The kidlit community continues to rally in the face of the coronavirus, creating or promoting virtual resources for children who are socially distancing and attending classes online. We gathered some ideas last week, and there are more available every day.
Several publishers are offering materials for both children and educators: Bushel & Peck Books, a children's book company that "gives away one book for every book sold" is offering a virtual care package with links to its books that can be read for free. Penguin Random House Audio has a free "listen at home" collection of classic titles such as The Wonderful Wizard of Oz and Great Expectations available through its Volumes app. HMH Books for Young Readers hosts an online resource library, as does Little, Brown Books for Young Readers; and readers can sign up for newsletters from the Penguin Classroom Family and Creston Books.
NetGalley is keeping a list of virtual events and offering its own virtual learning and engagement resources. The SAG-AFTRA Foundation's children's literacy website has a YouTube channel that features a number of celebrities reading their books aloud. The National Cowgirl Museum in Fort Worth, Tex., "the only museum in the world dedicated to honoring women of the West, and from around the world who have displayed extraordinary courage and pioneer spirit in their trailblazing efforts," has also posted online activities and resources.
Sydney Krawiec, youth services librarian at Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pa., created a Hogwarts Digital Escape Room, and Lisa Von Drasek, the curator of the Children's Literature Research Collection, is collecting and posting "author/illustrator read-alouds, publishers policies, writing and art prompts and STEM activities for children and young adults." Readers and their families should also check out We Need Diverse Books' social media platforms (Twitter, Instagram, Facebook) as they open up their channels in helpful ways, including allowing authors and illustrators to submit requests for the promotion of new releases (you can use this link to submit requests) and working to assist "the efforts of independent booksellers to keep book lovers supplied and connected." --Siân Gaetano, children's and YA editor, Shelf Awareness