Beth Anderson's Blog

If you’re not familiar with Lindsay Moretti’s endeavor for educators called KIDLIT GROVE, please…read on! In this post, she shares her process of using picture books as a springboard for creating Project-Based Learning (PBL) units. I totally agree with her—books don’t end with the last page!

GIVEAWAY! Lindsay is offering winner’s choice: a free 1-month subscription to KidLit Grove’s curriculum library OR A custom STEAM unit (PBL or 45 minute workshop) designed for the winner’s own book or a...

Author Andrea Wang’s latest book is beautiful in text and art, and at the same time heartbreaking and inspiring. The path to the heart of WORTHY: THE BRAVE AND CAPABLE LIFE OF JOSEPH PIERCE she shares here is such a perfect example that shows how “heart” arises from the connection between author and research, that it’s personal. And powerful.

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below to be entered in the drawing for a copy of WORTHY!

Congratulations to DG, the winner of WOODY’S WORDS from Lisa Roger...

Here’s another fantastic book from one of the Kid Lit for Growing Minds members! In this post for educators and librarians, author Lisa Rogers, a former library teacher, shares how WOODY’S WORDS: WOODROW WILSON RAWLS AND WHERE THE RED FERN GROWS can be used as a springboard for students to practice a growth mindset.

GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment below to be entered to win a copy of WOODY’S WORDS!

Congratulation to the winner of BEFORE I LIVED HERE by Stacy Jensen!

Who Helps You Shine...

I too am enamored with the view of the Rocky Mountains. Along with the wonder they inspire, somehow, they anchor you. In writing the story of a piece of land, Stacy Jensen faced the challenge of finding the heart of a story about something that’s not human. Here she shares the process of writing BEFORE I LIVED HERE, the beautiful book which tells the story of the land where she lived.

GIVEAWAY! Just leave a comment below for a chance to win a copy of BEFORE I LIVED HERE!

Congratulations t...

It’s quite amazing when you find primary sources that provide the seed, or acorn, that allows you to tell a story that for a while seemed lifeless. Check out this great post from debut author Lynn Street about how THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST grew from deep research and personal immersion in the science.

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment after the post to be entered in the drawing to win your very own copy of THE BLUE JAYS THAT GREW A FOREST!

How Primary Sources Can Grow Your Nonfiction Natu...

For all you educators, librarians, history lovers, and those who have been led to believe that history is boring…

Over the next year and a half, I’ll be celebrating the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution with a special series of blog posts from children’s authors and illustrators with books on the period surrounding the American Revolution! As many of you know, I’m fascinated with this time when “the world turned upside down,” and people wr...

I felt like this last part should be titled “From whence it came and where it goes,” but that just seemed a bit unwieldy. Every manuscript I tackle teaches me more about researching, so I often add a note on what was special in the back matter—sometimes a short note, sometimes longer. It’s valuable for kids to see the process in action and how a story emerges from books, documents, and more. And just like that research launched the book, back matter often shares extensions to launch kids into ne...

Though much of the fascinating information I glean from research never makes it into the story, some of it earns a place in back matter if it has the potential to engage and benefit educators, librarians, parents, and, most of all, young readers. Images and graphics are always a favorite!

GIVEAWAY! Leave a comment below to be entered for winner’s choice of my titles. ALSO let me know if you share on social media or with teachers for extra entries. AND if you ARE an active educator, please not...

As I worked on the back matter for what hopefully is book number twelve, I thought about all the fabulous kinds of information that awaits teachers in these often overlooked sections. I’ve explored back matter in posts and gatherings for writers, but I’ve never done it from an educator perspective. SO… I decided it was time to remedy that with a BACK TO SCHOOL series focused on the endless potential of back matter contained in illustrated texts (AKA picture books)!

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I was so surprised to learn about author Teresa Robeson’s experience creating DISGUSTOLOGY: THE SCIENCE OF GROSS because it’s the opposite of the usual way authors, illustrators, and publishers work together. And what a great idea to share this collaborative process for use in the classroom to practice communication, creative thinking, and working in partnerships!

GIVEAWAY! For a chance to win a copy of DISGUSTOLOGY, just leave a comment after the post!

Congratulations to Donna Gwinnell La...