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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Hear from the author of A WOLF FOR A SPELL!
Fresh Voices Series
Welcome to Fresh Voices! In this new series, we are excited to share with you authors whose books capture a unique aspect of the human experience. These Q&As delve into the writing process and inspiration behind of some of our new and exciting reads.
Featured Resource
The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults) Educators’ Guide
Adapted from the adult memoir by the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Water Dancer and Between the World and Me, this father-son story explores how boys become men and, quite specifically, how Ta-Nehisi Coates became Ta-Nehisi Coates. This guide contains notes on how to read, understand, and share the book with your students, as well as themes and chapter-by-chapter discussion questions.
Video of the Month
Book of the Month
The Beautiful Struggle (Adapted for Young Adults) By Ta-Nehisi Coates
As a child, Ta-Nehisi Coates was seen by his father, Paul, as too sensitive and lacking focus. Paul Coates was a Vietnam vet who’d been part of the Black Panthers and was dedicated to reading and publishing the history of African civilization. When it came to his sons, he was committed to raising proud Black men equipped to deal with a racist society, during a turbulent period in the collapsing city of Baltimore where they lived.
Coates details with candor the challenges of dealing with his tough-love father, the influence of his mother, and the dynamics of his extended family, including his brother “Big Bill,” who was on a very different path than Ta-Nehisi. Coates also tells of his family struggles at school and with girls, making this a timely story to which many readers will relate.
Author Spotlight
Jennifer L. Holm
Jennifer L. Holm is a New York Times bestselling children’s author and the recipient of three Newbery Honors for her novels Our Only May Amelia, Penny From Heaven, and Turtle in Paradise. Jennifer collaborates with her brother, Matthew Holm, on two graphic novel series—the Eisner Award-winning Babymouse series and the bestselling Squish series. She lives in California with her husband and two children.
