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! You know what that means—it’s time for our monthly roundup of new picture book releases. I get so excited about this episode every month because I know how precious your time is, and honestly, who has hours to scroll through book lists trying to find the perfect read alouds? Consider this your personal picture book shopping guide—I’ve done the research so you can just sit back, listen, and get inspired!
Now, before we dive in, all of these titles and links will be in the show notes, so no need to frantically take notes if you’re folding laundry or driving to school. Just enjoy, and you can always come back later.
Alright, let’s talk about some fantastic new picture books that are going to make your students light up!
First up, we have “A Cure for the Hiccups” by Jennifer E. Smith, with illustrations by Brandon James Scott. Oh my goodness, this one is perfect for those kids who want everything to happen right now—and let’s be honest, we all have at least a few of those in our classrooms!
The story follows Max, who’s great at everything except waiting. When she gets a stubborn case of the hiccups, she tries absolutely everything to make them stop—holding her breath, drinking water upside down, standing on her head, doing somersaults—you name it, she tries it. But nothing works! Her grandmother tells her the only cure is to wait, but Max doesn’t have time for that. Her imagination goes wild thinking about having the hiccups forever. Will she set a world record? Will doctors study her? What if she becomes president and the whole world hears her hiccup?
But then something shifts. She starts noticing the leaves rustling, feels the sun on her face, takes a breath, pauses, waits…and the unexpected happens.
I love this book for teaching patience and mindfulness in such a relatable way. We all know those moments when our students just can’t wait, and this story shows how sometimes slowing down is exactly what we need. Plus, the humor will definitely keep them engaged!
Next, we have “Goodnight Crayons” by Drew Daywalt. If your students loved “The Day the Crayons Quit”—and honestly, what classroom doesn’t have that book?—they’re going to adore this bedtime story featuring everyone’s favorite school supplies!
The crayons are getting ready for bed, but of course, each one has something special they need before they can fall asleep. Blue Crayon needs a drink of water, Orange Crayon needs a blankie, and Red Crayon? Well, Red needs a story…or two…or three. It’s basically every parent’s bedtime routine, but with crayons!
This small hardcover would be perfect for those end-of-day read alouds when everyone needs to wind down a bit. You could even extend it by having students write or draw about what they need to fall asleep. Plus, it’s just plain funny watching these crayons have the same bedtime struggles our students have at home!
Speaking of favorites, “The Humble Pie” by Jory John is the eighth book in his hilarious Food Group series. If you’ve read any of the others—like “The Bad Seed” or “The Good Egg”—you know how much kids connect with these characters.
This time we meet the Humble Pie, who loves giving others the spotlight. “Aw, shucks!” he says—they deserve it! But when he’s paired with his best friend Jake the Cake for a school project, he realizes that staying in the shadows isn’t always as sweet as pie. The story follows his journey as he discovers that letting your voice be heard is actually a good thing.
Can you picture the students in your class who need to hear this message? The ones who hesitate to share their ideas or always defer to others? This book is perfect for building confidence and showing that being humble is wonderful, but so is recognizing your own worth. I can already imagine the great discussions this will spark!
Now, if you’re looking for something with that cozy winter feel, “The Old Sleigh” by Jarrett and Jerome Pumphrey is absolutely magical. These are the same Caldecott Honorees who created “The Old Truck” and “The Old Boat,” so you know it’s going to be beautifully done.
On winter nights, an old sleigh delivers firewood to a small town, bringing warmth and light to families. But as the town grows and families expand, the old sleigh gets overwhelmed. That’s when a new sled and a new generation step up to carry on the tradition.
This book celebrates community, tradition, and the simple act of giving to others. It would be beautiful for discussions about helping our community, traditions that get passed down through generations, or even just appreciating those quiet acts of kindness that make a difference. The illustrations are sure to be stunning, and there’s something so heartwarming about stories that show generations working together.
“The Snowball Fight” by Beth Ferry, illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld, is going to be a hit during those first snowfalls. Beth Ferry wrote “Stick and Stone,” which so many of us have in our classroom libraries, and her signature verse style makes her books so fun to read aloud!
One wintry morning, the snow begins, and so does a snowball fight! The story takes us through a whole day of snow play—building snowbanks, sledding, and yes, an epic snowball battle. Tom Lichtenheld’s cinematic illustrations bring all the snowy action to life with some pretty fun twists along the way.
This is perfect for those winter days when your students come in buzzing about the snow outside. It captures all that excitement and energy of a snow day, and you could extend it with writing about their own snow day adventures or even discussing winter safety. Plus, it’s just pure fun—and sometimes that’s exactly what we need!
Before we continue with more amazing books, I want to tell you about something that might just save your weekends. You know those Sunday nights when you’re scrambling to find the perfect read aloud for Monday morning? Or those Saturday mornings spent creating activities from scratch when you’d rather be relaxing with your own coffee?
That’s exactly why I created Book of the Week—your Friday dose of read-aloud magic, delivered straight to your inbox! Every week, I hand-pick one carefully chosen book—usually brand new releases—that your students will absolutely love. But I don’t just tell you about the book. You get a complete teaching guide with the book summary, key concepts, skills you can teach, and discussion ideas, all ready to go.
Imagine spending your coffee time actually relaxing instead of researching. Your Monday read-aloud? Already planned! You can sign up at thecolorfulapple.com, and the link will be in the show notes. Let’s give you back your weekends while making sure your students get those amazing read-aloud moments they deserve!
Now, let’s get back to our new releases! “The Christmas Sweater” by Jan Brett is going to be a new holiday classic—I’m calling it now! Jan Brett’s books are always so richly illustrated with those incredible borders, and this one doesn’t disappoint.
Yiayia—that’s Greek for grandmother—is thrilled with the fantastically decorated Christmas sweater she made for her grandson Theo’s dog, Ariadne. Theo loves it too, but he can tell Ari the pug isn’t exactly feeling the Christmas spirit about wearing it. So Theo decides to show her how cozy it is by taking her on a hike to Echo Lake in the snowy woods.
The woods are a winter wonderland, but as they hike, more snow falls, and when they reach the lake, Theo realizes something terrible—Ari’s sweater has disappeared, along with their tracks and every familiar landmark! But then Ari spots something in the snow that leads to a surprising solution. And when they get home, there’s an even bigger Christmas surprise waiting.
Jan Brett draws inspiration from Greek mythology in this story, and you know those border details she’s famous for? They hint at a final Christmas miracle that’s going to wow your students. This would be perfect for December read alouds or discussions about problem-solving and the special bond between people and their pets.
“A Knot is Not a Tangle” by Daniel Nayeri is such a beautiful, poignant story about tradition, togetherness, and the gift of imperfection. This one really tugs at the heartstrings!
One morning, a young boy’s grandmother wakes him early—it’s time to make a new family rug together. They wash and dye the wool, and everything is going well until it’s time to knot the threads. That’s when the boy gets nervous. He wants everything to be perfect. But the colors don’t look quite right, and he can’t weave as quickly as his grandmother.
This lyrical picture book explores the memories woven into a Persian rug and gently reminds us that imperfection has its own gifts. In a world where our students often feel pressure to be perfect at everything, this message is so important. It would be wonderful for discussing cultural traditions, the value of learning from family members, and accepting that mistakes are part of the learning process. I can already imagine the beautiful conversations this will spark in your classroom!
And finally, we have “A Quick Trip to the Store” by Sam Wedelich. Oh my goodness, this one is going to have your students—and you—laughing out loud!
It all starts when Mom announces they’re out of bananas and need to go to the store. But who actually likes going grocery shopping? Especially with moms who say no to sugar cereals and won’t let you ride in the cart. But for this little kid, the perfect opportunity rolls by when Mom gets busy chatting with neighbors. Turns out, the store isn’t boring at all when you’re the one pushing the cart! But where are those bananas? And what happens when you suddenly find yourself IN the cart, hurtling down an aisle at full speed?
This is such a true-to-life tale about the “nuisance” of grocery shopping with parents, told with lively illustrations and so much humor. Your students will absolutely relate to this, and it has a sweet ending that shows how things can go hilariously wrong but still turn out okay. Perfect for discussions about following rules, making good choices, or just for a fun read when you all need a good laugh together!
And that’s our lineup for this month! From hiccup cures to snowball fights, from humble pies to Christmas miracles, we’ve got such an incredible variety of stories to choose from.
Remember, all these titles and links are in the show notes at thecolorfulapple.com. 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 sharing with your students!
If you found today’s episode helpful, I’d be so grateful if you’d subscribe to the podcast and leave a positive review. It truly helps other teachers discover our little community here in the Read Aloud Classroom.
Thanks for spending part of your day with me! Come connect on Instagram @thecolorfulapple, and don’t forget to check out Book of the Week to make your read-aloud planning even easier. I can’t wait to see you next week!
