In April we celebrate Arab American Heritage Month by reading and sharing stories by Arab American authors and illustrators. Celebrate in your school or library by uplifting these voices in April and all year round! Find more resources on the Arab America Foundation and Smithsonian websites.
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“Books change the world. And so can you.”
—Katherine Applegate, Collaborative Summer Library Program 2025 Summer Reading Champion
Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medalist and #1 New York Times-bestselling author, is the Collaborative Summer Library Program 2025 Summer Reading Champion!
This Summer, parents and guardians of budding storytellers ages 8-12 are invited to enter the Katherine Applegate Color Our World Writing Contest. Entries are open from June 1 – July 31, 2025.
WRITING PROMPT
Your writing can change and color our world! Write a short story between 1,000 – 1,500 words about a character that takes an action that changes someone else’s day for the better. The action can be as small or grand as you’d like — even small acts can make a big difference!
Your story must have a catchy title, a protagonist that takes an action to make a change, and a beginning, middle, and end.
The contest will be judged by the Collaborative Summer Library Program, Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, and Katherine Applegate. We’re on the lookout for a story that
Rules and Requirements: View Here
Privacy Notice: View Here
The grand prize winner will receive a virtual writing workshop with Katherine Applegate, signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder, and wishtree, and will receive a $500 of books for readers ages 8-12 from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group.
Three runner-ups will receive a signed copies of Willodeen, Crenshaw, Odder, and wishtree.
ABBREVIATED RULES
No purchase necessary. Open only to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C. who are age 18 or older and of the legal age of majority. Entry period begins at 9:00 AM (ET) on 6/1/2025 and ends at 11:59 PM ET on 7/31/2025. Void where prohibited. For full Official Rules, visit the following link. Sponsored by Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, 120 Broadway, New York, NY 10271.
Entries will open June 1st at 12:00am ET.
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Black History is American History. Download teacher’s guides and browse title lists to share during Black History Month and all year long with our Black History Month Resource Center.
Enter for a chance to win a galley of Dr. Ibram X Kendi’s next book, Malcolm Lives!: The Official Biography of Malcolm X for Young Readers. In collaboration with the Malcolm X Estate, this ground-breaking narrative biography contains short, evocative chapters, exclusive archival documents, photographs from the Malcolm X Collection at the NYPL Schomburg Center, and extensive backmatter.
Click the cover images below to download free teacher’s guides.
This month’s Author Spotlight is Gia Gordon, author of My So-Called Family, a moving middle-grade debut about foster care, self-advocacy, and realizing that a found family is a real family.
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This month’s Author Spotlight is Randi Pink, author of Under the Heron’s Light. Inspired by stories about the real-world Great Dismal Swamp, this acclaimed fantasy explores alternate history, a family’s supernatural connections to the swamp, and the strength that comes in knowing your roots.
Read More »Introduce these series starters to budding readers in your classroom or library and spark an enduring love for reading. Featuring everything from uproarious adventures to sweet friendship stories and relatable characters, these series offer diverse gateways to captivate every kind of young reader.
Enter the sweepstakes to win free books for your classroom! One grand prize winner will receive a virtual visit from InvestiGators creator John Patrick Green.
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Go behind the scenes of Bye Land, Bye Sea by René Spencer and Rodolfo Montalvo. Two children from different backgrounds show that friendship has no language in this epic bilingual story about being lost and finding a friend who understands.
Read on for an interview with René Spencer, Rodolfo Montalvo, Emily Feinberg, Executive Editor at Roaring Brook Press, and Mina Chung, Associate Art Director at Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group to learn more about how this book was made, preview interior art, and take a peek into the artist’s sketchbook.
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This month’s Author Spotlight is Maysa Odeh, debut author of A Map for Falasteen, a heartfelt picture book about a Palestinian American child’s search for home illustrated by Aliaa Betawi.
September is National Deaf Awareness Month. Looking for titles to share that celebrate the deaf and hard-of-hearing community in your classroom or library? Discover critically acclaimed and award-wining titles below, plus a spotlight on Butterfly on the Wind by Adam Pottle and Ziyue Chen.
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Prepare to support frequently challenged books this Banned Books Week, September 22 – 28! Enter for a chance to win a Speak Up for Banned Books kit including a poster, bookmarks, and buttons to share in your school or library during Banned Books Week and beyond.
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