NYPL Blogs: For Teachers

Classroom Connections: Women and Their Passions

Amber Certain, School Outreach Librarian — Tue, 01 Mar 2022 13:13:17 -0500

March is Women's History Month—a time to celebrate achievements women have made throughout the course of American history in various fields. This booklist highlights four women: Alice Waters, Patsy Takemoto Mink, Florence Merriam Bailey, and Coco Chanel with an outstanding children's book about each along with recommended titles related to each woman's great passion (healthy eating, gender equality in sports, birds, and fashion). These would be wonderful additions during storytime or great titles to suggest for parents to encourage family and independent reading.

Alice Waters

Alice Waters Cooks up a Food Revolution by Diane Stanley and illustrated by Jessie Hartland

The delicious story of pioneering chef Alice Waters who changed the way America eats and kickstarted the organic food movement. A pioneer of the slow and organic food movements, she is also known for creating Edible Schoolyard, a project that involves kids in the growing of their own food.

Min/Max Grade level: 1–2
Natural Foods

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: ps_pho_cd5_54

Explore more titles about healthy eating and gardening:

Grow a Garden! by Alexis Frederick-Frost

Assigned to the most unpopular teacher at Garden Gnome Academy, Violet, Will, and Basil learn unexpectedly engaging lessons about soil, compost and the secrets to growing a healthy garden, in a story that shares step-by-step instructions for growing a container garden.

Min/Max Grade level: 4–6
Vegetable gardening

How to Say Hello to a Worm: A First Guide to Outside by Kari Percival

The beautiful simplicity of a garden is depicted through digital woodcut illustrations and engaging nonfiction text presented as a series of sweet questions and gentle replies. Less of a traditional how-to and more of a how-to-appreciate, this soothingly sparse text paints an inviting and accessible picture of what a garden offers. And with an all-child cast, the absence of an adult presence empowers readers to view the garden and its creatures through their own eyes, driven by curiosity and wonder.

Min/Max Grade level: Pre-K
Gardening

Our Food: A Healthy Serving of Science and Poems by Grace Lin, Ranida T. McKneally and illustrated by Grace Zong

An introduction to the science of food, the food groups, and the qualities of a healthy meal answers basic questions in a sequence of haiku poems and Q&A entries.

Min/Max Grade level: 3 - 4
Nutrition

Plant, Cook, Eat!: A Children's Cookbook by Joe Archer and Caroline Craig

For beginners and green-thumbed foodies, this unusually all-inclusive garden-to-kitchen cookbook is part lesson in gardening and part collection of healthy, delicious, kid-friendly recipes.

Min/Max Grade level: 3 - 7
Vegetable gardening

Patsy Takemoto Mink

Fall Down Seven Times, Stand up Eight: Patsy Takemoto Mink and the Fight for Title IX by Jen Bryant and illustrated by Toshiki Nakamura

A champion of equal rights who helped create a better future for all Americans, this biography of the first Asian American woman elected to Congress showed how she carved her own path to become a historic trailblazer.

Min/Max Grade level: Pre-K–2
Government and politics

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1683049

Explore books about sports and gender equality:

Girls With Guts!: The Road to Breaking Barriers & Bashing Records by Debbie Gonzales and illustrated by Rebecca Gibbon

A celebration of the strength, endurance, and athleticism of women and girls throughout the ages, Girls With Guts! keeps score with examples of women athletes from the late 1800s up through the 1970s, sharing how women refused to take no for an answer, and how finally, they pushed for a law to protect their right to play, compete, and be athletes.

Min/Max Grade level: 1–4
Sex discrimination in sports

More than a Game: Race, Gender, and Politics in Sports by Matt Doeden

This book explores controversies in sports, including black boxer Jack Johnson, Jessie Owens in the 1936 Olympics, Jackie Robinson breaking baseball's color barrier, Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War, #MeToo, and the US gymnastics team, and much more.

Min/Max Grade level: 5—12
Discrimination in sports

Flipster: Access over 100 popular magazines, including Sports Illustrated Kids with your NYPL library card.

Florence Merriam Bailey

She Heard the Birds: The Story of Florence Merriam Bailey: Pioneering Nature Activist written and illustrated by Andrea D'Aquino

Tells the story of pioneering birder and activist Florence Merriam Bailey, whose compassionate approach to nature influenced modern bird-watching and inspired a lasting sense of curiosity and respect for the world's feathered creatures.

Min/Max Grade level: K–2
Ornithologists

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 108346

Encourage children to look for birds all around and pay close attention to their feathers and beaks! Explore more books about birds:

A Garden to Save the Birds by Wendy McClure and illustrated by Beatriz Mayumi

After a bird flies into their window, two children and their mother study how to keep birds safe, and soon their whole neighborhood is helping in different ways.

Min/Max Grade level: 1–3
Bird protection

The Beak Book by Robin Page

Birds around the world have so many amazing kinds of beaks! There are short beaks and long beaks, straight beaks and curved beaks, flat beaks, and even spoon-shaped beaks. But what do all of these beaks do? Discover how beaks of different shapes and sizes are adapted to help birds sip nectar, make nests, battle for mates, and more!

Min/Max Grade level: K–2
Bird identification

Bird Show by Susan Stockdale

Celebrates the beauty and diversity of some of the world's most remarkable birds, introducing amateur ornithologists to familiar and exotic species and their vibrant colors, patterns, and other feathered features.

Min/Max Grade level: Pre-K–2
Bird Identification

Birdology: 30 Activities and Observations for Exploring the World of Birds by Monica Russo, photographs by Kevin Byron

Provides thirty activities that encourage bird watching and observation in parks, zoos, farms, and backyards, and includes discussions on migration, nesting, food, territories, and wildlife preservation.

Min/Max Grade level: 4–6
Bird watching

Feathers: Not Just for Flying by Melissa Stewart and illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen

Profiles sixteen bird species and explores informative sidebars that underscore specific ways each bird uses its feather for a variety of practical purposes.

Min/Max Grade level:1–4
Feathers

Look Up!: Bird Watching in your own Backyard by Annette LeBlanc Cate

A conversational, lighthearted introduction to birdwatching encourages kids to get outdoors with a sketchbook and explains how to identify local varieties by referencing cartoon illustrations that whimsically profile bird characteristics.

Min/Max Grade level: 3–5
Bird Watching

Coco Chanel

Along Came Coco: A Story About Coco Chanel by Eva Byrne

In a time when children were meant to be seen and not heard, along came Coco, a small French orphan with an eye for style, a talent for sewing, and a big imagination. At a time when girls were told to brush their hair 100 times until their arms were sore, Coco promised herself that one day she would snip away her locks so that she wouldn't have to be so fussy—girls needed time for other things, and they needed some of the comforts that boys enjoyed. Why shouldn't girls have pockets? And why did they have to wear corsets all the time? Along Came Coco shows the ways in which Coco Chanel's imaginative spirit led her to grow into one of the world's most beloved fashion icons.

Min/Max Grade level: K–3
Fashion

NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1698201

Exploring books about sewing:

Catalina Incognito by Jennifer Torres and illustrated by Gladys Jose

Eight-year-old Catalina Castañeda uses Taia Abuela's sewing kit to turn ordinary clothing into a magical disguise, enabling her to uncover a thief at the local library.

Min/Max Grade level: 2–3
Being a friend

Create a Costume! by Sarah Myer

The comic convention is just a few short weeks away. All Bea and Parker need now are great costumes . . . but won’t the supplies and materials cost a fortune? Not if Bea and Parker follow a few simple instructions from Costume Critter, the world’s cutest cosplayer!

Min/Max Grade level: 4–6
How to

Sadiq wants to Stitch by Mamta Nainy and illustrated by Niloufer Wadia

Sadiq loves stitching colorful patterns on rugs. However, his Ammi reminds him that boys in his community don't stitch, they tend to the livestock. But Sadiq is determined to pursue his passion.

Min/Max Grade level: K–2
Gender roles

Stitch + String Lab for Kids: 40+ Creative Projects to Sew, Embroider, Weave, Wrap, and Tie by Cassie Stephens

With 40+ inventive projects, Stitch and string lab for kids contains everything from simple sewing, embroidery, and weaving to string art, needle felting, and yarn crafts!

Min/Max Grade level: 3 - 7
Cookbooks

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Kids Books & Digital Resources to Celebrate Women in the Arts

Tessa Hamilton, School Outreach Librarian — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 08:54:38 -0500

In March, Women's History Month, we celebrate women’s accomplishments throughout history to empower future generations to have a voice in the world. It's an opportune time to teach children about the contributions of women artists, many of whom struggled in this male-dominated field or were not recognized in their lifetimes. Through painting, sculpture, photography, and many other art forms, these artists express struggle, hope, oppression, strength, and dreams. The books below highlight the works of some of the most influential women in the world of art. You'll also find digital resources both at NYPL and other institutions to further explore these women and their careers.

Who was Frida Kahlo? by Sarah Fabiny and illustrated by Jerry Hoare

You can always recognize a painting by Kahlo because she is in nearly all of them—with her black braided hair and colorful Mexican outfits. A brave woman who was an invalid most of her life, she transformed herself into a living work of art. As famous for her self-portraits and haunting imagery as she was for her marriage to another renowned artist, Diego Rivera, this strong and courageous painter was inspired by the ancient culture and history of her beloved homeland, Mexico.

In Her Hands: The Story of Sculptor Augusta Savage by Alan Schroeder and illustrated by JaeMe Bereal

Presents the life of the African American sculptor Augusta Savage, who overcame many obstacles as a young woman to become a premier female sculptor of the Harlem Renaissance.

Maya Lin: Artist, Architect of Light and Lines by Jeanne Walker Harvey and illustrated by Dow Phumiru

An introduction to the life and achievements of the artist-architect who designed the Vietnam Veterans Memorial describes the creative childhood explorations that inspired her career and how she learned to think artistically with her hands as well as her mind while performing unique experiments with light and lines.

Building Zaha: The Story of Architect Zaha Hadid by Victoria Tentler-Krylov

An inspiring picture book biography about British Iraqi architect Zaha Hadid, a pioneer in her field against all odds. She persisted, she followed her dreams, and she succeeded.

Yayoi Kusama: From Here to Infinity! by Sarah Suzuki and illustrated by Ellen Weinstein; with reproductions of works by Yayoi Kusama

Growing up in the mountains of Japan, Yayoi Kusama dreamed of becoming an artist. One day, she had a vision in which the world and everything in it—the plants, the people, the sky—were covered in polka dots. She began to cover her paintings, drawings, sculptures, and even her body with dots. As she grew up, Yayoi has continued to bring dots with her as she travels around the world making art.

Georgia in Hawaii: When Georgia O'Keeffe Painted What She Pleased by Amy Novesky and illustrated by Yuyi Morales

A tribute to the iconic artist's resolve to paint according to the dictates of her heart relates how in 1939, artist Georgia O'Keeffe fell in love with the Hawaiian Islands while touring there and created nearly 20 sumptuous paintings depicting the beauty of its native elements while refusing to paint the commercial pictures of pineapples that her corporate sponsors wanted.

Pocket Full of Colors: The Magical World of Mary Blair, Disney Artist Extraordinaire by Amy Guglielmo and Jacqueline Tourville and illustrated by Brigette Barrager

Presents the life of the American artist, describing her early work at Disney Studios, her frustrations at not getting her color work accepted, and the later incorporation of her work into some of Disney's best-loved films.

Art From Her Heart: Folk Artist Clementine Hunter by Kathy Whitehead and illustrated by Shane Evans

Introduces the self-taught artist whose paintings captured scenes of the work and celebrations of southern farm life, but who, because of the color of her skin, was not allowed into the museums or galleries where her art was shown.

Dancing Through Fields of Color: The Story of Helen Frankenthaler by Elizabeth Brown and illustrated by Aimee Sicuro

Presents the story of Helen Frankenthaler's early life, how she used colors to express emotion, and how she overcame the male-dominated art world of the 1950s. This obstacle encouraged Helen to originate her own unique and influential style of abstract expressionist painting.

Beautiful Shades of Brown: The Art of Laura Wheeler Waring by Nancy Churnin and illustrated by Felicia Marshall

Growing up in the late 19th century, Laura Wheeler Waring didn't see any artists who looked like her. She didn't see any paintings of people who looked like her, either. As a young woman studying art in Paris, she found inspiration in the works of Matisse and Gaugin to paint the people she knew best. Back in Philadelphia, the Harmon Foundation commissioned her to paint portraits of accomplished African-Americans. Her paintings still hang in Washington DC's National Portrait Gallery, where children of all races can admire the beautiful shades of brown she captured.

Life Made by Hand: The Story of Ruth Asawa by written and illustrated Andrea D'Aquino

Ruth Asawa (1926-2013) was an influential and award-winning sculptor, a beloved figure in the Bay Area art world, and a devoted activist who advocated tirelessly for arts education. This engaging title for young art lovers includes a page of teaching tools for parents and educators.

We Are Artists: Women Who Made Their Mark on the World stories and illustrations by Kari Herbert

Wonderfully illustrated throughout, this book tells inspiring stories of fifteen women artists who made a lasting impact on art and the world through their lives and work.

Photographic: The Life of Graciela Iturbide by Isabel Quintero and illustrated Zeke Pena

A blending of photographs and illustrations trace the life and work of Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, who embarked on a journey across Mexico and the world.

Digital Resources at NYPL

To find out more about these phenomenal women, we invite you to explore The New York Public Library's vast array of digital resources available with a library card.

Art Resources from Home: Online Resources & Databases
A selection of resources about art and art history curated from the research libraries at NYPL. A library card is not required to view the guide but may be required to view the linked resources.

Biography in Context
Provides biographical information on 650,000+ people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines. For more in-depth biographies of figures from American history, consult American National Biography.

Kids InfoBit
A child-friendly database that searches across reference books and periodicals covering history, current events, sports, government, and people.

Oxford Art Online
Oxford Art Online offers users the ability to access the vast content of Grove Art Online, The Oxford Companion to Western Art, Encyclopedia of Aesthetics, Benezit Dictionary of Artists, and The Concise Oxford Dictionary of Art Terms all in one interface.

Pixton
Pixton is a digital comic creation website for kids and teens. No drawing skills are required—just select from preset characters and backgrounds from a variety of pop culture, literary, scientific, and historical themes. Personalize the character appearances and costumes, choose poses and facial expressions, and write dialogue to tell a story. Learn more here.

Scholastic Teachables
Scholastic Teachables offers teaching resources for every subject such as lesson plans, mini-books, and activity sheets to help educators plan for the school year. Teachables content extends from Pre-K to 6th grade.

Additional Resources

Here are additional resources for learners to explore and discover more information about the inspiring women who have contributed to and changed the world of art.

Artcyclopedia
A comprehensive index of artists represented at hundreds of museum sites, image archives, and other online resources.

Metropolitan Museum of Art: Works of Art
Collection database, curatorial departments, and exhibitions.

Museum of Women in the Arts
Artist portraits and work provided by MNWN.

MoMA
Women artists at the Museum of Modern Art.

Tate Museum
An archive of women in art through the collections of the Tate Museum.

The MET
An archive of women artists in the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Art21
A nonprofit organization dedicated to educating through the works and words of contemporary artists.

National Portrait Gallery
An educator's guide expressing the role of women in portraiture.

Representation Matters: Kids Books That Embrace Disability and Difference

Samantha Simoes, Specialist II, School Outreach — Tue, 22 Feb 2022 10:38:29 -0500

When we don’t talk openly about disabilities, they can become the elephants in the room, and children may interpret disability as a restricted topic. Let’s prioritize discussing and educating children about all kinds of physical differences. One way to do this is to read children’s books, like those below, that show respectful and genuine representation. Reading about people who are different from you lets you imagine, reflect on, and learn about their lives.

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Sight! by Ruth Spiro

This series explains to toddlers how the five senses work. The Sight and Hearing books also explain sight and hearing disabilities. An important introduction to the diversity of human bodies.

Pre -K

Baby Loves the Five Senses: Hearing! by Ruth Spiro

Pre -K

This Beach is Loud! by Samantha Cotterill

When a young boy is overwhelmed by all the sights, sounds, and sensations at the beach, his father gently reminds him of tricks that help calm him.

Grades Pre-K to 1

Moses Goes to a Concert by Issac Millman

Moses loves playing his new drum. Even though he is deaf, he can feel the vibrations when he plays. One day, Moses's class goes to a concert. The teacher then says that he knows the percussionist and that she is deaf as well!

Grades Pre-K–2

Benji, the Bad Day, and Me by Sally J. Pia, illustrated by Ken Min

In this tender story about siblings, author Sally J. Pia shares her experience of raising sons with different personality traits and needs. Benji, the Bad Day, and Me embraces the philosophy that we are all part of a wide spectrum of neurodiversity. And on those really bad, rotten days, you can always count on family to be there for you.

Grades Pre-K–K

Hello Goodbye Dog by Maria Gianferrari, illustrated by Patrice Barton

A student who uses a wheelchair finds a way to see her dog each day in school.

Grades Pre-K–2

The Black Book of Colors by Menena Cottin, illustrated by Rosana Faria, translated by Elisa Amado

Illustrations with raised lines and descriptions of color based on imagery provide readers with an interactive experience with the concept of blindness and include a full Braille alphabet.

Grades Pre-K–2

Can Bears Ski by Raymond Antrobus, illustrated by Polly Dunbar

Is Little Bear ignoring his friends when they say hi, or is something else going on? A discovery opens new doors in a tale that will delight kids with deafness and all children learning to navigate their world.

Grades K–1

Just Ask! Be Different, Be Brave, Be You! by Sonia Sotomoyor, illustrated by Rafael Lopez

Sonia and her friends plant a garden, and each one contributes in his or her own special way, in a book that celebrates the many differences among humans.

Grades K–2

I Talk Like a River by Jordan Scott, illustrated by Sydney Smith

When a boy who stutters feels isolated, alone, and incapable of communicating in the way he'd like, it takes a kindly father and a walk by the river to help him find his voice. Compassionate parents everywhere will instantly recognize a father's ability to reconnect a child with the world around him.

Grades 1–4

Frida Kahlo: Little People Big Dreams by Isabel Sanchez Vegara, illustrated by Fan Eng Gee, translated by Emma Martinez

An introduction to the life and achievements of the famed Mexican artist describes the childhood accident that ended her ambitions to study medicine and prompted her to become an artist while regularly confined by disabilities.

Grades 1–3

Six Dots: A Story of Young Louis Braille by Jen Bryant, illustrated by Boris Kulikov

The story of Louis Braille and how he developed the Braille alphabet system.

Grades 1–3

Emmanuel's Dream: The True Story of Emmanuel Ofosu Yeboah by Laurie Ann Thompson, illustrated by Sean Qualls

The inspiring story of a West African youth who pursued an education, helped support his family, and became a record-setting cyclist in spite of a disability traces his ongoing achievements as an activist.

Grades K–3

Thank you, Mr. Falker by Patricia Polacco

Trisha loves school but has difficulty learning to read. Until a new teacher helps her understand and helps her find a solution. An autobiographical tribute to Polacco's fifth-grade teacher, the first adult to recognize her learning disability and to help her learn to read.

Grades K–4

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Incredible Kids Series for Reluctant Readers

Samantha Simoes, Specialist II, School Outreach — Thu, 17 Feb 2022 10:49:57 -0500

Educators, librarians, and parents alike agree that creating a love for reading is incredibly important for any child’s development. Many children love to read, but others struggle and are disinterested or reluctant readers. Remember that every child has an interest—something that engages them and captures their imagination. Sometimes it's a matter of finding the right book for each child. These popular book series below may be just the thing to ignite a child's passion for reading.

Pete the Cat series by James Dean, illustrated by Eric Litwin

Follow Pete the cool, blue cat, along with his many animal pals as they share groovy adventures in this popular series.

Grades K–2
Lexile level 460

Llama llama series by Anna Dewdney and Duncan Reed, illustrated by J.T. Morrow

Llama Llama is a little child who loves his Mama, and likes to play all kinds of games with his friends and he carries his stuffed animal, Fuzzy dolly llama, everywhere he goes.

Grades Pre-K–2
Lexile level 420

Elephant and Piggie series by Mo Willems

Gerald the Elephant and Piggie the Pig are unlikely best friends that do everything together. Simple text, mostly limited to speech bubbles, is rendered laugh-out-loud funny by the two friends' body language.

Grades Pre-K–2
Lexile level 150–300

Scaredy Squirrel series by Mélanie Watt

Scaredy Squirrel is afraid of many things and keeps safe in his tree, following an intricate routine. Once he embraces new adventures and takes a leap into the unknown and discovers to his surprise that he is a flying squirrel.

Grades K–2
Lexile level 560

Ellray Jakes series by Sally Warner and Brian Biggs

Even though he is the smallest boy in his class, Ellray Jakes can get himself into big trouble. Follow Ellray on all his adventures in this incredible series.

Grades K–3
Lexile level 650–820

Meet Yasmin series by Saadia Faruqi, illustrated by Hatem Aly

Throughout this series, Pakistani-American second-grader Yasmin learns to cope with the small problems of school and home, while gaining confidence in her own skills and creative abilities.

Grade 1–3
Lexile level 530

Eerie Elementary series by Jack Chabert, illustrated by Matt Loveridge

Eerie Elementary is alive! Third-grader Sam Graves sets out to stop the school from unleashing its evil….before it's too late!

Grades 2–3
Lexile level 450- 520

The Bad Guys series by Aaron Blabey

In this series, we follow the classic “bad guys” of fairy tales in their quest to redeem themselves for the better in a super series of misadventures.

Grades 2–4
Lexile level 530

Who Would Win? series by Jerry Pallotta, illustrated by Bob Bolster

Young readers will enjoy diving into the animal kingdom to discover which creature will reign supreme! This series features mammals, sea creatures, dinosaurs, and more as they go head to head in battle.

Grades 1–4
Lexile level 570–720

Cat Kid series by Dav Pilkey

Li'l Petey, Flippy, and Molly introduce twenty-one rambunctious, funny, and talented baby frogs to the art of comic-making. As the story unwinds with mishaps and hilarity, readers get to see the progress, mistakes, and improvements that come with practice and persistence.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 520

Big Nate series by Lincoln Peirce

Big Nate follows the adventures and misadventures of Nate Wright, a spirited and rebellious sixth-grader.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 370–520

Zita the Spacegirl series by Ben Hatke

When young Zita discovers a device that opens a portal to another place, and her best friend is abducted, she is compelled to set out on a strange journey from star to star in order to get back home.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 310–520

Maker Comics series by various authors

The ultimate DIY guides, each Maker Comics graphic novel includes inspiring illustrated step-by-step instructions for all your maker needs. This series is here to help you build a game, learn to bake, or introduce your friends to sustainability.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 690

The Last Kids on Earth series by Max Brailler, illustrated by Douglas Holgate

This series follows Jack Sullivan and his friends as they navigate middle school and fight the zombie apocalypse.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 540–700

Amulet series by Kazu Kibuishi

Amulet follows the adventures of Emily and her brother Navin after they discover a magical circular amulet in her maternal great-grandfather's house.

Grades 4–6
Lexile level 310–500

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Kids Books About the Black Experience in America to Complement The 1619 Project: Born on the Water

Tessa Hamilton, School Outreach Librarian — Fri, 28 Jan 2022 15:34:03 -0500

The 1619 Project: Born on The Water, written by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson and derived from Hannah-Jones's "1619 Project" first published in The New York Times Magazine and then in book form, is a picture book in verse that describes the triumph and struggle of African Americans from the continent of Africa to the present day in the United States. The New York Public Library has an excellent collection of complementary books that detail the lives of notable Black people and celebrate the contributions of African Americans.

The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones and Renée Watson, illustrated by Nikkolas Smith

Stymied by her unfinished family tree assignment for school, a young girl seeks Grandma's counsel and learns about her ancestors, the consequences of slavery, and the history of Black resistance in the United States.

Martin's Big Words: The Life of Martin Luther King Jr. by Doreen Rappaport and illustrated by Bryan Collier

A picture-book biography brings to life the message of a gifted and influential speaker by using some of his own words to tell the story. A Caldecott Honor Book.

The People Remember by Ibi Zoboi and illustrated by Loveis Wise

This beautifully illustrated, powerful tribute recounts the journey of African descendants in America by connecting their history to the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Schomburg: The Man Who Built A Library by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Luminous paintings and evocative poems by two of the literary world's top African American scholars trace the efforts of Afro-Puerto Rican legal clerk Arturo Schomburg's efforts to curate a collection of African books, letters, music, and art.

What Color Is My World?: The Lost History of African-American Inventors by Kareem Abdul-Jabbar & Raymond Obstfeld and illustrated by Ben Boos & A.G. Ford

While twins Ella and Herbie help handyman Mr. Midal work on their new home, he tells them about such inventors as Granville Woods, Dr. Henry T. Sampson, and James West, giving them a new view of their heritage as African Americans.

Rosa by Nikki Giovanni and illustrated by Bryan Collier

Provides the story of the young black woman who refused to give up her seat to a white passenger in Alabama, setting in motion aevents of the civil rights movements that resulted in the end of the segregated South, gave equality to Blacks throughout the nation, and forever changed the country in which we all live today.

Who is Barack Obama? by Roberta Edwards and illustrated by John O'Brien

The latest entry in the series that renders famous historical figures accessible to primary students shares the 44th president's life story while offering insight into his achievements as a political leader.

The Story of Ruby Bridges by Robert Coles and illustrated by George Ford

For months, six-year-old Ruby Bridges must confront the hostility of white parents when she becomes the first African American girl to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans in 1960.

The Undefeated by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

This poem is a love letter to Black life in the United States, highlighting the unspeakable trauma of slavery; the faith and fire of the civil rights movement; and the grit, passion, and perseverance of some of the world’s greatest heroes.

Moses: When Harriet Tubman Led Her People To Freedom by Carole Boston Weatherford and illustrated by Kadir Nelson

Describes Tubman's spiritual journey as she hears the voice of God guiding her north to freedom on that very first trip to escape the brutal practice of forced servitude. Tubman would make nineteen subsequent trips back south, never being caught, but none as profound as this first one.

What Is The Civil Rights Movement? by Sherri L. Smith and illustrated by Tim Foley

The latest addition to the popular What Was…? series brings to life the momentous events of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 60s through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the historic movement.

The Year We Learned To Fly by Jacqueline Woodson and illustrated by Rafael López

Heeding their wise grandmother's advice, a brother and sister discover the ability to lift themselves up and imagine a better world.

Hidden Figures: The True Story of Four Black Women and The Space Race by Margot Lee Shetterly with Winifred Conkling, illustrated by Laura Freeman

A lavishly illustrated picture book adaptation of the inspiring story of the four brilliant mathematicians who were pivotal to the success of America's space program.

March: Book One by John Lewis, co-written by Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

A first-hand account of the author's lifelong struggle for civil and human rights spans his youth in rural Alabama, his life-changing meeting with Martin Luther King, Jr., and the birth of the Nashville Student Movement.

Kamala Harris: Rooted In Justice by Nikki Grimes and illustrated by Laura Freeman

A sumptuously illustrated, lyrical portrait of the activist senator and presidential candidate touches on her mixed-heritage childhood as the daughter of immigrants and the long-fostered beliefs that inspired her work on behalf of equality, freedom, and justice

The Lions of Little Rock by Kristin Levine

In 1958 Little Rock, Arkansas, painfully shy twelve-year-old Marlee sees her city and family divided over school integration, but her friendship with Liz, a new student, helps her find her voice and fight against racism.

Kneel by Candace Buford

When his best friend is unfairly arrested and kicked off the team, Russell Boudreaux kneels during the national anthem in an effort to fight for justice and, in an instant, falls from local stardom to become a target of hatred.

The History of Civil Rights Movements in America by Maddie Spalding

There have been many struggles for civil rights in American history. Black Lives Matter is one of the latest movements, but other groups, including women and Native Americans, have also protested for equality and fair treatment. The History of Civil Rights Movements in America examines earlier movements and looks at how they compare to the Black Lives Matter movement of today.

The Awakening of Malcolm X by Ilyasah Shabazz with Tiffany D. Jackson

A fictionalized account of Malcolm X’s adolescent years in prison, written by his daughter and a Coretta Scott King-John Steptoe Award-winning author, depicts Malcolm Little’s struggles with race, politics, religion, and justice before his emergence as a civil rights leader.

For even more inspiring books like the ones on this list, take a look at the Center for Educators and Schools’ Vibrant Voices: New Books By Authors of Color book list.

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Teaching with Oral History: Muslims in Brooklyn Curriculum

Wed, 26 Jan 2022 11:50:20 -0500

Art by Mohammaed Fayaz, one of the oral history narrators in Muslims in Brooklyn

The Center for Educators and Schools at the New York Public Library aims to provide curricular materials you can easily integrate into your classroom teaching. The team of curriculum writers and research associates are diving into the archives, special collections, and millions of items in the research collections to create curricula for K-12 classrooms and beyond. Stay tuned to the For Teachers blog channel for upcoming posts that highlight the Library’s collections as well as resources from other institutions that we think will be useful for educators. In this blog post, we feature the Center for Brooklyn History’s Muslim in Brooklyn curriculum.

For well over a century, Muslims have lived, worked, and prayed in Brooklyn, making it a major center of Muslim life for New York City and the nation. Yet, a gap in knowledge and understanding exists between many Muslims and non-Muslims throughout America. Sadly, this gap has led to the marginalization and erasure of Muslim histories and experiences from our national life. In 2017, Brooklyn Historical Society (now the Center for Brooklyn History at Brooklyn Public Library) launched Muslims in Brooklyn, a three-year, multi-faceted public history project designed to amplify the stories of Brooklyn’s Muslim communities and contextualize those stories in the broader history of the borough, the city, and beyond.

Educators will find the Muslims in Brooklyn Curriculum useful in designing learning experiences for students on a range of topics and themes. Before you begin, be sure to have your headphones ready! The most special thing about this project is hearing the narrator’s voices. Here are some highlights of the website to check out:

Independent Learning: The website supports independent exploration of oral history clips in the Hear Stories, Timeline, and Meet the Narrators sections. Hear Stories locates excerpts of the narrators’ stories in the geography of Brooklyn. The Timeline section provides a selected chronology of Brooklyn’s Muslim past. And Meet the Narrators allows you to discover the narrators through brief biographical sketches and hear excerpts from their full oral histories.
Classroom Lessons: In the Teacher Toolbox section, you’ll find materials to help you implement this curriculum in a classroom setting. In addition to contextual support for using oral histories in the classroom, you’ll find thematic and modular lessons that can be integrated into the English and Social Studies classroom. For example, the “Growing Up & Fitting In” oral histories can be used in high school English classrooms during aunit on Coming of Age literature.
Contextual Knowledge & Support: The Additional Resources section is designed to help support teacher knowledge in discussing broader thematic aspects of Muslim-American life. The essays here, written by Dr. Donna Auston, are brief sketches that provide some historical and social context to some of the most prominent narratives that emerge in the oral history clips. They would also be appropriate reading assignments for high school and undergraduate students.
Don’t Miss:
- Shahana Shanif, one of Brooklyn’s new city councilpersons, and the first Muslim woman elected to the council in its history, discusses her experiences as a community activist in this clip, Public Spaces.
- Baseera Khan, who is currently exhibiting her work “I Am an Archive” at Brooklyn Museum, on the challenges of growing up in Texas in A Unicorn in All Spaces.
- Linda Sarsour, Palestinian-American feminist and activist, representing some local pride for her neighborhood Sunset Park in The Best Neighborhood.

NYPL has some fascinating collections relating to the Muslim-American experience. A great place to start is with Malcolm X, whose papers are housed at the Schomburg Center for Black History and Culture. NYPL’s Doc Chat recently explored these resources in Making of a Malcolm X Speech with Muslims in Brooklyn project director Zaheer Ali. They discuss the context of the speech along with some teaching ideas.

In addition to the suggestions for pairings to Malcolm’s speech in that episode, the Muslims in Brooklyn curriculum explores additional aspects of Black Muslim life. Nsenga Knight’s descriptions of community Eid celebrations in Prospect Park and the importance of martial arts in her Muslim community help us to see aspects of Black Muslim identity beyond what we know from Malcolm X. And Imam Siraj Wahhaj speaks of his experience learning of Malcolm X and Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s assassinations, as well as the role of the Black Muslim community in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn in the 1980s.

We look forward to sharing more resources to inspire your students and teaching practice! To stay up-to-date with our resources and offerings just for educators, subscribe to the Educators at NYPL monthly community newsletter.

Welcome to NYPL's Center for Educators and Schools

Brian Jones, Director, Center for Educators and Schools — Fri, 14 Jan 2022 10:22:19 -0500

For over 125 years, The New York Public Library has been an educational resource for the people of New York City. Now, the Library is building a team exclusively devoted to serving educators and schools. Whether you are a classroom teacher, school librarian, administrator, paraprofessional, parent, or any category of educator, the Center for Educators and Schools is here to help you make the most of the Library’s rich resources.

Schools, like libraries, are democratic spaces where people from diverse backgrounds and perspectives can learn, think, and imagine together. They are places devoted to personal and collective exploration, growth, and transformation. The pandemic has made it clear (if it wasn’t already) how necessary these institutions and the people who work in them are to our society. For many of you, this has been the toughest school year of your careers. The Library is here for you.

We want to connect with the spark that brought you into this profession and nurture it. We will provide opportunities for teachers to be learners, to ask questions, and reflect on their work and to connect with other educators in their community and beyond. Through us, you can access books, thematically curated sets of books, unique archival items, credit-bearing workshops¹, author talks, and other educator-focused programs and events. You can also learn how to plan a visit with one of our expert librarians to your school or a field trip for your class to a Library exhibition. We hope NYPL’s new Center for Educators and Schools will become a professional home for you.

On this first version of our website, you will find a wealth of initial offerings, including two sets of free, credit-bearing, virtual workshops that feature items from our vast archives. In one workshop, you can learn about teaching Black history using a map of 17th century lower Manhattan, offered on both February 10 and 23. It includes information about visiting the Polonsky Exhibition of The New York Public Library's Treasures with your students. Another workshop focuses on teaching with 1950s photographs of young people in the streets of East Harlem. In both cases, participants will come away with high-quality reproductions of the archival images, lesson plans, and new understandings about how to engage students with primary sources.

You will also discover ways to connect to our team of expert outreach librarians, who can help you find just-right books and resources for teaching any topic. You will additionally see information about a new residency opportunity for educators to engage with Library collections. As an educator in residence, you will receive intensive support from us to create a unit, a series of units, or even a whole course using NYPL resources.

Our team comes to this work from a wide range of disciplines and with decades of educational work, including classroom teaching, librarianship, museum education, curriculum design, and scholarly research. We share a belief in libraries and the power of stories; we love libraries and we want to share that love with you and your students. Our mission is to use the resources and collections of NYPL to ignite curiosity, joy, and passion for learning within educators, students and school communities.

If this sounds exciting to you, we hope you will join us: sign up for one or more of our upcoming events and subscribe to our monthly newsletter.

Thank you,
Brian Jones
Director

¹ We can provide CTLE credits to eligible educators in NY State.

Kids Books for Celebrating Winter Holidays

Tessa Hamilton, School Outreach Librarian — Thu, 06 Jan 2022 14:18:52 -0500

The holidays are a perfect time to celebrate with the ones you love. These times are especially important to be with friends and family which makes us happy. People from all over the world celebrate wintertime holidays and their traditions. This collection of books help kids learn about and commemorate these special occasions.

The Night Before Christmas by Clement C. Moore

An adaptation of Clement C. Moore's classic holiday poem, illustrated with lush images that evoke the early 19th-century era in which it was written.

Celebrate Kwanzaa by Carolyn Otto

Presents the holiday, which falls during the festive, gift-giving season and is celebrated by families, communities, and schools throughout America.Some of the traditions include lighting the kinara candles, feasting with family, friends, and community. Also includes backmatter for parents and teachers.

The Shortest Day: Celebrating The Winter Solstice by Wendy Pfeffer and illustrated by Jesse Reisch

Describes how and why daylight grows shorter as winter approaches, the effect of shorter days on animals and people, and how the winter solstice has been celebrated throughout history.

The Story of Hanukkah by David A. Adler; illustrated by Jill Weber

No celebration of Hanukkah would be complete without recounting the events of more than two thousand years ago that the holiday commemorates. In a simple yet dramatic text and vibrant paintings, the story of the courageous Maccabees and the miracle that took place in the Temple in Jerusalem is retold. For readers who want to continue the festivities, a recipe for latkes and directions for playing dreidel are included.

Chinese New Year by Katie Dicker

Chinese New Year helps children to find out more about this important annual festival. Children are introduced to the Chinese calendar and aspects of preparation, such as cleaning and decorating. They also learn about the festival itself with parades, dragon dances, family gatherings, gifts, and special food.

The Polar Express by Chris Van Allsburg

A young boy, lying awake one Christmas Eve, is welcomed aboard a magical train to the North Pole. The Polar Express makes its way to the city atop the world, where the boy will make his Christmas wish. This is a story for all who believe in the spirit of Christmas and those who treasure the sound of a reindeer’s silver bell.

The Nutcracker in Harlem by T.E. McMorrow; illustrated by James Ransome

This jazz-inspired reinvention of The Nutcracker is a worthy tribute to the dreamlike wonder and magic of the Christmas season. In this original retelling, set in New York City during the height of the Harlem Renaissance, one little girl finds her voice as a musician thanks to her enchanting adventures with a magical toy.

The Night Before New Year’s by Natasha Wing; illustrated by Amy Wummer

It’s the night before New Year’s and the whole family is determined to stay up until midnight! Everyone’s stocked up on sparkly streamers and festive party hats, but after a night filled with card games and too many cupcakes, the little ones are getting sleepy. . . Can they make it until the clock strikes twelve?

The Story of the Three Wise Kings by Tomie dePaola

Melchior, Gaspar, and Balthazar follow the new star they have discovered, bearing gifts for the new king they are certain has been born. This is a great book to teach children about the Epiphany or Twelfth Night, which is celebrated on January 6th.

A Piñata in a Pine Tree: A Latino Twelve Days of Christmas by Pat Mora; illustrated by Magaly Morales

In this adaptation of the folk song "The Twelve Days of Christmas," friends exchange such gifts as a piänata and "cuatro luminaries."

Daddy Christmas and Hanukkah Mama by Selina Alko

A child relates how the family celebrates both Christmas and Hanukah, enjoying the rich traditions of both religions.

Shubh Diwali! by Chitra Soundar; illustrated by Charlene Chua

Diwali has arrived! Rangoli art decorates the floor, and strings of flowers hang around the doors. Now it's time to ring the bells, light the lamps, and welcome the new year with family and friends. A sweet introduction to the Hindu festival of lights.

The Night Of Las Posadas by Tomie dePaola

At the annual celebration of Las Posadas in old Santa Fe, the husband and wife slated to play Mary and Joseph are delayed by car trouble, but a mysterious couple appears who seems perfect for the part.

My First Kwanzaa by Karen Katz

A delightful picture book introducing youngsters to the traditions of other cultures, captures the spirit of Kwanzaa, an African-American holiday that celebrates family, friends, and community.

Hershel and the Hanukkah Goblins by Eric Kimmel; illustrated by Trina Schart Hyman

This 25th-anniversary edition of a now-classic tale relates how Hershel outwits the goblins that haunt the old synagogue and prevent the village people from celebrating Hanukkah.

The Legend of the Poinsettia by Tomie dePaola

When her mother cannot finish weaving a blanket for the church nativity, Lucida tries to finish it and ruins it beyond repair, but when Lucida offers an armful of weeds to be placed in the manger, they are transformed into beautiful, red poinsettias.

Seven Spools of Thread: A Kwanzaa Story by Angela Shelf Medearis; illustrated by Daniel Minter

When they are given the seemingly impossible task of turning thread into gold, the seven Ashanti brothers put aside their differences, learn to get along, and embody the principles of Kwanzaa. Includes information on Kwanzaa, West African cloth weaving, and instructions for making a belt.

A World of Cookies for Santa: Follow Santa's Tasty Trip Around the World by M.E. Furman; illustrated by Susan Gal

A World of Cookies for Santa takes readers across the globe to see all the treats that await Santa on Christmas Eve. Head to the Philippines, where children leave out puto seko cookies and ginger tea for Santa; jet to Russia for a honey-spice cookie; then set out for Malawi for a sweet potato cookie! When you've returned home, the journey's still not over—Furman provides recipes for children to bake some of Santa's cookies for themselves.

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Celebrating Martin Luther King, Jr. in the Classroom and Beyond

Chelsey Masterson, School Outreach Librarian — Wed, 05 Jan 2022 09:30:52 -0500

Martin Luther King, Jr. is well-known as one of the leaders of the civil rights movement, during which he encouraged nonviolent protests and acts of civil disobedience while promoting equal rights for Black people. It is always worthwhile to study this incredible man who did so much for civil rights; however, did you know that MLK Day has only been celebrated officially by all 50 states since 2000? Campaigning for a day to recognize and remember this leader began almost immediately after Dr. King’s assassination in 1968, and President Ronald Reagan signed the observance into law in 1983, but for nearly two decades after, many states combined the holiday with other memorial days.

Today, MLK Day is the only national day of service celebrated across the US. In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr.’s commitment to his community, all people in America are encouraged to spend this day helping others. This message of service, equality, and justice for all is one of Dr. King’s most powerful and is perfect for connecting concepts that students learn in the classroom to the wider world around them.

Together, we can all help make Dr. King’s dream of a community of equity, generosity, and kindness a reality. Below are some resources that will help students engage more fully with the civil rights movement, activism, and Martin Luther King, Jr.’s life and legacy.

Nonfiction

If You Were a Kid During the Civil Rights Movement by Gwendolyn Hooks, illustrated by Kelly Kennedy

Gr. K-2. Joyce Jenkins has recently moved to a new town with her family, and she will soon be attending a segregated school for the first time. Meanwhile, Connie Underwood is trying to figure out what her twin brothers are planning in secret. Follow along as these girls find themselves in the middle of a civil rights demonstration and find out how the fight for equality changed the country forever.

The Youngest Marcher: The Story of Audrey Faye Hendricks, A Young Civil Rights Activist by Cynthia Levinson, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley Newton

Gr. K-3. This presents the life of nine-year-old Audrey Faye Hendricks who became the youngest known child to be arrested for picketing against Birmingham segregation practices in 1963.

Be a King: Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s Dream and You by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by James Ransome

Gr. 1-3. See a class of young students as they begin a school project inspired by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and learn to follow his example as he dealt with adversity and never lost hope that a future of equality and justice could soon be a reality. As times change, Dr. King's example remains, encouraging a new generation of children to take charge and change the world ... to be a King.

Voices of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement by Carole Boston Weatherford, illustrated by Ekua Holmes

Gr. 1-3. An illustrated collection of poems and spirituals inspired by the life and work of Fannie Lou Hamer, a leading voice in the fight for civil rights.

She Persisted: Ruby Bridges by Kekla Magoon, illustrated by Gillian Flint

Gr. 2-4. As a first grader, Ruby Bridges was the first Black student to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was no easy task, especially for a six-year-old. Ruby's bravery and perseverance inspires children and adults alike to fight for equality and social justice.

Child of the Dream by Sharon Robinson

Gr. 4-7. As the daughter of baseball legend and activist Jackie Robinson, Sharon Robinson had access to some of the most important events of the era including her family hosting several fundraisers for Martin Luther King, Jr. at their home in Connecticut and attending the March on Washington for Freedom and Jobs. But Sharon was also dealing with her own personal problems like going through puberty, being one of the only Black children in her wealthy Connecticut neighborhood, and figuring out her own role in the fight for equality. This memoir follows Sharon as she goes through an incredible year of her life.

Brown Girl Dreaming by Jacqueline Woodson

Gr. 5-8. In this award-winning biography-in-verse, Jacqueline Woodson shares what it was like to grow up as an African American in the 1960s and 1970s, living with the remnants of Jim Crow and her growing awareness of the civil rights movement.

Marching to the Mountaintop: How Poverty, Labor Fights, and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King, Jr.’s Final Hours by Ann Bausum

Gr. 6-9. This middle grade title explores how the media, politics, the civil rights movement, and labor protests all converged to set the scene for one of King's greatest speeches and for his tragic death.

Turning 15 on the Road to Freedom: My Story of the 1965 Selma Voting Rights March by Lynda Blackmon Lowery, illustrated by PJ Loughran

Gr. 7-10. As the youngest marcher in the 1965 voting rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama, Lynda Blackmon Lowery proved that young adults can be heroes. Jailed nine times before her fifteenth birthday, Lowery fought alongside Martin Luther King, Jr. for the rights of African Americans. In this memoir, she shows today's young readers what it means to fight nonviolently (even when the police are using violence, as in the Bloody Sunday protest) and how it felt to be part of changing American history.

March, Vols. 1-3 by John Lewis and Andrew Aydin, art by Nate Powell

Gr. 7-10. A vivid first-hand account of John Lewis's lifelong struggle for civil and human rights, meditating in the modern age on the distance traveled since the days of Jim Crow and segregation. Rooted in Lewis's personal story, it also reflects on the highs and lows of the broader civil rights movement.

I See the Promised Land: A Life of Martin Luther King Jr. by Arthur Flowers, illustrated by Manu Chitrakar

Gr. 9-12. This graphic novel describes the apartheid South in Martin Luther King's time, which in many ways was not very different from the early days of slavery, with descriptions of the Montgomery Bus Boycott, the formation of civil rights groups, and mass movements against segregation.

1968: Today’s Authors Explore a Year of Rebellion, Revolution, and Change edited by Marc Aronson and Susan Campbell Bartoletti

Gr. 9-12. An anthology of essays that explore the tumultuous and pivotal year of 1968, when the generations clashed as thousands of Vietnamese and Americans were killed in war, assassins murdered Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert F. Kennedy, and demonstrators turned out in cities across the globe.

Fiction

A Sweet Smell of Roses by Angela Johnson, illustrated by Eric Velasquez

Gr. K-3. Two young girls sneak out of their house and join a freedom march. This beautiful picture book highlights the importance of youth involvement in the civil rights movement.

Freedom on the Menu: The Greensboro Sit-Ins by Carole Boston Weatherford, paintings by Jerome Lagarrigue

Gr. 1-3. The 1960 civil rights sit-ins at the Woolworth's lunch counter in Greensboro, North Carolina, are seen through the eyes of a young Southern Black girl in this picture book.

Clean Getaway by Nic Stone, illustrated by Dawud Anyabwile

Gr. 5-8. Set against the backdrop of the segregation history of the American South, take a trip with eleven-year-old William “Scoob” Lamar, who is about to discover the world hasn't always been a welcoming place for kids like him and that things aren't always what they seem—his G'ma included.

The Rock and the River by Kekla Magoon

Gr. 6-9. In 1968 Chicago, fourteen-year-old Sam is caught in a conflict between his father's nonviolent approach to seeking civil rights for African Americans and his older brother, who has joined the Black Panther Party.

Dear Martin by Nic Stone

Gr. 8-12. Writing letters to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., seventeen-year-old college-bound Justyce McAllister struggles to face the reality of race relations today and how they are shaping him.

This Is My America by Kim Johnson

Gr. 8-12. While writing letters to Innocence X, a justice-seeking project, asking them to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row, Tracy takes on another case when her older brother is accused of killing his white girlfriend.

Additional Resources

Voices of Freedom: Fannie Lou Hamer, Spirit of the Civil Rights Movement

This DVD takes younger children through the inspiring life and work of Fannie Lou Hamer, a champion of civil rights and speaker at the 1964 Democratic National Convention who helped motivate leaders to support the Freedom Democrats.

I Have a Dream, by Martin Luther King, Jr.

It wouldn’t be an MLK Day reading list without Dr. King’s most well-known and inspiring speech! This version is beautifully illustrated—perfect for children of all ages.

NAACP Papers

This ProQuest database of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People’s archives is an excellent supplement to a high school research project or class discussion on the civil rights movement.

Civil Rights Teaching

This website provides educators with lesson plans, handouts, and excerpts from the book Putting the Movement Back into Civil Rights Teaching: A Resource Guide for K-12 Classrooms (which is available to read at the Schomburg Center).

Extension Activities

Have your students plan a meaningful service project for the community—whether that community is their school, neighborhood, or something else. You can find lots of helpful service tips at AmeriCorps, and you can also find ideas for virtual projects here.

Examine the Library’s historical Button Collection and design your own button that supports civil rights, equality, nonviolence, and/or service to others.

Compare and contrast historical newspaper articles of civil rights marches to recent newspaper articles on Black Lives Matter marches.

Summaries provided or adapted via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

The Black Panther Party Graphic Novel: Making Connections to the Past

Amber Certain, School Outreach Librarian — Tue, 28 Sep 2021 14:54:23 -0400

'The Black Panther Party' Book Talk with Amber Certain from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.

The Black Panther Party: A Graphic Novel History by David F. Walker and Marcus Kwame Anderson is a great addition to any high school classroom. This graphic novel is great for introducing the Black Panther Party to students without any prior knowledge of it as well as offering deeper insights into the party and its key players that will keep students engaged and even wanting more.

Author David F. Walker explores the complicated and sordid legacy of the Black Panther Party focusing on significant events that took place during the Party's run, and explaining programs that had a significant impact on the Black community. He also writes about the extensive research he did while writing the book. Mini biographical vignettes shed light on key players that many readers might recognize by name but not know much about. Walker created an extensive bibliography at the end of the book which can further add to classroom discussion. This graphic novel is text heavy but Marcus Kwame Anderson’s bright, sharp and detailed illustrations help piece the narrative together, moving the story along seamlessly.

Even though the Black Panther Party ended, the struggles and injustices it fought against are still present today. This title is a great addition to a classroom library for independent reading, additional supplemental reading during the school year, or a wonderful and stimulating book club read, especially for students who are interested in social justice and activism. I would also suggest pairing this book with Stamped : Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds which discusses the history of racist and antiracist ideas in America.

The resource list below highlights not only some of Walker’s suggestions, but other resources to round out this amazing title and help students dive deeper into these topics.

Schomburg Resources

#SchomburgSyllabus

This project archives Black-authored and Black-related online educational resources to document Black studies, movements, and experiences in the twenty-first century. In connecting these web-archived resources to the Schomburg Center’s own unique materials, the project honors and recognizes the source and strength of Black self-education practices, collective study, and librarianship. The #SchomburgSyllabus is curated by Schomburg Center staff and organized into 27 themes, including the Black Panther Party, to foster a greater understanding of the Black experience.

Online Exhibits

Through photography these online exhibits visually introduce students to the history, arts, fashion, and activism of the Black Power Movement.

Black Power! The Movement and Legacy (part of Google Arts and Culture)
Ready for the Revolution: Education, Arts, and Aesthetics of the Black Power Movement (part of Google Arts and Culture)
Black Power Exhibition Resource Guide – A guide to complement the Black Power Exhibition (Schomburg Center)

NYPL Digital Collections

Poster Collection

Three of the posters in this collection specifically highlight Black Panther members including Fred Hampton, (Chicago Chapter) Sundiata Acoli and Assata Shakur and the Panther 21 (Harlem Chapter of the Black Panthers)
Suggested Title: Celebrate People's History: The Poster Book of Resistance and Revolution by Josh MacPhee and Rebecca Solnit
Have a discussion about the power of images and if posters and advertisements still have the same influence as they had in the past.

United States Social Political Button Collection

Reach out to your local library branch to collaborate and use this collection to host a button program with students, engaging them in something creative while discussing the power of voices, activism and fashion.

Books

Young Adult

Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds

A history of racist and antiracist ideas in America, from their roots in Europe until today, adapted from the National Book Award winner Stamped from the Beginning.

Revolution in Our Time: The Black Panther Party's Promise to the People by Kekla Magoon

In this comprehensive, inspiring, and all-too-relevant history of the Black Panther Party, Kekla Magoon introduces readers to the Panthers' community activism, grounded in the concept of self-defense, which taught Black Americans how to protect and support themselves in a country that treated them like second-class citizens. For too long the Panthers' story has been a footnote to the civil rights movement rather than what it was: a revolutionary socialist movement that drew thousands of members—mostly women—and became the target of one of the most sustained repression efforts ever made by the U.S. government against its own citizens.

The River and the Rock by Kekla Magoon

In 1968 Chicago, fourteen-year-old Sam Childs is caught in a conflict between his father's nonviolent approach to seeking civil rights for African Americans and his older brother, who has joined the Black Panther Party.

Fire in the Streets by Kekla Magoon

In the aftermath of Dr. King's assassination in 1968, Chicago fourteen-year-old Maxie longs to join the Black Panthers, whether or not her brother Raheem, ex-boyfriend Sam, or her friends like it, and is soon caught up in the violence of anti-war and civil rights demonstrations.

Into the Street: A Young Person's Visual History of Protest in the United States by Marke Bieschke

This lively book guides readers through the art and history of significant protests, sit-ins, and collective acts of resistance throughout US history. Photos, artwork, signs, and other visual elements highlight the history of social action, from American Indian resistance to colonists through Black Lives Matter and Women's Marches.

Adult

Want to Start a Revolution? Radical Women in the Black Freedom Struggle by Dayo F. Gore

Uncovers the often overlooked stories of the women who shaped the Black freedom struggle.

Bev Grant: Photography 1968-1972 by Bev Grant

This is the first monograph on Brooklyn-based photographer Bev Grant's (born 1942) extensive archive of photographs made from 1968 to 1972, when she was on the frontlines as a feminist and political activist. Grant began taking photographs as part of her participation in demonstrations with the Women’s Movement, such as No More Miss America in Atlantic City in 1968 and The Jeannette Rankin Brigade in Washington, DC, in 1968. As a member of the film collective New York Newsreel, she gained access to the Young Lords Party, the Black Panther Party and the Poor People's Campaign.

My People are Rising: Memoir of a Black Panther Party Captain by Aaron Lloyd Dixon

In an era of stark racial injustice, Aaron Dixon dedicated his life to revolution, founding the Seattle chapter of the Black Panther Party in 1968 at age nineteen. In My People Are Rising, he traces the course of his own radicalization, and that of a generation. Through his eyes, we witness the courage and commitment of the young men and women who rose up in rebellion, risking their lives in the name of freedom. My People are Rising is an unforgettable tale of their triumphs and tragedies, and the enduring legacy of Black Power.

Black Panther: The Revolutionary Art of Emory Douglas by Emory Douglas

Captures the provocative posters and innovative graphics of the Black Panther Party from the mid-1960s through much of the 1970s as revealed in the dramatic work of artist Emory Douglas, the art editor and later Minister of Culture for the Black Panther newspaper, revealing some of the paper's iconic images, including signature portraits of party founders Huey P. Newton and Bobby Seale.

"You Can Jail A Revolutionary, But You Can't Jail The Revolution," Douglas Emory. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 57537497

Suggestion

Have students look at the artwork above to inspire them to recreate an image and idea to showcase their stance on a subject or social justice matter that is important to them.

Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st-Century Revolutions by Sekou Odinga

In 1969, 21 members of the militant New York branch of the Black Panther Party were rounded up and indicted on multiple charges of violent acts and conspiracies. The membership of the NY 21, which includes the mother of Tupac Shakur, is largely forgotten and unknown. Their legacy, however reflected upon here in this special edition, provides essential truths which have remained largely hidden.

The Young Lords: A Radical History by Johanna Fernandez

The Young Lords started as a street gang in Chicago, but eventually grew into a human and civil rights organization, inspired by the grassroots tactics of the Black Panthers.

Drawing on oral histories, archival records and a huge cache of newly released police records, this definitive history of the Young Lords, chronicles their rise and fall as a political organization and demonstrates how they redefined the character of protest and the color of politics.

Film and Video

Oral History Video with Aaron Dixon (The History Makers)

Judas and the Black Messiah

Offered a plea deal by the FBI, William O'Neal infiltrates the Illinois chapter of the Black Panther Party to gather intelligence on Chairman Fred Hampton.

Eyes on the Prize: America's Civil Rights Movement

Volume 5 - Power! (1966-1968)

Across America, the call for "Black Power" mobilizes communities for change in strikingly different ways as told through the perspectives of Black Panther Party members, teachers, and politicians.

Eyes on the Prize; Interview with William O’Neal (American Archive of Public Broadcasting)

Interview with William O'Neal conducted by Blackside for "Eyes on the Prize II." O'Neal discusses being recruited to be an informant for the FBI in Chicago, joining the Black Panthers as an informant, and giving them information about the Black Panthers' activities and Fred Hampton.

Additional

Library of Congress

keyword search “Black Panther Party”

Oakland Museum of CA

All Power to the People: Black Panthers at 50: Videos and resources to share with students

National Museum of African American History and Culture

The Black Panther Party: Challenging Police and Promoting Social Change

Museum of the City of New York

Activist New York: The Activist New York website explores the history of activism in New York City from the 1600s through today. Exploring issues of political and civil rights, religious freedom, immigration, gender equality, environmental advocacy, and economic rights—and drawing on artifacts, images, and interactive components—Activist New York provides a sweeping look at the passions and conflicts that underlie the city’s history of agitation and the New Yorkers who have mobilized to fight for the city they want to see.
Power to all Oppressed People: The Young Lords in New York 1969-1976

Local Activist Groups

Black Youth Project 100 (BYP100): A member-based organization of Black youth activists creating justice and freedom for all Black people.

Teens Take Charge: Elevating students’ voices in the education conversation.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (NYCLU): is one of the nation’s foremost defenders of civil liberties and civil rights.

Youth Activism: NYCLU works with youth organizers across New York State to ensure that young people know their rights, know how to access those rights and learn how to effectively organize around civil rights and civil liberties in their schools and communities.

Book summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

Classroom Connections: Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist

Kaitlin Rotella, School Outreach Librarian, Youth Educational Services — Mon, 27 Sep 2021 11:05:11 -0400

The research process: it’s a topic that is so crucial for students to learn, but one that’s often challenging for teachers to incorporate into their plans. Narrative nonfiction picture books provide a unique opportunity for young students to develop these skills in the classroom. Upper elementary educators can seamlessly integrate information literacy skills into subject specific or cross disciplinary instruction by providing context and extension activities to an engaging, yet educational read aloud. Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean's Most Fearless Scientist by Jess Keating and illustrated by Marta Álvarez Miguéns is a fantastic choice that allows students to research STEM topics and gain essential literacy skills.

Shark Lady Book Talk with Kaitlin Rotella from The New York Public Library on Vimeo.

Digital Resources to Explore

BrainPOP

BrainPOP has a whole section on sharks! The section features a video, an interactive quiz, as well as primary source documents with related questions that help students understand different types of research and reference materials.

BrainPOP also features lesson ideas on sharks for a variety of age bands, making it super simple to plan for instruction.

Scholastic Go!

Scholastic Go! provides students with in-depth articles tailored to their reading level (students or teachers can select the appropriate level in the search results), with audio narration that supports the text. There are a number of articles on sharks for level 1, featuring information all about different kinds of sharks. This is fantastic for students who are looking for more detailed information on specific species.

ScienceFlix

ScienceFlix has a section dedicated specifically to Marine Life, where students can read supplemental material on ocean animals, explore videos, dig deeper into other websites, and check out careers related to oceanography.

Students who are interested in STEM in general can explore other topics within the list of ScienceFlix topics. Within each topic, students can find career possibilities that match their interests.

World Book Online Reference Center

World Book Online Reference Center, like Scholastic Go!, provides students with articles about a specific topic, tailored to their age range, with beautiful images, and audio narration. There are also videos that accompany the article, making it engaging for students who prefer different media formats.

Extension Activities

Browse Nonfiction Titles in the School or Classroom Library & Create a Presentation

After learning about Eugenie Clark’s passion for sharks, have students find a nonfiction topic that interests them by browsing the school library or the classroom library. After they’ve chosen a topic, they can create a guiding question and begin to research the answer. They can find more information from the digital resources listed above, and as they find information, they may change their question—or ask more questions!

Using a graphic organizer, students can take notes and eventually create their own slideshow to present their interests to their classmates. Creating slides is a great opportunity to show upper elementary students how to credit their sources!

Using Search Filters & Exploring Different Types of Sharks

Using filters is an efficient way to limit your search to only relevant information. Using the NYPL Digital Collection, model to students that they can search for "sharks" in the search field. When the search is completed, students will notice that images appear that are not just fish, but of people, as well. Educators can explain that, by using a filter, we can get better results. A filter is a tool that lets us narrow our search in some way. For example, on some websites, like Google, we can select if we only want images, instead of all results.

Explain that by using the filter on the left hand side of the Digital Collection, we can select the topic we want. By selecting fish, we only get images of sharks that swim in the ocean.

Though there are only a handful of shark images, educators can encourage students to select one type of shark to further research, or broaden the search to ocean life, in general. If teachers are looking to get creative with the project, students can replicate the shark using arts and craft supplies.

Additional Titles

Alien Ocean Animals by Rosie Colosi
If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams
Sharks: Nature’s Perfect Hunter by Joe Flood
Super Women: Six Scientists Who Changed the World by Laurie Lawlor
Swimming with Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark by Heather Lang, pictures by Jordi Solano
Ultimate Oceanpedia: The Most Complete Ocean Reference Ever by Christina Wilsdon

Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana 2021: realización de investigaciones con los recursos electrónicos y otras bases de datos de la NYPL

Camila Franco Diaz, Communications — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 18:05:39 -0400

Read this post in English

Desde el 15 de septiembre hasta el 15 de octubre es el Mes Nacional de la Herencia Hispana. La Biblioteca Pública de Nueva York ha creado esta lista de recursos gratuitos en línea para ayudarlo a profundizar en los muchos aspectos de la historia y la cultura latinas e hispanas. Cualquier persona que tenga una tarjeta de biblioteca puede acceder de forma gratuita a estos recursos en línea. También se mencionan otros archivos digitales públicos notables con artefactos, materiales e imágenes de la comunidad latina e hispana.

Investigación general y académica

Credo Reference

Brinda acceso a más de 1,000 libros de referencia multidisciplinarios sobre arte, salud y medicina, historia, derecho, literatura, política, psicología y varias enciclopedias.

HLAS Web (Handbook of Latin American Studies)

Base de datos bibliográfica en línea en la que se pueden realizar búsquedas vincula a los investigadores con descripciones académicas de más de 260.000 libros, revistas, capítulos de libros, artículos de conferencias, mapas y atlas y recursos electrónicos publicados desde la década de 1970 hasta el presente. opciones y límites, y opciones sencillas para citar, guardar y enviar por correo electrónico los resultados de la búsqueda.

HLAS Online

Esta herramienta en línea vincula a los investigadores con descripciones de materiales publicados desde la década de 1930 hasta el presente y también brinda acceso en línea a ensayos bibliográficos de texto completo escritos por académicos. HLAS Online es un sistema de búsqueda heredado con búsqueda básica y experta.

JSTOR

Contiene miles de artículos de varias revistas académicas y capítulos de libros de publicaciones hispanas / latinx contemporáneas.

ProQuest Research Library

Incluye miles de artículos de varias revistas académicas, periódicos y revistas locales, nacionales e internacionales y publicaciones comerciales.

RedALyC

Redalyc es una de las bases de datos de acceso abierto más prestigiosas de la región. Reúne revistas publicadas en 26 países por 695 instituciones de investigación, con más de 1.400 revistas de investigación y un cuarto de millón de artículos disponibles en texto completo y gratis en formato pdf. La mayoría de los artículos están en español, portugués e inglés. Incluye resúmenes en español e inglés, información de referencia y otros metadatos.

Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500–1926

Ofrece una perspectiva de la vida en el hemisferio occidental, que abarca desde la llegada de los europeos a las costas de América del Norte a finales del siglo XV hasta las primeras décadas del siglo XX. Cubriendo más de 400 años y más de 65,000 volúmenes en América del Norte, Central y del Sur y las Indias Occidentales, esta colección digital fácil de usar destaca la sociedad, la política, las creencias religiosas, la cultura, las opiniones contemporáneas y los eventos trascendentales de la tiempo a través de sermones, tratados políticos, periódicos, libros, folletos, mapas, legislación, literatura y más.

SciELO

Una de las primeras y más grandes bases de datos de revistas académicas de acceso abierto basadas en América Latina y sus alrededores. En 2013, SciELO se integró en Web of Knowledge (WoS) de Thomson Reuters. Para 2015, SciELO brindó acceso abierto a más de 1200 revistas de la región, lo que permitió búsquedas a nivel de artículo y revista, por tema o país. Los usuarios pueden ver y descargar resúmenes, textos completos y citas.

Periódicos y revistas

Caribbean Newspapers (1718-1876)

Más de 140 títulos de periódicos de 22 países están cubiertos en esta base de datos, proporcionando contenido de fuente primaria sobre la historia colonial, la trata de esclavos y el comercio.

Digitalia Hispánica

Base de datos de revistas, diarios y libros electrónicos en español para bibliotecas con más de 40.000 documentos electrónicos.

HAPI (Hispanic American Periodicals Index)

Producido por el Instituto Latinoamericano de la Universidad de California, Los Ángeles, el Índice de publicaciones periódicas hispanoamericanas (HAPI) es una base de datos bibliográfica que proporciona citas de los contenidos de revistas académicas publicadas en todo el mundo sobre América Latina, el Caribe y las personas hispanas / latinas en los EE. UU. desde finales de la década de 1960.

Hispanic American Newspapers (1808-1980)

Esta colección representa la compilación electrónica más grande de periódicos en español impresos en los Estados Unidos durante los siglos XIX y XX.

Historic Mexican and Mexican American Press

Una colección de publicaciones históricas mexicanas y mexicoamericanas de Tucson, El Paso, Los Ángeles, San Francisco y Sonora, México. De las bibliotecas de la Universidad de Arizona.

Newspapers.com

Una base de datos con más de 11,100 periódicos de historia de todo el mundo, incluidos más de 2,000 periódicos del continente americano y 22 periódicos de Hawái. El marco temporal de los periódicos abarca principalmente los siglos XIX y XX.

Latino American Experience

Abarca la historia y la cultura de todos los países de América Latina, el Caribe y la Península Ibérica, incluido contenido sobre los países latinoamericanos actuales, la historia de la diáspora hispana y los pueblos indígenas. Presenta ensayos revisados por pares, fuentes de referencia, documentos primarios, medios, periódicos y revistas.

Latin American Newspapers (1805-1922)

Cobertura de las personas, los problemas y los eventos que dieron forma a América Latina durante el siglo XIX y principios del XX. Incluye títulos de periódicos de Brasil, Argentina, México, Perú, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala y otros.

Latin American Newsstand

Ofrece información de texto completo en español y portugués de 41 periódicos de Puerto Rico y 11 países de América Latina, incluidos México, Argentina y Brasil. Los artículos completos están disponibles en formato ASCII.

Recursos digitales adicionales

Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes

La Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes es un proyecto de biblioteca digital a gran escala, alojado y mantenido por la Universidad de Alicante en Alicante, España. Comprende el mayor repositorio de acceso abierto de textos históricos y literatura en español digitalizados y del mundo iberoamericano desde el siglo X hasta la actualidad.

dLOC (Digital Library of the Caribbean)

Un proyecto de digitalización cooperativo, multilingüe y multiinstitucional de socios dentro del Caribe y la circunferencia del Caribe que brinda a los usuarios acceso abierto a materiales culturales, históricos y de investigación caribeños que se encuentran en archivos, bibliotecas y colecciones privadas, incluido el Diario del Caribe. Biblioteca digital, Colección de mapas del Caribe, materiales de Panamá y la Zona del Canal y Archivo Vudú.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog

Contiene millones de fotografías digitales, grabados, ilustraciones y dibujos de la Biblioteca del Congreso.

LACLI (index to free online resources on Latin America and Latinx)

LACLI es un esfuerzo colectivo para crear un almacén de recursos electrónicos gratuitos en línea con contenido completo latinoamericano, caribeño, latinoamericano e ibérico.

Smithsonian Institution Search Center

Contiene millones de fotografías digitales e imágenes de artefactos de museos, fotografías, clips de audio y video y publicaciones de blogs.

Oxford Bibliographies Online

Una colección de guías de investigación para una amplia variedad de temas. Incluye resúmenes de temas y bibliografías comentadas.

National Hispanic Heritage Month 2021: Researching with NYPL's E-Resources and Other Databases

Camila Franco Diaz, Communications — Mon, 13 Sep 2021 08:57:18 -0400

Leer este post en español

From September 15 through October 15 is National Hispanic Heritage Month. The New York Public Library has created this list of free online resources to help you delve into the many aspects of Latinx & Hispanic history and culture. These online resources can be accessed for free by anyone with a library card. Other notable public digital archives with Hispanic & Latinx artifacts, articles, and images are mentioned as well.

General and Scholarly Research

Credo Reference

Provides access to more than 1,000 multidisciplinary reference books on art, health and medicine, history, law, literature, politics, psychology, and various encyclopedias.

HLAS Web (Handbook of Latin American Studies)

This searchable online bibliographic database links researchers to scholarly descriptions of more than 260,000 books, journal articles, book chapters, conference papers, maps and atlases, and electronic resources published from the 1970s to the present.HLAS Web is mobile-friendly, offers multiple search options and limits, and easy options for citing, saving, and emailing search results.

HLAS Online

This online tool links researchers to descriptions of materials published from the 1930s to the present and also provides online access to full-text bibliographic essays written by scholars. HLAS Online is a legacy search system with Basic and Expert searching.

JSTOR

Contains thousands of articles from various scholarly journals and book chapters from contemporary Hispanic/Latinx publications.

ProQuest Research Library

Includes thousands of articles from various scholarly journals, local, national and international newspapers and magazines, and trade publications.

RedALyC

Redalyc is one of the most prestigious Open Access databases for the region. It gathers journals published in 26 countries by 695 research institutions, with over 1,400 research journals and a quarter million articles available full-text and free in pdf format. Most articles are in Spanish, Portuguese, and English. It includes abstracts in Spanish and English languages, reference information, and other metadata.

Sabin Americana: History of the Americas, 1500–1926

offers a perspective on life in the western hemisphere, encompassing the arrival of the Europeans on the shores of North America in the late fifteenth century to the first decades of the twentieth century. Covering more than 400 years and more than 65,000 volumes in North, Central, and South America and the West Indies, this easy-to-use digital collection highlights the society, politics, religious beliefs, culture, contemporary opinions, and momentous events of the time through sermons, political tracts, newspapers, books, pamphlets, maps, legislation, literature, and more.

SciELO

SciELO (Scientific Electronic Library Online) is one of the first and largest databases of Open Access academic journals based in and around Latin America. In 2013, SciELO was integrated into Thomson Reuters' Web of Knowledge (WoS). By 2015, SciELO provided Open Access to over 1200 journals from the region, allowing searches at article and journal level, by subject or country. Users can view and download abstract, full-text, and citation information.

Newspapers and Magazines

Caribbean Newspapers (1718-1876)

More than 140 newspaper titles, from 22 countries are covered in this database, providing primary source content on colonial history, slave trade, and commerce.

Digitalia Hispánica

Database of magazines, journals, and electronic books in Spanish for libraries with more than 40,000 electronic documents.

HAPI (Hispanic American Periodicals Index)

Database of magazines, journals, and electronic books in Spanish for libraries with more than 40,000 electronic documents.

Hispanic American Newspapers (1808-1980)

This collection represents the single largest electronic compilation of Spanish-language newspapers printed in the U.S. during the 19th and 20th centuries

Historic Mexican and Mexican American Press

A collection of historical Mexican and Mexican American publications from Tucson, El Paso, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Sonora, Mexico. From the University of Arizona libraries.

Newspapers.com

A database with over 11,100 history newspapers from around the world, including more than 2,000 newspapers from the American mainland and 22 newspapers from Hawaii. The time frame for the newspapers mainly covers the 19th and 20th centuries.

Latino American Experience

Covers history and culture from all the countries in Latin America, the Caribbean, and the Iberian Peninsula, including content on modern-day Latin American countries, the history of the Hispanic Diaspora, and indigenous peoples. Features peer-reviewed essays, reference sources, primary documents, media, newspapers, and magazines.

Latin American Newspapers (1805-1922)

Coverage of the people, issues, and events that shaped Latin America during the 19th and early 20th centuries. Includes titles from newspapers in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Guatemala, and others.

Latin American Newsstand

ProQuest Latin American Newsstand provides full-text information in Spanish and Portuguese from 41 newspapers from Puerto Rico and 11 Latin American countries, including Mexico, Argentina, and Brazil. The complete articles are available in ASCII format.

Additional Digital Resources

Biblioteca Virtual Miguel de Cervantes

The Miguel de Cervantes Virtual Library is a large-scale digital library project, hosted and maintained by the University of Alicante in Alicante, Spain. It comprises the largest open-access repository of digitized Spanish-language historical texts and literature from the Ibero-American world from the 10th century to the present times.

dLOC (Digital Library of the Caribbean)

The dLOC is a cooperative, multilingual and multi-institutional digitization project of partners within the Caribbean and circum-Caribbean that provides users with open access to Caribbean cultural, historical, and research materials held in archives, libraries, and private collections including the Caribbean Newspaper Digital Library, the Caribbean Map Collection, Panama and Canal Zone materials and The Vodou Archive.

Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Online Catalog

Contains millions of digital photographs, prints, illustrations, and drawings from the Library of Congress.

LACLI (index to free online resources on Latin America and Latinx)

LACLI is a collective effort to create a warehouse of online free e-resources with Latin American, Caribbean, U.S. Latinx, and Iberian full content.

Smithsonian Institution Search Center

Contains millions of digital photographs and image of museum artifacts, photographs, audio, and video clips and blog posts.

Oxford Bibliographies Online

A collection of research guides for a wide variety of subjects. Includes topic overviews and annotated bibliographies.

Teaching Information Literacy with NYPL's Resources

Kaitlin Rotella, School Outreach Librarian, Youth Educational Services — Fri, 10 Sep 2021 16:38:27 -0400

Information literacy is the ability to gather, evaluate, organize, and utilize information in a variety of formats. Teaching information literacy is a difficult task that often requires educators to think outside the box and outside their subject specialty. To make this process easier, The New York Public Library has handouts, lesson plans, and educator guides available through a robust collection of databases and print materials that are accessible with a library card.

Apply for a Library Card

Before utilizing the Library’s resources, students and educators should apply for a library card to gain access to certain digital resources at home and in the classroom.

The New York Public Library Card Application

Anyone who lives, works, attends school, or pays property taxes in New York State can apply for a library card online or at a branch library. Find your closest branch library here to apply in-person.

The New York Public Library Educator Cards

Find out how to get an educator library card, which provides New York City educators with extended borrowing privileges.

Digital Resources

While The New York Public Library provides access to hundreds of resources, many of which are available off site, there are a handful of databases that provide educators with guidance, lesson plans, and handouts that make crafting an instructional plan for information literacy even easier.

Explora Elementary, Explora Middle School, & Explora High School

Explora has three different age bands available for use within your classroom: Explora Elementary, Explora Middle School, and Explora High School. These three separate resources look and feel the same, featuring a user-friendly interface that acts like a true academic database.

In their special section just for educators, Explora highlights primary and secondary school worksheets that they have created featuring an information scavenger hunt, teaching kids how to find the information that they’re looking for. Guiding them how to navigate the site, find relevant information, and explore different topics, these worksheets are a wonderful way to begin exploring information literacy with your students.

Here are the worksheets for both elementary students and secondary students.

Scholastic Teachables

Scholastic Teachables has a plethora of resources for educators of grades pre-K through grade 6. Though this database is wonderful for all subject areas, Scholastic provides access to worksheets, handouts, and more that will help children learn how to evaluate, synthesize, and organize information.

After students complete the Explora scavenger hunt, you can encourage them to select a topic that interests them, and have them try out different graphic organizers for taking notes. Scholastic Teachables features a collection of essential graphic organizers for students, which can be adapted to meet the needs of any and all elementary students. Using these graphic organizers, students can test out what they learned in the previous exercise, as well as learn which graphic organizers are suitable for different topics and types of information. Graphic Organizers Essential Forms are available to download for free with a library card and pin number.

Another great series of worksheets is Scholastic's Finding the Main Idea handouts for different grade levels. While this may seem primarily like a skill focused on literacy and language arts, it is fundamental to every subject area.

TrueFlix

Though many educators focus on text literacy, showcasing how to read, evaluate, and understand different types of information is critical. TrueFlix has a category titled Information Literacy, featuring books on reading maps, diagrams, and more! Students will have fun engaging with maps and charts.

BrainPOP Lesson Plans

The New York Public Library currently provides access to BrainPOP at home with a library card number and pin. BrainPOP has lessons on critical reasoning and internet searching. They even have a page on educator resources for research.

Supplemental Titles

Utilizing print materials in your lessons on information literacy is crucial, as students need to learn how to find information in different mediums. These titles are available to check out from NYPL and can supplement your lessons.

Learning About Media Literacy by Martha E.H. Rustad
Sam Visits the School Library by Martha E.H. Rustad
Sort It Out: Choosing Information by Claire Throp
Who Said What? A Writer's Guide to Finding, Evaluating, Quoting, and Documenting Sources (and Avoiding Plagiarism) by Kayla Meyers
Writing a Research Paper by Valerie Bodden

Though these titles above focus specifically on information literacy and the research process, you can search the catalog for nonfiction materials on a specific topic so that students can learn to take notes, evaluate sources, and compile information.

Supplemental External Websites

Here are a few more resources to check out if you’re looking to incorporate information literacy lessons into your classroom:

Remembering 9/11 with Kids & Teens: 20 Years Later

Tiffany James, School Outreach Librarian — Tue, 07 Sep 2021 12:14:07 -0400

Join the Library as we remember the events of September 11, 2001. For many New Yorkers, this time of commemoration is a moment to teach, discuss, and reflect on our recent history with readers who had not yet been born. As the book discussion, recommendations, and resources below attest, there are lots of ways to explore 9/11 and the legacy of that terrible day with kids and teens, both in the classroom and at home.

To mark the 20th anniversary of 9/11, authors Gae Polisner, Tom Rogers, and Nora Raleigh Baskin joined Shauntee Burns-Simpson, the Library's Associate Director of School Support, to discuss their books for children and young adults about the events of that day.

Here are some of the many titles—in addition to those discussed above—that explore the events of September 11, 2001, in a way that will help younger readers to better understand our recent history and the world we live in now.

Nonfiction

America Is Under Attack: September 11, 2001: The Day the Towers Fell by Don Brown

A moving and informative account of the 9/11 attacks. Told chronologically from perspectives in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, this illustrated nonfiction book presents details on the attacks, the recovery, and the first responders in a thoughtful and accessible way for children ages 8 and up.

Saved by the Boats: The Heroic Sea Evacuation of September 11 by Julie Gassman, illustrated by Steve Moors

This picture book is based on the story of the heroic boat captains and crews who helped thousands of people get to safety on 9/11. A gentle introduction to 9/11, and a story of hope and humanity for very young children.

This Very Tree: A Story of 9/11, Resilience, and Regrowth by Sean Rubin

A sensitively written story about the aftermath of 9/11 told from the perspective of a tree that remained standing after the attacks and came to be a symbol of light and hope. Includes an introduction to 9/11 and the World Trade Center. Suggested for children ages 5–7.

What Were the Twin Towers? by Jim O'Connor

This beginner's guide gives kids information about the Twin Towers from their construction through to the events of September 11, 2001. Suggested for children ages 8 and up.

Fiction

Branches of Hope: The 9/11 Survivor Tree by Ann Magee, illustrated by Nicole Wong

An introduction to 9/11 for younger children told from the perspective of a family of firefighters that tells the story of the day itself, the rescue efforts, the memorials, and the survivor tree. Suggested for children ages 5–7.

Towers Falling by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Fifth-grader Deja has started a new school and a new life in Brooklyn. When her teacher begins a lesson about September 11, Deja realizes she knows almost nothing about the events of that day. Along with her new friends at school, she begins a journey to answer questions about 9/11 and learns new things about her family, community, and friendships. Recommended for ages 9–12.

Nine, Ten: A September 11 Story by Nora Raleigh Baskin

A story of children in different parts of the United States who experience 9/11 from a range of different perspectives. Four middle school kids in Ohio, California, Pennsylvania, and New York City start out on September 10 consumed by their own challenges at home, including grief and dealing with an absentee father. They have no idea that they are all about to come together in the aftermath of 9/11, as their families and communities are affected by the tragic events. Recommended for ages 9–12.

The Memory of Things by Gae Polisner

On the morning of September 11, 2001, 16-year-old Kyle Donohue watches the first tower come down. Then, while fleeing home to safety, finds a girl covered in ash who has no memory. Suggested for ages 12+.

I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis

When the 9/11 attacks hit New York, Lucas rushes to the World Trade Center to try to find his dad and his firefighter "uncle" in this fast-paced novel that will draw younger readers in and help them to connect to history in a meaningful way. Recommended for ages 9–12.

Additional Resources

FreedomFlix brings history to life for students. Discover child-friendly introductory videos, e-books, and lesson plans on 9/11 and other related topics. (Library card required)

Kids InfoBits is a child-friendly database with articles on history, current events, and more. This is a useful starting place for searching for reliable information on 9/11 and many other subjects. (Library card required)

Making Connections: Educators and Library Resources

Amber Certain, School Outreach Librarian — Fri, 03 Sep 2021 15:45:42 -0400

New York City educators, as you prepare to go back to school keep in mind creating a rich, robust, and diverse classroom library will promote healthy reading habits with students, as well as increase their reading frequency. This love and hunger for reading will help students attain greater levels of reading achievements as well as promote a path to lifelong learning.

Get an Educator Card

Did you know that NYC educators employed at Pre-K–12 schools are eligible to apply for a special educator library card with extended borrowing privileges?

Educator cardholders may:

Borrow up to 100 items
Receive no late fines for books or audiobooks
Request up to 50 items
Check out books and audiobooks for a loan period of 60 days
Access NYPL's hundreds of electronic databases

With these extended privileges, we encourage you to use The New York Public Library’s materials in your classroom. For more information on Educator Cards, including how to apply for one, visit The New York Public Library’s Educator Card page.

Digital Resources

With your Educator card you have access to great titles, but you also have access to our databases, many of which provide access to educator resources, including lesson plans!

Scholastic Teachables – offers teaching resources for every subject. Lesson plans, mini-books, and activity sheets help educators plan for the school year. Teachables content extends from Pre-K to 8th grade.

Watch our quick walkthrough of Scholastic Teachables as well as other 'How- To' and Educator Booktalk videos found on our Educator Vimeo page.

Helpful Tips

Educators, working with both school and public librarians can help you succeed in finding relevant, current and high interest titles that your students will want to devour! Building relationships with your school and public librarians will help create a stronger and bigger community for students to flourish both in and out of school. Please reach out to the School Outreach Department at Schoolvisits@nypl.org to be connected to your local library.

Titles to get your classroom library started!

A Song of Frutas by Margarita Engle; illustrated by Sara Palacios

From Pura Belpré Award–winning author Margarita Engle comes a lively, rhythmic picture book about a little girl visiting her grandfather who is a pregonero, a singing street vendor in Cuba, and helping him sell his frutas. The little girl loves visiting her grandfather in Cuba and singing his special songs to sell all kinds of fruit: mango, limón, naranja, piña, and more! Even when they're apart, grandfather and granddaughter can share rhymes between their countries like un abrazo, a hug, made of words carried on letters that soar across the distance like songbirds.

Dumplings for Lili by Melissa Iwai

Lili loves to cook little dumplings called baos with her grandmother, but when cabbage is needed, Lili races up and down the stairs of her grandmother's apartment building to find the ingredient and help the other grandmothers borrow ingredients for different dumplings, from Jamaican meat patties and Italian ravioli to Lebanese fatayer and more.

A recipe for baos is included at the end.

Jayden’s Impossible Garden by Melina Mangal; illustrated by Ken Daley

Amidst all the buildings, people, and traffic in his neighborhood, Jayden sees nature everywhere: the squirrels scrounging, the cardinals calling, and the dandelions growing. But Mama doesn’t believe there’s nature in the city. So Jayden sets out to help Mama see what he sees. With the help of his friend Mr. Curtis, Jayden plants the seeds of a community garden and brings together his neighbors and Mama to show them the magic of nature in the middle of the city. At the back of the book, readers will find activities to make items found in the book, such as the milk jug bird feeder.

Laxmi’s Mooch by Shelly Anand; illustrated by Nabi H. Ali

After Laxmi's friend Zoe points out the hairs on her lip, Laxmi is very self-conscious until her East Indian parents help her to accept and celebrate her appearance.

Anita and the Dragons by Hannah Carmona; illustrated by Anna Cunha

A courageous girl who knows herself to be a valiant princess fearlessly watches the dragons of her imagination from the cement roofs of her Dominican Republic village before the limits of her bravery are tested by adventures outside her home.

On the Trapline by David Robertson; illustrated by Julie Flett

A boy and Moshom, his grandpa, take a trip together to visit a place of great meaning to Moshom. A trapline is where people hunt and live off the land, and it was where Moshom grew up. As they embark on their northern journey, the child repeatedly asks his grandfather, "Is this your trapline?" This is a heartfelt story about memory, imagination and intergenerational connection that perfectly captures the experience of a young child's wonder as he is introduced to places and stories that hold meaning for his family.

Young Reader

The One Thing You'd Save by Linda Sue Park; illustrated by Robert Sae-Heng

When a teacher asks her class what one thing they would save in an emergency, some students know the answer right away. Others come to their decisions more slowly. And some change their minds when they hear their classmates' responses. A lively dialog ignites as the students discover unexpected facets of one another and themselves. With her ear for authentic dialog and knowledge of tweens' priorities and emotions, Linda Sue Park brings the varied voices of an inclusive classroom to life through carefully honed, engaging, and instantly accessible verse.

Jo Jo Makoons: The Used-To-Be Best Friend by Dawn Quiqley; illustrated by Tara Audibert

Jo Jo Makoons Azure is a spirited seven-year-old who moves through the world a little differently than anyone else on her Ojibwe reservation. It always seems like her mom, her kokum (grandma), and her teacher have a lot to learn--about how good Jo Jo is at cleaning up, what makes a good rhyme, and what it means to be friendly. Even though Jo Jo loves her #1 best friend Mimi (who is a cat), she's worried that she needs to figure out how to make more friends. Because Fern, her best friend at school, may not want to be friends anymore.

Too Small Tola by Atinuke; illustrated by Onyinye Iwu

Tolu may be small, but she's very determined. Three delightful stories about Too-Small Tolu, a young girl who, though small, is very determined.

J.D. and the Great Barber Battle by J. Dillard; illustrated by Akeem S. Roberts

When J.D. gets a horrible haircut by his mom before the first day of 3rd grade he decides to take matters into his own hands and discovers a hidden talent.

Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey by Erin Entrada Kelly

Marisol, who has a big imagination and likes to name inanimate objects, has a tree in her backyard named Peppina...but she's way too scared to climb it. Will Marisol find the courage to climb Peppina?

Middle Grade

Akissi by Marguerite Abouet

A graphic novel collection of wild childhood adventures set on the Ivory Coast! Akissi and her posse are wreaking havoc wherever they go.

Amari and the Night Brothers by B.B. Alston

Amari Peters has never stopped believing her missing brother, Quinton, is alive. Not even when the police told her otherwise, or when she got in trouble for standing up to bullies who said he was gone for good. So when she finds a ticking briefcase in his closet, containing a nomination for a summer tryout at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, she's certain the secretive organization holds the key to locating Quinton, if only she can wrap her head around the idea of magicians, fairies, aliens, and other supernatural creatures all being real. With an evil magician threatening the supernatural world, and her own classmates thinking she's an enemy, Amari has never felt more alone. But if she doesn't stick it out and pass the tryouts, she may never find out what happened to Quinton.

Black Boy Joy: 17 Stories Celebrating Black Boyhood by Kwame Mbalia

Featuring contributions from such critically acclaimed Black authors as Jason Reynolds, Jerry Craft and Kwame Mbalia, this celebration of Black boyhood is told through a brilliant collection of stories, comics and poems.

Fast Pitch by Nic Stone

Shenice Lockwood dreams of leading the Fulton Firebirds to the U12 softball regional championship. But Shenice's focus gets shaken when her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending-and family-name-ruining-crime may have been a setup. It's up to Shenice to discover the truth about her family's past-and fast-before secrets take the Firebirds out of the game forever.

Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year by Nina Hamza

Moving from Hawaii to Minnesota, Ahmed Aziz is having the worst year until he deals with bullies, makes new friends and uncovers his family’s past, all while finding himself in three books assigned for his English class.

The Legend of Auntie Po written and illustrated by Shing Yin Khor

Part historical fiction, part magical realism, and 100 percent adventure. Thirteen-year-old Mei reimagines the myths of Paul Bunyan as starring a Chinese heroine as she works in a Sierra Nevada logging camp in 1885.

Have trouble reading standard print? Many of these titles are available in formats for patrons with print disabilities.

Summaries provided via NYPL’s catalog, which draws from multiple sources. Click through to each book’s title for more.

When the Lights Went Out: Resources for Learning About the 1977 NYC Blackout

Amber Certain, School Outreach Librarian — Mon, 30 Aug 2021 12:47:34 -0400

"Do you remember what you did on this dark and humid night, eight million people in the city without a light in sight / Where were you when the lights went out In New York City.”

—The Trammps, "The Night the Lights Went Out"

July 13th, 1977—an electrical blackout hits New York City and within 25 hours total chaos descended upon the city. New York was already in a financial crisis with high unemployment rates creating even more poverty and devastating many communities. The Bronx was literally on fire. Not to mention, there was a serial killer on the loose.

If you're interested in New York City history, the titles and resources below will help paint a picture of the city's economic, social, and cultural landscape during this time. Educators can use these resources to interest students in the city around them by looking at this turbulent time—the blackout, fear of the Son of Sam killer, the birth of Hip-Hop, mayoral politics, the financial crisis, and more—through books (including a few YA fiction titles set during this time), articles, documentaries, and interviews. You might also invite students to ask their own families where they were during the blackout of 1977 (or the blackout of 2003!).

BOOKS

Nonfiction

Can’t Stop Won’t Stop: A Hip-Hop History (Young Adult Edition) by Jeff Chang with Dave "Davey D" Cook

Can't Stop Won't Stop is the story of hip-hop, a generation-defining movement and the music that transformed American politics and culture forever. Hip hop is one of the most dominant and influential cultures in America, giving new voice to the younger generation. It defines a generation's worldview. Exploring hip hop's beginnings up to the present day, Jeff Chang and Dave "Davey D" Cook provide a provocative look into the new world that the hip hop generation has created. Based on original interviews with DJs, b-boys, rappers, activists, and gang members, with unforgettable portraits of many of hip hop's forebears, founders, mavericks, and present day icons, this book chronicles the epic events, ideas and the music that marked the hip hop generation's rise.

Ladies and Gentlemen, The Bronx is Burning: 1977, Baseball, Politics, and the Battle for the Soul of a City written by Jonathan Mahler

By early 1977, New York City was in the grip of hysteria caused by a murderer dubbed "Son of Sam." And on a sweltering night in July, a citywide power outage touched off an orgy of looting and arson that led to the largest mass arrest in New York's history. As the turbulent year wore on, the city became absorbed in two epic battles: the fight between Yankee slugger Reggie Jackson and team manager Billy Martin, and the battle between Ed Koch and Mario Cuomo for the city's mayoralty. Buried beneath these parallel conflicts—one for the soul of baseball, the other for the soul of the city—was the subtext of race. These braided stories tell the history of a year that became a year of survival but also of hope.

The Fires: How a Computer Formula Burned Down New York City and Determined the Future of Cities by Joe Flood

Contends that computer remodeling of 1970s-era New York City led to the withdrawal of fire protection services from poor neighborhoods that burned down and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.

Fear City: New York's Fiscal Crisis and the Rise of Austerity Politics by Kim Phillips-Fein

Presents a history of New York City's financial crisis in the 1970s and how the city was rescued from the brink of bankruptcy while analyzing the politics of austerity and how they are continuing to shape the world today.

Fiction

Blackout stories by Dhonielle Clayton, Tiffany D. Jackso, Nic Stone, Angie Thomas, Ashley Woodfolk, and Nicola Yoon

Six critically acclaimed, bestselling, and award-winning authors bring the glowing warmth and electricity of Black teen love to this interlinked novel of charming, hilarious, and heartwarming stories that shine a bright light through the dark. A summer heatwave blankets New York City in darkness. But as the city is thrown into confusion, a different kind of electricity sparks. A first meeting. Long-time friends. Bitter exes. And maybe the beginning of something new. When the lights go out, people reveal hidden truths. Love blossoms, friendship transforms, and new possibilities take flight.

Burn, Baby Burn by Meg Medina

It is the summer of 1977, and New York is suffering under a heat wave, a massive blackout, and a killer named the Son of Sam, while seventeen-year-old Cuban American Nora Lopez wants to escape her increasingly violent younger brother and worries about college applications and paying rent to spend her days working at the deli with the cute new Colombian boy and her nights at the disco dancing with her best friend Kathleen.

Documentary Films Available at NYPL

Blackout

Told through the memories of those who lived through the events, examines the 1977 power outage that caused monumental mayhem throughout New York City over two hot and humid days. In the documentary, American Experience explores the economic, political, technological, and social consequences of an event that led to both horrifying lawlessness and to innumerable acts of selflessness and generosity.

Decade of Fire

Bronx-born Vivian Vazquez exposes the truth about how her neighborhood was destroyed by fires and neglect in the 1970s, and reveals how her maligned community chose to resist, remain, and rebuild.

Digital Resources Available with an NYPL Library Card

"The New York Blackout" written by Alan McGowan, Environment Aug/Sep77 (search for article using Academic Search Premier)
"The Darkest Night" written by Jonathan Mahler forThe New York Times, Oct. 5, 2003
Ed Koch interview in the NYTimes.com Video Collection, Feb. 1, 2013 (Koch became mayor of NYC in 1977)
"Improbable Strikes by Lightning Tripped Its System, Con Ed Says" written by Victor K. McElheny for The New York Times, July 15, 1977
"Con Ed, An Hour After the Blackout Started, Tried a Wide Restoration of Power in Vain" written by Victor K. McElheny for The New York Times, July 28,1977
"The Night the Lights Went Out" written by James Dolan for Scholastic, May 5, 2006

External Resources

In addition to being available through NYPL, the American Experience documentary Blackout is currently available to stream on PBS.
The Son of Sam killings are the subject of an episode of The Lost Tapes series and can be viewed on the Smithsonian Channel website: The Lost Tapes: Son of Sam.
Episode 31 of the Brooklyn Historical Society’s podcast Flatbush + Main focuses on the blackout and its legacy. Listen here: The Blackout of 1977.
You can view photos of NYC during the blackout on the websites Rare Historical Photos and Getty Images.
The Netflix streaming series The Get Down is a musical drama set in 1977 in the South Bronx and centers on a group of teenagers coming of age amidst the beginnings of hip-hop and disco music.
For a first person perspective on the blackout, read an interview with Christopher "Doc" Vanager on PBS who was a 12-year-old in Brooklyn during the '77 blackout and draws connections between that event and the birth of hip-hop.

September is Library Card Sign-Up Month

Tiffany James, School Outreach Librarian — Thu, 26 Aug 2021 14:54:53 -0400

The month of September signals the end of summer, back to school, sweater weather, and, of course, Library Card Sign-Up Month. Library resources are plentiful and free! Having a library card provides access to resources to engage and support students, teachers, children, teens, and adults. Our resources support NYPL’s mission to inspire lifelong learning, advance knowledge, and strengthen our communities.

Below are just a few great reasons to apply for a library card today. For information on how to get a library card, visit our info page: Apply for a Library Card

Kids

Check Out Brainpop: Children have free access to Brainpop’s online educational videos and activities for English, Math, Science, and more for children in grades K-8.

Teens

Check Out Flipster: Explore a digital library with over 100 popular magazines for all ages. Some popular categories include Entertainment, News, and Sports. Read them online or download the app for instant access and no wait times.

Parents

Check out Brainfuse: Students can get homework help online from live tutors in real time. Log in with a library card between the hours of 2 PM–11 PM and ask questions and get help in both English and Spanish. Brainfuse is available for grades K–12 with some college assistance and also has an adult learning center.

Adults

Check Out Press Reader: Read current newspapers from around the world—over 2,000 titles available. Read them online or through the free app.

Educators

Check out NYPL's Educator's Page: This page is full of learning resources to support your daily work. You can also register for an educator card if you work in NYC. Educator cards include more privileges than a personal library card. You can borrow more materials, get a longer loan period, and there are no late fines for books when borrowing materials to use in your classroom. To find out more, visit our info page: NYPL Educator Cards.

These are just a few great reasons to apply for, renew, or dust off your old library card today. Want to know what else we have to offer with your library card? Check out our vast array of Articles & Databases where you can do research, learn a new language, or trace your family tree.

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré: Connections for the Classroom

Kaitlin Rotella, School Outreach Librarian, Youth Educational Services — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 14:09:10 -0400

Pura Belpré was the first Puerta Rican librarian for The New York Public Library, as well as an inspiring storyteller and author. Her legacy lives on through the Pura Belpré Award, an honor given each year to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose “work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth.” Her life was recently depicted in the 2019 children’s nonfiction picture book Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré by Anika A. Denise and illustrated by Paola Escobar. This biographical narrative features warm, colorful illustrations of Belpré’s amazing life and work, and is an excellent teaching tool to engage students in their local library, in New York City’s rich culture, and in real-world connections to nonfiction texts.

Planting Stories is featured in The New York Public Library’s 2021 Summer Learning Educator Guide, along with discussion questions, activities, and more! While the guide is a wonderful starting point for incorporating this title into your instructional plans, check out additional NYPL resources below that make this title a great choice for teaching biographies and research to elementary students. Furthermore, HarperCollins has an educator guide for this title, as well.

Educators, as you begin to plan for back to school, consider incorporating this title into your lessons early on in the school year to encourage students to visit their local library, check out materials, and get a library card.

Print Collections

As students learn from the text, Belpré authored many Spanish children's books over the course of her lifetime when she realized that the Library did not have Spanish-language books at the time. Perez y Martina; un cuento folklórico puertorriqueñoa is available for checkout, while other titles she’s written are available as non-circulating reference materials.

Educators can also peruse the complete list of books that have won the Pura Belpré award and use our online catalog to find these materials at their local branch library or online.

Digital Collections

Because Pura Belpré was a librarian at The New York Public Library, the Digital Collections feature images of her, as well as the branches that she worked at, which are mentioned throughout the text of Planting Stories. By sharing these images with students, educators can shed light on Pura Belpré’s real life, through photographs of the libraries she worked at and an image of her reading to children just like them.

135th Street Library, Exterior. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1252985

Belpré began her work with NYPL at the 135th Street Library as a bilingual assistant in 1921, and as the author’s note in Planting Stories details, when she realized there were no Spanish books in the collection, she wrote them herself!

135th Street is now named the Countee Cullen Library, and the original building is part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. The Countee Cullen Library moved to its current location in 1941, and features the James Weldon Johnson Reference Collection for children and a reference collection on the African American experience.

Children with Pura Belpré at 115th Street Library. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 100838

115th Street Library Children’s Reading Room. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 100835

115th Street Library. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1252980

Belpré continued her career at The New York Public Library at the 115th Street Library, where she hosted storytimes with many children! The 115th Street Library is now named the Harry Belafonte 115th Street Library—built in 1908, it was renamed in 2017 to honor Harry Belafonte, an entertainer and civil rights leader.

Clarence Cameron White: At the foot of Dessaline's statue in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. NYPL Digital Collections, Image ID: 1945161

Clarence Cameron White, Belpré’s husband, is referenced in Planting Stories, with Anika writing, “Together they travel to new cities. Clarence plays his music. Pura tells her stories.” The image above shows him visiting Haiti. Photos are an excellent way to introduce primary source documents to elementary school students, who will relish in seeing the pages of a picture book come to life in photographs and real life documents.

Learning to Research

Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré is a fantastic entrypoint for students to begin to learn how to research. NYPL. has digital resources that are available with a library card that will allow students to search for information about Belpré, New York City, and more generally, children’s literature.

Explora Elementary is a database that allows young researchers to find information on a variety of topics. While its user interface is similar to that of a database for older students and academics, it features content specifically for elementary students, including reference articles and other media content. This digital resource in particular has a great article on the Pura Belpré Award. After students read more about the award, they can browse and borrow other Pura Belpré award winners. Educators can see the complete list of award winners, to guide their students appropriately.

World Book Online is a digital encyclopedia featuring reference articles for all ages. This digital resource allows students to select their grade level after logging in, and allows for audio narration of articles to support all learners access the material. World Book Online has a wonderful article on Pura Belpré for students to read to supplement Planting Stories.

World Book Online also features educator tools that provide lesson plans and printable materials that support research for young learners. Their Webquest printable Literature for Children Using World Book Online assists students in learning how to find information on World Book Online and record it appropriately.

Scholastic Go! is another digital resource that supports research for young children. Because it’s made by Scholastic, all of its articles are leveled by lexile score so that educators can connect their students with materials that are appropriate for their needs. This resource also connects to Google Classroom, provides standards alignment, and like World Book Online, provides audio narration of the text of an article. Scholastic Go! features connected content, like additional websites for students to check out.

Scholastic Go! has lesson plans and instructional materials, as well. Check out this lesson plan on Illustrating Children’s Books (must be logged in to activate link), which teaches children about the work that goes into illustrating picture books like Planting Stories.

Finally, Naxos Music Library features a few of Clarence Cameron White’s classical pieces. Using the left hand navigation bar, educators can select “People” and then click “W” to find Clarence Cameron White’s profile and listen to the music available.

Class Visits

The New York Public Library offers class visits to K–12 school groups, and visiting your local branch to hear a story from a children’s librarian is the perfect culminating activity to learning about Pura Belpré! Like the children in the story, students will be able to see the magic of libraries in real life and get their very own library card. Not able to make it to the branch in-person with your class? The New York Public Library continues to hold virtual class visits.

To connect with your local branch library for a class visit, reach out to schoolvisits@nypl.org with grade level, school information, and whether you're requesting an in-person or virtual visit.

Getting Your Little One Ready for Back to School

Kaitlin Rotella, School Outreach Librarian, Youth Educational Services — Mon, 09 Aug 2021 12:15:25 -0400

The upcoming school year is on the horizon—and it’s important to prepare your child to return to the classroom, especially after a year of mostly remote and hybrid learning. Adjusting to a structured day after a relaxing summer can be challenging, but parents can help their young ones with the programs, resources, and materials of The New York Public Library.

Read Together: Reading together with your child regularly will help them develop and build their fluency, as well as begin a routine that will help them readjust to their new school schedule. Take turns reading with your child, or if they’re able to read on their own, set a schedule for them to read at least twenty minutes a day. Need help choosing a book? Request Shelf Help or stop by your local branch library for recommendations from expert children’s librarians. Don't have a library card yet? Cards are free for all New Yorkers.
Attend a Library Program: All available branches of the Library are now open and in-person public programs are returning, including some that are taking place outdoors! At in-person programs, your child will have the opportunity to interact with other children and explore their interests and passions. Check out our full calendar of events, including in-person, online, and outdoor programs. Can’t make it to your local branch? Check out our online storytimes.
Participate in the Library’s Summer Learning Program: Summer’s not over yet—and there’s still time to participate in the Summer Learning program! Stop by your local branch to pick up or download an activity kit for your child, which they can complete at home. Parents can also download Beanstack for children to track their reading and earn badges for their accomplishments.
Explore Free Digital Resources at Home with a Library Card: The New York Public Library provides free access to hundreds of digital resources available with a library card. Many of the resources provide wonderful online learning opportunities for children. Read a pair of fiction and nonfiction books on BookFlix, practice your addition and subtraction on TumbleMath, or learn a new language with Mango Languages.