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The children's publishing world is coming together to raise money to fight anti-Asian racism, NCTE is accepting applications for the Early Career Educator of Color Leadership Award, Amazon and Code.org team up to create equity-minded AP computer science course, and more in this edition of News Bites.

Presenting the average book prices for 2020–2021 to date, produced annually by SLJ in partnership with Follett and Baker & Taylor. 

More publishers are loosening copyright restrictions given the ongoing state of remote learning. Abrams, HarperCollins, and Peachtree join Penguin Random House and Simon & Schuster in extending permissions for online story time and classroom read-aloud videos to June 30, 2021. 

The CDC’s Operational Strategy for K-12 Schools through Phased Mitigation lists five strategies that must be “strictly implemented” for safe in-person school.

For the first time in its history, the SCWBI has announced a list of Golden Kite Award finalists.

To our readers: I hear you, and I am deeply sorry.

The Pulitzer Center is starting an education network around the 1619 Project, Teaching Tolerance changed its name, Sonja Cherry-Paul created an educator's guide to Carole Boston Weatherford’s Unspeakable and more in this edition of News Bites.

NewsLit Nation, NLP's national educator network, provides teachers with a platform to learn from each other, establish best practices, and help work news literacy into all subjects areas.

It's Black Lives Matter at School Week of Action. Resources and a starter kits are available, along with the new contest-winning logo from a South Carolina high schooler.

Finding accurate information is more important than ever, and school librarians are here (as they always have been) to give students the "gift" of truth, according to AASL president Kathy Carroll.

Presented by the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute (MSRI), in partnership with SLJ, the Mathical Book Prize Collection Development Awards offers grants to Title I schools to purchase literary fiction and nonfiction books that inspire a love of math. The application period opens today.

Ask your students about book preferences, access, and more to create personal goals, plan spring lessons, and motivate for summer reading.

The ALA and AASL sent a letter to the Biden transition team in an effort to put school librarians front and center in the new education department agenda, as EveryLibrary works for congressional support.

Educators can teach Amanda Gorman's inauguration poem "The Hill We Climb" and share Gorman's story with students.

The children's literature world was shocked by the unexpected death of author Kathleen Krull, who had recently been diagnosed with cancer. Also in this edition of News Bites, Ibram X. Kendi makes a deal with Netflix; opportunities for funding; and more.

Flash Facts is a new collection of short comics about science and technology featuring DC superheroes. Here's an exclusive preview of "Home Sweet Space" with Supergirl, written by Cecil Castellucci.

The second annual News Literacy Week comes amid calls to make teaching these skills a priority. 

We checked in with four school librarians to see what role they played for their students and staff during the insurrection at the Capitol on January 6, 2020, and in the days that followed.

More time, less social pressure, and more flexible scheduling has helped some kids flourish.

Ever wonder about the closed-door workings of the Newbery committee? Now's your chance. Join the mock Newbery committee of “Heavy Medal” on January 22 and weigh in on the big decision.

These lizards can be excellent ambassadors for school libraries.

As the terrorist attack on the Capitol unfolded yesterday, educators took to Twitter, considering how to talk to students about the event and the importance of news literacy and civics education.

From a choose-your-own-path Romeo and Juliet to a Macbeth retelling that channels #MeToo, there's something here for all teen readers and fans of the Bard. 

Join the fun on January 13, as Betsy Bird and Travis Jonker face off in this friendly (mostly) and entertaining live competition, inspired by their SLJ feature story. 

From the pandemic and a presidential election, to school boards and systemic racism, SLJ's cover design and illustration helped tell the tale that was 2020.

Who is the kid lit nerdiest of them all? Putting their knowledge to the test, Betsy and Travis square off in this romp through Newbery/Caldecott history.

High school students transformed children's books into 3-D printed creations that could help visually impaired youth experience the stories.

It's been quite a year. And we have lists.

Connecticut school librarians applaud the nomination of Cardona, a former public school teacher, principal, and assistant superintendent and the current state commissioner of education.

Start 2021 by sharing conversations about music, from orchestral movie scores to “kindie” releases, with students and families.

COVID has changed the way publishers promote books—and how libraries buy them.

Give us a snapshot of your 2020 and your hopes for 2021. Happy New Year!

The CDC recommends teachers and support staff get the coronavirus vaccine in the next round of distribution; the Black Caucus of ALA has put out its Best of the Best 2020 booklist; applications are being accepted for the Library of Congress Librarian in Residence program; and more in this edition of News Bites.

The National Education Association and National PTA released results of a national poll of middle and high school student experiences during the pandemic and made recommendations based on the information.

Caitlin Gooch, founder of Saddle Up and Read, gets kids excited about reading, riding, and Black equestrians at her family horse farm. 

Curricular bazaar Teachers Pay Teachers has never been more popular. But questions about quality, cultural insensitivity, and plagiarism beg expert guidance. Consider your librarian.  

It was a tough year, but there is always an author, educator, or young person to remind even the most cynical among us that there are reasons to believe better days are coming.

Author Fan Face-off pits a middle grade superfan against the author of one of their favorite books to see who knows more about the title.

Typically, generic worksheets, book report templates, and cookie-cutter projects are assigned to prove that students read. Here are ways for them to truly share their responses to the text. 

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez started a volunteer tutoring program for her district's families who needed help during remote learning. Her campaign office is now expanding on the program, as discussions continue about the possibility of a National Tutoring Corps to combat the academic and economic impact of the pandemic.

The author and illustrator are the U.S. candidates for the international honor given biennially to book creators for children.

Amid the upheaval this year, there were bright spots: Audiobook sales surged, more kids tuned into podcasts, and children’s book sales continued to grow.

Reassigned to a new high school with no library, Toni Winsett is embracing the challenge at Bard High School Early College in Washington, DC, and finding joy in being a school librarian this year.

Our most viewed stories reflect a significant, collective journey. 

In an unprecedented year, managing the pandemic dominated attention. SLJ covered the gamut, from publisher policies adjusted to accommodate remote learning, to tips on running a virtual book club for middle schoolers. Despite all, fostering literacy and celebrating great books persisted as key topics of interest for our readers.

The large publishing events with big-name speakers are not coming back when the pandemic ends.

One in four kids tuned in to a podcast in 2020, drawn to stories and discussions about the coronavirus, money, activism, racial justice, and other topics.

An early breaking announcement on November 25 stated that there is an agreement for Penguin Random House to acquire Simon & Schuster in a $2.2 billion deal.

Companies continue to respond to the pandemic's impact on educators and students; NCTE is taking proposals for next year's convention; the Educator Jobs Fund Act of 2020 is proposed in the senate; and Simon & Schuster plans new graphic novels for young readers.

Micro mentoring connects people in order to focus short-term on specific areas of professional development. 

When students get books from the school library these days, it looks less like regular checkout and more like holiday package delivery.

The annual awards go to I Am Every Good Thing and Above the Rim.

The wait is over. See what titles made SLJ's Best Books lists this year.

The illustrator of Best Books 2020 selection All Because You Matter by Tami Charles expanded on that picture book's theme of youthful wonder for the cover of the December issue.

On January 20, Jill Biden will be the latest educator to become First Lady. How much of an impact can she have on the national conversation and policy?

Kacen Callender spoke about a year that has been both devastating and empowering as they accepted the prestigious award during the livestreamed virtual ceremony.

Authors Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackson, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon have collaborated on a YA novel celebrating Black love during a New York City blackout.

As SLJ welcomes submissions for the 2021 School Librarian of the Year, we spoke with the 2020 winner about what she has been up to, including a student "Vote Woke" program.

With standardized test largely cancelled, extracurriculars wiped out, and family finances stretched thin, students face a new process.

President-elect Joe Biden's plans include tripling Title I funding, getting mental health professionals into all schools, and helping teachers pay off college loans.

Innovative ways to use technology to keep students engaged and on track during the pandemic.

Fans of Nathan Hale can cross the country alongside the best-selling author this month. With stops from Boston to Honolulu, the virtual tour celebrates Blades of Freedom, book 10 in Hale’s "Hazardous Tales" series of graphic novels.

OverDrive and TeachingBooks add resources, while Nearpod launches a November giveaway; ALA opens registration for virtual Midwinter conference in January; and more industry news.

On SLJ's Facebook page, readers respond to recent stories. Here's just a sample of what they are saying.

SLJ's full Best Books 2020 list will be revealed on November 23, but check out a few of the titles that earned this year's honor.

Messner and Sorell contextualize the "first Thanksgiving" myth; Hachette announces new BIPOC imprint; Linda Sue Park creates Korean and Korean diaspora author and illustrator resource; results of the K-12 Scholastic Student Vote.

During the "Trauma-Informed Teaching and COVID" session of the SLJ Summit, panelists discussed students' response to trauma and the importance of educators taking a trauma-informed approach to teaching, especially right now.

The survey showed school librarians using creative approaches to deliver superior library services, leading on tech innovation, collaborating with colleagues, and strengthening relationships with students.

Serving on the front lines, engaging with the public, libraries can be a critical asset to mental health.   

The authors offer different takes on the literary canon in their keynote addresses. Read about that and other Summit highlights. 

Tackling a variety of topics important to school librarians and all educators, these presentations, discussions, and panels are available for viewing. 

A longtime stalwart is back. Scholastic Book Fairs is relaunching for the pandemic age, with some options.

Four administrators shared ways to connect with families, support and train teachers, and address the gaps laid bare in the pandemic.

At community sites across the city, including San Francisco Public Library branches, the kids who struggled the most during the spring are logging into class and getting time with friends at learning hubs.

The 2020 SLJ Summit finished with a  personal, thought-provoking conversation between Cullors and Tennessee school librarian Erika Long.

A crash course on the ebook purchasing and vendor landscape.

Macmillan's Imprint will end, and Jimmy Patterson Books has reorganized in children's publishing news this week. News Bites also brings word of a new librarian-related podcast, AASL's National School Library of the Year, and more.

A citizen of the Muscogee Creek Nation, the author of Hearts Unbroken was awarded the prize in recognition of her "outstanding achievement" in YA literature.

To meet the requests of staff, the White Plains School District reached out to a community partner to provide support groups.

Artist, activist, and educator Cullors will join Nashville school librarian Erika Long in conversation as the final session of the 2020 SLJ Summit. The event theme: "Culture Shift."

As budgets tighten, don't miss the opportunity to apply for funding.

As experts continue to try to learn more about the coronavirus and transmission, the REALM Project reports on results of the fifth round of testing library materials.

This is the time to re-make librarianship in the long term. Here's how some leaders are doing it.

At the SLJ Summit, attendees can convene in smaller groups after select panels to further ideas, discuss practical applications, and enjoy the kind of conversations that have been typically lost in virtual events.

A new book and educator organization hope to help teachers bring civics into all classrooms and create a bridge between academic skills and effective participants in society.

The Simon & Schuster editor, who passed away October 9, was a passionate ally for emerging voices, particularly in the LGBTQ community.

Applications are being accepted for a new NatGeo program to fund innovative educators finding solutions during remote and hybrid learning.

A New York City parent and educator who is one of four siblings with school-aged children discusses her family's different options and struggle to make the best choices for their kids for the 2020-21 school year.

The honored titles include a graphic novel documenting a refugee's journey, a story of grief and sexual identity, and historical fiction about Japanese American teenagers incarcerated during World War II.

The author of Brown Girl Dreaming is one of 21 members of the MacArthur Foundation's Class of 2020.

Authors Nicola and David Yoon will start the new imprint at Random House Children's Books to let young people of color know "they are deserving of happily-ever-afters," according to Nicola Yoon.

Betsy Bird considers reading during a pandemic and how children's books are meeting the crisis.

Here we are. Well into a new school year—sort of. The fall has brought no relief from uncertainty, and we have a ways to go. So we asked, and Jarrett Krosoczka and Jerry Craft were on board to illustrate our October 2020 issue.

The News Literacy Project is offering a four-part professional development series; Choose Your Own Adventure in ebooks; a new Capstone platform; the final days to apply for the Bechtel Fellowship; and more in this edition of News Bites.

School Library Journal has garnered two Eddie Awards, one for a cover story addressing the state of publishing for tweens, the second a staff-wide effort to inform and serve readers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Digital book displays help students and patrons find the perfect title.

Remote learning—and finding a new book—is more fun as educators get creative and add a personal flair with their Bitmoji libraries and classrooms.

A frank Q&A with First Second publisher Mark Siegel on the desire to look beneath the surface and ask difficult questions, as well as his quest to build a better world through comics.

The creative book displays and fun in-person programming must wait until next year. Banned Books Week will be virtual this year, but the Office of Intellectual Freedom has ideas for addressing censorship during a Week of Action.