David Wiesner and I Got It!

Since 2001, TeachingBooks.net has been filming in the studios of amazing authors and illustrators so that every reader can garner personal insights into these exceptional creative processes. Today, we proudly announce our newest video — filmed in the home of 6-time Caldecott recipient David Wiesner.

Watch this movie to witness the labyrinthine effort that went into creating I Got It! (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2018).

Also enjoy our brainstorming of instructional ideas to teach this book in your classroom.

It is our distinct pleasure to regularly produce original recordings for you.

Nick Glass, TeachingBooks.net Founder & Executive Director

Behind the Books: Kathi Appelt on pain and goodness

In this month's guest blog post, Kathi Appelt shares her thoughts on the 10th anniversary of her Newbery Medal title, The Underneath (Atheneum, 2008). In life, Kathi has seen the impact of difficult and painful events. In the book, she explores how each of her characters ultimately reacts to those painful moments and how these choices affect their world. Kathi hopes that what The Underneath "...stands for, in the end, is that we can all of us make good choices no matter how hard."

Read Kathi Appelt's Guest Blog Post now.

Meet-the-Author Book Reading: Allen Say on artistic development

Allen Say explores the artistic life in his fictionalized biography of James Castle, Silent Days, Silent Dreams (Scholastic, 2017). Castle never learned how to speak, write, read or even sign, yet he drew his whole life. As an artist himself, Say connected with Castle and wanted to explore how Castle developed as an artist with no real means of communication. As an adult, Say "often wondered what would happen if a child who likes to draw is left alone to develop on his own; no teachers, no interference from the outside world." He found that James Castle was a perfect model to explore for this question.

Listen to Allen Say share the inspiration behind his latest title now.

Browse all TeachingBooks.net Meet-the-Author Book Readings.

Featured Booklist: Children's Africana Book Awards

The Children's Africana Book Awards, honoring outstanding books on Africa published or republished in the United States, offer an excellent opportunity to explore unique and complex countries, cultures, and histories of Africa. With titles for preschoolers to high schoolers and onto new adults, there is an engaging read waiting for everyone.

Explore resources for all the titles from the Children's Africana Book Awards booklist.

Contests & Giveaways

Check out our May Contests & Giveaways, accompanied by multimedia resources!

• Rhyme Flies by Antonia Pesenti
• Neema’s Reason to Smile by Patricia Newman
• The Underneath by Kathi Appelt, plus a Skype visit with Kathi Appelt

See the May Contests & Giveaways on our blog.