Scholastic Reads

Latest Episodes:

Journeys to America: Sharing Stories of Survival and Hope Jun 28, 2018

Show notes

We are a nation of immigrants. And they have stories to tell. Today, we invite you to listen to stories from authors and illustrators who are creating work that shares the immigrant experience and what it means to leave your home in search of a better life.

Featured authors:

Kelly Yang, author of Front Desk
Edwidge Danticat, author of Untwine
Alan Gratz, author of Refugee
Sayantani DasGupta, author of The Serpent's Secret
Rashin Kheiriyeh, author of Saffron Ice Cream
Carmen Agra Deedy, author of The Rooster Who Would Not Be Quiet!

Additional resources:

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Chris Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Away From Keyboard: Taking Gaming Offline Jun 21, 2018

Show notes

As video games continue to captivate kids around the world, Scholastic AFK—or "Away From Keyboard"—books aim to harness that gaming passion, and convert it into a literacy tool.

To learn more about this initiative, we sat down with Michael Petranek, an executive editor at Scholastic, and Matthew J. Kirby, the author of the Assassin's Creed: Last Descendants series.

They tell us about what they love about gaming as well as some of the many benefits these books provide to growing readers: they encourage time away from screens, while also supporting reading and literacy by keeping fans engaged in the worlds they love.

Additional resources:

Guests:

Michael Petranek is an executive editor at Scholastic
Matthew J. Kirby is the author of Last Descendants: An Assassin's Creed Novel Series

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan
Produced by Emily Morrow

Reading with Pride: The Importance of LGBTQ+ Representation in Children's Books Jun 07, 2018

Show notes

Several months ago, we asked authors of different cultures, races, abilities, genders and orientations to tell us about the first time they saw themselves in the pages of a book. (You can listen to that episode here.)

We expected the answer. We knew it was coming. But still, it tore at us: Over and over, these authors said, "I didn't. I didn't see myself."

At Scholastic, we are proud to publish books that give allchildren the chance to see themselves as heroes. But we know that we still have work to do. And part of that work is listening.

So, this week, in celebration of Pride Month, we are spotlighting some of our LGBTQ+ authors who are writing to fill the void they felt growing up.

Contributing authors:

Additional resources:

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Chris Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

The Summer Reading Difference May 31, 2018

Show notes

Research shows that when children and their families have the resources they need to read throughout the summer, fewer students experience a loss of skills while school is out. This week, we're talking with two experts about ways they work to keep books in the hands of their students all summer long, and the incredible results they've seen as a result of their focus on summer reading.

First, we talk with Jennifer Boren, a library media specialist in Collierville, Tennessee. Jennifer talks about her experience with the Scholastic Summer Reading Challenge, the importance of representation in children's books, and some of the accomplishments of her summer readers. We also hear from a few of Jennifer's students about why they love to read!

Later, we talk with Ansel Sanders, president and CEO of Public Education Partners in Greenville, South Carolina. In 2016 and 2017, PEP collaborated with Scholastic to measure the impact of their award-winning Make Summer Count initiative to eliminate summer reading loss. The results were incredibly positive: 78% of participating students maintained or increased their reading level from spring to fall.

Additional resources:

Guests:

Jennifer Boren is the Library Media Specialist at Bailey Station Elementary and has worked in public education for sixteen years. She is Apple Teacher certified and serves her school district as the Lead Library Media Specialist and Vanguard Coach for Collierville Schools. In addition to reading avidly, traveling, and spending time with her family, she works as a freelance writer for Memphis Parent Magazine and blogs at https://bookjabber.wordpress.com
Ansel Sanders is President and CEO of Public Education Partners (PEP), an education fund that incubates innovative pracitces and positions the community to advocate for excellent public education in Greenville, South Carolina.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

The Maker Movement May 10, 2018

Show notes

This week, we're taking a look at the maker movement. What does a makerspace look like? Why are libraries considered the perfect place to host a makerspace? And what does being a maker mean, anyway?

First, we talk with Kristina Holzweiss, a media specialist at Bay Shore Middle School in New York who is spearheading the maker movement across Long Island. Later, we sit down with two Scholastic employees who have helped create the Klutz Maker Lab line of products, which include DIY gumball machines and remote control racecars!

Additional resources:

Learn more about Klutz Maker Lab
Learn more about SLIME (Students of Long Island Maker Expo)
Learn more about Long Island LEADS
Read about Kristina Holzweiss' nomination as a Library Journal Mover and Shaker
Learn about makerspace books by Kristina Holzweiss
Follow Kristina Holzweiss on Twitter
Follow Klutz on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook

Guests:

Kristina Holzweiss is the school library media specialist at Bay Shore Middle School, as well as the founder of Students of Long Island Maker Expo and Long Island LEADS. She is also the author of two makerspace-themed series with Scholastic Library Publishing. In 2015, she was named the School Librarian of the Year by School Library Journal and Scholastic.
Netta Rabin is the vice president of product development at Klutz.
Owen Keating is a senior packaging designer at Klutz.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Varian Johnson and The Parker Inheritance Apr 26, 2018

Show notes

This week, we're talking with Varian Johnson, author of the new middle grade book The Parker Inheritance.

Varian talks about his inspiration for the book, the research it took to dig back into his own hometown’s past, and about social justice — how far we’ve come and how far we still have to go.

About The Parker Inheritance:

The letter waits in a book, in a box, in an attic, in an old house in Lambert, South Carolina. It's waiting for Candice Miller. When Candice finds the letter, she isn't sure she should read it. It's addressed to her grandmother, who left Lambert in shame. But the letter describes a young woman. An injustice that happened decades ago. A mystery enfolding the letter-writer. And the fortune that awaits the person who solves the puzzle. So with the help of Brandon Jones, the quiet boy across the street, she begins to decipher the clues. The challenge will lead them deep into Lambert's history, full of ugly deeds, forgotten heroes, and one great love; and deeper into their own families, with their own unspoken secrets. Can they find the fortune and fulfill the letter's promise before the answers slip into the past yet again?

Additional resources:

Guests:

Varian Johnson is the author of nine novels, including The Parker Inheritance, which received four starred reviews and was named a Junior Library Guild selection and a Spring 2018 Kids’ Indie Next List pick among other accolades. His middle grade caper novel, The Great Greene Heist, has been named to over twenty-five state reading and best-of lists. In addition, Varian has written for the Spirit Animals: Fall of the Beasts middle-grade fantasy series as well as novels and short stories for YA audiences.
Varian was born in Florence, South Carolina, and attended the University of Oklahoma, where he received a BS in Civil Engineering. He later received an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from Vermont College of Fine Arts, and is honored to now be a member of the faculty. Varian lives outside of Austin, TX with his family.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Meet the 2017-2018 Kids Press Apr 12, 2018

Show notes

This week, we introduce you to some of the incredible members of Scholastic News Kids Press Corps!

Each year, 10- to 14-year-olds from around the world are selected to participate in this award-winning program. These young journalists report news for kids, by kids, covering breaking stories, sports events, entertainment, and more from their hometowns and on the global stage. Since the application process is now open for next year, we asked some of our reporters to tell us about their favorite assignments.

We'll find out what our Kid Reporters have learned from their experiences, which range from covering the Westminster Dog Show in New York City to child labor in India.

Know a kid with a nose for news? The Scholastic News Kids Press Corps is accepting applications through May 31, 2018. Find out more details and apply here!

Additional resources:

Guests:

Amelia Poor is a 12-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from New York. Amelia joined Kids Press in 2017.
Rohan Saketh Devulapalli is a 13-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from South India. Rohan joined Kids Press in 2017.
Owen Osborne is a 10-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from Louisiana. Owen joined Kids Press in 2017.
Lilian Jochmann is a 14-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from Wisconsin. Lilian joined Kids Press in 2016.
Nolan Pastore is an 11-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from Ohio. Nolan joined Kids Press in 2017.
Helen Hong is a 13-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from Australia. Helen joined Kids Press in 2017.
Ryan Stoltz is a 13-year-old member of the Scholastic News Kids Press Corps from Minnesota. Ryan joined Kids Press in 2014.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound engineering by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Martin Rising Mar 29, 2018

Show notes

April 4, 2018 marks the 50th anniversary of the assassination of Martin Luther King, Jr., and to honor his life and legacy, we're sitting down with Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney, the author and illustrator behind Martin Rising: Requiem for a King Andrea and Brian share how they were inspired to create the book, which is a combination of poetry and colorful artwork; how they work together as husband and wife creators; how their own lives were impacted by King's work; and the message of hope and empowerment they hope their young readers take from the book.

Additional resources:

More information about Martin Rising

Guests:

Andrea Davis Pinkney and Brian Pinkney have made an outstanding contribution to the field of children's literature both as individuals and as a team. Between them, they have published more than seventy children's books that have received the highest awards and accolades, including Caldecott Honors, Coretta Scott King Honors, NAACP Image Award nominations, and the May Hill Arbuthnot Honor Lecture Award, to name a few. To learn more, please visit andreadavispinkney.com and brianpinkney.net

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Reading Role Models Mar 22, 2018

Show notes

Did a beloved teacher ever read aloud to your class when you were a kid? Did a friend or relative ever hand you a book that became a lifelong favorite? That's what we're talking about today—the magic of reading role models, individuals who play a crucial role in helping kids succeed.

First, we talk with Malcolm Mitchell, the author of the picture book The Magician's Hat, the founder of Read With Malcolm, AND a Super Bowl winning football player with the New England Patriots. Malcolm talks about his personal struggle with reading as a kid, and how that's motivated him to show kids how important—and wonderful—books can be.

We then move from football to basketball, as we sit down with with Marc Davis, an NBA Referee who participates in a program called TIMEOUT for Reading, a collaboration between Scholastic and the NBA Referee Association in which referees read aloud and disribute books to sixth grade classrooms.

Finally, Greg Worrell, the president of Scholastic Education, joins us to talk about his experience with Houston Real Men Read and how he met his mentee.

Additional resources:

Learn more about The Magician's Hat by Malcolm Mitchell
Learn more about Read with Malcolm, Malcolm Mitchell's youth literacy foundation
Learn about the NBRA

Guests:

Malcolm Mitchell helped the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl in his rookie season and was named to the 2017 NFL All-Rookie Team. Mitchell was drafted by the Patriots after a standout career at the University of Georgia. Mitchell is also an author and crusader for children’s literacy. Mitchell self-published a children’s book, The Magician’s Hat, about a boy who knows the magical power of books, which earned him Georgia Children's Author of the Year in 2016. Malcolm founded a youth literacy initiative called Read with Malcolm. Mitchell currently serves as the New England Patriots “Summer Reading Ambassador”, to encourage students to read as much as possible during the critical summer months.
Marc Davis has been an NBA official for the past 20 seasons, working 1,156 regular season games, 105 playoff games, and nine finals games in his NBA career. Davis also worked the 2007 NBA All-Star Game. Davis is active in the Chicago community where he grew up and is an avid outdoorsman.
Greg Worrell oversees Scholastic Education, which partners with schools and districts to empower educators and to raise achievement for all students by providing a complete literacy program, print and digital instructional materials, and professional services for educators and family engagement. Greg is the recipient of the 2011 Upton Sinclair Award, which recognizes educational leaders who have gone above and beyond the call of duty ensuring that children around the globe succeed.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

Talking With Kids About School Violence and Trauma Mar 08, 2018

Show notes

Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglass High School shooting in Parkland, Florida, the nation's attention has shifted to the issue of school safety. But how do we reassure children after traumatic events? Our guests this week offer advice for parents and educators on helping kids cope with fear and anxiety. First, we speak with Dr. Jamie Howard, a clinical psychologist at the Child Mind Institute, who shares some of the unique ways that children experience and express trauma. We also talk with Julie Ballew, a fifth-grade teacher from Houston, Texas, who helped her students rebuild a sense of community after Hurricane Harvey devastated their city.

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to our podcast on an iOS device here or an Android device here, and the latest episodes of Scholastic Reads will be automatically delivered to your device.

Additional Resources:

Read the full message from Richard Robinson, Scholastic Chairman and CEO, on the subject of school safety
Get more resources from Scholastic on responding to violence and tragedy
Read Julie Ballew's post about her "Rise Up" classroom project
Read more about the Child Mind Institute
See Julie Ballew's Top Teaching bog posts
Listen to "Rise Up" by Andra Day

Guests:

Dr. Jamie Howard is a clinical psychologist in the Anxiety Disorders Center at the Child Mind Institute and the director of the Center’s Trauma and Resilience Service. She specializes in the evaluation and treatment of anxiety and mood disorders in children and adolescents, and has expertise in treating post-traumatic stress and adjustment disorders across the lifespan.
Julie Ballew is a fifth grade language arts and social studies teacher in Houston, Texas. She is in her 12th year in education, including six years as a literacy coach.

Special thanks:

Music composed by Lucas Elliot Eberl
Sound mix and editing by Daniel Jordan and Christopher Johnson
Produced by Emily Morrow

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