Read on for an interview with María Dolores Águila, author of Newbery and Pura Belpré honoree A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez, a vivid and uplifting middle grade debut novel in verse about one young child’s courage to stand up for what is right, and the determination of the Mexican community, based on a true story. Plus, download the teacher’s guide!
Read More »From 7/31/2025 through 9/31/2025, over 350 Macmillan Children’s titles will be discounted across pay-per-use / cost-per-circ sales models – perfect for lucky day check outs and summer reading. Please reach out to your digital content distribution partners for more information!
SIGN UP TO HOST A POCKET BEAR TOY DRIVE
“Comforting is what we toys do. And it’s the best job on the planet.”
Librarians, teachers, and booksellers: after reading and sharing Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, host a Toy Collection Drive to benefit children in your community. Sign up today to receive “How to Host a Toy Drive” guide, poster, “I donated” stickers, and more!
Materials will be shipped the first week of October while supplies last.
Meet Pocket, created as a good luck charm for soldiers going into battle, whose bravery and loyalty lives on long after the war.
From Katherine Applegate, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Odder and The One and Only Ivan.
Thimble-born from tip to toe, Pocket Bear remembers every moment of his becoming: the glimmering needle, the silken thread, the tender hands as each careful stitch brought him closer to himself. Born during the throes of WWI, he was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket, eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that he always gazed upward. That way, glancing at his pocket, a soldier would see an endearing token of love from someone back home, and, hopefully, a good luck charm.
Now, over a century later, Pocket serves as unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured, where stuffed toy animals are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved. He and his best feline friend Zephyrina, known far and wide as “The Cat Burglar,” have seen it all, and then some.
An unforgettable tale of bravery, loyalty, and kindness, Pocket reminds us all that love comes in many forms (sometimes filled with fluff), and that second chances are always possible.
Explore themes of community, empathy, resilience, and the environment through books by Katherine Applegate. Download a free discussion guide here!
In the six graphic memoirs included in this teacher’s guide, you’ll find stories that make your students feel seen and that make the unremarkable feel remarkable. This guide includes discussion questions for six middle grade graphic novel memoirs, a guide for young readers to create their own graphic novel memoirs, and more recommendations for even more memorable graphic novels inspired by real life.
LEARN MORE ABOUT THE BOOKS
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.
If you have any issues submitting your story, please contact mary.vanakin@macmillan.com.
Parents and Guardians, share this prompt with writers ages 8-12!
“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.
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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