What can the art of childhood reveal? Does it show burgeoning talent, exciting potential, or perhaps simply the beginning of a love to create? These are some of the questions explored in an online exhibition of The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, co-curated by award-winning illustrators Grace Lin and Jarrett J. Krosoczka. Together, with 17 other artists, they honor childhood creativity in Now & Then: Contemporary Illustrators and Their Childhood Art. Viewers see examples of each artist’s childhood drawings and how the drawings foreshadow the artists’ current creative interests. From stick drawings and crayon animals to beautiful watercolors and digital illustrations, the pairings inspire young viewers to make connections to their own creations—and their future potential. Lin and Krosoczka selected artists working in myriad formats—picture books, chapter books, and graphic novels—and chose contemporary artists, since one of the purposes of the exhibition is to show children where their own artistic journey could take them.
Cash-strapped teachers know that grants can bring much-needed monies into the classroom to enhance learning experiences and engage students. But teachers often lack the time to prepare and write grant applications. Incorporating the grant application process into your classroom is a viable solution.
Each year we publish blogs and newsletters full of digital learning, funding, professional growth, social media, and STEM resources. Below are items from our blogs and newsletters that educators turned to the most in 2020.
In response to requests for recommendations of antibias children’s books, Social Justice Books has launched the Freedom Reads: Anti-Bias Book Talk video series. Each episode walks viewers through a synopsis of the book, relevant resources, and four to five key points from an antibias, critical literacy perspective.