The Candy Smash (The Lemonade War Series)

Jessie and Evan Treski have waged a lemonade war, sought justice in a class trial, and even unmasked a bell thief. Now they are at opposite ends over the right to keep secrets. Evan believes some things (such as his poetry) are private. Jessie believes scandal makes good news. When anonymously sent candy hearts appear…

A Pinata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas

CROSSPOSTED ON YOUNGPEOPLESPAVILION.COM Un Pinata en un árbol de pino: un latino Doce Días de Navidad “Beginning with “a piñata in a pine tree” and culminating in “doce angelitos celebrando” (twelve angels rejoicing), the double-page spreads each contain a pronunciation guide for both gifts and numbers.” –Horn Book An award-winning author and a rising star…

Rebecca Padula and Gary Dulabaum are… PaDulabaum: Americana Roots Singer-Songwriter Duo featuring multi-instrumentalists

Crossposted on YoungPeoplesPavilion.com “As outrageous and funny and full of passion for reaching/teaching children as Gary in his wildest performances.” — Jane Yolen, author of the Caldecott-winning  Owl Moon, the Commander Toad books, and How Do Dinosaurs Get Well Soon? These multi-instrumentalists and singers, Rebecca Padula and Gary Dulabaum, perform music that is truly fun for…

Graphic Organizers for Teaching Poetry Writing: Model Poems and Lessons That Support Children as They Write Different Forms

Simplify and take the guesswork out of teaching poetry with these graphic organizers and step-by-step lessons. Model poems and lessons help students learn about the characteristics and structures of poetry forms such as haiku, limericks, and acrostics. Motivating graphic organizers, tailored to each poetry form, guide them in planning, and then writing their own poems….

The Magic Manuscript: Voyage to Eve Ilion is Worth a Gazillion Magical Journeys

Two teenagers, Arthur and Jennifer, unearth a medieval manuscript in Cornwall, in modern England, during the Christmas holidays, in The Magic Manuscript: Voyage to Eve Ilion, by Barbara Burgess.  While reading the manuscript, Jennifer becomes engrossed in the story of fifteenth-century Lady Genevieve, a sixteen-year-old Cornish girl who escapes from her brother when he tries to…

Jamal’s Busy Day by Wade Hudson: “This early reader is a real winner”

Jamal, a handsome, energetic African-American boy, is shown making all the necessary preparations for school that his parents make to begin their day. The upbeat message is that both parents and child can work hard and accomplish much in their respective areas, all have something to contribute. Such is the joy in sharing Jamal’s Busy…

Donate to Help Black Children Appear in Children’s Books

The Library of Congress reports 15,000 to 20,000 new children’s books published every year. In 2013, 2012, or any recent year, how many of those showed Black boys as the main characters? Girls? Please name those books. It is time for a SEQUEL! Family relationships were explored and affirmed in my joyful anthology of poems…