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An Interview with Watercress Author Andrea Wang and Illustrator Jason Chin 

Credit (left to right): Evan Jun Wen; Deirdre Gill Andrea Wang and Jason Chin are both award-winning authors of children’s books whose powerful collaboration on Watercress catapulted them…

Sep 11, 2023  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Author’s Chair: An Interview with Nadine Kaadan

Nadine Kaadan is an award-winning children’s book author and illustrator from Syria currently living in London. In this interview she describes her creative process and personal journey as a writer and artist.

Aug 19, 2022  |  By Jennie McDonald
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An Interview with Juana Martinez-Neal

Juana Martinez-Neal’s first picture book as both author and illustrator—Alma and How She Got Her Name—was awarded a 2019 Caldecott Honor and Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor,…

Nov 4, 2021  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Inclusive, Authentic Children’s Literature in the Classroom: Ten Best Practices for Educators

Let’s talk about literature in the classroom: the books that children choose for independent reading and the books that teachers read aloud to the entire class, whether students are gathered on a rug or on Zoom. At Collaborative Classroom, we know how much the stories in these books matter for learning, identity, and connection. And through our work selecting authentic children’s literature for our literacy and SEL curricula, we know how hard it can be to find books that reflect the full range of human experiences. But finding these books is exactly what we must do

Nov 23, 2020  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Diversity in Children’s Literature: Checking our Blind Spots in 2020

“From the princesses to the dragons to the stories themselves, sometimes it seems like I have been looking at the same books for fifty years. The princess, curiously…

Sep 17, 2020  |  By Jennie McDonald
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The Virtual Bookmobile: Increasing Book Access and Awareness

Tanny McGregor has a wealth of experience as educator, author, conference speaker and teacher on special assignment for West Clermont Schools in Cincinnati, Ohio. She brings a deep understanding…

Apr 23, 2020  |  By Tanny McGregor
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Reading List for Black History Month and Beyond

It’s February 2020 and Black History Month is more important than ever. Why? Because although this year may imply clear vision, we still haven’t achieved 20/20 hindsight when it comes to Black history. So yes, we should seize the opportunity to shine an extra bright light on it in February and then carry that focus throughout the year. Let’s work to ensure that Black history and culture are seen, understood, honored, and reflected upon by all. And ultimately, that they are fully integrated into and viewed as American history. Period.

Feb 11, 2020  |  By Jennie McDonald
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An Interview with Saadia Faruqi

If you haven’t heard of Saadia Faruqi yet, you will soon because she seems to be everywhere at once these days. Her popular early reader series Yasmin has…

Nov 18, 2019  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Summer Reading

Reading opens the universe to children, so even if they stay close to home this summer, books can fire up their imaginations and take them far away. We…

Jun 3, 2019  |  By Valerie Fraser & Jennie McDonald
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Interview with Christopher Paul Curtis

Children’s books are the cornerstone of many of Center for the Collaborative Classroom‘s programs; in a way, the authors are our behind-the-scenes collaborators. We want teachers, administrators, students,…

May 3, 2019  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Tackling the Challenges of Implementing Diverse Libraries at Your School

Among the many roles Jill Eisenberg plays as Director of Curriculum and Literacy Strategy at Lee & Low Books, a critical one is working with schools across the…

Nov 20, 2018  |  By Jill Eisenberg
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How to Actually Implement More Diverse Libraries at Your School

Among the many roles Jill Eisenberg plays as Director of Curriculum and Literacy Strategy at Lee & Low Books, a critical one is working with schools across the…

Nov 12, 2018  |  By Jill Eisenberg
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Interview with Children’s Book Author and Poet Eloise Greenfield

Eloise Greenfield (May 17, 1929 – August 5, 2021) is a towering figure in the field of children’s literature. We were honored to interview Ms. Greenfield in 2018. She shared about her writing life, and in the process, touched on the topics of teaching, family, society, and growing up in Washington, DC.

Nov 12, 2018  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Teaching with Diverse and Global Literature

A Conversation with Jane Bean-Folkes I recently sat down with Jane Bean-Folkes to talk about her experiences as a researcher/ practitioner working on literacy issues. She is an…

Sep 29, 2018  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Classroom Libraries as Windows and Mirrors

Will you be attending the upcoming International Literacy Association 2018 Conference in Austin, Texas? Lee & Low Books is excited to partner with Collaborative Classroom on a panel…

Jul 11, 2018  |  By Hannah Erhlich
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Diversity in Classroom Literature: Conversations for Change

Jennie McDonald is the Director of Publisher Relations and Rights at Collaborative Classroom. In her work, she manages the integration of authentic children’s literature in Collaborative Classroom curricula.…

Jul 3, 2018  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Creating a Student-Accessible Classroom Library

One thing you should know about me is that I can never resist a good children’s book! On vacations, I always look for a new title; I’m a…

Mar 29, 2018  |  By Michele Krank
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Interview with Patricia Polacco

Children’s books are the cornerstone of many Collaborative Classroom programs; in a way, the authors are our behind-the-scenes collaborators. We want teachers, administrators, students, and parents to be…

Feb 21, 2018  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Interview with Dr. Jonda McNair

In this interview, Dr. Jonda McNair speaks about the transformative power of reading education, children's literature, and diversity.

Oct 31, 2017  |  By Jennie McDonald
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Summer Reading – Why is it so hard?

Being a teacher and a parent brings some unique challenges. I suppose some teachers reading this post may have gone through this and can empathize. Maybe you see…

Jul 11, 2017  |  By Peter Brunn
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