Resources for Teachers, Librarians, and Parents
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If you are putting together plans for teaching remotely or homeschooling your children and are looking for resources, click below for discussion guides, activities, and more available for FREE to download.
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A National Book Award finalist on the Power of Storytelling
Gavriel Savit Author Essay
I’m ashamed to say that in my early adulthood, I sort of forgot how to read. Not literally, of course— I am, after all, a writer. I’m usually drowning in research and nonfiction. What I mean is that I forgot how to read like a kid— how to get lost in a tale.
I can cite any number of excuses, and most of them are true: it’s hard to concentrate on your own nascent story when you’re swimming in one that’s already finished; there’s always more work to be done; smartphones are dark sorcery that feast on your time and attention.
But there’s always a valid reason not to. The trick is in finding the reason to do it anyway.
And— fortunately or unfortunately— I’m finding plenty of reasons here in October 2020. When I’m not working or looking after my kids, I tend to default to the newsfeed. Whatever your perspective on the world, I think we can all agree that things aren’t looking their best: rising case counts, skyrocketing unemployment, election anxiety. My back starts to spasm, my shoulders ratchet up toward my ears. My mind rolls along faster and faster, matching the speed of my doomscrolling. It just makes things worse, and I keep going and going.
Continue ReadingFeatured Resource
Picture Book Biography Brochure
Nonfiction stories can open doors for readers. Through them, we can learn about the lives of some of our greatest heroes and be introduced to new ones. We can learn about new fields of study, and encourage students to open their minds to new subjects and activities they might never have tried before. They can also provide a mirror for readers, showing that they are not alone in their experiences or interests. Picture books are a wonderful way to bring readers of all ages and backgrounds together. This collection of nonfiction picture books can inspire readers and spark their curiosity. It spans a wide range of topics and themes, from history to art to STEM. By sharing these books with your readers, you will be opening doors for them and inspiring their futures.
Video of the Month
Book of the Month
Oscar's American Dream By Barry Wittenstein; illustrated by Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell
When Oscar lands on Ellis Island, he has only a suitcase and a down payment in his hands. And he has a dream– to own his own barbershop. After it opens on the corner of Front St. and Second Ave, Oscar’s barbershop becomes a beloved local fixture… until the day Oscar decides to move on and become a subway conductor. Over the years, this barbershop will change hands to become a lady’s clothing store, then a soup kitchen. A coffee shop follows, then the space becomes an army recruitment center, then a candy shop. As the years pass and the world changes, the proud corner store stands tall, watching American history unfold around it. Barry Wittenstein and debut husband-and-wife illustration team Kristen and Kevin Howdeshell tell the rich, fascinating story of key moments in American history, as reflected through the eyes–and the patrons–of the corner store.
Author Spotlight
Donna Jo Napoli
Donna Jo Napoli has published 18 picture books and early readers, a series of 16 chapter books for early elementary school students, 26 middle-grade novels, and 24 young-adult novels. Her work has been translated into 19 languages and has won many awards at the state and national level. She is a professor of linguistics and social justice at Swarthmore College, so she brings her research skills and her profound interest in language to bear on her novels, particularly the historical ones. She lives with her husband in Swarthmore, PA.
