Welcome to the Read Aloud Classroom where we’re making picture books work for you even with a packed schedule. Hi, I’m Sarah, an educator who believes in the power of read alouds to transform your teaching without adding to our already full plates.
Happy first Thursday of the month, everyone! You know what that means—it’s time for our monthly roundup of new picture book releases that I’m excited about. I love sharing these treasures with you because I know how busy teacher life can be, and sometimes we just don’t have the time to research all the amazing new books hitting the shelves. So consider this your personal picture book shopping guide for the month ahead!
Now, before we dive in, I want to remind you that all of these titles and links will be available in the show notes and podcast description, so no need to pull over if you’re driving or stop your meal prep if you’re listening while cooking dinner. You can also see photos of all the book covers on my website, thecolorfulapple.com. Just enjoy the episode, and you can always come back to check out these resources later.
Alright, let’s get to what you came for—some fantastic new picture books that are perfect for your classroom!
First up, we have “Noah and His Wagon” by Jerry Ruff. Oh, this one really touches on something we all see in our classrooms—dealing with friends moving away. The story follows Paloma, whose best friend has just moved, leaving her feeling pretty lonely. But during a neighborhood walk with her dog Bucket and her sitter Jasmine, she meets Noah and his cat Mitzvah. Noah takes her around the neighborhood, introducing her to so many new people that Paloma can’t help but feel less lonely.
This would be perfect for those classroom discussions about friendship transitions. We all have students who’ve experienced friends moving away or being the new kid themselves. I can already picture the rich discussions and connections your students will make with this one.
Next on our list is “Bannock in a Hammock” by Masiana Kelly. This sweet, rhyming book explores bannock, which is a popular food tradition with Inuit and other Indigenous peoples. I love that it’s written by Inuk/Dene writer Masiana Kelly and celebrates this delicious food in such a playful way. The book even includes a bannock recipe that you could use for a wonderful classroom extension activity!
Imagine reading this book and then making bannock with your students—talk about a cross-curricular opportunity connecting literacy, social studies, and even math when measuring ingredients. Plus, food activities always create such memorable learning experiences for our students.
For those of you who love series books, there’s a new addition to Karma Wilson’s beloved Bear series—”Bear Feels Sad.” In this story, Bear is feeling lonely because all his friends are busy. He tries to cheer himself up, but nothing seems to work—not even building a fort! But when he discovers a beautiful field of flowers, he gets the perfect idea to turn his day around by gathering gifts to share with his friends when they return.
This is such a wonderful book for teaching emotional literacy and problem-solving. I know many of us have students who struggle with managing feelings of loneliness or sadness, and seeing Bear work through these emotions provides such a valuable model. Plus, if your classroom already loves the Bear books, this will be a welcome addition to your collection!
“Circus of Shadows” by Lidia Brankovic looks absolutely fascinating. It’s by the author-illustrator of “The Grand Hotel of Feelings,” and it takes children on this fantastic journey of self-acceptance. The story follows Lika, who never gave much thought to her shadow until it starts acting strangely—doing opposite movements and eventually whisking her off to a curious land of shadows and a spooky shadow circus. There, she has to look deep inside herself to find her way back home.
What a powerful metaphor for acknowledging and embracing the parts of ourselves we try to hide! This would pair beautifully with social-emotional learning about self-acceptance and understanding all the different aspects of our personalities.
Changing seasons is always a popular theme in elementary classrooms, and “Goodbye Spring, Hello Summer” by Kenard Pak sounds like a perfect addition to your seasonal book collection. It follows a young girl as she roams through grassy plains and shady forests, greeting all the signs of the coming summer season. Through a series of conversations with everything from rolling hills to chickadees, she says goodbye to spring and welcomes summer.
I love seasonal transition books because they help children notice and appreciate the natural changes around them. This would be great for science connections about seasonal characteristics or writing prompts about favorite summer activities.
For those looking for a powerful non-fiction picture book, “Hurricane” by Jason Chin is incredible. Chin is a Caldecott and Sibert Medalist, and in this book, he charts the thrilling saga of an island community preparing for a category three hurricane. The book alternates between striking maps charting the hurricane’s progress and daily life on the island as families prepare by boarding up windows and stocking survival kits.
This would make a compelling addition to a weather unit or discussions about natural disasters and emergency preparedness. Jason Chin’s illustrations are always stunning and scientifically accurate, making complex topics accessible to young readers.
“Me and Lavender” by Melody C. Peugh tells the story of Ella and her elephant friend Lavender who drop in to play. Ella explains that Mommy needs them to stay tidy for an afternoon tea party, but that’s a big ask for a little kid! Their quiet activities soon escalate to exciting ones, ending in a magnificent mud-pie mess. The question is—will the playful pair get clean in time for tea?
This book celebrates the joy of pretending and reminds me of the Christopher Robin and Pooh relationship. It’s perfect for discussions about imagination, friendship, and even the classic childhood dilemma of wanting to play versus needing to follow rules. I can just see the writing extensions where students could create their own imaginary adventures with a stuffed animal!
If you’re looking for a book that combines animal facts with an engaging story, “Piet Cools Off” by Peter Wohlleben is a great choice. The bestselling author of “The Hidden Life of Trees” partners with his daughter to introduce kids to the countless ways animals cool down and the importance of forests in hot weather. Piet the squirrel is trying to find a good way to cool down on a very hot day, and as he bounds through the woods, he meets other animals and discovers all their cooling techniques.
What makes this book special is that it includes informative sidebars about the importance of forests and temperature regulation, along with engaging backmatter that explores other ways animals cool down around the world. It’s a perfect blend of story and science that would enhance any unit on animals, habitats, or weather.
“Sea in My Cells” by Laura Alary is a beautiful ode to water. It explores the journey of water from the sea, to your glass, to your cells, breaking big ideas into child-sized pieces. Andrea Blinick’s illustrations take readers from the kitchen to the ocean to the clouds and back again, making this an accessible introduction to the water cycle for young readers.
I always appreciate books that help children understand the connections between natural systems and their everyday lives. This would be wonderful for science units on water or conservation discussions.
For those looking for books about important cultural celebrations, “So Many Years: A Juneteenth Story” by Anne Wynter is a poetic picture book introduction to Juneteenth and its origin. With lyrical text and radiant artwork from Jerome Pumphrey, this book explains the history behind Juneteenth celebrations while acknowledging the history of slavery in the US as well as the astonishing Black resilience that has led to an enduring legacy of Black joy.
Books like this are so important for helping children understand historical events and cultural celebrations in age-appropriate ways. This would be valuable for social studies units, discussions about freedom and equality, or preparing for Juneteenth observances.
“The Gathering Table” by Antwan Eady, author of “Nigel and the Moon,” delivers a joyful picture book about how a Southern family gathers around a special table for year-round celebrations. The story highlights the importance of family, community, and coming together, showing how Gullah Geechee culture contributes to a family’s love.
I love how this book celebrates the significance of cultural traditions and family gatherings. It would be perfect for discussions about family traditions, cultural heritage, or community building in your classroom.
For something a bit different, “The Traveling Taco” by Mia Wenjen explores the history of kids’ favorite foods from around the world. Though it’s noted as “not a read aloud but interesting facts,” I think this could absolutely work as a read aloud with the right approach! The book uses rhyming text to take readers on travels around the world, celebrating foods, their history, and surprising origins.
This would be amazing for units on cultural exchange, food traditions, or geography. I can already imagine the fun extension activities—perhaps a classroom potluck where students bring in dishes from their own cultural backgrounds!
“The Vase with the Golden Cracks” by Fran Nuno is set in a remote part of Japan, where a precious tradition is passed down from father to son. Every day, a vase is filled with magical words that guide the protagonist to find his meaning in life, or Ikigai. When the vase breaks, the art of Kintsugi teaches him the importance of learning and second chances.
This beautiful story incorporates the Japanese art of Kintsugi—repairing broken pottery with gold—as a metaphor for how our challenges and setbacks can make us stronger. What a wonderful way to discuss resilience and growth mindset with students!
“Where are you Bronte?” by Tomie dePaola is particularly special as it’s the final completed book written by the beloved creator, with art by award-winning illustrator Barbara McClintock. This touching story is about love, loss, and remembrance after losing a beloved pet. DePaola tells the emotional and deeply personal story about overcoming his grief after the loss of his dog, Brönte.
Many of our students have experienced the loss of a pet, and this book could provide a gentle way to discuss grief and remembrance in the classroom. The fact that it’s Tomie dePaola’s final book makes it even more significant for those of us who grew up with his stories.
For something that speaks directly to us as teachers, “You Be Teacher” by Karla Clark continues her “You Be” series with a humorous and tender story about educators and all they do for their students. The story follows an exhausted teacher who’s simply too tired to be Teacher today after teaching the seasons, getting splattered with paint, and bandaging a student’s boo-boo—all before noon! She playfully tries to convince her students to fill her shoes for the day.
This one is noted as “more for teachers than kids” and would make a “good gift for teachers.” I think we can all relate to those overwhelming days! While it might not be your first choice for a classroom read aloud, it could be a fun end-of-year gift for teaching colleagues or student teachers.
Next up is “Everything’s Wrong!” by Jory John, illustrated by Erin Kraan. From the #1 New York Times–bestselling author of “The Bad Seed,” this book is a companion to “Something’s Wrong!” and “Nothing’s Wrong!” Best friends Jeff and Anders start the day with the best of intentions, but before long, everything goes haywire—from power outages to spilled breakfasts to missing socks. Their epic journey tests their fortitude and friendship as they try to salvage their disastrous day.
Jory John’s books are always hits in the classroom, and this one sounds perfect for discussions about resilience, problem-solving, and the importance of friendship during challenging times. Plus, his books are genuinely funny, which is always a win for keeping students engaged!
Finally, we have “Wish in a Tree” by Lynda Mullaly Hunt, an uplifting picture book celebrating neurodiversity and starring characters from her New York Times bestselling novel “Fish in a Tree.” Oliver’s brain is a volcano of ideas—always bubbling with questions—which makes it hard to focus at school. He worries he won’t ever fit in, but thankfully he has a friend who reminds him that great minds don’t think alike, and that a brain that blazes with curiosity and imagination is a glorious thing.
I’m particularly excited about this one because it celebrates out-of-the-box thinking and the importance of being proud of the things that set us apart. For students who struggle with focus or feel different from their peers, seeing themselves represented positively in literature can be so affirming. This would be wonderful for classroom discussions about diversity of thought and celebrating our unique strengths.
And that wraps up our new picture book releases for this month! Wow, what an amazing collection, right? From books about friendship and emotional intelligence to cultural celebrations and scientific concepts, there’s truly something for every classroom need.
Remember, all these titles will be listed in the show notes and podcast description along with links to find them. And don’t forget to visit thecolorfulapple.com where you can see photos of all the book covers to help you decide which ones catch your eye. I’d love to hear which ones you’re most excited about—drop me a message on Instagram @thecolorfulapple and let me know which books you end up adding to your classroom collection!
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Next week’s episode is one you definitely won’t want to miss, especially as we approach the end of the school year. We’ll be talking all about “Ending the Year Strong with Read Alouds.” Are you feeling the end-of-year crunch? With field days, awards ceremonies, and classroom cleanup dominating your schedule, it’s easy to let read alouds slide. But these final weeks offer the perfect opportunity to bring meaningful closure to your classroom’s reading journey!
I’ll share five types of powerful end-of-year read alouds with specific book recommendations for each category, plus simple activities that won’t add to your already overflowing to-do list. You’ll discover how to create special reflection moments that celebrate your reading community while managing those end-of-year wiggles. I’ll walk you through practical strategies for building a “Reading Journey Timeline,” hosting a classroom “Top 10 Books” vote, and creating a bridge to summer reading. Join me to learn how one intentional read aloud experience can create lasting memories for your students before you say goodbye for the summer!
Thanks for joining me today in the Read Aloud Classroom. Come connect with me on Instagram @thecolorfulapple and find all the links and resources mentioned today at thecolorfulapple.com. I can’t wait to see you next week!
