Artistry meets innovation in this selection of engaging alphabet books that bound beyond the traditional A-is-for-Apple approach. Like their brethren, these offerings are arranged in a predictable A-to-Z structure that reinforces letter recognition, fortifies reading skills, and bolsters self-confidence with comforting consistency.

Building on these tried-and-true elements, the featured volumes also incorporate unique subject matter, inventive book design, and vivid visuals that make for an exhilarating and interactive reading experience. As youngsters pore over the pages, they will find themselves looking beyond the obvious and using their imaginations to make connections and discoveries. More » » » 

Elementary students love series titles. They enjoy the comfort of familiar characters, settings, and structures. This is especially true of emergent and newly independent readers, whose reading success with these titles encourages them to seek similar books.

TeachingBooks.net recognizes the power of series in the lives of readers. To aid educators in their search for inspiring multimedia resources that can be easily integrated into literacy activities, our team has created a free "Curriculum Resource Center" devoted to those series popular with elementary students. More » » » 

When a new Deborah Ellis book is published, educators take note. Her award-winning fiction and nonfiction titles have illuminated the plight of children and teens around the world caught in the crossfire of war and pandemics. Earlier volumes by the accomplished author have included interviews with young Iraqi refugees and youth in sub-Saharan Africa whose lives have been touched by AIDS.

In her latest title, We Want You to Know, Ellis asked students ages 9 to 19 in communities in Southern Ontario about their experiences with bullying. The candid responses from victims and perpetrators are heartrending and eye-opening. For many, the abuse was physical, for others it was verbal; all the victims suffered psychologically, as did many of their family members. more » » » 

Those of us with a passion for books know that there's nothing quite like the look, feel, and even smell of an enticing new volume. That enthusiasm is one that the canine protagonist of Louise Yates's Dog Loves Books knows well. So well, in fact, that he opens his own bookstore and stocks the shelves with a fresh "Grand Opening"inventory. But when no one ventures into his shop, the downtrodden creature does what comes naturally...

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Usually, it's the character I think of first. I never see that character's face—even when I've written for months and the book is finished. Rather, it's almost as if the character is whispering in my ear, saying, "Hey, this is what I need. This is what I want."

So, as a change of pace, it's been fun to start books with the setting instead. That's what I've done in my "Zigzag Kids"series. The setting is an afterschool center—the World of the Afternoon Center—and there's not just one character to think about, but a whole bunch of kids! Read More at TeachingBooks.net » » »