There’s room for all of us: Lessons from Latina feminists by Juliet Menéndez

January 27

As my first book, Latinitas, gets closer to making its way out into the world on the 23rd of February, I have been getting many questions about its origin and specifically about how I chose which women to include. I have answered that the collection of Latinas in this book have not only made important […]

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10 Ordinary Moments In Diverse Picture Books by Amanda Bower

January 23

A pattern that disturbs me in picture books that illustrate diversity is that most books I come across that are by diverse authors or that have diverse characters deal with oppression and racism as the main theme of the story.   Civil rights, and the ways those have been violated, are essential stories, and many […]

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Making the White House Home by Kate Andersen Brower

January 21

When we heard Amanda Gorman, the youngest poet ever to perform at an inauguration, passionately recite her beautiful poem, The Hill We Climb, I found myself thinking not about what was happening on stage – as compelling as it was – but about what was happening a mile-and-a-half away in the White House.   As […]

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Join M. Colleen Cruz and Donalyn Miller Live January 21st, 8:00 pm EST.

January 17

As announced on the blog in December, the Nerdy Book Club is launching a monthly online book club to celebrate and discuss books and reading. Our January title is Risk. Fail. Rise: A Teacher’s Guide to Learning from Mistakes by M. Colleen Cruz. We will kick off the book club discussion with a Facebook Live […]

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History’s Unsung Heroes + A Three-Book Bundle Giveaway by Keila V. Dawson

Kids know about heroes. They are introduced to superheroes at a very young age, play with superhero toys, and imagine themselves saving the world. In school, students learn about history’s real life heroes. They read books that use the narrative structure of the hero’s journey. Plot is used to teach cause and effect. And they […]

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5 Important Life Lessons From A Man From A Sh*thole Country by Doyin Richards

January 14

ΩI’ll start by saying that my dad will always be my hero and greatest role model. Sadly, he passed away in early 2019 after a long battle with colon cancer, and my life will never be the same without him. To celebrate his legacy, I penned my latest children’s book titled, WATCH ME: A Story […]

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Cover Reveal for OVER THE TOP by Alison Hughes

January 11

I encounter a centaur regularly on one of my bike-riding routes, and I think he’s at least partially responsible for me writing this book.   He’s a statue, of course, but what a statue! Bronze, eight or nine feet tall, his horse body frozen in full gallop, his human half triumphantly waving a huge bronze […]

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Ten Picture Books to Boost Discussion of Boundaries by Katey Howes

January 09

We invest a great deal of time and energy teaching children to share, take turns, and be kind to others. These skills support a healthy, happy community in the classroom, on the playground, and in larger life. So many wonderful picture books serve as discussion starters for these essential lessons! But we often neglect to […]

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SURVIVING COVID WINTER: A Lesson from Leo Lionni’s Frederick by James Preller

January 07

I’ve got a friend, Paul, who is one of those infinitely capable guys. You probably know the type. He can build furniture, fix nearly anything, chainsaw fallen trees, fire a gun, drive a backhoe, and slowly smoke a delicious brisket.   Our friends sometimes joke that when it comes to the zombie apocalypse, we all […]

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Brave in the Woods – On Found Objects, Creativity and Beginnings by Tracy Holczer

January 06

My newest book, Brave in the Woods, came out yesterday. On momentous occasions like this, I like to reflect back on the path that brought me there. In this case I’ve been taking stock of not just this book’s creation journey, but the two that came before. My small book mountain is something I never […]

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