Designed to grow into a 2-inch three-ring binder, this handbook is part of a series for teachers of grades 6-8 language arts. The handbook aims to clarify some points, to provide a framework for new teachers and to give veteran teachers some new ideas. Volume I contains activities to use in the classroom, and Volume II is "all about books." The activities are divided into sections for grade 6 (n=17), grade 7 (n=12), and grade 8 (n=9), and each activity contains a brief section on teacher preparation, an activity starter, a "making the connection" section, and objectives addressed. Volume II provides background information about several young people's book awards, including Newbery Award Books, Caldecott Award Books, Coretta Scott King Award, Printz Award, Mildred L. Batchelder Award, National Book Award, Edgar Allen Poe Award, and Best Books List. It also provides extensive lists of fiction books, nonfiction and information books, and picture books published since 1990. (NKA)