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Winter’s Tale: Celebrating Authors

Whether you’re looking to refresh your classroom library or to inspire a new creative writing unit, February offers a unique literary goldmine for educators. This month is not only a time for cozy winter reads, but also a celebration of an extraordinary number of literary icons who have February birthdays—some of whom include Langston Hughes, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Charles Dickens, Amy Tan, and John Steinbeck. To help you bring their voices into your classroom, we’ve curated a collection of resources designed to connect students with the enduring legacies of these and other diverse and influential authors.

Grades K-12

TeachersFirst Authors’ Websites

View this collection of various authors' websites to find creative voices to introduce to your class. Each entry includes lesson ideas, making it easy for educators to explore biographies, authors’ works, and teaching resources to engage students.

Grades K-8

Learning From Experts - Author Studies in the Classroom

This article offers a comprehensive toolkit for conducting author studies. It includes strategies for deep-dives into writers' lives, activity suggestions such as hosting virtual visits and creating video interviews or podcasts, standards, and more.

Grades 4-8

Rick Riordan - Teacher's Guides

These guides provide a range of free resources to help educators incorporate Rick Riordan's popular books into their classrooms. They include discussion questions, reading comprehension activities, and lesson plans for a variety of books.

Grades K-3

Josh Funk Books - Stuff for Kids

Author Josh Funk's page for kids offers a range of activities and resources to accompany his books for young readers. Discover new books by viewing book trailers, learn about characters using the character cards, or play songs from his books.

Grades 5-9

Book Club for Kids

Book Club for Kids features 20-minute podcast episodes in which young readers discuss novels and interview the authors. Students can hear writers explain their techniques, listen to celebrity readings, and explore "Writers on Writing" for deeper insights.

Grades 8-12

Maya Angelou

Dr. Angelou's site celebrates the life and legacy of this iconic author, playwright, and civil rights activist. Explore her biography, books, films, photos, and videos showcasing how her powerful words bridged racial, religious, and cultural divides.

Grades 3-5

Judy Moody Official Website

This vibrant site immerses fans in the world of Judy Moody and Stink. It offers interactive "way-not-boring" activities, character bios, and teacher guides, making it an excellent resource for engaging young readers with Megan McDonald’s popular series.

Grades 6-12

National Steinbeck Center

The National Steinbeck Center brings John Steinbeck’s legacy to life. Educators can access primary sources, biographical archives, and lesson materials that connect his classic themes of social justice and humanity to the modern classroom.

Grades 3-5

Dancing Minds and Shouting Smiles: Teaching Personification Through Poetry

This detailed lesson plan encourages students to explore works by Dickinson, Hughes, and Willard, then use random noun-verb pairings and a graphic organizer to craft their own creative poems over four engaging sessions. Standards are included.

Grades 8-12

Jack London Online

Discover a biography of Jack London, FAQs, documents (including letters, postcards, and telegrams) and photos related to his life and work, a list of his novels, a collection of his works including all kinds of research aids, and more!

Grades K-7

Mem Fox: Teaching, Learning, Living

Hear Mem Fox read her own stories and give advice on how to read to children (with excellent examples), suggestions for promoting literacy and love of reading, and information about writing your own picture book for children.

Grades K-6

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion

The Laura Ingalls Wilder Companion features hands-on activities, pioneer recipes, crafts, trivia, and free printables inspired by the Little House books. This resource is perfect for educators and fans who want to explore Wilder's life.

Grades 1-7

The World of Beverly Cleary

This site honors the beloved Beverly Cleary, creator of Ramona Quimby and Henry Huggins. Educators will find a complete list of her books, printable activities, and teaching resources to help new generations discover the joy of her timeless stories.

Grades 8-12

The Charles Dickens Page

This site is a treasure trove for Charles Dickens fans, offering deep dives into his novels, London life, and quirky facts. Educators can find detailed plot summaries, character lists, and historical context to bring Victorian literature to life.

This Week at TeachersFirst

Join us next Tuesday (2/17) for our next free OK2Ask virtual workshop. We're also sharing an author-related blog post and an opportunity to apply to join our team as a part-time consultant. Read the details below!