A Mighty Girl's top picks of books for children and teens about real-life girls and women who fought for a more just, equal, and peaceful world.

A great way to encourage girls' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields is by sharing stories starring girls and women who love science and technology! Seeing female faces as scientists, whether in the lab or out in the field, is a powerful message to girls that these subjects are open to

Here are 5 powerful lessons when introducing Shakespeare to kids. Included are books for kids about Shakespeare and his plays; lessons from Shakespeare and how to prepare to go to a Shakespeare play.

Learn about the value of communication and checkout our free printable PDF infographic about Parent-Teen Communication & Conversation Starters for Adolescents.

Our top picks of stories to inspire your Mighty Girl to dream big this year and follow through with the hard work and perseverance to make those dreams come true.

COVID-19 related deaths may mean teachers, librarians and caregivers need books about death for kids who are grieving, especially if it's a student who lost a parent.

Inside: Authentic YA Spanish books for teens and pre-teens. Some of my most formative companions as a pre-teen were books. I read them over breakfast, after school, and returned to my favorites over and over. They formed such a deep part of my imagination that anyone who loved the same books felt like an instant friend.

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Check out these fun Artemis Fowl Party Ideas, download our free printable Artemis Fowl decoder message and see our fun Gold Coin cupcakes!

Common Sense Media improves the lives of kids and families by providing independent reviews, age ratings, & other information about all types of media.

What are you reading? If you are anything like me, you eagerly await the summer months to finally make a sizable dent in that pile of books adorning your nightstand. My summer reading list typically includes a mix of young adult novels, professional books, and a healthy handful of books for fun. I really love to read, but as an Educator and a parent, reading more than one or two books a month throughout the school year is a challenge. Since I typically begin to put books aside for summer throughout the late Winter & Spring, I find myself drawn to articles splayed across the internet that proclaim, “Best Summer Reading Books for Your Middle Schooler” or “Ten Must Read Books in 2016” or even “Perfect Summer Reading Lists for All Ages.” And while I do typically find some wonderful gems this way, I have also realized that something is missing. The lists I love lack an important category: “Books That Teach Kids and Teens about Disabilities”. As a Jewish Educator who cares deeply about disability inclusion, I am continuously drawn to well-written books that frame disability in a positive, readable and easy-to-understand way. Here are some of my favorites: Out of My Mind by Sharon Draper: This should, in my opinion, go to the top of every reading list. I have read it more than once and I recommend it often to teachers, parents and teens. I’ve even led a faculty book discussion around this gem: “Melody is not like most people. She cannot walk or talk, but she has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She is smarter than most of the adults who try to diagnose her and smarter than her classmates in her integrated classroom—the very same classmates who dismiss her as mentally challenged, because she cannot tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by cerebral palsy. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.” Out of My Mind is a powerful story that will tug at your emotions and help you to rethink the way in which you interact with individuals who lack the ability to speak in traditional ways. Fish in a Tree by Lynda Mullaly Hunt: Named around one of my favorite quotes, “Everyone is a genius. But if you judge a fish by its ability to climb a tree, it will live its life believing it is stupid,” this book sheds light on dyslexia, a reading disability that is too frequently overlooked and misdiagnosed. “Ally has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there’s a lot more to her—and to everyone—than a label, and that great minds don’t always think alike.” Every child needs a “Mr. Daniels” and this book is a great way to inspire teaching and relationships that celebrate diversity. Wonder by R J Palacio: This is an outstanding novel not only for gaining perspective and insight, but for teaching kindness. I also highly recommend the short vignettes on each of the characters, particularly The Julian Chapter. “I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse. August Pullman was born with a facial deformity that, up until now, has prevented him from going to a mainstream school. Starting 5th grade at Beecher Prep, he wants nothing more than to be treated as an ordinary kid—but his new classmates can't get past Auggie's extraordinary face. WONDER begins from Auggie's point of view, but soon switches to include his classmates, his sister, her boyfriend, and others. These perspectives converge in a portrait of one community's struggle with empathy, compassion, and acceptance.” Bonus: We Are All Wonders for young children. Delightful! All three of these novels are perfect for parents and children to read together. It is also interesting to note that two of the three protagonists are female, despite the fact that their disabilities are more commonly diagnosed and/or associated with males. Worth noting: The Reason I Jump by Naoki Higashida. My review is here. Naoki Higashida, a very smart, very self-aware, and very charming thirteen-year-old boy with autism, writes this one-of-a-kind memoir that demonstrates how an autistic mind thinks, feels, perceives, and responds in ways few of us can imagine. Using an alphabet grid to painstakingly construct words, sentences, and thoughts that he is unable to speak out loud, Naoki answers even the most delicate questions that people want to know. Questions such as: “Why do people with autism talk so loudly and weirdly?” “Why do you line up your toy cars and blocks?” “Why don’t you make eye contact when you’re talking?” and “What’s the reason you jump?” (Naoki’s answer: “When I’m jumping, it’s as if my feelings are going upward to the sky.”) With disarming honesty and a generous heart, Naoki shares his unique point of view on not only autism but life itself. Here are some of the books on my summer reading list: Learning Outside the Lines by Jonathan Mooney and David Cole: “Every day, your school, your teachers, and even your peers draw lines to measure and standardize intelligence. They decide what criteria make one person smart and another person stupid. They decide who will succeed and who will just get by. Perhaps you find yourself outside the norm, because you learn differently—but, unlike your classmates, you have no system in place that consistently supports your ability and desire to learn. Simply put, you are considered lazy and stupid. You are expected to fail. Learning Outside the Lines is written by two such “academic failures”—that is, two academic failures who graduated from Brown University at the top of their class. Jonathan Mooney and David Cole teach you how to take control of your education and find true success—and they offer all the reasons why you should persevere. Witty, bold, and disarmingly honest, Learning Outside the Lines takes you on a journey toward personal empowerment and profound educational change, proving once again that rules sometimes need to be broken.” Rules by Cynthia Lord: “Twelve-year-old Catherine just wants a normal life. Which is near impossible when you have a brother with autism and a family that revolves around his disability. She’s spent years trying to teach David the rules from "a peach is not a funny-looking apple" to "keep your pants on in public"— in order to head off David’s embarrassing behaviors. But the summer Catherine meets Jason, a surprising, new sort-of friend, and Kristi, the next-door friend she’s always wished for, its her own shocking behavior that turns everything upside down and forces her to ask: What is normal?” El Deafo by Cece Bell: “Going to school and making new friends can be tough. But going to school and making new friends while wearing a bulky hearing aid strapped to your chest? That requires superpowers! In this funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator Cece Bell chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful—and very awkward—hearing aid. The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear—sometimes things she shouldn’t—but also isolates her from her classmates. She really just wants to fit in and find a true friend, someone who appreciates her as she is.” What are you reading? Don't miss a post from Removing the Stumbling Block:

A list of 30 historical fiction books for Middle School ranging from Ancient History to the Renaissance to the 20th Century.

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. Click here to read my full disclosure policy. If you're recently divorced, separated, or in the process of either of these, you already know how tough it can be for your child to deal with. Your young child most likely doesn't understand exactly what's happening, but they can

Written by Tragically Hip frontman Gord Downie and illustrated by Jeff Lemire, Secret Path tells the true story of an Indigenous boy who died trying to escape his residential school.

Hundreds of high-quality short play scripts for elementary school students. Download a pdf script today!

The young-adult novelist discusses her childhood, the Internet, and the enduring appeal of her books

These 8 teaching ideas for Holes by Louis Sachar will enhance your novel study. Check out these recipes, music, organizers, and more.

A great way to encourage girls' interest in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields is by sharing stories starring girls and women who love science and technology! Seeing female faces as scientists, whether in the lab or out in the field, is a powerful message to girls that these subjects are open to

Children's books about the Holocaust and World War II help kids understand the past through historical fiction and nonfiction stories because they immerse readers in the experiences of people who lived through it, whether fiction books or nonfiction books.

New with Chronicle Books Publishing is Free Throws, Friendship, and Other Things We Fouled Up by Jenn Bishop. This is a great book for young athletes or all tween/teen readers. Young readers will get real emotions, family struggles, and insecurities driven by the tension of middle school sports in this book. Synopsis Cincinnati, Ohio, lives

Puberty books are a great way to prepare kids for the changes that puberty will bring! Here are 10 favourites for you and your child to read together!

“When you find yourself longing to tell your teen what to do, stop.” Learn how and when to coach your teen’s decision making — without overdoing it.

Self-regulation is a critical skill for people of all ages. It is the ability that helps us to control our behaviors to make good decisions for the long-term, rather than just doing what we want in the moment. It's also the skill that allows us to manage our emotions when we're feeling angry, disapp

Queerness isn't a modern concept, read this eye-opener to learn about it and the various queer figures found in Hindu mythology - Shikhandi, Mahadeva, Chudala, Samavan, and many more.

Grab a free copy of the Pictionary words to create your own game cards for kids to play at home or in the classroom!

An updated list of books that includes graphic novels, historical fiction, and more.

Parenting teens is not for the faint of heart! When it comes to parenting, here are 8 of my favorite go-to best books for parenting teens.

“What do you want to be when you grow up?” It is a common question to young children, and sometimes they don't know enough jobs to properly answer it. However, The Illustrated Alphabet of STEM Jobs by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock introduces children to twenty-six jobs of a wide variety, one for each letter of the alphabet, with some well-known jobs, like a meteorologist, and other jobs that children may not have heard of, like a biomedical engineer. From astronomer to zoologist, the book explains in rhyme what a person would do if they had that job. This book really makes you consider other job options. I enjoyed reading The Illustrated Alphabet of STEM Jobs by Eve Heidi Bine-Stock. The book is well written and the rhyming has a fun rhythm to it. I really liked that I was both introduced to jobs I hadn’t heard of, and learned more about jobs that I already knew about. This book would be good to teach children about certain jobs and also to teach children the alphabet. The book is written in an easy to understand way, which is perfect for children, the target age group. The book has fun, bright pages that are sure to capture a child's attention. I like that the first letter of each job (the letter that is represented on the page) is in a different color to emphasize it. The book contains vivid full-color pictures that help to depict the job and certain parts of it. I would definitely recommend this book to children.

*The Faithful Spy is an outstanding biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer—and one of the best biographies for kids ever.

Book Review: The War I Finally Won by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley by freshfromthe.com.

Wondering what to read that doesn't conform to gender stereotypes? Try this list of kids books!

I'll proudly admit to having reread the The Hunger Games, and loving every word.

Jill Williamson is a chocolate loving, daydreaming, creator of kingdoms. She writes weird books for teens in lots of weird genres like, fantasy (Blood of Kings trilogy), science fiction (Replication), and dystopian (The Safe Lands trilogy). Find Jill on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or on her author website. Last week I talked about chapter books, which is a specific category of children's books. Today I decided to do an overview of the different types of books that can be written for children. Caveats to this list: These are suggested ages and word counts. There are many gray areas in publishing based on what authors write and what each publishing house accepts. Multi-published authors break these limitations all the time. But if you are a first time author looking to get traditionally published, try and stick to these ages and word counts. Board Books Board books aren't really a genre, they're a style of book binding. Most board books are designed by publishers, who create them using stories from popular picture books. This isn't usually a type of book that is pitched. So if you want to sell a board book to a publisher, you're going to need an amazing concept. Ages: 0-3 Word count: 0-100 Famous examples: Pat the Bunny (Touch and Feel Book), The Cheerios board books. My kids had the three books in the picture below. There are many famous stories that also have been made into board books, but they were picture books first. For example, my children had Goodnight Moon, Goodnight Gorilla, and Mr. Brown Can Moo, Can You? all in board book form, but those three titles are actually picture books. Picture Books These books are a combination of words and pictures. You do not need to be able to draw to write a picture book. In fact, unless you are an amazing artist, publishers don't want to see your drawings at all. Publishers like to pair a news authors with established illustrators and a new illustrators with established authors. Another tip for writing picture books: avoid rhyming. Early Picture books Ages: 0-3 Word count: no more than 300 Famous examples: Goodnight Moon (131 words), The Very Hungry Caterpillar (221 words), If You Give a Mouse a Cookie (291 words). Picture Books Ages: 3-8 Word count: no more than 1000 Famous examples: Green Eggs and Ham (769 words), Where the Wild Things Are (336 words), The Giving Tree (621 words), Love You Forever (772 words). Early Reader These books are designed for children who are learning to read. The books have simple plots and some pictures, but the story needs to carry the book, rather than the pictures. Ages: 5-9 Word count: 100-2500 Famous examples: the Biscuit books are an example on the shorter word count end. Biscuit Finds a Friend is one 123 words long. On the longer word count side, the Frog and Toad books are a good example. Days with Frog and Toad is 2075 words long. Chapter Books These books are targeted at readers in grades 2-7. They are designed to look like grown-up books, though there is usually a picture here and there. Try to include lots of dialogue and humor in these books to keep the child's interest. Word count varies widely, depending on grade and reader level. Ages: 6-11 Word count: 3000-15,000 Famous examples: Dinosaurs Before Dark by Mary Pope Osborne (4737 words), The Hidden Stairs and the Magic Carpet (Secrets of Droon) by Tony Abbott (7439 words), The New Kid at School (Dragon Slayers’ Academy) by Kate McMullan (10,043 words). Hi-Lo Books Hi-Lo stands for high interest-low reading level. These are books written for struggling readers and students who have English as their second language. So they are written at a lower reading level, but have subject matter that is interesting enough for an older age. They are designed to increase a challenged reader's confidence, so they will have lower word counts. For more information, check out this Publisher's Weekly article on the topic. Ages: varies, often between 10-13 and 14 and up Word count: 500 - 50,000 Famous examples: (These examples might not have been written as a hi-lo books, but I found them on hi-lo reading lists.) Upper elementary ages- Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (19,784 words), Middle to high school ages- Crash by Jerry Spinelli (31,485 words). Middle Grade These are books written for readers from ages 8-12. These books tend to focus more on plot than characters. That's not to say that middle grade books have bland characters. They just don't tend to go as deep into the characters' points of views. These types of stories are often about the adventure and fun. Romance, drugs, graphic violence, swearing ... you usually won't find this content in a middle grade book. Ages: 8-12 Word count: no more than 45,000 words for contemporary, mystery, or humor genres. For fantasy or science fiction, the word count can be much higher---but doesn't have to be. Famous examples: Into the Land of the Unicorns by Bruce Coville (32,762 words), Matilda by Roald Dahl (40,009 words), The Lightning Thief by Rick Riordan (87,223 words). Young Adult These are books written for ages 12 and up. YA books tend to focus more on the characters and their problems. They tend to have deeper points of view and be more emotional. The plot is important, but often not as important as the drama. Romance is often a big part of YA books. Ages: 12-16 or 14 and up Word count: no more than 70,000 words for contemporary, historical, mystery, humor, or romance genres. For fantasy, science fiction, paranormal, or dystopian the word count can be much higher---but doesn't have to be. Famous examples: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (118,933 words), The Fault in Our Stars by John Green (65,752 words), Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson (46,591 words), The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (99,750 words). Also, if you are trying to find word counts for books, a great place is the Renaissance Learning site. Keep in mind, their genres aren't always correct for publishing industry terms. Click here to search. What category does your book fall in?