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 spark curiosity and make questioning feel effortless? In this summer bonus episode, I'm sharing 10 incredible picture books that do the heavy lifting for you, turning your read-aloud time into powerful questioning strategy lessons without any extra prep work.

From the mysterious stranger in Chris Van Allsburg's puzzling tale to the heartwarming journey in "Last Stop on Market Street," these books are question magnets that will have your students wondering, predicting, and thinking critically before you know it. I'll walk you through exactly how to use each book to teach questioning strategies, share discussion prompts that actually work, and give you follow-up activities that connect to your curriculum. Whether you're looking to boost comprehension skills or simply want books that spark natural curiosity, this episode is your go-to resource for making questioning instruction both meaningful and manageable. All book links and resources will be waiting for you in the show notes!

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🌟 50 Picture Books Every Classroom Needs

📝 Read the show notes

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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.

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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.