arise.
The book’s central message that school success isn’t about perfect preparation resonates with students who may feel anxious about new experiences. Instead, it emphasizes adaptability, resilience, and the understanding that learning happens through trying new things and making mistakes along the way.
Developing Emotional Regulation
The Marvelous Now by Angela DiTerlizzi, the third book in the series following “The Magical Yet” and “The Curious Why,” focuses on mindfulness and emotional regulation. The book acknowledges common childhood stressors—missing the bus, struggling with tests, feeling overwhelmed in crowds—and provides practical tools for managing these situations.
Through accessible, rhythmic verse paired with vibrant illustrations, the book teaches students to recognize when they need to pause, breathe, and center themselves in the present moment. These skills become increasingly valuable as students navigate academic and social challenges throughout their school experience.
Practical Applications:
- Morning meeting discussions about emotional regulation
- Tools for managing test anxiety and academic stress
- Strategies for handling social situations and peer interactions
- Building classroom community around emotional awareness
Embracing Individual Differences
The Mixed-Up Owl by Marzena Sowa tells the story of an owl who can’t understand why he stays awake at night while other forest animals sleep. His quest for answers takes him to various animals, but they’re either too sleepy or too busy to help him solve his puzzle.
This gentle story explores themes of self-acceptance and understanding individual differences. Rather than presenting being different as a problem to solve, the book guides readers toward recognizing that our unique characteristics are part of who we are meant to be.
The owl’s journey of self-discovery provides excellent opportunities for discussing how people have different strengths, preferences, and natural rhythms. It encourages students to appreciate their own unique qualities while understanding that differences make communities stronger and more interesting.
Celebrating Creativity and Storytelling
Pencil’s Best Story Ever by Carly Gledhill offers a hilarious meta-narrative about the creative process. Pencil believes he has written the perfect story and eagerly shares it with readers. However, when his characters—Peanut, Jelly, and Bear—refuse to follow the script, delightful chaos ensues.
This story-within-a-story format creates multiple layers of engagement for young readers. They observe Pencil’s attempts to control his narrative while simultaneously watching the characters assert their own agency. The resulting chaos celebrates the unpredictable nature of creativity while demonstrating resilience and adaptability.
The book works wonderfully for multiple readings, as students discover new details and humor with each encounter. It also provides excellent opportunities for discussing the writing process, character development, and the collaborative nature of storytelling.
Writing Connections:
- Exploring character motivation and development
- Understanding story structure and plot progression
- Discussing revision and adaptation in the writing process
- Encouraging creative risk-taking and experimentation
Easing School Transitions
Sammy and Sunny’s First Day of School by Nina LaCour provides comfort for students experiencing school anxiety through its charming parallel structure. Sammy starts kindergarten while his dog Sunny begins puppy school, both feeling nervous about their new experiences.
The book’s genius lies in its comparison between human and canine school experiences. Both Sammy and Sunny make friends, play, nap, and learn new things, sharing their adventures with their family at day’s end. The parallel structure helps normalize school experiences while adding humor through Sunny’s doggy perspective.
This gentle approach to addressing school anxiety makes difficult emotions feel manageable and universal. Students see that feeling nervous is normal and that school can become enjoyable once they give it a chance.
Making the Most of These New Releases
These new picture books offer rich opportunities to enhance your read aloud program while addressing multiple learning objectives. Consider how each book might connect to your current curriculum goals, seasonal themes, or classroom community needs.
Remember that you don’t need to acquire every new release immediately. Choose books that align with your current teaching priorities or that address specific needs you’ve observed in your students. Sometimes the most impactful read aloud is the one that speaks directly to a moment your classroom community is experiencing.
As you explore these new titles, consider how they might work for different purposes—whole group instruction, small group discussions, individual reading, or family sharing. The versatility of high-quality picture books means they can serve multiple functions throughout your school year.
These books remind us why picture books remain such powerful tools in elementary education. They capture complex emotions, introduce important concepts, and create shared experiences that build classroom community while supporting individual growth and learning.
