History, social science and geography for kids.
I live in Newton, which morphed from its original name, New Town, a reference to Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1688 on the land where the Waban lived, Newton is made up of 13 villages, with the intent that people could walk to their village center for their needs, such as the post office, library, and…
Together in Manzanar by Tracy Slater is an adult book that examines the struggles of a Japanese Jewish Family in an American Concentration Camp. I was thrilled to meet her at her book launch at Newtonville Books! p.s. Related posts: FORTUNE COOKIES FOR EVERYONE Geography Game featuring WWII Internment Sites! Dorktales Podcast about…
We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez ALSC Notable Children’s Book 2025 Carter G. Woodson Book Award Middle Level Honoree Orbis Pictus Recommended Book for Outstanding Nonfiction for Children California Eureka Non-Fiction Award Honor Book Junior…
We are thrilled that We Sing From the Heart received a Social Justice award from the International Literacy Association! We Sing from the Heart: How the Slants® Took Their Fight for Free Speech to the Supreme Court by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Victor Bizar Gomez Recommended Reading for the Social Justice Literature Award 2025…
Locate and learn about the concentration camps that held people of Japanese descent during WWII in this geography game that I created. You can use this game for my books: Barbed Wire Between Us by Mia Wenjen, illustrated by Violeta Encarnación Starred review from Kirkus Starred review from Publishers Weekly Kirkus: The Most Anticipated Children’s Books of Spring…
I don’t always get to meet the illustrators of my picture books, so it’s really a treat when there is an opportunity to hang out. I often get questions about the selection of the illustrator for picture books: Do I get to choose the illustrator for my picture books? Only I am working with an…
Lindsay H. Metcalf and I have teamed up today with a picture book list on the Supreme Court. We have teamed up in other ways as well; we co-wrote a picture book biography that is currently out on submissions. This book list showcases a range of topics that the Supreme Court has ruled on. For…