Educator Resources
Tween
A Printable Educator’s Guide to Graphic Novels
This free Educator’s Guide contains easy-to-apply discussion questions (and a “make your own graphic novel” activity) to enrich your curriculum and help students get the most out of any graphic novel.
Tips & Advice
This Is What Being an Elementary School Librarian Means to Me Today
In one way or another, I have worked in the world of kids’ books for more than two decades now — yet, it wasn’t until I began my job as a librarian four years ago that I truly realized how much books connect and create community.
Tween
Why Kids Need the Freedom To Choose the Books They Read
If we want to pass a love of reading to the next generation, we have to allow them to have joy when they read. This sometimes means reading books with fart jokes, books with wizards that defeat evil, graphic novels, series, and books that speak truths that resonate with kids. Unfortunately, these books are often banned.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Tween
Picture Book Mentor Texts for Persuasive Writing
Persuasive writing is an increasingly common requirement for the primary grades, but many kids don’t have much experience with it. If your students are stuck on the same formats or could use a wider set of stylistic moves to be more convincing, check out these useful titles.
Tween
A Printable Educator’s Guide to Matilda
The activities in these Common Core-aligned lesson plans emphasize reading comprehension and help young readers navigate Matilda’s tough topics.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Listen Up! 3 Kid-Friendly Activities To Build Listening Skills
How can we help our chatty children understand that too much talking can get in the way of collaborating with those around them? Start with these fun, kid-friendly activities.
Tween
Tight Is a Reflection of Real-Life Kids and the Settings They Know
Kids will love the books if the books love them. I have taught middle school for nearly 20 years and I feel that is true. My dream as a teacher is my dream as an author: to provide books for kids to love, books that will love kids back, and to share stories that help them see things as more complex.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
Bookshelf Must-Have: The Day You Begin
In Jacqueline Woodson and Rafael López’s The Day You Begin, a little girl finds the strength to tell her story, and when she does, both the beauty of her experience and the commonalities she shares with her peers begin to shine.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
One Test Doesn’t Tell the Whole Story: An Author’s Writing Journey
When author Alexandra Penfold recently found a state test report that deemed her “minimally proficient in writing” in fourth grade, she reflected on what the result now means to her.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
6 Picture Books and Classroom Activities To Introduce the Importance of Names
As students get to know one another, use these books and activities to discuss names, cultural backgrounds, and family stories.
Pre-K
Growing Reader
8 Picture Books About Following Your Dreams
These excellent stories follow characters who pursue their passions, even in the face of adversity, and encourage young readers to think about their own dreams and what it would take to accomplish them.
Tween
10 Female-Led Novels That Tween Boys (and Girls) Love
These middle grade books draw in boy and girl readers alike with their engaging plots, rich settings, and strong female protagonists.
