This summer, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group invites you to explore new worlds through reading! Let your imagination be your guide.
Celebrate Summer Reading With Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group
Contest: Invent a V.E.S.T. for the InvestiGators
The InvestiGators need help! Kids can invent their own V.E.S.T. (that’s Very Exciting Spy Technology) that Mango and Brash can use to fight the forces of evil.
Upload their essay, drawing, photo, or video explaining what their V.E.S.T. is and how it works! John Patrick Green, creator of InvestiGators, will pick one lucky winner whose invention will be featured in an upcoming book!
At-Home Activity Ideas
As the school year comes to a close and families prepare to social distance this summer, are your students and young patrons looking for a fun way to spend the day at home? We’ve got you covered! Check out our list of entertaining and educational resources parents and kids can use to keep learning, reading, and crafting at home!
Meet the Author: Mariko Tamaki
Author Mariko Tamaki spoke with TeachingBooks.Net about the creation process and backstory of her Printz honor book, Laura Dean Keeps Breaking Up with Me. Click here to listen to Mariko’s interview!
Teacher’s Guides: Books by Steve Sheinkin
Steve Sheinkin is the acclaimed author of fast-paced, cinematic nonfiction histories for young readers. His accolades include a Newbery Honor, the Margaret A. Edwards Award, three Boston Globe-Horn Book Awards, a Sibert Medal, and three National Book Award finalist honors.
May is Asian & Pacific Islander American Heritage Month
We’re celebrating our Asian and Pacific Islander authors, illustrators, and creators this month (and every month)! Keep reading to discover new books and revisit your favorites!
New on Netgalley: July!
Did you know that you can request eGalleys of our upcoming titles on NetGalley? Check out some of our July titles right now!
See what’s new on NetGalley →Storytime: Author Rachel Vail reads Cat Ears on Elizabeth
Spun off from her beloved Justin Case middle grade chapter books, Rachel Vail’s A Is for Elizabeth series—featuring illustrations by award-winning children’s book artist Paige Kaiser—follows a young second grader as she navigates schoolwork, friendships, and the growing pains that occur along the way. Perfect for SEL units, Elizabeth learns to deal with her “loud feelings” in each book in this heartwarming and funny series.
Watch author Rachel Vail read along with the third book in the series, Cat Ears on Elizabeth, here! When two of Elizabeth’s classmates come to school with cat-ear headbands, Elizabeth decides she needs a cat-ears headband immediately (even though headbands squish her brain out).
Chapters 1-2:
Chapters 3-5:
Download a teacher’s guide for the first book in the series, A is for Elizabeth, here!
Storytime: Author Emmy Kastner reads Nerdy Babies: Weather
Nerdy Babies is a picture book series that will ignite curiosity in even the youngest readers and encourage them to ask questions and explore the world around them. With bright colorful art and easy-to-read text, the Nerdy Babies series encourages the youngest readers to explore the natural world around them from the depths of the ocean to the farthest reaches of space!
In Emmy Kastner’s newest picture book, Nerdy Babies: Weather follow our intrepid babies into the eye of the storm. Experience sunshine, wind, rain, and other weather patterns. Plus, learn about how we predict the weather in this simple text written in question and answer format. Watch Emmy read from the book below:
Download the Nerdy Babies Activity Kit here, for more STEM-filled fun!
Books for Mental Health Awareness Month
These books for kids and teens sensitively deal with tough topics and big emotions. Perfect for SEL units, these stories normalize mental health issues, promote the importance of self-care, and provide more resources for young readers who are struggling to process big emotions like anger, sadness, anxiety, and loss. Share these stories with young readers to let them know they are not alone.
Bad Kitty: Wash Your Paws
In Bad Kitty’s newest adventure she learns why it is so important to WASH YOUR PAWS! This FREE black and white downloadable story is the perfect way to keep your kids and students engaged and entertained, while also emphasizing a very timely message. Print it out, read it aloud, and color the pages!
