Unlock the Power of Picture Books

What is the difference between an interactive read aloud and just a regular read aloud?  I’m going to break down the differences between the two and why they are both important!  An interactive read aloud is a well-planned out, meaningful lesson that provides an opportunity to teach and model important reading strategies.

⭐️ Grab the freebie!

See the show notes for this episode.

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Wondering how to spark your students' curiosity about the exciting world of careers? Let's dive into fantastic children's books that make learning about jobs fun and interactive.  We'll showcase books that:

• Introduce a variety of professions, from doctors and firefighters to artists and engineers
• Capture young imaginations with engaging stories and vibrant illustrations
• Spark important conversations about inter...

It's National Poetry Month, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing incredible poems into your classroom?  In this video, we're sharing some of our favorite poetry collections for elementary students, from silly and playful to beautiful and thought-provoking.

We'll cover books that:

• Rhyme and rhythm their way into young hearts
• Explore themes that resonate with elementary schoolers
• Are perfect for ...

Celebrate Earth Day with these fun read alouds!  Each book is perfect for teaching students how to take care of the Earth and why it is so important.

🌏 EARTH DAY FREEBIE

📚 BOOKS IN THIS VIDEO:

• The Curious Garden
• On Meadowview Street
• We are Water Protectors
• The Big Beach Clean Up
• Becoming a Good Creature
• Thank You, Earth

See the show notes for the Earth Day Picture Books.

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Get ready for the solar eclipse with these children's books!  I've got some amazing picture books that will spark your students' curiosity about this celestial event!

We'll explore a collection of engaging picture books perfect for read-alouds, all centered around the wonder of solar eclipses. These books will introduce your students to the science behind eclipses, different types of eclipses, and the a...

Check out these new picture books released in March 2024!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which March 2024 picture book to read first!

🌟 FREE BOOK LIST

📚 MARCH PICTURE BOOKS:
- The Dress in the Window
- A Rainbow in Brown
- When the Rain Came Down
- Don’t Wash Winston
- Tricky Chopsticks
- The Mochi Makers
- Someone Just Like Y...

This episode is full of engaging picture books that will help your students understand the importance of recycling in your elementary classroom. ♻️ These colorful read alouds will introduce students to the importance of recycling and its impact on our planet. 🌎 They are perfect book to add to your Earth Day celebration!

🌟 ONE PLASTIC BAG LESSON

📚 RECYCLING BOOKS FOR KIDS:
- One Plastic Bag
- Ada’s Violi...

Picture books are a great tool to teach writing concepts. 📝  Today we are going to be chatting about teaching setting with picture books.

Unleash the hidden power of picture books: Learn how their sensory details and evocative language paint stunning settings that inspire young writers.

🌟 OWL MOON LESSON PLAN

📚 SETTING PICTURE BOOKS:

• Owl Moon
• The Snowy Day
• Creepy Carrots
• Cloudy with a Chance of Meatbal...

Calling all germ-busting educators!  This video is your one-stop shop for engaging picture books that teach kids about healthy habits, specifically the importance of handwashing and stopping the spread of germs.

🌟 SICK SIMON LESSON PLAN

📚 HEALTHY HABITS BOOKS FOR KIDS:
- Sick Simon
- What are Germs?
- Do Not Lick this Book
- Germs vs. Soap
- A Germ’s Journey
- I Don’t Want to Wash My Hand...

Check out these new picture books released in February 2024!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which February 2024 picture book to read first!

🌟 FREE BOOK LIST

📚 FEBRUARY PICTURE BOOKS:
- A Happy Place
- Escargot  & the Search for Spring
- Seeds of Change
- It’s Holi!
- Memory Garden
- Sydney’s Big Speech
- Are You Big?
-...

March Madness is heating up, and what better way to celebrate the excitement than by bringing the energy of the court into your classroom?  Today, we're doing a slam dunk of a dive into amazing basketball picture books perfect for read-alouds during March Madness!

🌟 SALT IN HIS SHOES LESSON

📚 BASKETBALL BOOKS:
- Salt in His Shoes
- Dream Big
- Allie’s Basketball Dream
- Above the Rim
- T...

Leap into Learning with Picture Books!  Check out these fun Leap Year read alouds.  We'll be diving into a collection of fun, engaging reads that explore the concept of time, the importance of calendars, and the excitement of an extra day.  Whether you're looking for silly stories, informative explanations, or heartwarming tales, we've got you covered!

🌟 FREE JABARI JUMPS LESSON

📚 LEAP YEAR BOOKS:...

Struggling to make those tricky states of matter click for your young scientists? Look no further than the wonder of picture books! This video unlocks the secret to transforming your classroom into a laboratory of imagination, where learning explodes with vibrant illustrations and playful narratives. ⚗️

🌟 SNEEZY THE SNOWMAN LESSON PLAN

📚 STATES OF MATTER PICTURE BOOKS:
- Sneezy the Snowman
- Many Kinds o...

Check out these new picture books released in January 2024!  Each of these books make a great read aloud for the classroom.  It's hard to choose which January 2024 picture book to read first!

🌟 FREE BOOK LIST

📚 JANUARY PICTURE BOOKS:
- Homegrown
- Time to Make Art
- There’s No Place Like Hope
- The Fish of Small Wishes
- Too Much: My Big Great Native Family
- Tree of Life
- The L...

Celebrate World Read Aloud Day in your classroom with these fun activities!  I have 6 different ways to help you share books with your students this February.   Watch the video to learn how to use all these World Read Aloud Day activities in your classroom!

🌟 FREE STORYTELLING ACTIVITIES

Check out the show notes for World Read Aloud Day Activities

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Check out the TpT Stor...

We all know that teaching students about wants and needs is super important. But guess what? Picture books make it way more fun and memorable! We're diving into wants vs needs picture books that can help us explain the difference.

🌟 WANTS VS. NEEDS VS. ROBOTS LESSON PLAN

📚 WANTS VS NEEDS PICTURE BOOKS:
- Wants vs. Needs vs. Robots
- Those Shoes
- Lily Learns about Wants and Needs
- Do I Wan...

It's that time again - Mock Caldecott 2024!  I'm sharing my predictions for which books might win the Caldecott award this year.  I even have a freebie for you to host your own Mock Caldecott award ceremony in your classroom.

🌟 FREE CALDECOTT ACTIVITY

📚 CALDECOTT PREDICTIONS 2024:

• Big
• An American Story
• Jumper: A Day in the Life
• The Tree and the River
• Once Upon a Book
• I’m From
• In the Night Garden
• Nell Plant...

Story elements are the foundation of our comprehension work with students.  Once they can retell the components of a story, they’ll be able to answer higher level questions.  Story elements include; characters, setting, problem & solution, main events.  And the best way to teach this is through read alouds!  Here are a few of my favorite picture books for story elements.

🌟 THE PAPER BAG PRINCESS LESSON PLAN

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Hibernation books for kids are a great way to teach students about this intriguing science topic!  Get ready to snuggle up with your class and dive into a collection of stories that will make this natural phenomenon come alive in the most delightful way.

🌟 BEAR HAS A STORY TO TELL LESSON PLAN

📚 HIBERNATION BOOKS FOR KIDS:
- Bear has a Story to Tell
- Hibernation Station
- Over & Under the Snow