All posts by Shaughnessy Miller

7 Ways to Make a Case for a Challenged Book in the Classroom

By Katie Potter, Senior Literacy Manager

Educators are entering a new school year, and there are themes and units that we’re excited to tackle. It’s always a joy to see the wonder on children’s faces when they’re engaged with a riveting book and the powerful conversations that ensue.

Despite those exciting feelings, sometimes challenges will arise, and we as educators need to be prepared to have nuanced discussions with administrators, caregivers, and other people who want to be involved with students’ lives and the books we’re showcasing in our classrooms. It is also important to make sure to have a challenge policy in place that will treat all challenges equally if they arise. Continue to consult and follow the policy all school year to address any potential pushbacks.   

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New Release: Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice

Happy release day to Stacey Abrams: Lift Every Voice by Sarah Warren; illustrated by Monica Mikai! How do we move our country forward? Stacey Abrams has an answer in this bright and stirring biography, perfect for discussions of voting rights and how people working together can make a difference.

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2022 Books for Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month

September 15 to October 15 is Latinx & Hispanic Heritage Month. At Lee & Low Books, we have been celebrating Latinx & Hispanic culture through books all year long. We pride ourselves on publishing culturally and linguistically authentic books that all readers can enjoy. Check out ten titles we’ve published this year and peruse our book collections and resources for more titles in both English and Spanish!

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8 Books Exploring How We Take Care of Our Mental Health

We all know that taking care of our physical health is crucial to surviving. Unfortunately, we don’t always address an aspect of our health that affects us just as much as our physical health does: our mental health.

Young people all over the world are dealing with mental health struggles in many shapes and forms. Today, we are recommending books that contain different portrayals of mental health and the ways in which the protagonists address them depending on their unique situations.

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Watch the Webinar: SEL on Your Shelf: Using Books to Build SEL Skills

Thank you to all who joined us for our most recent webinar, SEL on your Shelf: Using Books to Build SEL Skills featuring guidance on how to select the right book to teach Social and Emotional Learning skills, competencies, and values that will guide our students through academic, social, and emotional development and challenges.

If you missed it live (or just want to watch it again), you can access the webinar below, or here on YouTube. Keep reading for links to resources and booklists shared during the webinar and feel free to reach out for more information and/or a Professional Development certificate.

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New Release: Echoes of Grace

Happy release day to Echoes of Grace by Guadalupe García McCall! Echoes of Grace is an elaborately woven gothic mystery set in modern-day South Texas in which a family tragedy and the echoes experienced by main character Grace allow her to piece together heartbreaking past events. In this triumphant new novel, Pura Belpré Award-winning author Guadalupe García McCall explores sisterhood, family secrets, intergenerational trauma, life, and love in a modern Gothic setting with a magical realist twist.

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The Mysterious Case of Writing with Grace: A Guest Post by Guadalupe García McCall

In this guest post, author Guadalupe García McCall unravels the personal and shared traumas and experiences of women that inspired her newest novel. Echoes of Grace will be published August 16 and is available for pre-order now.

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Word in Black Articles: Why Resources for Black Students and Black Books Matter

Senior Literacy Manager Katie Potter weighs in on how we can meet the needs of Black students and the importance of Black books in these two articles from Word in Black. Word in Black is a groundbreaking collaboration of the nation’s leading Black news publishers, and they strive to be the most trusted news and information source for, about, and by Black people. Discover excerpts of the articles below and click the links to read more!

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New Spanish Releases of 2022

¡Agregue estos títulos en español y bilingües que vienen de Lee & Low Books en 2022 a su estantería! Estos títulos han sido traducidos, adaptados o publicados bilingües e incluyen viejos favoritos y nuevas historias por descubrir.

Add these Spanish and bilingual titles coming from Lee & Low Books in 2022 to your shelf! These titles have been either translated, adapted, or published bilingually and include old favorites and new stories to discover.

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