Selected for their high interest, appealing formats, appropriate reading levels, outstanding writing, and popularity, these contemporary, spellbinding titles (20 for grades 5-8 and 20 for grades 9-12) reflect a variety of genres and themes that will encourage lifelong literacy. Given for each title are genre and themes, review citations, author information, plot summary, reading and interest rankings, booktalks, literature extensions, alternative book report suggestions, and reproducible bookmarks that suggest further reading.

Help students expand critical thinking and research skills while they learn to work as a team. Featuring 38 novels and 5 picture books, this title offers everything you need to effectively improve your literature-based learning program and make reading fun and exciting. From detailed instructions on how to teach literature circles, to reproducible worksheets and complete lesson plans, you will find this is a versatile resource adaptable to any teaching style. Each title centers on a particular concept (i.e., imagination, discovery, justice and freedom, empathy, and courage and survival) allowing students to explore an idea critically and answer an author-suggested Essential Question. For each novel, a list of vocabulary items is provided along with discussion starters, activities, and writing assignments based on the text, ensuring that students gain a thorough understanding of the content area. A must-have for public and private school teachers, homeschoolers, and parents! Grades 3-8.

A collection of autobiographical essays written by prominent authors and illustrators of books for children and young adults.

A guide based on a 1997 survey of popular children's book authors provides biographical sketches and selected bibliographies for such writers as Beverly Cleary, Lois Lawry, Lewis Carroll, Mary Downing Hahn, and C.S. Lewis.