NJ Celebrates Jacqueline Woodson!
A Statewide Author Experience for School & Public Libraries
On October 16, Jacqueline Woodson, the Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature, will visit with middle school students across the state of New Jersey, when she presents her inspiring program, Reading = HOPE X CHANGE at The College of New Jersey.
Ms. Woodson will also be keynoting at NJASL's Fall Conference on December 10th.
Wherever you are, you can participate in the experience in any of the following ways:
On October 16, school and public libraries might celebrate by:
- hosting an event at the time of Ms. Woodson's live visit 10:00 to 11:30 AM at The College of New Jersey
- submitting student questions for consideration during the live event, if you are a registered library
- hosting a viewing event for students at a time of your choosing on October 16
- contributing student responses to Ms. Woodson's question: #WhatsYourEquationNJ on our Google Slidedeck
- encouraging students to book talk any of Ms. Woodson's books on this Flipgrid.
And the celebration continues . . .
After October 16, school and public libraries might continue the celebration by:
- planning future programming around Ms. Woodson's books (book discussions, displays, author studies)
- contributing student responses to Ms. Woodson's question: #WhatsYourEquationNJ on our Google Slidedeck
- encouraging students to book talk any of Ms. Woodson's books on this Flipgrid.
- initiating cross-library/school discussions, as well as school/public library collaborations
- getting ready for NJASL's One Book, One Conference: Harbor Me (for school librarians and others who might attend the Conference on December 10th)
Ms. Woodson's website includes a bounty of resources to support your celebrations.
Special Woodson audio sampler package from SYNC: Audiobooks for Teens. A great discussion starter!
This AudioFile sampler was prepared by Penguin Random House.
Students and teachers may listen to the 36-min. file from this page or download the audio file.
Listen to some of Jacqueline Woodson’s works with this special sampler from Penguin Random House.
The sampler includes the following clips:
Please register to participate and to submit questions! [Now closed]
You may view the program agenda here.
How to get the kids involved in this exciting literary experience:
Inspire students' creative responses to Ms. Woodson's and with their own equations!
We will share student work at both events and by using the hashtag #WhatsYourEquationNJ and by sharing work or links to work on this Google Slidedeck.
Encourage students to create by:
- sharing their own equations in media or print
- making art, media, and writing inspired by Ms. Woodson's works
- creatively sharing their own equations
How to help students access Ms. Woodson books:
- Consider purchasing or renting a few more print, ebook or audiobook copies of the books for students.
- See if your school, public library or organization qualifies for the First Book program
- Use ILL to get additional copies
Depending on availability through your public library system, show students how to borrow ebook or audiobook copies through:
- Libby/Overdrive (public library)/ Sora (school library)
- eLibraryNJ
- RB Digital
- Hoopla
- their library catalogs (In schools these include MackinVia, Destiny, Alexandria, etc.)
Who is behind this event?
- The Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.
- Trenton Area Schools
The Literacy Alliance includes:
- The Children's Book Council and Every Child a Reader
- The New Jersey Center for the Book, a program of the Library of Congress
- The College of New Jersey
- Rutgers School of Communication and Information
- The New Jersey State Library
- The New Jersey Library Association (NJLA)
- The New Jersey Association of School Librarians (NJASL)
The following resources will help you prepare for book discussions and events. (Additional resources will be developed this summer.)
Instructional Materials from the education faculty at The College of New Jersey
About Jacqueline Woodson
Jacqueline Woodson Transformed Children's Literature. Now She's Writing for Herself
Jacqueline Woodson on Instagram
About Ms. Woodson's appointment as our National Ambassador for Young People's Literature
[NEW!] Ms. Woodson's TED2019 Talk: What reading slowly taught me about writing
Reading/Teaching Guides
Reading = Hope X Change Activity Kits (EveryChildAReader)
Random House Guide to the Works of Jacqueline Woodson
About Harbor Me
Penguin Random House Harbor Me Teaching Guide
Random House excerpt of Harbor Me
Book Rags Harbor Me Summary and Discussion GuideBook Club for Kids: Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson
Reviews of Harbor Me