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July 7, 2025 11 mins

Ever feel like you're constantly hunting for new books to teach different subjects, even though your classroom library is already bursting at the seams? You're not alone! In this episode, I'm sharing the game-changing strategy that smart teachers use to make one amazing picture book do the work of three. We'll explore how to uncover the hidden cross-curricular potential in books you already own and love, saving you precious planning time while actually enhancing your students' learning experience.

I'll walk you through four specific picture books that work like magic across multiple subjects—from "Because of an Acorn" teaching both cause-and-effect AND life cycles, to "Whistle for Willie" covering sequencing AND social-emotional learning. You'll discover my practical three-read approach that transforms student complaints of "We already read this book!" into excited expertise, plus simple organization systems to track the teaching potential in your classroom library. If you're ready to stretch your book budget, save planning time, and create deeper learning connections for your students, this episode is exactly what you need to hear.

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🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Show Notes

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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.

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