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Join Nic Stone in Virtual Wakanda!!!

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Dear Class of 2020 Michelle Obama

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Class of 2020 Barack Obama Commencement Address

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Class of 2020 Barack Obama Commencement Address

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https://www.vicouncilonarts.org/our-voices-story-telling-project/

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Learn AP US History with Lin-Manuel Miranda on youtube

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Learn AP US History with Lin-Manuel Miranda on youtube

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(CNN) For all the exhausted families trying to keep their children entertained during the coronavirus pandemic, here's some good news: Michelle Obama is hosting story time.

The former first lady announced that she is teaming up with PBS Kids and Penguin Random House to host a weekly read-aloud series.

For four weeks starting on April 20, Obama will read from one of her favorite children's books in an event called "Mondays with Michelle Obama." First up on the list is "The Gruffalo," written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler.

Families can tune in to the livestream on PBS Kids' Facebook page and YouTube channel, or the Penguin Random House Facebook page.

"As a little kid, I loved to read aloud. And when I became a parent, I found such joy in sharing the magic of storytelling with my own children - and then later, as First Lady, with kids everywhere," Obama said in a statement.

"At this time when so many families are under so much stress, I'm excited to give kids a chance to practice their reading and hear some wonderful stories (and to give parents and caretakers a much-needed break)."

Here's the full schedule for the series, with each event beginning at 12 p.m. ET:

April 20: "The Gruffalo" by Julia Donaldson, illustrated by Axel Scheffler

April 27: "There's a Dragon in Your Book" by Tom Fletcher, illustrated by Greg Abbott

May 4: "Miss Maple's Seeds" by Eliza Wheeler

May 11: "The Very Hungry Caterpillar" by Eric Carle

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Michelle Obama is hosting a weekly story time for kids during the pandemic

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(CNN) For all the exhausted families trying to keep their children entertained during the coronavirus pandemic, here's some good news: Michelle Obama is hosting story time. The former first lady announced that she is teaming up with PBS Kids and Penguin Random House to host a weekly read-aloud series.

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Check out Our New Storytime Video Series Featuring Children’s Book Authors

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Bring amazing authors to your classroom!

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Ten Authors & Illustrators Who Are Keeping Kids Busy

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Ten Authors & Illustrators Who Are Keeping Kids Busy

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Author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers (The Day the Crayons Quit), is reading his books Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays live on Instagram at 2 p.m. ET. The videos will also live on his website.

In collaboration with the Kennedy Center, author and illustrator Mo Willems (Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus) is releasing daily videos inviting kids to draw, craft, and create with him, weekdays at 1 p.m. ET. You can find the videos at Kennedy-Center.org or YouTube.

Author Mac Barnett (Sam & Dave Dig a Hole) is hosting three series on Instagram: Every weekday at noon (PT) on Instagram Live, Barnett hosts Mac's Book Club Show, reading a different picture book - and wearing a different hat - each day. (Barnett told BuzzFeed Books in an email, "I have a habit of buying hats that I later realize I should never wear out of the house. Now that I never leave my house, I figure it's the perfect time to wear them.") Every night around 5 p.m. PT, there's Mac's Book Club Show: Chapter Books After Dark, where Barnett reads from his book Mac B., Kid Spy: Mac Undercover (and wears a tuxedo). Finally, on Saturdays at noon, Barnett and his friend Shawn Harris make Live Cartoons, which is shot in one take.

Author and illustrator Debbie Ridpath Ohi (Where Are My Books?) is posting daily drawing prompts and activities on Twitter at #KidsDailyDebbieOhi, as well as picture book read-alouds and drawing demonstrations on YouTube. She also has a selection of printables - activities, book templates, posters, and bookmarks - on her site.

Author and illustrator Wendy MacNaughton (Salt Fat Acid Heat, Pen & Ink) hosts 30-minute draw-along videos every weekday, live on Instagram at 10 a.m. PT and then available on YouTube. MacNaughton - who is also a trained social worker - described the videos in an email to BuzzFeed Books as "providing drawing, fun, and silliness, and some talk about feelings too ... but mostly it's just a fun nonjudgmental space for play." The series will continue through the end of the school year.

Author and illustrator Jarrett J. Krosoczka aka JJK (the series) is posting 20-to-30-minute draw-along videos on weekdays, live on YouTube at 2 p.m. ET and then archived on YouTube and his website. JJK also has printable activities - coloring pages, picture book templates, and illustration prompts - available on his site for ages pre-K to second grade or third grade to sixth grade.

7. Story Time With Emma (With Emma Straub and Special Guests)

Now that author Emma Straub's Brooklyn bookstore Books Are Magic is closed, she's turning their weekly storytimes - Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m. - into virtual events, reading personal favorites on IGTV every week until the store reopens. In an email, Straub also teased some "special guests."

8. Storytimes and Drawing Tutorials With Grace Lin

Author and illustrator Grace Lin (When the Sea Turned to Silver; A Big Mooncake for Little Star) is posting read-alouds and drawing tutorials on YouTube. Her tutorial for drawing a lucky Chinese tiger - a character that shows up in three of Lin's books - is especially popular.

Author Susan Tan (the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series) has created the Authors Everywhere YouTube channel - featuring read-alouds, writing exercises, art demos, and other activities from children's authors and illustrators. She's also collected printable activity worksheets from various authors on her site.

Starting April 1, author and illustrator Dav Pilkey (the Captain Underpants and Dog Man series), in collaboration with the Library of Congress, will host a weekly video series featuring drawing lessons, read-alouds, and highlights from the library's collections. Videos will go live Fridays at 8 a.m. ET on Twitter (@LibraryCongress, @Scholastic) and Facebook (@LibraryofCongress, @Scholastic). Throughout the week, Pilkey will also share downloadable activities and writing prompts.

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These Authors And Illustrators Want To Help Keep Your Kids Busy At Home

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Author and illustrator Oliver Jeffers (The Day the Crayons Quit ), is reading his books Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays live on Instagram at 2 p.m. ET. The videos will also live on his website.

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This one would be good if you have younger siblings. Celebrities are reading stories online. You can find the videos on social media such as insta, facebook, or twitter by searching #SaveWithStories.

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This link to another of my padlets is a curated list of the ultimate YA (young adult, as in teen) book quizzes. Enjoy!

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Mo Willems, Gene Luen Yang, Amie Kaufman and other authors for young readers are reading their work online and offering drawing tutorials, to help fill our strange new hours.

The author and illustrator Mo Willems began hosting sessions on YouTube on Monday. "There's nothing more fun than doodling with a friend," he said. Credit... via Mo Willems

School closings are a drastic change for kids at this challenging time, and children's authors - whose normal routines are also disrupted - are finding ways to reach their readers in different ways. Dozens of book festivals, tours and events have been canceled as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, and some writers are turning to social media to engage with their fans, offering readings of their books, art classes and other activities to keep them entertained. Here's what they're doing.

When Gene Luen Yang's tour for his new graphic novel, "Dragon Hoops," was canceled as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, "I felt disheartened and helpless," he said. In lieu of an in-person tour, he held a Facebook Live session to discuss the book. He's also "touring as a cartoon" on his Instagram page, where he will take reader questions and respond in a comic strip. As a former teacher, Yang said, he has a "special place in my heart for all the parents who are now unexpectedly home schooling their kids," and will be working with his publisher to develop resources to help them with this "monumental task."

The science fiction and fantasy writer Amie Kaufman (The Illuminae Files series, "Aurora Rising") has been throwing online launch parties for writers whose book-promotion plans have been upended. "Many of them have had long-dreamed-of events canceled, which is the right thing to do, but so very hard," Kaufman said in an email. "There's a fear that among so much bad news, their books will simply be lost."

For the next few weeks (and perhaps even longer), on Monday nights, Kaufman is boosting the work of several authors, encouraging people to buy their new books and hosting virtual conversations using the hashtag #kidlitgoesviral. Dozens of writers have signed up to participate, with teachers, librarians, parents and readers joining to ask questions. "So many independent bookstores are under pressure," Kaufman said, "and it's scary to think they might not be there on the other side of this experience."

Grace Lin, an illustrator and author of middle-grade novels and picture books, is posting drawing tutorials and readings from her books on her YouTube channel. She's taught viewers how to draw a Chinese dragon and a dog starting from the numeral 5, and has read from "Mulan: Before the Sword," an original prequel to the upcoming live-action film, and "Ling & Ting: Not Exactly the Same," about twin sisters trying to distinguish themselves from each other.

Lin said she began the reading series in part to fight the "anti-Asian rhetoric" that has come up amid coronavirus fears. "I've felt the need to show kids positive representations of Asian-Americans and Asian culture," she said. "I hope Asian kids see me and feel a little less alone, and non-Asian kids see me and a part of their brain registers that people who look like me are not the enemy."

Lin has also started a podcast, Kids Ask Authors, which was in the works before the pandemic struck, in which children's authors answer questions from readers about their books and creative process.

The author and illustrator Mo Willems is inviting kids to draw with him every day for "Lunch Doodles." In the first couple of sessions, which are hosted on YouTube and started on Monday, he walked viewers through his process, gave them a tour of his studio, answered questions and drew whimsical creatures or created simple animations for them to try at home. "I'm really looking forward to it," he said in one video, "because there's nothing more fun than doodling with a friend."

Mac Barnett, who's written dozens of books, including the Jack Book and Mac B. Kid Spy series, is reading a book every afternoon on Instagram Live. The writer, who often collaborates with the illustrator Jon Klassen, has read "Extra Yarn," about a girl who changes her community with a magical box of never-ending yarn, and "Billy Twitters and His Blue Whale Problem," about a boy who gets a blue whale as a pet.

"We are all at home, but none of us are alone," Oliver Jeffers recently wrote on his website. "Let's be bored together."

Jeffers ("The Day the Crayons Quit," "How to Catch a Star," "The Fate of Fausto,") is reading on Instagram Live on weekday afternoons and making all the recordings available on his site.

Vashti Harrison will share drawing tutorials and worksheets on Instagram inspired by her Little Leaders, Little Dreamers and Little Legends books, which highlight influential black men and women in United States history, including Alvin Ailey and Michelle Obama. She created a highlights reel on her page called "Quarantine Fun!" and plans to share sessions on themes such as "How to draw your own Little Leader."

Jarrett J. Krosoczka, best known for his Lunch Lady series of graphic novels, is hosting drawing sessions on his YouTube channel every day. He's been teaching basic illustration techniques, like how to draw a face and its expressions, but also often shares anecdotes about growing up as a kid who loved to draw.

The writer and illustrator, whose tour for his most recent picture book, "Be You," was canceled, is reading aloud from his work on Facebook Live every day. So far, he's read "The Word Collector," "The Dot" and "Ish," his sequel to "The Dot."

The illustrator Carson Ellis ("Home," "Du Iz Tak?") is running a Quarantine Art Club for her followers. She posts prompts - such as "is a cat," "wearing glasses" and "holding a golden scepter" - and encourages readers to create their own art in response. She shares some of the results using the hashtag #QuarantineArtClub, and features some on her website, too.

The "Authors Everywhere!" YouTube channel, started by Susan Tan, who wrote the Cilla Lee-Jenkins series for middle-grade readers, includes activities, writing workshops and readings from a range of authors. In addition to keeping kids busy, the workshops are also meant to give young people an emotional outlet for addressing their fears about the pandemic.

Susan Verde, who wrote the picture books "I Am Love" and "I Am Human," among others, is reading from her books live on Instagram. She is also starting a channel for kid-friendly meditations and mantras.

In response to the dozens of canceled books festivals, three young adult writers decided to start the Everywhere Book Fest, "a virtual gathering of kid-lit authors, books and readers that will bring the book festival experience to everyone," according to their website. The festival is the brainchild of Ellen Oh, who also co-founded the nonprofit We Need Diverse Books, and Christina Soontornvat and Melanie Conklin. "There's a real opportunity here to change the way people connect with authors and interact with books," Conklin told Publishers Weekly.

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Home With Your Kids? Writers Want to Help (Published 2020)

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Mo Willems, Gene Luen Yang, Amie Kaufman and other authors for young readers are reading their work online and offering drawing tutorials, to help fill our strange new hours. School closings are a drastic change for kids at this challenging time, and children's authors - whose normal routines are also disrupted - are finding ways to reach their readers in different ways.

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I've been so delighted to see how many authors are using this quarantine time to host virtual storytime.

There's nothing quite as fun as hearing an author read their own book or tell some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating it, plus if you're looking for a little activity that will keep your child engaged without rotting their brains, this is a good option!

Some of them who are illustrators are also doing virtual art or doodle lessons. Amazing!

I'll keep adding to this list as I hear of more.

Authors Doing Virtual Storytime

Mac Barnett
He's doing his on IG Live (which means they expire after 24 hours) and they'll be every afternoon. He has something like 30 books, so it'll take him a while to get through them all!

Molly Idle
My girls are huge fans of Molly Idle and I'm delighted she's doing storytime on IGTV (so they won't expire!) I'm especially excited to see her do some wordless books!

Ben Clanton
The author/illustrator of Narwhal and Jelly is doing two FB Live events this week including a drawing lesson.

Oliver Jeffers
He's also reading one of his books every day on IG Live (so catch them before they expire!) starting today and going until it's safe to go out again.

Mo Willems
I mean, who DOESN'T know Mo Willems? He's doing lunch time doodling classes everyday on YouTube. My girls are so thrilled!

Chris Van Dusen
I would sayThe Circus Ship is in the top 10 picture books at our house so I was DELIGHTED to see that he's reading one of his books every day on IGTV.

Sarah Jane Wright
She's the illustrator of Lola Dutch and every day she sends out drawing videos and an art activity. You can sign up for them via email and they're so good!

Also, on the Twitter hashtag #operationstorytime, there are many many other authors and illustrators sharing their books through virtual storytime. There are even chapter books being read aloud by the authors!
Want to see all my quarantine resources? They're all here, including my favorite online educational programs and screen-free activities!

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A List of Authors Doing Virtual Storytime or Art Lessons

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I've been so delighted to see how many authors are using this quarantine time to host virtual storytime. There's nothing quite as fun as hearing an author read their own book or tell some of the behind-the-scenes work that went into creating it, plus if you're looking for a little activity that will keep your ...

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The Neon Museum announces it will host a first-ever Live tour of Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @The Neon Museum presented by The Engelstad Foundation on April 10, at 1 p.m. PDT.

The tour, conducted by Education Specialist Mitch Cohen, will offer people from around the world the chance to experience the renowned artist, filmmaker and director's original artwork and installations created especially for The Neon Museum.
PHOTOS: TIM BURTON'S 'LOST VEGAS' EXHIBIT AT NEON MUSEUM IN LAS VEGAS
"The exhibition was scheduled to continue through Sunday, April 12, but with the museum's temporary closure due to COVID-19, we know thousands of art lovers will miss their chance to see Burton's outstanding exhibition," explained Rob McCoy, president and chief executive officer, The Neon Museum. "This live, virtual tour will take place especially for them-and will be enjoyable for anyone who appreciates Burton's work and iconic Las Vegas sign design."

Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @ The Neon Museum comprises sculptural and digital installations celebrating Burton's links to Las Vegas and its historical neon heritage.
PREVIOUS STORY: Tim Burton talks about influence of Las Vegas before opening of exhibit at Neon Museum
These artworks, many of which are site-specific creations, will be displayed in the Neon Boneyard and incorporated into Brilliant!, the museum's permanent projection mapping North Gallery installation.

Works play with the museum's landmark sign collection, which was prominently featured in Burton's 1996 film Mars Attacks! This irreverent homage to the sci-fi B-movies of the 1950s and 1960s and the disaster films of the 1970s unleashed gleefully destructive alien invaders upon gamblers, casino workers and Tom Jones.
MORE CORONAVIRUS STORIES
The presentation of Burton's art in Las Vegas represents a unique experience where the host institution also serves as creative inspiration. The museum's distinctive campus will be transformed through the artist's singular vision for this original exhibition of new work as well as previously exhibited pieces.

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Neon Museum offering Facebook Live tour of Tim Burton exhibit

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The Neon Museum announces it will host a first-ever Live tour of Lost Vegas: Tim Burton @The Neon Museum presented by The Engelstad Foundation on April 10, at 1 p.m. PDT. The tour, conducted by Education Specialist Mitch Cohen, will offer people from around the world the chance to experience the renowned artist, filmmaker and director's original artwork and installations created especially for The Neon Museum.

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Use compassion and creativity to do acts of good from home.

For every kind act shared with #DoGoodFromHome,
Hasbro will donate a toy or game to organizations providing care to the children of COVID-19 essential
workers, up to 25,000 toys and games.

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Calling all kids and teens to take the Challenge!

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For every kind act shared with #DoGoodFromHome, Hasbro will donate a toy or game to organizations providing care to the children of COVID-19 essential workers, up to 25,000 toys and games.

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Write a letter to author Matt de la Pena

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Write a letter to author Matt de la Pena

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Matt de la Peña, a children’s book author, is reading and responding to letters of children/teens/young adults. His email is hellomattdelapena@gmail.com.  His facebook page explains it more.

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The Crossover Writing Prompts

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Spring into Reading Challenge

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Spring has arrived! The weather is warmer, flowers are blooming, and many of us (including your Library staff!) are enjoying the new season from home while we practice good social distancing. It's the perfect time to crack open a window and start a new book (or five!). Put those extra hours of reading to good use by participating in MCPL's Spring into Reading Challenge, which kicks off Monday, March 30, and runs through Friday, May 22, 2020.

Just like the Library's annual Summer Library Program, this new challenge is open to all ages, and participants can track their achievements through the online software Beanstack. There are two ways to earn points during the Spring into Reading Challenge, which accumulate to earn online badges (and bragging rights!):

Read or listen to books.

Read what you have at home or download digital books from the Library!

Earn badges based on the number of books that you read (Get a badge every time you read 5 books!) or the amount of time you read (Get a badge for every 30 minutes spent reading, up to 6 hours. Beyond 6 hours, get a badge for every 60 minutes spent reading).

Do fun activities at home.
Activity tracks with fun suggestions for all ages will be added to Beanstack throughout the challenge! (Look for reading, writing, drawing, outdoor activities, and more!)

Click on the "Register/Log in" button to access Beanstack, the easy-to-use online tracking system. Adults can register themselves or their children any time during the challenge. You can also register multiple children under one username and password. Download the Beanstack Tracker app to your mobile device for convenient registration and logging.

Please note: Like the Library's Summer Library Program, all books logged for kids during this program will automatically apply to existing 1000 Books Before Kindergarten accounts.
Register / Log in

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Spring into Reading Challenge: March 30 - May 22

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Spring has arrived! The weather is warmer, flowers are blooming, and many of us (including your Library staff!) are enjoying the new season from home while we practice good social distancing. It's the perfect time to crack open a window and start a new book (or five!).

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author of Show Me a Sign, celebrating #deafhistorymonth

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Today we're pleased to welcome Ann Clare LeZotte to the WNDB blog to discuss her middle-grade novel SHOW ME A SIGN, out now! Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there - including Mary - are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language. Mary has never felt isolated. She is proud of her lineage. But recent events have delivered winds of change. Mary's brother died, leaving her family shattered. Tensions over land disputes are mounting between English settlers and the Wampanoag people. And a cunning young scientist has arrived, hoping to discover the origin of the island's prevalent deafness. His maniacal drive to find answers soon renders Mary a "live specimen" in a cruel experiment. Her struggle to save herself is at the core of this penetrating and poignant novel that probes our perceptions of ability and disability. It will make you forever question your own ideas about what is normal. What inspired you to base your book on Martha's Vineyard in a thriving d/Deaf community? Can you tell our readers more about the real community that it's based on? Why did you feel it was important to have Mary be a part of such a strong d/Deaf community and to have other d/Deaf people in their life, as opposed to many common portrayals of d/Deafness and disability where the character's world is mainly full of hearing and/or nondisabled people?
I lived on Cape Cod in the 1990s. When I first visited Martha's Vineyard, a cab driver told me about the island's history of deafness! I bought and read Nora Ellen Groce's ethnography, Everyone Here Spoke Sign Language: Hereditary Deafness of Martha's Vineyard and did research in the Chilmark library. English settlers from Kent brought over the recessive trait of deafness and a village sign language that became Martha's Vineyard Sign Language (MVSL). Starting in the early 1700s, there were a high percentage of white deaf residents, and deaf and hearing both signed. Deaf people were independent and fully participated in daily life. That was a stark contrast to the rest of the U.S. What a setting for a story with a deaf (signing) main character who is self-possessed and curious!
Mary and her family have recently experienced the loss of her brother. How does Mary grieve this loss and what do you hope readers take away from this book about the experience of mourning?
Early on, my editor Tracy Mack noted, "You're turning the narrative on its head." I didn't want to follow the familiar paradigm of a d/Deaf child mainstreamed into a hearing school who is bullied and then receives broad acceptance. I don't know any kid whose life follows that simple path. I navigate between Deaf and hearing culture every day. Deaf kids don't get to see representation where their lives and language are normalized-and they're doing fun things like haunting and spying adventures, or even having fights with their besties in sign! For young hearing readers, it's an introduction to the concept that d/Deaf culture exists and it's not something to feel sad about, except when the wider world calls it abnormal and wrong. I want them to become so comfortable in Mary's deafness that Part 2 is a terrible shock to them.
Mary's primarily d/Deaf community offers a window into the social model of disability and the impact it has on people when they have equal access to communication and their accommodations are not viewed as a "burden." How are those themes important for d/Deaf and hearing readers?
It's such a painful subject. I lost my brother, so I don't come to easy conclusions about it. I'd tell young readers that it's not their fault, as Mary believes. Guilt can be powerful. And you have a right to live your own life afterward. Family members and friends grieve in different ways. Give them and yourself time. Hold tight to your memories-the good ones. My brother and I dissected owl pellets like George and Mary in SMAS. That's a memory I treasure.

Villain Andrew Noble represents the medical model of disability-with its diagnoses and cures. The social model centers social structures as the problem, which is evident in the book. But there is a third model with deafness-the cultural model. Within this model, Deaf people see themselves as a linguistic and cultural minority. Even within the inclusive island life of Show Me a Sign , Mary signifies who's deaf and her signing isn't the same with everyone. I also sign differently with Deaf and hearing friends. Mary expresses how she sometimes feels left out when hearing peers are talking together, and her hearing mother angrily yells at her with her back turned. The novel shows how society can remove most communication barriers between the d/Deaf and hearing without undue burden, but it's also a proud appreciation of Deaf history.
How has your work as a librarian impacted your writing? Have you taken any lessons from your lived experience as a librarian in the writing of this novel? From a technical perspective, how did you incorporate sign language into a text-based narrative?
It's been tremendous! My work at the library is primarily children's and teen programming with a focus on inclusion. I teach intergenerational ASL literacy. I've done disability sensitivity and anti-bullying presentations in the schools. I've seen what materials young readers are looking for, and I know what is and isn't on the shelves. I brought parts of SMAS into a Teen Creative Writing Club. I received shrewd feedback, especially from Native teens. The biggest lesson was that I wasn't just writing the book I needed as a kid but the one they want to read now.
SHOW ME A SIGN also deals with colonization and the Indigenous Wampanoag people. Mary's family history is tied in with the English settlers. How does she come to terms and take accountability for her role as a white person on Native American land?
In the Chicago Manual of Style, there isn't one agreed-upon method of denoting ASL in writing. We decided to go with quotes rather than italics and to indicate at certain moments how MVSL differs from English speech and varies depending on the signer. People have complimented how smoothly it flows. Here's the real advantage of writing from lived experience: To work out the logistics of conversations, I just put myself in the character's position and it flowed naturally. It's harder for me to write characters who, say, hear ambient noise!
What other middle-grade novels do you think that SHOW ME A SIGN is in conversation with? And do you have any recommendations for other middle-grade and/or historical fiction novels that you've read and loved?
When I first envisioned the story, it was as a Deaf utopia. Then I realized that Mary and her family and friends are settlers on Wampanoag land, and I couldn't ignore that layer of the story. I also discovered that freedmen were marrying Wampanoag of Gay Head (Aquinnah) women in the early 1800s. I'm not trying to draw comparisons between different systems of oppression (anyway, I think ableism or audism is part of white supremacy). I wanted to depict people who co-existed at a certain time and place. Mary also learns by stumbling, being taught and corrected by first-hand sources, and developing empathy from her own ordeal. By the end, she's willing to speak up and take a stand even if it's not popular with everyone. That's difficult for any young person.

Brian Selznick's Wonderstruck was the book that made me feel I might have a chance of finding an audience for this story. There's amazing work being done by Indigenous authors and illustrators, like Michaela Goade, Carole Lindstrom, Andrea Rogers, and Traci Sorell. Years ago, when I was looking for d/Deaf and disabled authors at the library, I came across Blind/HOH author Sally Hobart-Alexander. Her Laura Bridgman biography is excellent. Recently, I loved Get a Grip, Vivy Cohen by Sarah Kapit and All the Way to the Top , a picture book biography about Jennifer Keelan. There are so many stories that haven't yet been told. Like Mary's vision in the last chapter of SMAS, I'm looking ahead with amazement at the d/Deaf and HOH writers of all intersections who are coming next.

* * * * * *

Ann Clare LeZotte is a Deaf librarian, and the author of T4, an ILA Notable Book for a Global Society, which Booklist called "a powerful debut." Her second novel, Show Me A Sign, received three starred reviews and was hailed by Kirkus as "a must read." For years, Ann has given book talks, and disability and anti-bullying presentations in American Sign Language (ASL). Ann says, "I never had a romance about being 'special' or 'different.' I wished long and hard to be normal. A waste of time and a heartbreak I don't want other young people to experience." In her free time, Ann enjoys swimming and walking her dog Perkins. She lives with her family in Gainesville, Florida.

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Q&A with Ann Clare LeZotte: SHOW ME A SIGN

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Today we're pleased to welcome Ann Clare LeZotte to the WNDB blog to discuss her middle-grade novel SHOW ME A SIGN, out now! Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander.

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Check out diversebooks.org

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A 501(c)(3) nonprofit, WNDB aims to create a world where every reader can find themselves in the pages of a book. To reach this goal, we've created programs to mentor diverse writers and illustrators, support diverse publishing professionals, and provide books to classrooms nationwide.

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Nic Stone is releasing a chapter a day for 50 days, starting April 1, of her never-published first book, Little Spark.

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One of the most *frequently asked questions* I get from readers of my published novels: "Was Dear Martin the first book you ever wrote?" The answer is no. Dear Martin was the third. The second (at long last!) will be published in Spring 2022, but the first will never see the light of day...

Or so I used to say. *Used to* because we are currently in the thick of a literal global pandemic. And we're bored. And trying to stay motivated/encouraged/hopeful, etc. etc.

So here it is. Nic Stone's first EVER novel that wasn't supposed to see the light of day. Starting today, April 1st, 2020, I'll post a chapter a day for the next 50 days (you read that right; this joint is LONG) and will leave it up indefinitely. You will laugh--AT me, but also occasionally with me. You will roll your eyes. You will have moments when you wonder if *The Nic Stone* actually wrote this long and intensely tropey and cliche book. About a 16-year-old biracial girl who sometimes glows in the dark, and after the death of her mother, discovers not only some latent supernatural abilities, but a prophesied mission she'll need them for.

It is not professionally edited and is likely full of typos (though this was like the twelfth draft). It hasn't been beta-read and probably has some problematic rep in it. But my hope is that by posting it as-is, someone out there who doesn't feel *good enough* will see THIS starting point of a #1 New York Times bestseller and will be encouraged to get the story nagging at them down on paper. Even if it's never "published," there's no telling where it could lead.

I hope you enjoy (or at least get a good laugh).


Thanks for reading!
Nic Stone

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One of the most *frequently asked questions* I get from readers of my published novels: "Was Dear Martin the first book you ever wrote?" The answer is no. Dear Martin was the third. The second (at long last!) will be published in Spring 2022, but the first will never see the light of day...

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Want to read and write some comics? Check out Jarrett Lerner's website, follow his blog, catch him on social media. He has tons of ideas to keep you busy.

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The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless explicit permission is granted.
Below will find: Blank Comic Book Pages, Special Activities, "Finish This Story!" Story Starters, "How to Draw..." Instructions, "Finish This Comic!" Comics, and Drawing/Writing Prompts.
More activities are being added to this page regularly, so make sure to check back for more. And if you like the activities below, don't miss my activity books, GIVE THIS BOOK A TITLE and GIVE THIS BOOK A COVER, available wherever books are sold!
Click on the numbers below to find a variety of different blank comic book pages. Each number corresponds to a different arrangement of panels on the page. Print out a few of each, or a bunch of one kind, and make your own comic!

Special Activities

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the Introduction to Hand-Lettering sheets!

Click HERE to download the above Thank You activities!

Click HERE to download the above Haiku Diary activity!

Click HERE to download the above Thank You activities!

Click HERE to download the above Earth Day activities!

Click HERE to download the above Earth Day activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

Click HERE to download the above Halloween activities!

"Finish This Story!" Story Starters

Click HERE to download the above "Finish This Story!" activities!

Click HERE to download the above "Finish This Story!" activities!

"How to Draw..." Instructions

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

Click HERE to download the above "How to Draw..." activities!

"Finish This Comic!" Comics

Below you will find a collection of comics that are incomplete. Look closely at the pictures, then figure out what you need to add to complete the comic!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Click HERE to download the above incomplete comics!

Drawing/Writing Prompts

Below you will find some drawing prompt activity sheets. Completed drawings can also be used as creative writing prompts.

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheets!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above activity sheet!

Click HERE to download the above Spanish version activity sheets!

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The activities below are available for free download, and are to be used in educational and/or private settings. They may not be used elsewhere or for other purposes (such as for profit) unless explicit permission is granted. Below will find: Blank Comic Book Pages, Special Activities, "Finish This Story!"

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We've stocked up our website with new stories of people who could use your words of support this month! We cannot wait to spread goodness and light with you this month. Hang in there! We love you and are so thankful to have you in our community!

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you can expect new requests right here on the first of each month. mark the calendar or click below to get them delivered to your inbox.

We received a touching request for a bundle of letters for Collette as she is facing very tangible loneliness. Her daughter shared:

"For the past twenty-five years my mom has been the caregiver to her father. Last year, he passed away at the age of 100. For the last five years of his life, he developed severe dementia and struggled to do the most basic tasks for himself. For years my mom's time, energy, and attention was devoted to nurturing my grandfather.

After he passed away, my mom was at peace knowing that he no longer had any pain, but she misses him so much. He was her friend just as much as he was her father. She spent almost everyday with him, and now she is trying to figure out life with him gone. She hasn't had much time to spend on herself in the last twenty years, and now that everything has changed, I think she is overwhelmed. My family and I would really appreciate help honoring the sacrifice and love my mom has given for so many years. Any words of encouragement, love, and empathy you may be able to give would be so good for her heart. Thank you."

Grab your pens and let's send Collette some encouragement + love.

mail letters to:

Collette's bundle

℅ Lesli M.

PO Box 211

Springville, UT 84663

USA

Please have all letters in the mail by April 30, 2020.

A friend of Mia's contacted us and is asking for some encouragement + love to be sent her way. They shared:

"Mia is one of the kindest co-workers I've ever had. We both work for a nonprofit called Samaritans, which provides grief support for people who have lost someone to suicide and is part of the National Suicide Prevention Helpline. Part of Mia's job is to help the volunteers when they are on the helpline with people who are suicidal. It's a twenty four/seven service, so she is helping at all hours of the night to support those who need someone to talk to in their darkest hours. She is one of the most selfless people I've ever met, but with this job, she hears a lot of sad news and feels like she isn't doing enough to help people. I am hoping to send her a bundle of letters to show her the light in the world and to remind her that she herself is a light to those who are at their lowest point."

Grab your pens and send some encouragement to Mia with us!

mail letters to:

Mia's bundle

℅ Alexandra W.

535 School St Apt 2

Belmont, MA 02478

USA

Please have all letters in the mail by April 30, 2020.

Andrew's girlfriend shared part of his recent struggles with the More Love Letters family. She wrote:

"Andrew is one of the funniest men I have ever met. He is a super analytical and intelligent twenty year old. Despite this, Andrew hates school. He is currently in his third year at university and just received several bad exam grades. He has been told by his advisor that he will need to take a fifth year (possibly more) to get into his major and graduate. In addition to these challenges, his mother recently got diagnosed for the second time with lung cancer.

Andrew says that he is fine and that he believes she will get better, but I know that he is very terrified. His mom is the only family that he has. All of this has occurred in the last two months and I can see it weighing on him both physically and mentally. He is so unsure of the future and has lost a lot of hope for himself. I think that receiving some words of encouragement from people far and wide could really lift his spirits and show him that he has people rooting for him. I know that he would be overwhelmed with gratitude if someone out there was willing to show him support."

Please join us as we offer Andrew the support he is very deserving of!

mail letters to:

Andrew's bundle

℅ Madilyn M.

2228 Indianola Ave.

Columbus, OH 43201

USA

Please have all letters in the mail by April 30, 2020.

Beryl's granddaughter is requesting a bundle of letters for her while she battles feelings of isolation and loneliness, for a number of reasons. Her granddaughter shared:

"My grandmother, Beryl, has been living on her own ever since my grandfather was moved into a nursing home due to his Parkinson's disease. Especially at the moment she is struggling with loneliness; she has to self-isolate and is feeling very alone and useless, as she has always been a woman to do things for herself and my grandfather. She lives in a tiny coastal town in Ireland and has one daughter and two granddaughters (including me). She is very headstrong, and she suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), amongst other things. She is eighty-two years old and more independent than I will ever be. I know she would love to hear from people of all ages during this time."

Please join us as we share our lives + encouragement with Beryl!

mail letters to:

Beryl's bundle

℅ Kerri T.

218A Main Road Cloughey

Newtownards

Co. Down

Northern Ireland

Please have all letters in the mail by April 30, 2020.

Erin was recently diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease)- a nervous system disease that weakens the muscles. A young mama of two little girls and wife, Erin loves her family more than anything and has worked for many years as a dance teacher in her community. Erin is continuing to be strong and face each new day and challenge as it comes but we would love to rally around her and remind her that she is never fighting alone.

Let's all join in sending Erin love as she bravely faces this new season of life.

mail letters to:

Erin's Bundle

℅ Megan M.

267 Melba St, Apt. A15

Milford, CT 06460

USA

Please have all letters in the mail by April 30, 2020.

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THE LETTER REQUESTS - THE WORLD NEEDS MORE LOVE LETTERS.

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you can expect new requests right here on the first of each month. mark the calendar or click below to get them delivered to your inbox. We received a touching request for a bundle of letters for Collette as she is facing very tangible loneliness.

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Look online for a digital pen pal! Just be sure what you find is made for students, and be careful. Here is one possibility.

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If you follow the Merriam-Webster Dictionary Twitter account you know that they are absolutely delightful, funny, and very good at shade. Now they’re here for us once again with a great thread: “As a gift to our friends (you) in a time of crisis, we’ll be keeping a thread here of beautiful, obscure, and often quite useless words.”

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And another national treasure, LeVar Burton, is out here ready to read to us! This is especially exciting for anyone who grew up with Reading Rainbow: LeVar Burton will be on Twitter Livestream–starting Fri April 4th, 9pm ET– reading to adults. Mondays he’ll be reading to children, and Wednesdays he’ll read YA. (That's 8 PM our time!)

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Jason Reynolds (author) has a game for you...

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Jason Reynolds (author) has a game for you...

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there!

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there! https://t.co/7kfpQV8eb2

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there! pic.twitter.com/7kfpQV8eb2
— Jason Reynolds (@JasonReynolds83) April 1, 2020

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there! https://t.co/7kfpQV8eb2

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there! https://t.co/7kfpQV8eb2

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Don’t miss it this time!!! This Friday 4/3, I’m back at it! Come through with you shorties and play! All winners (there will be six) win gift cards to their indie booksellers! And don’t worry, if you don’t have an indie close, I’ll sort it out for you. See y’all there!

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scroll way down for middle and high school

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It's no surprise that authors are incredibly good at bringing their own books to life. Whether through live or pre-recorded visits, read-aloud videos, or other virtual author activities, kids will connect with books like never before! Here are some of our favorite options to try.

Pre-Recorded Virtual Author Visits

Check out these videos of presentations authors have given at schools and libraries. There are authors here that will interest students at any age.

Arree Chung

Hear Chung talk about the process of creating his book Mixed: A Colorful Story. The allegory of one color who thinks it's better than the others is meaningful at any age.

Bao Phi

Bao Phi's lovely book A Different Pond showcases the relationship between a father and his son. As they fish for the food their family needs, the father tells his son about a pond from his own childhood in faraway Vietnam.

Jasmine Warga

Author of the Newbery Honor book Other Words for Home, Jasmine Warga gives an engaging talk about how she writes.

Jennifer L. Holm

From her Babymouse graphic novels to the Sunny series and beyond, Holm writes books that middle grade readers absolutely love.

J.H. Reynolds

Do your students love the thrills and chills of the MonsterStreet series? Then they'll love seeing its author answer kids' questions about reading and writing!

J.K. Rowling

Every kid will recognize the author of the beloved Harry Potter books! See her interview with the Harry Potter Reading Club in this video.

Kate Messner

Kate Messner writes fiction, nonfiction, novels, chapter books, and picture books, so there's a good chance most kids have read at least one of her books.

Katherine Applegate

Lots of kids read The One and Only Ivan in class, and Applegate has plenty of other popular and award-winning books as well. Hear her talk about her books (and even show off her adorable dog!).

Lois Lowry

Here's another name kids will recognize. Whether they love The Giver, the Gooney Bird series, or any of her other numerous works, they'll enjoy listening to her speak and answer audience questions.

Max Brallier

The Last Kids on Earth book series is now a Netflix series too! Listen to author Max Brallier talk about his writing process and give kids a writing challenge of their own.

Live Virtual Author Visits

Want to set up a virtual author visit live for your class or school? If you have a particular author in mind, visit their website (or their publisher's) to contact them and find out if they do virtual visits. Scholastic offers virtual author visits through their catalog, so that's a great place to start.

The Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators has a terrific roundup of virtual author visits and writing workshops too. Here are some to consider.

Gutman has written all sorts of books for kids, and he's happy to do virtual school visits. Find his offerings and prices at his website.

Nonfiction children's author Kurtz loves to present his books to kids of all ages. His virtual offerings include readings, interviews, and concept-based workshops.

Long does both in-person and virtual author visits based on her popular books, like How I Became a Pirate. Visit her website to see her offerings and book a visit.

Biebow's colorful book about the inventor of Crayola crayons is a delight. She offers free virtual visits, plus interactive in-person workshops.

Known for Dahlia in Bloom, Koehler offers both virtual author visits and writing workshops. She does professional development workshops for teachers too.

Virtual Author Read-Alouds

When you hear authors read their own books, it gives you a whole new perspective on their works. That makes read-alouds some of our favorite virtual author activities.

Hale's YouTube channel includes a playlist called Storytime With Uncle Bruce. Hear him read about Clark the Shark and other hilarious characters.

Gutman has a whole collection of read-alouds on his Facebook page, like Miss Blake Is a Flake. Kids will love his wacky style!

Visit her YouTube channel to see the author read her book Where Are My Books? She's got a few other read-alouds too, along with drawing tips.

Fabien Cousteau is the grandson of famed sea explorer Jacques Cousteau. His book series explores his own experiences under the water, and you can watch his read-aloud on Facebook.

You'll feel inspired when you hear Byers read her heartfelt book I Am Enough.

Lin reads aloud from her picture books as well as chapters from her longer books on her YouTube channel.

Watch Knowles read the first chapter of her middle-grade novel Where the Heart Is, while giving students a fun writing exercise.

Hear Cook read a variety of books from her collection, like Wilma Jean the Worry Machine. Her YouTube channel also includes interviews, advice, and other fun virtual author activities.

Watch Messner read Fergus and Zeke and the 100th Day of School in this YouTube video.

This read-aloud of Fry Bread includes some of the author's thoughts on writing the book and the recipe he included at the end.

Listen to Henderson read the first chapter of her book The Magic in Changing Your Stars on YouTube.

The author regularly shares read-alouds of his books, like I Love You Like a Pig, on his Instagram page.

The author has added a collection of videos of herself reading from her picture books on Instagram. Titles include When We Are Kind and You Hold Me Up.

Hear readings from Shusterman's books on his YouTube channel, including excerpts and complete short stories.

The author created a Stay at Home: Story Time section on his website. Initially made during the 2020 COVID lockdown, these videos are still lots of fun to watch.

Visit Reynolds' Facebook page to see him read from some of his most popular books, like The Dot.

The award-winning author and illustrator reads from her book The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg in this YouTube video.

The author reads his picture books on his YouTube channel, where he also has lots of drawing videos for inspiration.

Other Virtual Author Activities

So many wonderful authors and publishers have YouTube or Instagram channels! Join them as they teach you how to draw, offer writing tips, and lots more.

Kids will do more than just watch these videos. They'll write, draw, and create on their own, inspired by famous authors and illustrators.

Watch story time, Cressida Cowell's summer camp, author interviews, how-to-draw videos, and a whole lot more.

The prolific author has a robust website full of videos, activities, podcasts, and more virtual author activities to engage kids of a variety of ages.

The Lunch Lady author and illustrator has a series of videos showing kids how to draw some of their favorite characters. His YouTube channel also has cartooning tips, writing tips, pep talks, and shorts.

This YouTube channel is rich with content, including interviews, tour journals, how-to-draw tips, and so much more.

The Kennedy Center sponsored this series of videos with the beloved author of classics like Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!

Author and illustrator of hits like Smile and Drama shares drawings, time-lapse videos, and more on her Instagram page.

Aspiring illustrators will enjoy this series, where any kid can learn to draw creatures of every kind.

These half-hour chats with well-known middle grade authors are the perfect length to share with your classes.

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The Big List of Virtual Author Activities

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Check out live and pre-recorded author visits, read-alouds, and other virtual author activities like drawing sessions to share with students.

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National Poetry Month

Launched by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996, National Poetry Month is a special occasion that celebrates poets' integral role in our culture and that poetry matters. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world, with tens of millions of readers, students, K-12 teachers, librarians, booksellers, literary events curators, publishers, families, and-of course-poets, marking poetry's important place in our lives.

In April 2023, U.S. Poet Laureate Ada Limón selected twenty new poems by contemporary poets to be featured in the Academy of American Poets' Poem-a-Day series as part of a collaboration with the Library of Congress.

Thanks in part to our National Poetry Month partners and sponsors, each April the Academy is able to offer activities, initiatives, and resources so that anyone can join the celebration:

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National Poetry Month was inaugurated by the Academy of American Poets in April 1996. Over the years, it has become the largest literary celebration in the world with schools, publishers, libraries, booksellers, and poets celebrating poetry's vital place in our culture.

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You can start these 15 poems right now. Besides being challenging and fun to work on, they can lead to some strong poems. For best results, paste the activity into your word processor, or print out a hard copy. Then write quickly and freely, trusting your imagination, hunches, gut feelings. When you finish, read the poem aloud a few times in private. When you're ready, share the poem with a partner or in a small group. Try working on them in your blog, where you can choose to keep them private or share them.

For best results, paste the activity into your word processor, or print out a hard copy. Then write quickly and freely, trusting your imagination, hunches, gut feelings. When you finish, read the poem. When you're ready, share the poem with a partner or in a small group.

As you work with these approaches and techniques, you'll begin to sense how you can slice, dice, and blend them together in poems you make from scratch. Try them. They really work!

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Poetryexpress - 15 Poems You Can Write Now

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You can start these 15 poems right now. Besides being challenging and fun to work on, they can lead to some strong poems. For best results, paste the activity into your word processor, or print out a hard copy. Then write quickly and freely, trusting your imagination, hunches, gut feelings.

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Watch KA read his award-winning novel THE CROSSOVER (click #instastory circle 👆🏾above on mobile device) or daily #instagramlive 1030am EST/330pm GMT

athomewithkwame.com (THAT'S 9:30 AM OUR TIME!!!)

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from Kids 4 Peace

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leave positive messages on your sidewalk/driveway for others to see -- and for yourself

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the first line of classic novels, re-imagined for social distancing

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Of course, books can be a balm in these terrifying times-but as the surge in sales of plague-related literature reveals, sometimes all we want to read are books that speak directly to our terrifying times. Well, friends, with a little elbow great, any book can be a coronavirus book. Behold: the first lines of 10 classic novels, rewritten for these times of social distancing.

Notes from Underground
I am a sick man... I am a spiteful man... I am a man who is going to McSorley's to celebrate St. Paddy's Day!!!

The Great Gatsby
In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I've been turning over in my mind ever since. "Whenever you feel like going to a restaurant," he told me, "just remember there are people in this world whose immune systems haven't had all the advantages yours has had."

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The first lines of 10 classic novels, rewritten for social distancing.

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Of course, books can be a balm in these terrifying times-but as the surge in sales of plague-related literature reveals, sometimes all we want to read are books that speak directly to our terrifying times. Well, friends, with a little elbow great, any book can be a coronavirus book.

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He's one of the most renowned Shakespeare performers of a generation, so it's only right that Patrick Stewart turns to the Bard while the public are barred from going outside.

The actor has begun reading a Shakespeare sonnet for Twitter audiences on a daily basis, offering a brief moment of calm amidst everything occurring outside.

You can watch the first two below - stay tuned for more as the days progress.

2. When I was a child in the 1940s, my mother would cut up slices of fruit for me (there wasn't much) and as she put it in front of me she would say, "An apple a day keeps the doctor away." How about, "A sonnet a day keeps the doctor away"? So...here we go: Sonnet 1. pic.twitter.com/kDoMNhdqcI
- Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 22, 2020

Sonnet 2. This is one of my favorites. #ASonnetADay pic.twitter.com/aQBzrsETKv
- Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 23, 2020

And day three:

Sonnet 3#ASonnetADay pic.twitter.com/hI4GzH49P8
- Patrick Stewart (@SirPatStew) March 24, 2020

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Patrick Stewart is reading a Shakespeare sonnet a day to get us through the coronavirus lockdown | WhatsOnStage

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He's one of the most renowned Shakespeare performers of a generation, so it's only right that Patrick Stewart turns to the Bard while the public are barred from going outside. The actor has begun reading a Shakespeare sonnet for Twitter audiences on a daily basis, offering a brief moment of calm amidst everything occurring outside.

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Make funny faces on zoom!!! See how long it takes the other people to laugh.

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Make funny faces on zoom!!! See how long it takes the other people to laugh.

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Make a list of things you're lucky to have.

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Make a list of things you're lucky to have.

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Listen. Breathe. Think. Relax. Get ready for five minutes a day of calming poetry read by the US Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith

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The Slowdown podcast hosted by Tracy K. Smith delivers a different way to see the world - through poetry

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Nic Stone's Wattpad