From fairies and leprechauns to wolves and badgers, this issue of Curriculum Connections has it all. In addition to conversations on some terrific books for elementary students and tweens, you'll hear an excerpt from Scott Westerfeld's latest young adult title and find out what author–and former Teacher of the Year—Sharon Draper has to say about the books that turn kids off, and on. Leap in.

Daryl Grabarek,
Editor, Curriculum Connections
dgrabarek@reedbusiness.com

Make These Curriculum Connections

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  Pixies, Fairies, and Imps
  Welcome in St. Patrick’s Day with these rousing read-alouds bejeweled in brilliant emerald hues. You’ll find here a mulligan stew of magical creatures, crackerjack characters, and true-hearted heroes, superbly seasoned with lilting language, sumptuous artwork, and just a pinch of blarney to share on the 17th and throughout the year. more » » » 
  Related TeachingBooks.net resources » » »

Nick's Picks

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  Nick's Picks
  Hearing authors read their work can be a magical experience that forever changes the way you view their writing. My goal at TeachingBooks.net is to provide you and your students with an opportunity to create a personal connection with a book through a virtual author visit. This month’s column highlights a few new online resources that provide that chance. more » » » 

What's New

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  Music Notes
  Linda Urban’s A Crooked Kind of Perfect (Harcourt, 2007) and Lesley M.M. Blume’s The Rising Star of Rusty Nail (Knopf, 2007) are novels about 10-year-old girls who want to play the piano. Both work well as read-alouds or as booktalks for read-alones, and will make super choices for book club discussion groups. Booktalkers will also want to hoot and holler about The Long Gone Lonesome History of Country Music (Little, Brown, 2007). more » » » 
  Related TeachingBooks.net Resources » » » 

Interview

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  Restoring the American Wilderness
  Jean Craighead George first introduced young people to wolves’ gentle nature through her 1973 Newbery Medal-winning novel, Julie of the Wolves (Harper, 1972). In her new picture book The Wolves Are Back (Dutton, 2008), George reveals yet another benefit of this species: its key role in keeping its habitat in balance. more » » » 
  TeachingBooks.net resources on this interview » » »

Professional Shelf

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  Classroom Literacy Assessment
  In the comprehensive and useful Classroom Literacy Assessment: Making Sense of What Students Know and Do (Guilford Press, 2007), Jeanne R. Paratore and Rachel L. McCormack have brought together a veritable “who’s who” of leading literacy experts. more » » »