I may be late to the party here. Maybe, after 6+ weeks at home with your kids, you have the perfect schedule for your family. Maybe you have already searched out every feasible activity known to man to keep your kids occupied so you can work and not lose your minds. Perhaps you are a teacher, and you have got this online learning/Zoom thing completely under control. If that is you, you probably don’t need this post.
BUT, if you are looking for things to keep your kids or your students engaged in the waning days of the school year while they are schooling from home, here are a few links I have found thanks to some of my favorite people in Kids Lit online.
Jarrett Lerner
Jarrett is the author of the Enginerds series, and almost from the first days of schooling from home, he has posted links to his website where kids can find drawing activities and other things to keep them engaged. You can go here to read an entire previously unpublished book, Knights of the Kids’ Table. Then you can go to the activities tab on his website to find TONS of fun drawing activities and prompts (only for educational or private use).
Jarrett J. Krosoczka
Jarrett Krosoczka has been one of my favorite authors since my son and my students were reading his Lunch Lady graphic novel books. He endeared himself to me even more in his interactions with my son several years ago at an ALA conference when the Platypus Police Squad books were coming out. He’s one of my automatic-buy authors, and he’s won scads of awards for his graphic novel memoir Hey, Kiddo. During the pandemic he has been hosting Draw Every Day with JJK on YouTube. Be sure to check out his whole channel for tons of great content.
Mo Willems
Mo Willems is the author of the Piggie and Elephant books, Knuffle Bunny, and Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus, among others. He is also one of my must-buy authors. He’s also been on my list of top 10 favorite illustrators AND his books are on my list of picture books I miss reading to students. He has been hosting Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems through the Kennedy Center. You can watch these videos here.
Peter H. Reynolds
Another one of my favorite illustrators is Peter H. Reynolds. He does the illustrations for the Judy Moody and Stink Moody books as well as some of my favorite picture books like The Dot, Ish, and So Few of Me. Peter has been posting video of himself reading some of his books aloud on Facebook. You can watch him read So Few of Me here.
Two More Resources
Publisher’s Weekly has a list of authors, illustrators and other professionals in Kids Lit who have activities or resources for parents, teachers and kids to use during the pandemic. You can take a look at their full list here.
Also, Jessica Purvis has produced an outstanding infographic for parents and teachers about copyright law and how publishers have temporarily relaxed the rules in order to help people out during this season. If you are a teacher who wants to read aloud to students during your class meetings, be sure to check this resource out here.