MAKING BOOKS THAT ENGAGE YOUNG READERS IN THE CLASSROOM (for adults)

– VIRTUAL EVENT –

*Special book giveaway for four randomly selected teachers who register to attend with their school email address! We’ll announce the winners at the event and send a follow up email.

Join us for a back to school special conversation around making and using books to engage and inspire young readers in the elementary school classroom.  Vikram Madan, Lola Schaefer, Maxwell Eaton III and Shanda McCloskey all have something in common – they know how to make books that teachers and young children love and they have the accolades to prove it!

Nonfiction series, engaging comic readers, STEAM/STEM forward, letter writing, fairy tales and more – – –

We’ll touch on every step from the book making to connecting with the children themselves.  Our time together will be full of stories and ideas to get little ones interacting with literature and feeling empowered as beginning readers.

Perfect for educators, librarians, book makers, book sellers, parents – anyone who is passionate about early literacy and children’s books.

The conversation will be moderated by Erica Rand Silverman, children’s literary agent, educational consultant and former classroom teacher.

VIKRAM MADAN grew up in India where he really wanted to be a cartoonist, but ended up an engineer. Many years later, he finally came to  his senses and followed his heart back into visual and literary humor. When not making whimsical paintings and public art, Vikram writes (and illustrates) funny books, including the award-winning poetry collections such as  A HATFUL OF DRAGONS, early reader series such as BOBO & PUP-PUP and graphic novels such as OWL & PENGUIN.  His work has been selected as a Texas BlueBonnet Award Finalist, featured on numerous Best Book lists and was one of the only poetry books on the American Library Association’s ALSC 2021 Summer Reading List.

Get signed copies of OWL & PENGUIN at Island Books

LOLA M. SCHAEFER  is the author of more than 275 books for children including picture books, easy readers, and school/library books. Awards include: The Children’s Choice Book Award; Outstanding Science Trade Book; The Charlotte Zolotow Honor Book; The Zena Sutherland Picture Book Award. When Lola is not at home researching her next book or writing, you might find her offering a keynote or breakout session at a conference for librarians, teachers, or writers. She and her husband live in the mountains of north Georgia.

Get copies of LIFT, MIX, FLING! – MACHINES CAN DO ANYTHING at Little Shop of Stories

MAXWELL EATON III is a highly tolerated author and illustrator of numerous books for children, including Bear Builds a House, Bear Goes Sugaring, The Truth About Your Favorite Animals series, The Flying Beaver Brothers graphic novel series, Okay Andy, and more. When he isn’t writing or drawing, he can be found chasing chickens in the Adirondack Mountains with his partner and two children. His books are regularly honored by the Junior Library Guild as Gold Standard Selections, critically acclaimed with multiple starred reviews, and featured as a best book of the year.

Get signed copies of BEAR BUILDS A HOUSE at the Bookstore Plus

SHANDA MCCLOSKEY Shanda (rhymes with panda) comes from a whole family of different kinds of artists and entrepreneurs! She studied art in Atlanta and New York City. But before writing and illustrating kids books, she taught art to high-schoolers. Shanda now lives in Ball Ground, Georgia with her husband, daughters, and dog. She is also co-creator of the Author Visit Podcast and Author Visit Central. Shanda’s award-winning STEM-friendly picture books have taken her to wonderful people and places! Her books have been honored by the National Science Teachers Association, the Cooperative Children’s Book Center, LITA (recognizing excellence in Science Fiction) as well as many states around the country.

Get signed copies of LITTLE RED WRITING HOOD AND THE BIG BAD EDITOR at Read It Again Bookstore

*we are proud to support local indie bookshops*