Break out the books and polish those pens: We’re on the fast track to becoming a post-literate society, and it’s up to us to reverse the course.

The kidlit community works hard to model acceptance and to promote the idea that all kinds of books need to exist and be available to kids. For so many kids, the joy has already been sucked away from ...

Discover how Minneapolis bookstores, libraries, and publishers are supporting communities impacted by ICE activity and how you can help.

It's difficult to discern what's really of value, and it's hard to stay the course. And yet, to be effective, we need to find the strength to resist what might move us, break us, or cause us to give u...

“I HAVE endeavoured in this Ghostly little book, to raise the Ghost of an Idea, which shall not put my readers out of humour with themselves, with each other, with the season, or with me. May it haunt...

This native Floridian, who’s lived most of her life on a school calendar, actually took an October vacation to New England. Flying into Boston, the environment was everything I had envisioned: Cooler ...

October middle grade book news includes Banned Books Week, Reading Rainbow, and National Book Award finalists.

It's no joke: humor is a hero among children. According to Scholastic’s Kids & Family Reading Report, 63% of kids want books that make them laugh. I’ve had some requests for book recommendations late...

Our nation is experiencing a reading crisis. The world of academia recognizes it. In March 2023, The Atlantic published Katherine Marsh’s “Why Kids Aren’t Falling in Love With Reading,” claiming that ...

"Literary agent Carter Hasegawa discusses his transition from editor to agent, his passion for children's books, and what he looks for in submissions."

Ask anyone for a writing prompt, and they’ll probably give you some words. However, it’s important to remember that writing prompts do not always have to be verbal. Images, generally referred to as pi...

It is incredibly important to expose children to a variety of developmentally appropriate experiences in their earliest years. We want them to interact with others, participate in events, try new acti...

Preparing to enter kindergarten is an exciting experience. It’s also a little scary. Parents of preschoolers often wonder if their children are ready for this threshold to formal education. Readiness ...

Many school districts offer professional development in the teaching of writing. Most of the time, these trainings are focused on current curriculum components or assessment requirements. However, GLW...

Is there enough learning value in creative writing to make it part of a daily language arts schedule?

A group blog of middle-grade authors celebrating books for middle-grade readers. Focused on writing and books for 8 to 13 year olds.

One thing is directly available to us any time we have children in our care and it can mean everything to their success– our interactions . …What does that actually mean? Our little moments together....

...in the library, I found peace.

April is School Library Month, and the American Association of School Libraries invites you to celebrate and advocate.

I visited a fourth grade classroom recently, and guess what I found? Readers! Excited, enthusiastic, voracious readers! We hear a lot of dismal news these days about the Middle Grade Slump – about kid...

American Library Association Youth Media Awards and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

It doesn’t sound like much time, but how we interpret 15 minutes is a matter of perspective.

Once fear and maligned, the trait of left-handedness is celebrated in several books for young readers.

A few years ago, I was introduced to One Little Word® – the idea of finding one word to focus on throughout the year. In the past, I’ve selected words like ABUNDANCE and GRATITUDE, and they’ve been gr...

Learn the advantages of using Bluesky as a social media platform for connecting with authors, editors, agents, and publishers.