15 Recommended New Picture Books, March 2025

March picture books bring us SO MANY funny read alouds plus books about words, hair, and weather, just to name a few. You’re going to love this list of new books.

New Picture Books, March 2025

A Chest Full of Words written by Rebecca Gugger, illustrated by Simon Rothlisberger, and translated by Tim Mohr
WORDS
Oscar learns the power and delight of words in this delightful, must-read story that is perfect for young writers. From the moment he tosses the word “fluorescent” onto a hedgehog and it turns bright yellow, to the time he flings “grandiose” at a birdhouse and it becomes well, elaborate and grand, Oscar loves and needs words, which he learns are all around him. “Words have magical powers. use them with care and you can make the world blossom. And once in a while, someone will give you a new word.“

Mermaids Are the Worst written and illustrated by Alex Willan
FUNNY
Gilbert’s vacation at the beach is ruined by mermaids who AREN’T as awesome as you might think. Gilbert explains just how irritating and noisy they are–and it’s hilarious–as is the sweet, surprising ending.

Bearsuit Turtle Makes a Friend written and illustrated by Bob Shea
FUNNY
I adore the quirky, weird humor in this friendship story — and so will kids! One turtle meets another turtle in a bearsuit who boasts that he is a “for-real bear” and he has the evidence to prove it. Where is the honey? He ate it! Plus, he can hibernate like five times a day. And can forage for ice cream and ride bikes. Hilarious from start to finish with a heart-tugging, satisfying ending.

Party Animals written by Tara Lazar, illustrated by Anna Raff
FUNNY
The Party Animals are actual animals who celebrate EVERYTHING from the-milk-has-gone-sour parties to there’s-a-hole-in-my-pants parties. But one animal is not in this group: Horace the Party Pooper. Horace thinks too many parties mean the parties aren’t special any more. He wants to have more plain old ordinary days. Even though the Party Animals disagree, they stop their partying for one important moment that might just change Horace’s mind about parties. What do you think it is? Hilarious, rereadable, unique, fun, and full of wonderful words, this is a party in a book you must celebrate over and over again.

Duckie & Snaps We Cannot Be Friends written by Ame Dyckman, illustrated by Tim Miller
FUNNY
With adorable art and a cute-as-can-be story, this is sure to be a new read aloud favorite. When Dukie and Snaps’ (the crocodile) eggs crack open at the same time, Duckie suggests that they can play and be friends. But they can’t according to the grown-up alligator. Want to know why? Because crocodiles EAT duckies! The back and forth of the characters from this point on is hilarious as they argue one way or the other. Will the grown-up convince Snaps to eat Dukie or will something else happen?

Ruthie Rose’s Big Idea written by John Schu, illustrated by Holy Hatam
POETRY & CREATIVITY
Celebrate creativity and poetry with this book about a girl named Ruthie Rose who has a big idea. Confidently, she shares her idea with her trusted teachers and friends so she can implement it. You’ll wonder throughout the story what her idea is. Will you guess? Her idea becomes something special: the Poetry Place where everyone can explore their own big and bright and beautiful ideas, too. Holly’s gorgeous colorful collage art feels like creative inspiration of its own.

Pop! Goes the Nursery Rhyme written by Betsy Bird, illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
HUMOR
The mischievous weasel interrupts the endings of ALL the nursery rhymes with, you guessed it, his familiar refrain: “POP! goes the weasel”. An increasingly exasperated bird narrator tries to get things back on track, but there are weasels everywhere and Bird LOSES HER TEMPER. Bird just wants ONE nursery rhyme without a weasel. Is that so hard?! Action-packed illustrations and so much silliness make this perfect read aloud for multiple readings with kids cracking up every time.

You’re a Poet: Ways to Start Writing Poems written by Sean Taylor, illustrated by Sam Usher
POETRY
I love this book SO MUCH — which is a writing poetry hybrid fiction and nonfiction book for ages 5 to 10. First, read one of the five fictional stories of a poetry-writing piglet, then read how to write a poem inspired by the story, with another two pages of writing secrets. For example, one story is about Piglet and Dad putting up a swing on a tree branch. As Piglet and Squirrel swung, Piglet started a poem, “If I was a tree…” and every time he swung, he added a new line. Directions with examples tell readers how to write an “If-I-Was poem. The writing secrets suggest describing with detail and changing words to make them better. Use this book in your homeschool and classrooms to help children see the poems all around them and writing those poems.

Wash Day Love written by Tanisia Moore, illustrated by Raissa Figueroa
HAIR / BLACK CULTURE
Tasha dreads wash day! But her family encourages her and tells her their own wash day stories. By the end, Tasha realizes Wash day isn’t so bad. Gorgeous illustrations and exceptional writing! I would highly recommend reading this book as a mentor text for growing writers as it models vivid verbs, figurative language, personification, and more. “The water snakes down my hair. .. It slithers off my edges. But Mama cups my ears and darts it away.”

Pencil created by Hye-Eun Kim
WORDLESS
Incredible sequential storytelling and illustrations about the creation and use of a pencil, beginning as a tree. In a factory, it becomes pencils which are sold in stores. In the hands of a child, the pencils become tools of the artist who draws illustrations of the forest.

Charley Mouse Cleans House written and illustrated by Katerina Gorelik
Charley loves helping Wild Wood and Magical Forest characters tidy and clean their homes. And while she does, you’ll search for things in the two-page spreads that are beautifully and intricately illustrated. At 48 pages, this is a longer read aloud than most, but it can be read in separate sittings and will be fun to pour over.

Is a Book a Box for Words? written by Harriet Ziefert, illustrated by Merce Gali
SHAPES
Look and consider all the shapes that are rectangular and could be considered boxes. This book will spark thinking about shapes and what fits inside these shapes. It’s a simple, perfect read aloud for preschoolers.

Downpour written by Yuko Ohnari, illustrated by Koshiro Hata, translated by Emily Balistreiri
WEATHER / ONOMATOPEIA
Experience a day in the rain in this story about a little boy playing in the rainstorm. “All the raindrops come to me. They all come talk to me. They hit my forehead with a ker-plick, plick-plick.” You could use this book as a mentor text to teach figurative language, onomatopoeia, personification, and vivid verbs.

Every Monday Mabel written and illustrated by Jashar Awan
PRESCHOOL READ ALOUD FAVORITE / TRUCKS
Brightly colored illustrations and masterful writing build suspense as we watch Mabel get prepared for something special because it’s Monday. What is it? Whatever it is, her dad thinks it’s funny, her sister thinks it’s boring, and her mom thinks it’s cute. Finally, Mable plunks down her chair and waits for THE BEST THING IN THE WORLD! Did you guess it yet? The garbage truck’s arrival! Mabel watches the garbage truck lift the garbage can and pour the trash into the back. Then it continues on its route where other kids and adults also wait to watch…A perfect read aloud celebrating the wonder of a child’s favorite thing. For those of us adults whose children also LOVED watching big vehicles, this will resonate.

Who Ate Steve? written by Susannah Lloyd, illustrated by Kate Hindley
FUNNY
An exuberant (voicey) narrator welcomes us to an “extremely interesting” book about SIZE with helpers Marcel, the bird, and Steve, the worm. Marcel is BIG. But Steve is — ut-oh. Marcel just ate Steve. The narrator demands Marcel spit out poor Steve. But it seems that Marcel just can’t resist eating Steve, no matter how many times the narrator tells him not to. Can you guess what will happen in this silly book that is not really all about size? Adults will guess and kids will possibly be very surprised and delighted with the turn of events and the scolding these animals get.