Hello everyone! I cannot pretend to keep posting on as if our world- due to COVID-19– is not in tremendous upheaval, and that people in Canada, and around the globe, are not experiencing stress, turmoil, and/or tragedy.

What has been a bright light is to see the kid lit world, and the world of educators and scientists, come together (as they do!) and give comfort, hope, and some levity during this uncertain time. These generous individuals and groups are providing resources to caregivers, educators, and students, who are now finding themselves (or will be finding themselves) home for an indeterminate amount of time. Everything from educational material, read aloud videos from authors and artists, how-to’s, singalongs, artistic and writing prompts, and more.

In the list below, I have compiled links to sites, resources, or #hasthtags to follow, from authors, illustrators, scientists, and publishers. I have also added some miscellaneous and fun stuff in there as well!

STARTING RESOURCES, READ ALOUD VIDEOS & MORE:

-This is an incredible resource, put together by acclaimed and beloved author Kate Messner: Read, Wonder, and Learn! Favorite Authors & Illustrators Share Resources for Learning Anywhere – Spring 2020. If you visit this page, you will see read alouds (from Kate herself, Tracey Baptiste, Carole Lindstrom, Debbi Michiko Florence, Jason Reynolds, and many, many more!) as well as videos of activities, prompts, and how-to’s of drawing from Grace Lin, Paula Chase, James Burks, Jarrett Lerner, Veera Hiranandani, and many, more. If you scroll all the way to the bottom, be sure to peruse the Additional Resources: links to poetry lessons; middle grade novels with guides and discussions; link to the Authors Everywhere YouTube channel (created by author Dr. Susan Tan), and more. [A bonus: Kate and illustrator Christopher Silas Neal have offered readers a sneak preview read aloud of their newest book, Over and Under the Rainforest!]

-The entirely virtual Everywhere Book Fest is coming in May 2020! Organized by authors Ellen Oh, Christina Soontornvat, and Melanie Conklin (with logo by Grace Lin), this looks to be a wonderful online festival with a tremendous panel of guests!

-Author Kat Cho has put together a document of online kid lit events happening (all times are in US Eastern Time!).

-Educator Pernille Rip has a resource of links to picture book read aloud videos and channels that are not in violation of copyright.

-Follow the hashtag #OperationStorytime on Twitter (started by @Romper, I believe!), where you can find creators like Ame Dyckman, Bob Shea, Claribel Ortega, and publishers like Penguin Kids posting readings and more content. Please check for details and times and web locations of those offering live storytimes!

-Author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers is conducting live storytimes on Instagram Live! Please check his Instagram for more details.

-Author Kelly Yang is offering online writing classes- check out the bestselling author’s Instagram page for more information!

-Author Julie Falatko is offering a number of amazing videos (how to’s, interviews, special kid lit guests, and more) via Instagram Live- check out the author’s Instagram for more information!

-Author Christian McKay Heidicker has provided a Virtual Author Tour! The video is about an hour, recommended for grades two to seven, and based around the author’s Newbery award winning Scary Stories for Young Foxes.

-Author Samantha M. Clark has resources for Teachers and educators on her website: including a Discussion Guide and Creative Writing Activities based on her middle grade novel The Boy, The Boat, and The Beast!

ARTIST VIDEOS & DRAWING PROMPTS:

–Ame Dyckman and Charlene Chua (both amazing kid lit creators!) brainstormed What Should I Draw? on Twitter, where ‘a parent tweets a kid’s idea, and illustrators draw them’! How cool! Please check the What Should I Draw? Twitter for full details, including how to tag prompts properly!

-Author and illustrator Dan Santat will be offering the SANTAT ONLINE SURVIVAL SCHOOL FOR THE PANDEMIC via his Instagram! Should be starting March 17, 2020, so please check his Instagram for details!

-Author Laura Shovan is providing #StoryStarter prompts to kids! The author will be posting ‘prompt doodles’ to inspire kids to tell or write stories: you can follow Laura’s Instagram for more information.

-Author and illustrator Rob Biddulph has started these great #DrawWithRob videos you can find here; you can submit your kid’s artwork on Twitter using the hashtag #DrawWithRob, tagging the creator!

-Author and illustrator Mo Willems is providing a series of Lunch Doodles! for kids, through the Kennedy Center! You can view Episode One here; other archived videos should be posted on the channel as well.

-Author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka is offering ‘Draw Every Day with JJK’ videos! Please check Jarrett’s YouTube channel for more information.

COLOURING PAGES & ACTIVITY SHEETS:

–Author and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi has so many wonderful resources on her site! Teacher’s Guides, activities, posters, bookmarks, creating picture books, and more. So fabulous and so much to do!

-Author and illustrator Aidan Cassie has a page of lovely printable activities based on her gorgeous books available through her website: mazes, how to draw characters, and more!

-Author and illustrator Elise Gravel has a page on her website with links to fabulous free printables, activities and colouring sheets!

-Author, illustrator and zoologist Jess Keating has activity sheets and posters for printing available on her site!

-Author and illustrator Jarrett Lerner has a whole bunch of wonderful activities (lots of drawing and comic prompts and updated ALL THE TIME!) for kids on his website!

-Author and illustrator Maddie Frost has adorable animal drawing guides available on her website to download!

-Author and illustrator T.L. McBeth has awesomely fun colouring pages available for printing out on his website! They’re based on his and Deborah Underwood’s new picture book Ducks!.

-Author Josh Funk has a whole page with links to activity kits, colouring pages, character cards, book songs you can stream, and more!

-Author Kelly DiPucchio has activity kits for Everybody Loves Cupcake and Grace Goes to Washington available on her website!

PUBLISHER & KID LIT SITES WITH RESOURCES:

-From Canadian publisher Tundra Books (Penguin Random House Canada), you can check this page of ‘Virtual Storytimes and Singalongs’ offerings, featuring author readings and online visits from Vikki VanSickle, Esmé Shapiro, and Ben Clanton, and singalongs from Emily Arrow all this week! Please check the page for date and time information!

-Publisher Nosy Crow has a plethora of activities! You can take a look at this page, which runs down all the fabulous free resources on offer!

-The School and Library Team at Random House Children’s Books has a website filled to the brim with book discussion guides, author spotlights, a Young Adult Creative Writing Guide, videos and more!

-The Scholastic website has a ‘Teaching Remotely’ page with multiple links and resources for families and educators.

-Publisher Simon & Schuster has a number of great things on offer: Books & Activities for Kids at Home has a tremendous number of links to picture book and chapter book activities, comics starters, podcasts, and more; In the Middle Books offers book-based activities for young readers in-between reading levels; The Book Pantry which offers “teaching and literary resources for your classroom and library”; Teaching with the Common Core Standard, for educators in the States; and Riveted by Simon Teen for teen/YA readers, offers videos, quizzes, blog entries, and lots of other great stuff!

-Explore KidLit TV, a site chock full of author, illustrator videos, craft ideas, podcasts and more!

-The website Celebrate Picture Books has tons of activities available- printables, book-related games, book-related crafts, and much more!

-The Soaring ’20s High Flying Picture Book Debut Group has a page of Teacher and Librarian resources you can explore!

SCIENCE & ANIMALS:

-Through Dr. Sarah McAnulty’s Twitter, I saw that there are wonderful Skype a Scientist videos up on the YouTube channel (if you miss them live, you can view them on YouTube)- with more to come; families at home can also fill out this form to possibly match up with a scientist for a chat! AMAZING!

-Don’t forget to check out the NASA Kids’ Club or the National Geographic Kids site! Quizzes, videos, space and animal information, and so much more fun stuff.

-For the animal lovers (and there are so many, I am sure!), this is just a delight: San Diego Zoo offers Live Cams of some of their animals in habit, as does Monterey Bay Aquarium. Penguins and jellyfish, anyone?! Yes, please!

MISCELLANEOUS:

-Author Tara Lazar shared a link, from Twitter user Sarah Pavis, of ‘walking tour YouTube channels’; including tours on Toyko, New York City, and more. These videos are just so very cool, and also calming to watch (or have on in the background)!

(last updated: April 2, 2020)

I hope this helps! If any other resources come up, I will do my best to add them to this list! Take care and please stay safe.