Activity Kit: The Gingerbread Monster by Dan Gemeinhart; illustrated by Hugo L. Cuellar

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Gingerbread Monster Social Asset

The Gingerbread Monster
By Dan Gemeinhart; illustrated by Hugo L. Cuellar
Ages 4-7
On Sale Now!

“A deliciously fun adventure with vibrant charm and a perfect blend of spooky and sweet! A great read-aloud experience for both kids and grown-ups alike.” ―Pete Oswald, #1 New York Times–bestselling illustrator of The Good Egg and The Bad Seed

From #1 New York Times–bestselling author Dan Gemeinhart comes a spooky picture book tale about a young baker whose Gingerbread Man creation comes to life with a fright—yet even monsters long for a friend.

In his laboratory high on the hill, Frank N. Stine has a ferocious sweet tooth that snarls to be fed. But when an eerie experiment spills into his Gingerbread batter, a frightening cookie creation comes to life! The Gingerbread Monster is hulking, horrific . . . and hungry. But as Frank is chased by his creepy creation, the young baker begins to wonder what the Monster truly craves. After all, there’s no sweeter treat than friendship.

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Teacher’s Guides for Every Occasion!

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If you’re looking to boost your lesson plans with great reads and important classroom discourse, we have a selection of guides to help! This list of teacher’s guides for every occasion can help you plan for the year! From well-loved canon to important historical moments, you’ll find pre-reading questions, discussion topics, and common core ties that are evergreen conversation starters.


Picture Books: Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for Together, A Forest by Roz MacLean, Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate, Abuelo, the Sea, and Me by Ismée Williams; illustrated by Tatiana Gardel, Ánh’s New Word by Hanh Bui; illustrated by Bao Luu, I Wish You Knew by Jackie Azúa Kramer; illustrated by Magdalena Mora, and Why? A Conversation About Race by Taye Diggs; illustrated by Shane W. Evans.


Picture Books: Non-Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for Choosing Brave by Angela Joy; illustrated by Janelle Washington, and Ida B. Wells, Voice of Truth by Michelle Duster; illustrations by Laura Freeman.


Middle Grade: Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle; Wishtree by Katherine Applegate, Odder by Katherine Applegate, The Remarkable Journey of Coyote Sunrise by Dan Gemeinhart, Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride, The Song of Orphan’s Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt, Greta by J. S. Lemon, Frizzy by Claribel A. Ortega; illustrated by Rose Bousamra, Farther than the Moon by Lindsay Lackey, The Gray by Chris Baron, by Eagle Drums by Nasuġraq Rainey Hopson, The Lost Year by Katherine Marsh, The Marvellers by Dhonielle Clayton; illustrated by Khadijah Khatib, In the Key of Us by Mariama J. Lockington, Pilar Ramirez and the Escape from Zafa by Julian Randall, and Cuba in my Pocket by Adrianna Cuevas.


Middle Grade: Non-Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for Three Summers by Amra Sabic-El-Rayess with Laura L. Sullivan, The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel with Bethany Strout; illustrated by Sammy Savos, Betty Before X by Ilyasah Shabazz, with Renee Watson, My Selma by Willie Mae Brown, Torpedoed by Deborah Heiligman, and Latinitas by Juliet Menéndez.


Young Adult: Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson; illustrated by E.M. Carroll, The Librarian of Auschwitz by Antonio Iturbe; adapted by Salva Rubio and illustrated by Loreto Aroca; translated by Lilit Thwaites; Under the Same Stars by Libba Bray, Thirsty: A Novel by Jas Hammonds, Saints of the Household by Ari Tyson, Warrior Girl Unearthed by Angeline Boulley, Promise Boys by Nick Brooks, Himawari House by Harmony Becker, Cinder by Marissa Meyer, The Lost Dreamer by Lizz Huerta, So Many Beginnings: A Little Women Remix by Bethany C. Morrow, Shadow & Bone by Leigh Bardugo, A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee, and Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angelline Boulley.


Young Adult: Non-Fiction

Scroll through the images above to find teacher’s guides for The 57 Bus by Dashka Slater, Accountable by Dashka Slater, Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin, The Sun Does Shine by Anthony Ray Hinton with Lara Love Hardin and Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Don’t Look Back by Achut Deng and Keely Hutton, Call Him Jack by Yohuru Williams and Michael G. Long, Duet by Phillip Hoose, Jane Against The World by Karen Blumenthal, Rise Up! by Crystal Marie Fleming, Fallout by Steve Sheinkin, Strongman by Kenneth C. Davis, Whose Right Is It? The Second Amendment and the Fight Over Guns by Hana Bajramovic, True or False by Cindy L. Otis.

Activity Kit: Everything’s Wrong by Jory John

graphic announcing a free activity kit with the EVERYTHING'S WRONG! book cover that includes a disgruntled bear and rabbit in a forest landscape

EVERYTHING'S WRONG! book cover that includes a disgruntled bear and rabbit in a forest landscape

Everything’s Wrong!
By Jory John; illustrated by Erin Kraan
Ages 4-8
On Sale May 20th!

From #1 New York Times–bestselling author of The Bad Seed, Jory John, and the #1 New York Times-bestselling illustrator of Buffalo Fluffalo, Erin Kraan, comes a meaningful yet utterly hilarious tale—a companion to the popular picture books, Something’s Wrong! And Nothing’s Wrong!

It’ll surely be a no-hassle, stress-free, easy-peasy kind of day. . .

Best friends Jeff and Anders start the day with the best of intentions, but before long, everything goes haywire. From power outages, to spilled breakfasts, to missing socks, a series of irritating incidents sends the bear-and-bunny duo on an epic journey that will test their fortitude and their friendship. Can these pals work together to salvage this disastrous day?

Another read-out-loud, laugh-out-loud picture book from bestselling author Jory John, paired with standout talent Erin Kraan, reminds us that even when your day seems to go completely off the rails, you can make it through any challenge—especially when you have a good friend by your side.

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A Teacher’s Guide for Middle-Grade Graphic Memoirs

Real Life, Frame by Frame: A Teacher's Guide for Middle-Grade Graphic Memoirs

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.

Celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week!

Join us in celebrating Teacher Appreciation Week with Thank You, Teacher! by Supriya Kelkar. Enter for a chance to win this heartfelt picture book, a delightful tribute to the incredible efforts of teachers everywhere, along with a beautiful poster to brighten up any classroom. The sweeps will take place between May 5th to May 9th. It’s the perfect way to show your gratitude to the educators who inspire us every day!

Find Out More about Thank YOu, Teacher! >

Discussion Guide: The Song of Orphan’s Garden by Nicole M. Hewitt

The Song of Orphan's Garden Graphic

The Song of Orphan's Garden Book Cover

The Song of Orphan’s Garden
By Nicole M. Hewitt
Ages 8-12
On Sale Now!
A Junior Library Guild Selection

Combining the gentleness of Miyazaki, the wintry wonderland of The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, and the whimsicality of Newbery winner The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Nicole M. Hewitt’s debut middle-grade novel, The Song of Orphan’s Garden, is an enchanting fantasy tale with all the makings of a new classic.

In an arctic world that’s getting colder every day, Lyriana’s only hope of survival is to get her little brother Zave and herself to the fabled Orphan’s Garden. It’s rumored to be the one place in the world not controlled by deadly Winter Spirits or ruled by the tyrant Giant king. In Orphan’s Garden, healing trees will melt away Winter’s pains, and Lyriana and Zave can live safely in the warmth of Spring. If the garden exists, they must find it. They won’t live much longer without it.

Brob, a Giant boy, also needs sanctuary. When the Giant king banishes his family to the Winter Blight, it’s a death sentence. Orphan’s Garden is his family’s only hope, and as far as Brob’s concerned, it belongs to him. After all, he was the one who accidentally used an ancient magic to grow the garden years ago. He has no intention of sharing his haven with pesky humans, who will just use up its magic and ruin it.

When it becomes clear that Orphan’s Garden is in danger of being destroyed, Lyriana and Brob are the only ones who can save it—but only if they can put the ages-old battle between Humans and Giants aside and find a way to work together.

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Teacher’s Guide: Onyx & Beyond by Amber McBride

Onyx & Beyond Teacher's Guide Graphic

Onyx & Beyond Book Cover

Onyx & Beyond
By Amber McBride
Ages 8-12
On Sale Now!
A National Council of Teachers of English Notable Verse Novel

Praised as “a story of perseverance and love” in a starred review by Kirkus, here is a story about keeping dreams alive.

Onyx lives with his mother, who is showing signs of early-onset dementia. He doesn’t want to bring attention to his home — if Child Protective Services finds out, they’ll put him into foster care.

As he’s trying to keep his life together, the Civil Rights Movement is accelerating. Is there anywhere that’s safe for a young Black boy? Maybe, if only Onyx can fulfill his dream of becoming an astronaut and exploring space, where none of these challenges will follow him. In the meantime, Onyx can dream. And try to get his mom the help she needs.

Based on her own father’s story of growing up in the 1960s and facing the same challenge with his own mother, award winner Amber McBride delivers another affecting depiction of being young and Black in America.

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Activity Kit: Together, a Forest by Roz MacLean

Together, a forest activity kit

Together, a Forest activity kit

Together, a Forest: Drawing Connections Between Nature’s Diversity and Our Own
By Roz MacLean
Ages 4-8
On Sale Now!

Explore a forest with a curious classroom in this breathtaking new picture book by the author of the beloved More Than Words, and experience the essential beauty of diversity in humanity and nature.

Joy and her peers are eager to visit a nearby forest for a class trip. But Joy’s excitement quickly turns into anxiety when she is asked to choose one thing in the area for a school assignment.

Seeing her classmates connecting with the natural environment, Joy discovers how each of their choices reflect the ways they relate to and interact with the world.

Together, a Forest begins as an exciting journey into nature and blossoms into a meditation on how our unique personalities and ways of being help create a more vibrant and beautiful world. The forest reveals that everyone—including those of us with disabilities and neurodivergence—belong to nature. There is no one right way for a mind, body, or person to be.

Perfect for classrooms and home libraries with accessible social-emotional and STEM themes, this picture book highlights the importance of interdependence, inclusion and celebrating diversity in our communities.

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Activity Kit for Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate

Odder: An Otter's Story Graphic

Odder Book Cover

Odder: An Otter’s Story by Katherine Applegate; illustrated by Charles Santoso
Ages 3 to 6

A stunning picture book from acclaimed author Katherine Applegate, adapted from the #1 bestselling middle-grade novel that spent over 52 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list!

Odder spends her days playing underwater and learning life lessons from her mother. But when Odder’s life takes a dramatic turn, she is rescued by humans. The people are kind, and introduce Odder to other rescues. Soon, it’s clear that Odder has a talent for teaching other pups how to otter. Adapted from Katherine Applegate’s bestselling novel of the same name (with over 80 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list!), and inspired by the true story of a program that pairs orphaned otter pups.

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Teacher’s Guide: Impossible Escape by Steve Sheinkin

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impossible-escape-cover-art

Impossible Escape: A True Story of Survival and Heroism in Nazi Europe
By Steve Sheinkin
Ages 12-18
On Sale Now!
A Sydney Taylor Honor Book

From three-time National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honor author Steve Sheinkin, a true story of two Jewish teenagers racing against time during the Holocaust—one in hiding in Hungary, and the other in Auschwitz, plotting escape.

It is 1944. A teenager named Rudolf (Rudi) Vrba has made up his mind. After barely surviving nearly two years in the Auschwitz concentration camp in Poland, he knows he must escape. Even if death is more likely.

Rudi has learned the terrible secret hidden behind the heavily guarded fences of concentration camps across Nazi-occupied Europe: the methodical mass killing of Jewish prisoners. As trains full of people arrive daily, Rudi knows that the murders won’t stop until he reveals the truth to the world—and that each day that passes means more lives are lost.

Lives like Rudi’s schoolmate Gerta Sidonová. Gerta’s family fled from Slovakia to Hungary, where they live under assumed names to hide their Jewish identity. But Hungary is beginning to cave under pressure from German Nazis. Her chances of survival become slimmer by the day.

The clock is ticking. As Gerta inches closer to capture, Rudi and his friend Alfred Wetzler begin their crucial steps towards an impossible escape.

This is the true story of one of the most famous whistleblowers in the world, and how his death-defying escape helped save over 100,000 lives.

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