Introduction

In the months between the fall and spring publishing seasons, January and February are the high notes. The top prizes in the field of children’s and young adult literature are announced, the best book lists are circulating, and the spring catalogs and titles are beginning to arrive. In this edition of our enewsletter we look back at some of the award-winning titles of 2007 and forward to the first books of the new year. We highlight our favorites to introduce during Black History Month, spotlight titles to bring some current issues into high school literature and social studies classes, and interview Kadir Nelson, who talks about the book that he worked on for seven years. 

Daryl Grabarek
Editor, Curriculum Connections
dgrabarek@reedbusiness.com

Make These Curriculum Connections

• 
  A Patchwork of Picture Books
  Although Black History Month is traditionally celebrated in February, teachers and librarians will want to share these captivating books with their elementary students all year. From runaway slaves to civil rights leaders and pioneers to artists, these titles shed light on some unforgettable individuals and events in African-American history.
  
  more » » » 
  
  Related TeachingBooks.net resources » » » 

Nick's Picks

• 
  Selected Resources from TeachingBooks.net
  Introduce your students to the 2008 Newbery and Caldecott Award winners, the titles selected as the most distinguished publications of 2007 by the American Library Association. TeachingBooks.net has created and assembled dozens of multimedia, online materials about the authors and illustrators of these books for you to share with your students. Enrich your lessons and booktalks by adding a multimedia component.
  
  more » » » 

Interview

• 
  Baseball Was America’s Pastime, But Only Whites Could Play
  Kadir Nelson talks about why he wrote We Are the Ship: The Story of Negro League Baseball (Hyperion, 2008), and why he told this story from the perspective of a ballplayer who took the field when the Negro Leagues were in full swing.
  
  more » » » 
  
  Related TeachingBooks.net resources » » » 

What's New

• 
  What Binds Us Together
  Immigration, undocumented workers, visas and green cards, border guards and fences—all volatile words with the buzz amplified in an election year. Several new young adult novels turn the lens of personal narrative onto these issues, seeing past stereotypes to the fallible human beings caught in the controversies and the violence. Each of these titles is guaranteed to generate spirited discussion in your classroom.
  
  more » » » 
  
  Related TeachingBooks.net resources » » » 

Professional Shelf

• 
  Teachers and Librarians: Working Together to Improve Reading Comprehension
  In Collaborative Strategies for Teaching Reading Comprehension: Maximizing Your Impact (American Library Association, 2007), Judi Moreillon argues that teacher-librarians can demonstrate their contribution to student learning through collaboration with classroom teachers.
  
  more » » »