Ask teachers about their biggest challenges in elementary and middle school, and many will say the teaching of writing. It is often difficult for students find the joy, discovery, and satisfaction writing can yield. What Lisa Eickholdt and Patricia Vitale-Reilly have found is that adherence to genre studies can get in the way of student collaboration. Believing writing instruction should be more authentic, they want students to have more choices, develop better collaboration, and sustain a...

’Twas the Night Before Christmas goes to the zoo! Inspired by true events, this picture book celebrates the magic of Christmas and the spirit of giving.It’s Christmas at the zoo, and all the animals are in for a spectacular holiday surprise! Inspired by real events (yes, some zookeepers create a holiday experience for the animals!), this spirited holiday picture book takes young readers on a magical journey behind the scenes of a zoo as Santa and his helpe...