Start every morning with a beautifully curated picture book recommendation featuring a quick discussion prompt and a simple STEAM invitation using simple everyday materials. Perfect for families, educators, librarians, and anyone who believes in the power of story to build a kinder, more curious world.
This calendar is free to access. It is offered in the spirit of generosity, equity, and shared learning.
If you’re able, you’re invited to support this work so resources like this can continue to grow.
Dr. Diane’s 2026 Daily Picture Book Read-Aloud Calendar
A year of empathy, curiosity, and joyful STEAM learning—delivered directly to your calendar.
What You Get with Your 2026 Read-Aloud Calendar
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365 daily picture-book picks curated by Dr. Diane
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One-line discussion or inquiry prompt for meaningful conversations and empathy building
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Simple STEAM invitation to encourage creativity, exploration, and learning through play
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Direct book links for convenient access or collection building
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A beautifully organized monthly flow around themes of belonging, joy, curiosity, nature, and empathy
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Automatic updates if anything changes throughout the year
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Access to the full PD with all 365 books to help with planning
Created for Families, Educators, Librarians, and Everyone Who Loves Stories
Families
Build consistent, joyful reading habits with your children.
Teachers (PreK–5)
Inspire morning meetings, centers, STEAM learning, and SEL conversations.
Teachers (Middle School +)
Use picture books as mentor texts for launching deep conversations and promoting collaboration, critical thinking, creative problem solving, and communication.
Librarians & Literacy Coaches
Enrich displays, programs, and daily engagement strategies.
Homeschoolers & Learning Pods
Use daily read-alouds as your literacy spine.
Caregivers & Grandparents
Share meaningful moments of connection.
🌱 What This Subscription Gives You:
A full year (365 days!) of:
❤️ Daily read-aloud prompts centered on empathy, inclusion, and emotional connection
Prompts are crafted for flexibility—ideal for ages 4–11 in classrooms, libraries, homes, after-school programs, and community spaces.
🔧 Hands-on STEAM learning using accessible, low-prep materials
Activities are tagged by type (Engineering, Science, Art/Design, Math, Nature, Technology, or Mixed STEAM) and are doable by real humans in real settings.
🌎 Books that reflect the world
Curated to celebrate diverse authors, illustrators, cultures, families, and lived experiences.
📅 Automatic daily delivery
Import the ICS file once and receive your daily inspiration automatically in your Google, Apple, or Outlook calendar.
🎁Access to a PDF with all 365 books
Plan ahead with the 365 day PDF calendar that lets you choose your own adventure. Customize when and how you use the suggestions.
🔗 Built-in book links
Every entry includes a purchase link to bookshop.org for reference or to add to your own collection-- but use your local library to borrow and share the books!
🔍 Why This Works
Children remember stories. They feel stories. Pairing rich picture books with invitations for meaningful hands-on exploration and STEAM experiences creates a powerful learning loop that includes empathy and literacy development, curiosity and problem solving, connection and collaboration, creativity and cognitive flexibility.
This approach blends SEL, STEAM inquiry, and research-backed playful learning practices—making it both joyful and developmentally aligned. This is a gentle, joyful, low-lift way to build strong reading rituals at home and in the classroom and to encourage empathy and exploration.
📅 How to Subscribe to the 2026 Read-Aloud Calendar
How It Works
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Add the calendar to Apple, Google, or Outlook
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A new picture book appears every day of 2026
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Each entry includes a discussion prompt, a STEAM idea, and a book link
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No emails. No printing. Just open your calendar.
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Pay What You Wish
This calendar is offered freely because meaningful literacy experiences should be accessible to all.
Support is optional and always appreciated. Your contributions help sustain and support:
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Future read-aloud calendars
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Free educator resources
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Podcast episodes and professional learning
📥 Ready to Download?
💛Ready to Support?
Disclosure: Some book links on this site are Bookshop.org affiliate links. If you choose to purchase through these links, Dr. Diane’s Adventures in Learning may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. These earnings help support the creation of free literacy resources. All book selections are chosen intentionally and independently to support joyful, meaningful literacy experiences.