A Summer Reflection
Research published in Frontiers in Education shows that reflecting on both successes and challenges helps learners internalize growth, build confidence, and set clear goals. With that in mind, now’s the time to reflect on the accomplishments of the past school year.
So much of the work you do happens behind the scenes, and we’re continually inspired by your dedication to creating moments of effort, joy, and connection around reading and writing. Your passion fuels student success and builds a lasting culture of literacy.
Whether you’re an educator, parent, or literacy advocate, we invite you to reflect with us on a year filled with inspiring author talks and a shared love of reading and writing.
The Storytellers Who Inspired Students to Read More
Reflecting on BookBreak’s Bestselling Authors
The 2024-2025 school year has been filled with events featuring some extraordinary bestselling authors, from exploring imaginative worlds with Marie Lu to celebrating artists like Frida Kahlo with Yuyi Morales.
We featured a wide range of bestselling authors so students were able to see themselves in stories and connect with new perspectives. Each monthly talk, paired with standards-aligned resources, supported classroom learning and reinforced the library’s value as a collaborative learning space.
Here are just a few highlights from this year’s impactful speakers:
BookBreak’s Middle School Authors
Students were transported into the dystopian world of The Giver as author Lois Lowry delved into the art of world building and storytelling. Students explored the process and challenges of crafting a believable dystopian world, creating text-to-world connections, and posing inquiry questions that dystopian texts invite us to contemplate.
Students explored the intricate world of Legend with Marie Lu as she encouraged readers to look beyond the surface and reveal hidden secrets. Readers dove into the depths of deceit, battle for power, and the lengths characters will go to unmask the Truth.
Students had the exciting opportunity to hear from the man whose groundbreaking work transformed his Malawian village and inspired the world. William Kamkwanba explored the detailed science behind the wind turbine he built, providing access to electricity and life-changing resources. He shared insight into the mechanics of wind power, the challenges he faced, and his problem-solving techniques.
BookBreak’s Elementary School Authors
Yuyi Morales inspired readers and artists of all ages to tell stories and learn about the artist Frida Kahlo through art and creativity. The fun draw-along was a highlight in both the English and Spanish versions of this talk.
With Adam Rubin’s Author in Residence series, students created a short story, all inspired by a single title, just like his books of short stories. Students developed creative writing skills and gained confidence in crafting unique narratives.
Thanhhà Lại shared with students about how her own childhood experiences and her love of poetry inspired the creation of Newbery Medal winner, Inside Out & Back Again (2011), which teaches readers that change can bring new opportunities.
These authors helped students not only improve their literacy skills, but also enriched the learning experience by exposing students to a variety of viewpoints and voices.
BookBreak Classroom Reading Success Stories
BookBreak is making a difference at schools just like yours!
We love hearing from educators about the impact BookBreak has had in their classrooms, libraries, and school communities. From increased engagement and motivation to feeling seen and represented, we’ve heard how our author talks have changed schools for the better.
Take a look at what some of our subscribers have shared:
Why Our Schools Love BookBreak’s Virtual Author Talk Program
What’s not to love about literacy experiences that spark student excitement and align with your curriculum?
Over 2,000 subscribing schools across the country are using BookBreak to ignite students’ passion for reading and writing. Each grade level has the opportunity to hear from an age-appropriate author at least once per month throughout the school year.
As a team of educators ourselves, we’ve designed resources with educators top of mind. We offer comprehensive plans like pre-reading discussions, mini-lessons, and fun printables that seamlessly integrate with teacher curricula and state standards while reinforcing the library’s value as a collaborative learning space. Our author talks have been used for author studies, lit circles, literacy nights, reading celebrations, and more!
We’re excited to continue supporting you with brilliant authors, ready-to-use tools, and memorable reading experiences for your students.
Summer Reading Resources for Your Students
School might be out, but the reading fun doesn’t have to stop! Access our fun summer resources to keep kids inspired and turning pages all year long.
We’ve included grade-specific activities like word searches and crossword puzzles to help students strengthen their vocabulary, along with summer reading lists and book trackers to encourage continued reading. Our goal is to support educators in keeping students engaged during the summer months.
You know how much learning can slip over the summer break, which is why we’ve built tools for educators to keep reading fun and engaging before the new school year begins.
Celebrating Educators Who Inspire
Summer is a meaningful time for educators to pause and recognize the incredible impact they’ve had on their students. It’s also an opportunity to celebrate the power of learning, growth, and connection throughout the year.
We understand how much heart, time, and effort go into fostering a love of reading and writing in your classroom. Your dedication not only shapes academic outcomes, but also strengthens your entire school’s community. We admire and appreciate all that you do.
We hope this season gives you the space to reflect, recharge, and feel proud of all you’ve accomplished.
Stay Tuned…