We've reached episode 50 of The Read Aloud Classroom—and it's my birthday week! To celebrate both milestones, I'm sharing something deeply personal: my top 10 favorite read aloud picture books that have never failed to create magic in my classroom. These aren't just well-written stories; they're the books I reach for again and again because they consistently spark creativity, build classroom community, and remind me why I fell in love with teaching in the first place.
From "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" that unleashes incredible student imagination to "The Invisible Boy" that builds empathy like no other book can, each of these favorites has earned its place through countless read aloud sessions. I'll share not just what these books are about, but why each one holds such a special place in my teacher heart—and how they can transform your classroom moments too. Whether you're looking to refresh your read aloud collection or rediscover books that create genuine connections with students, this celebration episode is packed with inspiration for your teaching journey!
📓 Join the Colorful Apple Book Club!
💙 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs (freebie!)
📚 Books in this Episode:
- Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
- Strictly No Elephants
- Alexander
- Chrysanthemum
- The Snowy Day
- Our Favorite Day of the Year
- Jabari Jumps
- After the Fall
- Balloons Over Broadway
- The Invisible Boy
- How to Read a Story
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.
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Las Culturistas with Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang
Ding dong! Join your culture consultants, Matt Rogers and Bowen Yang, on an unforgettable journey into the beating heart of CULTURE. Alongside sizzling special guests, they GET INTO the hottest pop-culture moments of the day and the formative cultural experiences that turned them into Culturistas. Produced by the Big Money Players Network and iHeartRadio.
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.