Presents an interview with award-winning author Karen Hesse, discussing her writing for children and young adults. Discusses how ideas for particular books arose, as well as the research and writing processes that went into them. Appends reviews of nine books by Karen Hesse. (SR)

Describes how the author, growing up loving to read, never dreamed that real Black people like herself existed in everyday, fun books--all of the characters she came to love and secretly conversed with were White. States that now she fills the shelves of her classroom with fun books that tell of simple, joyous moments of all human kind. (SR)

Lists 17 resources that may serve as a springboard to help teachers familiarize themselves with a wide variety of literature and teaching strategies to include cultures from around the globe in the classroom with responsibility and respect. (SR)

Presents 54 thank you letters written by authors (of children's literature, young adult literature, and professional texts) to classroom teachers, from the shadow of the events of September 11th, 2001, offering their thanks for teachers' efforts to face those events with children, offering their personal thoughts about the events, or their…

Offers brief descriptions of 25 books, both fiction and nonfiction, that are accessible to struggling readers, provide a high-quality reading experience, and may allow them to break through their difficulties to see reading as something of value to their lives. (SR)