Best Picture Book Read Alouds Podcasts (2025)

1
49. New Picture Books! October 2025 9:52

Play Pause

4d ago9:52

9:52

Picture this: you're scrolling through endless book lists online at 10 PM, coffee cup in hand, trying to find that perfect new picture book for next week's lesson—but everything starts to blur together. We've all been there! That's exactly why I created this monthly roundup just for you. In today's episode, I'm sharing the newest picture book relea…

1
50. MY Favorite Read Alouds! 12:52

3h ago12:52

12:52

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 co…

1
RAR #272: Giving Flora Her Voice with Astrid Sheckels 47:40

4d ago47:40

47:40

Astrid Sheckels continues the wit and whimsy of childhood through her marvelous and magnificent illustrations and storytelling. You might recognize her from the Hector Fox and Friends series or Sea Dog and Sea Dog Rescue, and she created the gorgeous cover and interior illustrations for Beyond Mulberry Glen by Millie Florence. Today we’re chatting …

1
48. Mentor Texts for Teaching Character Traits 12:49

7d ago12:49

12:49

Teaching character traits to your K-3 students can feel like trying to explain the invisible—how do you help little ones move beyond just retelling what happens in a story to truly understanding who the characters are on the inside? If you've ever struggled to make this abstract concept click for your students, this episode is exactly what you need…

1
🌟 Full-Length Kids Video (with MS. POACH!) That Teaches Kindness, Empathy, and Fun! 2:58:30

8d ago2:58:30

2:58:30

🥚✨ Watch The Good Eggs with MS. POACH! — a 3-hour animated story collection that combines social emotional learning with fun stories for kids. Perfect for family fun, road trips, classrooms, or quiet time at home, these engaging stories teach kindness, empathy, and social emotional learning (SEL) in a fun and meaningful way. 🌟 #TheGoodEggs #FamilyF…

1
47. Fall Picture Books: 12 Cross-Curricular Read Alouds 15:51

14d ago15:51

15:51

Feeling like you're drowning in lesson plans, trying to squeeze reading, science, writing, and social studies into an already packed day? What if I told you that those beautiful fall picture books sitting on your shelf could be your secret weapon for hitting multiple learning objectives without the overwhelm? In today's episode, I'm sharing twelve …

1
Best of RAR: What Do We Mean by Peace? 1:00:52

18d ago1:00:52

1:00:52

Peace. It sounds lovely, right? It’s what so many of us want more than anything else in our homeschools. We long for peace, even if it often feels unattainable. But what does peace actually look like in the midst of a real, chaotic homeschool day? Last month in Circle with Sarah–my mentoring program for homeschool moms inside RAR Premium–we had a r…

1
VIDEO: Parenting Good Eggs: Tips on Making New Friends 1:30

19d ago1:30

1:30

🍳 Over Easy with Ms. Poach is more than just quick tips—it’s guidance rooted in love, patience, and understanding. Each short video offers valuable insights for parents, grandparents, teachers, and caregivers, helping them nurture the hearts and minds of young children.These reflections connect with The Good Eggs series (Chapters 1–12), extending t…

1
VIDEO: Young Eggs in Action - Layla! 🌟 Watch Kids Making a Difference! 🌟 0:48

21d ago0:48

0:48

Look at this Young Egg in Action! Meet Layla - caution: cuteness overload! #gooddeeds #gooddeedoftheday #goodeggs #kids #kidsbooks #kidsvideo #socialemotionallearning #socialemotionaldevelopment #KidsStories #StorytimeForKids #ReadAloud #Kindness #Friendship #GoodDeeds #SEL #SocialEmotionalLearning #CharacterEducation #PositiveKidsContent #Children…

1
46. Read Alouds to Teach Classroom Rules & Expectations 10:04

21d ago10:04

10:04

Picture this: It's the third week of school and you're already feeling like a broken record, reminding students about the same expectations over and over again. What if I told you there's a way to teach classroom rules that actually sticks—and it involves some of your favorite picture books? In this episode, I'm sharing the game-changing strategy t…

1
45. Mentor Texts for Story Elements 16:47

28d ago16:47

16:47

Ready to transform your story elements instruction without adding one more thing to your already packed teaching day? Imagine your students eagerly identifying characters, settings, and problems while you read aloud—no separate worksheet time needed! In this episode, I'm sharing 10 incredible picture book mentor texts that make teaching story eleme…

1
VIDEO:🌟 Full-Length Kids Video That Teaches Kindness, Empathy, and Fun! 2:17:34

29d ago2:17:34

2:17:34

🥚✨ Watch The Good Eggs — a 2-hour animated story collection that combines social emotional learning with fun stories for kids. Perfect for family fun, road trips, classrooms, or quiet time at home, these engaging stories teach kindness, empathy, and social emotional learning (SEL) in a fun and meaningful way. 🌟 #TheGoodEggs #FamilyFun #KidsVideos #…

1
VIDEO: 🥚✨ Meet The Good Eggs! | Megg & Greggory Share Kindness, Fun & Learning 🌟 0:33

29d ago0:33

0:33

👋 Listen to Megg and Greggory as they introduce you to The Good Eggs! 🥚💛 These fun and heartwarming stories teach kindness, empathy, respect, and social emotional learning (SEL) in a way kids love. 🌟📚 Explore our books, resources, and more at 👉 https://www.thegoodeggs.org #TheGoodEggs #KindnessMatters #SEL #KidsLearning #Empathy #Respect #SocialEmo…

1
44. New Picture Books! September 2025 15:04

1M ago15:04

15:04

September is here, which means you're probably knee-deep in classroom setup, getting to know your new students, and trying to figure out how to fit everything into your packed teaching schedule. But what if I told you that this month's new picture book releases are going to make your lesson planning a whole lot easier—and way more exciting? From ci…

1
Best of RAR: 5 Habits of Happy Homeschoolers 53:27

1M ago53:27

53:27

What does having a happy homeschool mean to you? How would you describe it? What would you be doing? Our homeschools are all unique. We have different kids, different spouses, different resources, different homes, different demands on our time and energy. And yet I have a hunch that when we think about what having a happy homeschool means, our answ…

1
43. Picture Books to Build Listening Skills 13:35

1M ago13:35

13:35

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 m…

1
RAR #271: An Inside Look at Writing & Illustrating a Picture Book with Katie Wray Schon 45:19

2M ago45:19

45:19

Today, I have a very special treat for you! This spring, our publishing imprint here at RAR, Waxwing Books, celebrated the release of Painting Wonder: How Pauline Baynes Illustrated the Worlds of C. S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien at one of my favorite bookstores, Fabled Bookshop in Waco, Texas. I had so much fun talking to Painting Wonder’s incredibly…

1
42. Community Building Picture Books 17:23

2M ago17:23

17:23

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 co…

1
RAR #270: The Whys and Hows of Quiet Reading Time 37:41

2M ago37:41

37:41

One of the all-time most useful things I’ve implemented in my homeschool is Quiet Reading Time. I did Quiet Reading Time with my three eldest kids, who are now in college and beyond, during the most hectic years when I had all six at home (three of whom were babies at the time!), and I still do it with those younger three today. It has made a bigge…

1
VIDEO EPISODE: Learning Manners & Gratitude at Camp 🎒 | Animated Picture Books 18:27

2M ago18:27

18:27

Hey Kids! The Good Eggs videos from Book 1 are here, but with a playful twist! Ms. Poach brings along the puppets for extra laughs and learning fun!The Good Eggs, a storytime channel, is filled with love, laughter, and learning! 🌟In this heartwarming finale, the Eggs celebrate the end of summer with a fun camping trip. Benedict is excited but strug…

1
41. New Picture Books! August 2025 12:14

2M ago12:14

12:14

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 …

1
Karl Bushby 12:01

2M ago12:01

12:01

Rachel Teichman, LMSW, and Victor Varnado, KSN, step into the boots of Karl Bushby, a British adventurer on a mission to walk an unbroken path around the world. His journey spans continents, visa struggles, and frozen tundra. Listeners learn that his expedition, the Goliath Expedition, has been ongoing since 1998. This episode is all about stamina,…

1
Graham Cracker 7:36

2M ago7:36

7:36

Victor Varnado, KSN, and Rachel Teichman, LMSW, crunch into the sweet and surprisingly moralistic history of the graham cracker. Originally created as a healthy food to curb sinful desires, its story takes a far stranger path than you'd expect. The episode blends snack-time trivia with cultural history in the most delicious way. Don't miss this fla…

1
40. Setting Up Your Year of Intentional Read Alouds 9:57

2M ago9:57

9:57

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-con…

1
Trial Of Sean Combs 17:43

2M ago17:43

17:43

Rachel Teichman, LMSW, and Victor Varnado, KSN, explore the complex history behind the legal troubles involving Sean "Diddy" Combs. The hosts unpack high-profile courtroom moments and public reactions with a blend of curiosity and clarity. One interesting fact: the legal proceedings had major implications for the hip-hop industry in the early 2000s…

1
Ozzy Osbourne & Malcolm-Jamal Warner 12:50

2M ago12:50

12:50

In this unforgettable episode, Rachel Teichman, LMSW, and Victor Varnado, KSN, read through the Wikipedia page for the "gay bomb"—a non-lethal chemical weapon concept actually proposed by a U.S. military lab in 1994. The strange idea was to deploy an aphrodisiac to disrupt enemy morale, highlighting one of the more bizarre chapters in military brai…

1
39. Back-to-School Books: Part II 19:03

2M ago19:03

19:03

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 exact…

1
RAR #269 – A Vacation for Your Homeschooling Heart 43:46

2M ago43:46

43:46

Summer break . . . It’s often not much of a break, right? Even if you find yourself with a little less on your plate, anxiety and second-guessing have a way of filling the gaps where we want rest and relaxation to fill. To find peace that lasts throughout the school year, we can’t just “take a break.” We need to break free from the stories and fear…

1
38. Organize Your Read Alouds: A FREE Workshop 12:08

3M ago12:08

12:08

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 …

1
37. Back to School Read Alouds: Part I 13:50

3M ago13:50

13:50

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 th…

1
36. Transform Your Read Alouds in the First Month of School 11:36

3M ago11:36

11:36

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 happe…

1
35. Picture Books to Help Students Who are Feeling Worried 16:59

3M ago16:59

16:59

As we inch closer to back-to-school season, you know what's coming—those first-week jitters, the worried faces in your morning lineup, and yes, that familiar flutter in your own stomach too. What if I told you that ten carefully chosen picture books could transform those anxious moments into powerful teaching opportunities that help your students u…

1
RAR #268 Advice to Young (And Young at Heart) Creatives 37:41

3M ago37:41

37:41

Have you ever read a book and thought, “Wow, how did the author do that?!” Or maybe you’d love to sit down with your favorite author and pick their brain about their writing process or tips and tricks for when you get stuck. Today, the Read-Aloud Revival team has compiled some of our favorite advice about getting creative from the archives of RAR P…

1
34. Maximize Your Read Aloud Selections: Make One Book Do the Work of Three 11:05

3M ago11:05

11:05

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 cros…

1
33. New Picture Books! July 2025 14:02

3M ago14:02

14:02

You know that feeling when you discover a picture book that's so perfect for your classroom that you can hardly contain your excitement? Well, get ready to experience that joy eleven times over because this month's new releases are absolutely incredible. From poetry that turns everyday moments into pure delight to stories that help kids navigate bi…

1
VIDEO EPISODE: The Fun Run of Confidence 🏃‍♂️ | Children’s Read Aloud 16:10

3M ago16:10

16:10

Hey Kids! The Good Eggs videos from Book 1 are here, but with a playful twist! Ms. Poach brings along the puppets for extra laughs and learning fun!The Good Eggs, a storytime channel, is filled with love, laughter, and learning! 🌟In this chapter, the Eggs celebrate the Fourth of July with fireworks and fun — and then join together as “Team Half Doz…

1
32. How to Turn Any Picture Book into a Powerful Lesson in Under 10 Minutes 12:07

3M ago12:07

12:07

Ever grabbed a picture book for a lesson only to realize halfway through that it wasn't going to work for what you planned to teach? (Been there!) In this episode, I'm sharing my proven 10-minute framework that will transform how you prepare read alouds forever. No more late-night planning or scrambling for questions while you're reading - just a s…

1
31. Picture Books to Teach Asking Questions 18:08

3M ago18:08

18:08

You know that magical moment when a student asks a question that makes you think, "Yes! They're really thinking deeply about this story!" But let's be honest—teaching students HOW to ask meaningful questions during reading can feel like another thing to squeeze into an already packed day. What if I told you there are picture books that naturally sp…

1
RAR #267: A Conversation About Belovedness with Emily Wilson Hussem 46:42

3M ago46:42

46:42

If you’ve been around the Read-Aloud Revival for a minute, you might know that C. S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters is one of my all-time favorite books. It’s the book I have read and re-read the most, and it’s also the source of some of my favorite read-aloud memories with my young adult son. Today’s guest has written a book in a similar style with…

1
30. The Last-Minute Scramble: Why Teachers Find Themselves Unprepared for Read Alouds (And How to Stop) 11:54

4M ago11:54

11:54

Ever found yourself frantically scanning your bookshelf minutes before a read aloud, grabbing any book you can find while hoping it somehow works for your lesson? You're not alone! In this episode, we dive into why even the most experienced teachers find themselves in this last-minute scramble and how it impacts both your confidence and your studen…

1
29. Picture Books to Teach Problem & Solution 17:15

4M ago17:15

17:15

Picture this: it's Sunday night, you're planning for the week ahead, and you need books that actually help your students understand problem and solution—not just pretty stories that check the box. You know those moments when you find the perfect book that makes a tricky concept finally click for your students? That's exactly what these 10 picture b…

1
Magical Negro 17:25

4M ago17:25

17:25

Victor Varnado, KSN and Rachel Teichman, LCSW explore the origins and critiques of the “Magical Negro” trope in literature and film. This character type, often portrayed as a wise Black figure whose main role is to help the white protagonist, is examined through a cultural and historical lens. The episode raises thoughtful questions about represent…