Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
BookTube’s beloved picture book readathon returns this April—with a gentle, thoughtful “lite” version for 2026.
🌿 The Purpose
• To celebrate picture books—they are for everyone
• To enjoy their simple pleasures and artistic beauty
• To discover something new or see something familiar in a fresh way
📖 What counts as a picture book?
Any book where illustrations are an integral part of the storytelling. (Graphic novels and comics aren’t included for this readathon.)
🌟 This year’s prompt: HOPE
In a world that can feel overwhelming, we wanted a theme that invites comfort, reflection, and possibility. Interpret hope however you like—personally, socially, quietly, or boldly.
Even one picture book read in April completes the challenge.
🎨 Extra Challenge: Illustrator Deep Dive
We’d love you to explore an illustrator’s work—follow your curiosity and fall down those wonderful creative rabbit holes.
👋 Hosts
Jack @spreadbookjoy
Shelly @Shellyish
Let’s celebrate the magic of picture books together 💛
#PictureThis2026 #PictureThisReadathon #PictureBooksAreForEveryone
If you create any content for Picture This 2026, we’d absolutely love to see it!
Please tag us and use the hashtag #picturethis2026 so we can find and celebrate your videos. We’ll also be putting together a playlist of this year’s content 💛
🎥 Picture This Book Tag
Originally created in our very first year, and we’d love more of you to join in if you haven’t already!
Watch the original videos here:
Shelly’s: youtu.be/7mj5iEGOAmQ
Jack’s: youtu.be/9HrTAmEByv4
📚 The Prompts
🌙 Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (illustrated by Sheila McGraw)
→ A book you imagine you’ll love forever
☁️ Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (illustrated by Ray Cruz)
→ What do you turn to when you’re having a bad day?
🐛 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
→ What sparked your hunger for reading?
🥚 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss
→ The most unusual book you’ve ever read
🌿 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
→ Your favourite book featuring the natural world
🌙 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (illustrated by Clement Hurd)
→ Do you read at bedtime? Did anyone read to you? Do you read to someone else?
💛 Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (illustrated by Anita Jeram)
→ Who influenced you most as a reader?
🌳 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
→ A book you’d give to an emerging reader—or one you gift again and again
We can’t wait to see your answers and celebrate picture books together 📖✨
#picturethis2026 #PictureBooksAreForEveryone
📺Previous content:
Picture This 2025 playlist:
youtu.be/k3xS9pco5XY?si=3q0kPmEBvFcgFRgX
Picture This Live 2024 with Alice, Lindy, Deea, Jack, and Shelly
youtube.com/live/CmjmNNf2_lQ
Picture This 2024 Playlist:
youtu.be/ugh48eF2Alg?si=mq_yk4gEbJGWlBEw
Picture This 2023 Playlist
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpminCp4SLuWS06vgABgj3MVA&si=nJd0kf_IWRCevzn3
Picture This 2022 Playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpmirkR4wi7EFtF2enePMNBsV
Picture This 2022 Playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpmirkR4wi7EFtF2enePMNBsV
“Picture Books: Who Are They For?” Shaun Tan’s Essay youtu.be/A1SHG3UiHTY
BookTube’s beloved picture book readathon returns this April—with a gentle, thoughtful “lite” version for 2026.
🌿 The Purpose
• To celebrate picture books—they are for everyone
• To enjoy their simple pleasures and artistic beauty
• To discover something new or see something familiar in a fresh way
📖 What counts as a picture book?
Any book where illustrations are an integral part of the storytelling. (Graphic novels and comics aren’t included for this readathon.)
🌟 This year’s prompt: HOPE
In a world that can feel overwhelming, we wanted a theme that invites comfort, reflection, and possibility. Interpret hope however you like—personally, socially, quietly, or boldly.
Even one picture book read in April completes the challenge.
🎨 Extra Challenge: Illustrator Deep Dive
We’d love you to explore an illustrator’s work—follow your curiosity and fall down those wonderful creative rabbit holes.
👋 Hosts
Jack @spreadbookjoy
Shelly @Shellyish
Let’s celebrate the magic of picture books together 💛
#PictureThis2026 #PictureThisReadathon #PictureBooksAreForEveryone
If you create any content for Picture This 2026, we’d absolutely love to see it!
Please tag us and use the hashtag #picturethis2026 so we can find and celebrate your videos. We’ll also be putting together a playlist of this year’s content 💛
🎥 Picture This Book Tag
Originally created in our very first year, and we’d love more of you to join in if you haven’t already!
Watch the original videos here:
Shelly’s: youtu.be/7mj5iEGOAmQ
Jack’s: youtu.be/9HrTAmEByv4
📚 The Prompts
🌙 Love You Forever by Robert Munsch (illustrated by Sheila McGraw)
→ A book you imagine you’ll love forever
☁️ Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst (illustrated by Ray Cruz)
→ What do you turn to when you’re having a bad day?
🐛 The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
→ What sparked your hunger for reading?
🥚 Green Eggs and Ham by Dr Seuss
→ The most unusual book you’ve ever read
🌿 Where the Wild Things Are by Maurice Sendak
→ Your favourite book featuring the natural world
🌙 Goodnight Moon by Margaret Wise Brown (illustrated by Clement Hurd)
→ Do you read at bedtime? Did anyone read to you? Do you read to someone else?
💛 Guess How Much I Love You by Sam McBratney (illustrated by Anita Jeram)
→ Who influenced you most as a reader?
🌳 The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein
→ A book you’d give to an emerging reader—or one you gift again and again
We can’t wait to see your answers and celebrate picture books together 📖✨
#picturethis2026 #PictureBooksAreForEveryone
📺Previous content:
Picture This 2025 playlist:
youtu.be/k3xS9pco5XY?si=3q0kPmEBvFcgFRgX
Picture This Live 2024 with Alice, Lindy, Deea, Jack, and Shelly
youtube.com/live/CmjmNNf2_lQ
Picture This 2024 Playlist:
youtu.be/ugh48eF2Alg?si=mq_yk4gEbJGWlBEw
Picture This 2023 Playlist
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpminCp4SLuWS06vgABgj3MVA&si=nJd0kf_IWRCevzn3
Picture This 2022 Playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpmirkR4wi7EFtF2enePMNBsV
Picture This 2022 Playlist youtube.com/playlist?list=PLsDbySfTdpmirkR4wi7EFtF2enePMNBsV
“Picture Books: Who Are They For?” Shaun Tan’s Essay youtu.be/A1SHG3UiHTY
