You know that feeling when you're trying to read aloud to your class and it feels like you're competing with twenty different side conversations? Or when you ask a question and three students blurt out answers before you've even finished speaking? We've all been there, and the good news is that picture books can transform those chaotic read aloud moments into meaningful learning experiences. Whether you're setting up classroom expectations at the beginning of the year or finding yourself needing to revisit listening skills in January—or really any time—today's episode is your roadmap to building better listeners.

In this episode, I'm sharing eleven incredible picture books that will help your students develop crucial listening skills while enjoying fantastic stories. From books about learning when to stop talking (hello, "Lacey Walker, Nonstop Talker"!) to stories that teach empathetic listening like "The Rabbit Listened," I've organized these books into three categories to make it easier for you to choose the right book for your specific classroom needs. You'll discover practical tips for using these books during read aloud time, learn how to address everything from interrupting to mindful listening, and walk away with a clear action plan for creating the calm, engaged classroom community you've been dreaming of. Because here's the truth—good listeners aren't born, they're developed through practice and the right stories.

📓 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

💙 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs (freebie!)

📚 Books in this Episode:

• Lacey Walker, NonStop Talker
• Quiet Please, Owen McPhee
• My Mouth is a Volcano
• Wordy Birdy
• I Have a Little Problem
• Listen, Buddy
• 10 Ways to Hear Snow
• The Rabbit Listened
• Bear Has a Story to Tell
• Howard B. Wigglebottom
• Interrupting Chicken

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Picture this: You're preparing for a new school year, dreaming of that magical classroom community where every student feels seen, valued, and connected. But between lesson planning, room setup, and all those back-to-school tasks, actually building that community can feel overwhelming. Here's what I know—you already have one of the most powerful community-building tools right at your fingertips: picture books. And whether you're welcoming students for the first time in August or rebuilding connections after winter break, these stories will transform your classroom.

In this episode, I'm sharing ten incredible picture books that are absolute powerhouses for fostering kindness, inclusion, and genuine connection among your students. From "The Invisible Boy" to the classic "Chrysanthemum," each carefully chosen title opens hearts and sparks meaningful conversations. I'll walk you through each book's community-building potential and let you know how you can find ready-to-use lesson plans for every single title in the Colorful Apple Book Club. Because building community shouldn't add to your stress—it should bring back the joy of teaching.

📓 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

💙 FREE Be Kind lesson

📚 Books in this Episode:

• The Invisible Boy
• The Cool Bean
• All are Welcome
• We Don’t Eat Our Classmates
• Do Unto Otters
• The Day You Begin
• Be Kind
• Don’t Hug Doug
• Strictly No Elephants
• Chrysanthemum

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Get ready to fall in love with reading all over again! This month's new releases are absolutely incredible, and I'm practically bursting with excitement to share them with you. From a grumpy ghost who learns about friendship to a blind astronomer who literally hears the stars, these 13 brand-new picture books are going to transform your read aloud game. Whether you need something to spark deep conversations about strength and resilience, celebrate diverse cultures, or just get your kids giggling with dragons in underpants, this lineup has everything your classroom needs.

In this episode, I'm sharing my honest thoughts on each book - what makes them special, how they'll work in your real classroom with real kids, and which ones are absolutely worth adding to your wish list. You'll discover books perfect for STEM connections, social-emotional learning, cultural celebrations, and pure reading joy. Plus, I'm giving you the inside scoop on which stories will have your students begging for "just one more chapter" and which ones are going to generate those magical classroom discussions we all live for. Trust me, by the end of this episode, you're going to have some serious book shopping to do!

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

📚 Books in this Episode:

• The Grumpy Ghost Upstairs
• I am Strong
• The Library in the Woods
• Worthy
• Dragons Love Underpants
• The Right to Play
• CeeCee
• Itty Bitty Betty blog Makes a Splash
• Princess Battle Royale
• Wanda Hears the Stars
• Can I Keep It, Please?
• The Everything Trail
• Perla and the Pirate

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Picture this: It's the second week of school, and you're frantically grabbing random books off your shelf, hoping they'll somehow connect to what you're supposed to be teaching. Sound familiar? What if I told you that just a few hours of intentional planning this summer could transform your entire year of read alouds into purposeful, curriculum-connected teaching moments that actually make your job easier?

In this episode, I'm sharing my four-step system for setting up intentional read alouds that work seamlessly across all subject areas. We'll cover creating your personalized curriculum roadmap, evaluating books for maximum teaching potential, planning for classroom management success, and making every read aloud truly meaningful. By the end of this episode, you'll have a clear action plan for preparing read alouds that support your teaching goals while bringing back the joy and confidence you want to feel during these special classroom moments.

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Tired of scrambling to find the perfect books for those crucial first weeks of school? We all know how overwhelming it can be to build classroom community, establish routines, and create that magical safe space where every student can thrive—all while juggling twenty-something little humans who are still figuring out where they belong! That's exactly why I've curated this collection of ten tried-and-true picture books that tackle the essential SEL skills you're desperately trying to build during back-to-school season.

In this bonus episode, I'm sharing my favorite established titles that focus on everything from name respect and encouraging big ideas to managing first-day anxiety and celebrating each student's unique strengths. For each book, I'll give you the quick overview, explain why it's perfect for those first weeks, and share ready-to-use discussion questions and activities—basically doing all the planning for you! Consider this your one-stop reference guide for building the classroom community of your dreams, one picture book at a time.

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Ever found yourself scrambling to find the perfect book for your read aloud, only to realize halfway through that it doesn't teach what you intended? Or finished reading without asking a single meaningful question? In this episode, I dive into the three biggest challenges teachers face with read alouds: finding time in packed schedules, organizing books effectively, and knowing which questions to ask. These struggles are real, and I see you!

That's why I'm thrilled to invite you to my FREE 5-day "Organize Your Read Alouds" workshop running August 4-8. Each day takes just 15 minutes but delivers concrete tools to transform your read aloud practice. You'll walk away with a personalized schedule, a year-long strategy plan, a book organization system, effective questioning guides, and a complete implementation blueprint. Join me to make this the year your read alouds become the most powerful part of your teaching day!

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Click here to join the FREE workshop!

The 'Organize Your Read Alouds' workshop is a free 5-day training that helps elementary teachers create a complete system for fitting meaningful read-alouds into any schedule, selecting the perfect books for each comprehension strategy, and asking questions that truly develop students' thinking skills.

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Picture this: It's the first week of school, and you want to create that magical classroom community feeling, but you're drowning in lesson plans, bulletin boards, and endless to-do lists. What if I told you that the perfect picture books could do the heavy lifting for you—building classroom culture, teaching social-emotional skills, and setting the tone for an amazing year, all while giving you those precious read-aloud moments that remind you why you became a teacher in the first place?

In this bonus summer episode, I'm sharing 10 newer picture books (published in the last 1-2 years) that are absolute gems for those crucial first weeks of school. From celebrating classroom diversity with "We Are a Garden" to managing big emotions with "The Big Squeeze," these books tackle everything from conflict resolution and goal-setting to classroom procedures and building confidence. I'll give you the title, author, and most importantly, exactly why each book is perfect for back-to-school season and how you can use it to create the classroom community you've been dreaming of. Don't worry about taking notes—I've got all the book covers and links waiting for you at thecolorfulapple.com!

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.

Picture this: it's October, and your read alouds feel more like classroom management battles than magical learning moments. Students are wiggling, interrupting, and completely checked out during what should be the most engaging part of your day. Sound familiar? The truth is, those October struggles often trace back to what happened (or didn't happen) during those crucial first weeks of school. The routines you establish in August and September will either set you up for a year of read aloud magic or a year of read aloud mayhem.

In this episode, I'm sharing my week-by-week framework for transforming your read alouds from surviving to thriving during that critical first month of school. We'll dive into the most common mistakes teachers make early on (like jumping into content too quickly or assuming students know your expectations), and I'll walk you through exactly what to focus on each week to build rock-solid routines that will support meaningful read alouds all year long. Plus, I'm sharing my one non-negotiable practice that every teacher should implement in those first few weeks. If you want to set yourself up for read aloud success from day one, this episode is for you!

📚 Join the FREE Workshop: Organize Your Read Alouds for the Whole Year

🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!

Check out the TpT Store.
Join our FREE Facebook Group all about read alouds.

Keep your teaching colorful,
Sara :)

The Colorful Apple

Full disclosure: Amazon links in my descriptions are usually affiliate links which means if you purchase through that link, I receive a very small percentage of the sale.