In Search of Wonder: Common Core & More

The National Children’s Book and Literacy Alliance, in conjunction with the Perry Ohio School District, presented In Search of Wonder: Common Core and More, an interdisciplinary professional development day designed for educators, librarians, parents, students of education and library science, and other adults who love books for young people in October 2014.

Our day-long literary event featured renowned authors Katherine Paterson, Steven Kellogg, Nikki Grimes, Tanya Lee Stone, and Chris Crutcher.

Our objective was to introduce nonfiction and fiction literature that can be utilized across the curriculum to improve students’ knowledge and skill levels, as well as increase students’ critical and creative thinking capacities. Supplemental Education Resource Materials have been published on this website to support the In Search of Wonder presentations.

In addition to our five keynote speakers, In Search of Wonder: Common Core and More featured an expert panel who discussed classic, contemporary, and brand new books that can be utilized across all academic disciplines and grade levels to enhance students’ learning experiences. The “Kaleidoscope of Books for the Classroom” panelists included: Pat Bartholomew, master teacher/literature expert; Annisha Jeffries, librarian, Director of Youth Services, Cleveland Public Libraries; Maria Salvadore, Children’s Literature Consultant, The Library of Congress and PBS Reading Rockets; Nicole Deming, Senior Communications Manager, Children’s Book Council; Dr. Meghan Harper, Associate Professor of Library and Information Science, Kent State University; and Benjamin Sapp, Director of the Mazza Museum of Children’s Book Art, The University of Findlay, Ohio.

For more information about the participating authors and to download copies of our extensive In Search of Wonder supplemental education resource materials, click here.

Above photograph © Verdi Photography.