PREK-ELEMENTARY
Channel Your Creativity (Webinar Workshop)
Grades: PreK-5
Experienced author/workshop leader uses readings, presentations, discussion, and hands-on writing activities to inspire creativity with fun prompts and exercises.
Companies 4 Kids! Online Author Visits Teaching Kids About Companies & Entrepreneurs
Ages: 8-13
Award-winning author, Lowey Bundy Sichol, teaches kids about business & entrepreneurship with a new visit each week. Included are real old-time Disney clips, classic Nike ads, famous Nike sports clips, and so much more! Kids learn how Disney, Nike, Google, LEGO (and many more) came to be. Fun facts and answers to your questions at the end.
Creative Writing Sessions and Author Visits
Grades: 8-12
Bringing Creative Writing sessions and Songwriting sessions directly to students grades 8-12 via FaceTime or Skype.
DAHLIA IN BLOOM Author Visit & Study Downloads
Ages: 7-12
Free 15-minute virtual author visit and free downloads for novel study. Dahlia in Bloom, middle-grade historical fiction set in 1933 Appalachia, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews and was named one of Kirkus’ Best Books of 2019. Links to Susan Koehler’s professional materials are available on their website.
ERNESTINE’S MILKY WAY and Storycatching
Grades: PreK-5
Kerry Madden-Lunsford is available to read to kids and help them spark their own stories.
Ages: 5+
Kerry O’Malley Cerra walks students through the process of summarizing different texts including picture books, middle grade novels, and even shows them how to use it when writing.
FREE Skype Meet the Author: How a Book Comes to Be
Grades: PreK-5
Connect virtually via Skype with award-winning children’s author to discuss books and how a book comes to be.
Ages: 4-8
Kids around the world are invited to join the 30-minute long live sessions where they can virtually meet a real-life author and listen to her read one of her books. The sessions are 100% free and will be held on Facebook Live at the following times: Wed, March 18 @11am ET; Thu, March 19 @3pm ET; Fri, March 20 @6pm ET; Mon, March 23 @1pm ET, Tue, March 24 @2pm ET.
Ages: Workshops: 8-12 | Read-Alongs: 2-5
Author Linda Booth Sweeney will share a brief book talk, an inside look at the author’s process and hands-on writing/making activities, inspired by the award-winning picture book biography, MONUMENT MAKER. May have a guest visit by artist Shawn Fields.
Let’s Talk About Storytelling! (A Free Video Workshop)
Grades: 1-5
Elementary school children are invited to join A.J. Cattapan and Lisa Hendey in this free video workshop on how to create characters for stories.
Meet the Author: How a Book Comes to Be Free Skype Visit
Grades: K-5
Connect virtually via Skype with award-winning children’s author to discuss books and how a book comes to be.
Mini-Workshops: Drawing & Watercolor
Grades: 1-4
In each video mini-workshop, I will guide the participants to draw or paint a small project, step-by-step.
Mystery Builders, An Online Course
Ages: 7-10
Learn all the elements that go into a mystery story, with writing prompts, worksheets and videos.
PUMPKIN’S STORY: Author Interview
Ages: 8-12
Here’s a quick Q+A with Aubre Andrus, the author of PUMPKIN’S STORY, a narrative nonfiction story about a miniature horse who learned to run. (Scholastic, 2019)
Resources for Educators and Other Readers
Grades: 3+
Jo Hackl offers free resources here incl. activities, book club questions & menu, hidden object search, bookmarks, and an interactive map and clue trail.
Skype Children’s Picture Books
Grades: K-2
WHO’S GOT THE FACE–a dog named Face. THE FABLE OF THE SNAKE NAMED SLIM–Slim is a wobbler wanting to be a wiggler.
Ages: 8-12
Shirin Shamsi is happy to Skype readings of their middle grade novel and share a PDF of notes and questions with teachers.
Grades: PreK-8
STEAM Powered Poetry Videos for PreK-8 offers STEM/STEAM mini-lessons which include poetry, videos, free downloadable classroom experiments, and activities, plus list of related reading materials.
Ages: 4-8
Some reading, brainstorming ideas. Be prepared to brainstorm!
THE CRAYON MAN (CRAYOLA CRAYONS) Virtual Visit
Ages: 6-9
Free virtual visits with author Natascha Biebow allow children the opportunity to explore the true story of the invention of Crayola crayons, and the journey of an author and editor. Topics: STEM, art, inventors, history, creativity, true stories, and nature. Please contact the author for details.
This Writer’s Life YouTube Channel
Ages: 8-12
This Writer’s Life is an engaging educational video series for 8 to 12-year-olds that peeks into the writing process. That means tools, writing activities, guidance, and encouragement for young writers to help develop their sense of themselves as writers, their unique voices and imaginations, and their own writer’s life. Plus, each episode features someone in a creative field offering a piece of advice from their own process!
Grades: PreK-5
Videos of writing tips from author Bruce Hale.
Virtual Visits with Nonfiction Children’s Author Kevin Kurtz
Grades: K-5
Using Zoom, Kevin can speak virtually to up to 50 students in their homes about science, nature, and writing nonfiction.
Ages: 8-14
Laura Shovan is hosting a poem-a-day project with children’s authors and poets sharing writing prompts on the theme of water.
Ages: 4-10
In this video, picture book and chapter book author Katrina Moore (ONE HUG and GRANDPA GRUMPS) leads viewers in a writing and creative prompt all about what could go wrong.
Writing Exercise for A BOY, A MOUSE, AND A SPIDER: THE STORY OF E.B. WHITE
Ages: 6-12
A writing exercise using what you see, hear and smell in the world around you.
Ages: 6-10
Fun writing ideas and lessons for kids!
Ages: 8-12
Kim Ventrella will answer frequently-asked writing questions from kids on their YouTube channel.
Writing Workshops/YouTube Channel
Grades: PreK-5
Various pause-and-write interactive video workshops for at-home students.
MIDDLE SCHOOL
Grades: 6-8
WRITING RADAR: HOW TO WRITE ABOUT WHAT YOU KNOW ABOUT. Jack Gantos’s website has video storytelling and “how-to writing features.
Online Author Workshops and Talks
Ages: 8-12
Join Deborah Abela, author of 26 books, as they lead you through fun activities to make you a better, more confident writer.
Story Starter: Create a Fictional Character
Ages: 8-16
A brief lesson to help you build a fictional character to start your story. With a PDF exercise.
Story Starter: Create your Setting
Ages: 8-16
A brief lesson to help you build a fictional setting to start your story. With a PDF exercise.
Thriving Through Adversity: A Writing Workshop Exploring Character
Ages: 10+ (through Adult)
Students will explore how adversity enables a character’s arc of change in both fiction and nonfiction stories.
Ages: 12-18
Weekly creative writing workshops with free downloads for families, teachers, and librarians. Skype or Zoom visits available.
Writing and Revision Facebook Event
A recording of this event is available on Cynthea’s Facebook page here. The author is also permitting online readings of her middle grade novel PARIS PAN TAKE THE DARE and her picture book WOOBY AND PEEP.
Writing Exercise Based on BOMB
Ages: 10-14
Steve Sheinkin will read a scene from BOMB and guide students through writing their own versions.
Grades: 4-8
Various pause-and-write interactive video workshops for at-home students. Author Chris Tebbetts is also offering free 15-minute Skype/Zoom visits for any at-home students (grades 4-12).
HIGH SCHOOL
Bringing Creative Writing and Songwriting Sessions to Students via FaceTime or Skype
Grades: 8-12
Creative Writing sessions and/or author visits via Zoom. Writing prompts, author reads, and discussions will be based on Cross’s debut YA novel BEFORE GOODBYE or their second YA novel SHINING SEA.
Historical Research Process and Sources
Ages: 11-18
The author of two WWII-era historical novels shares her research and writing processes in this YouTube video series.
Online Writing Workshop for Middle School or High School Students
Ages: 11-18
Liza Wiemer is offering free writing workshops for middle school/high school classes.
Virtual School Visit with Author-Illustrator Vesper Stamper
Ages: 13+
A virtual visit about Vesper Stamper’s book, A CLOUD OF OUTRAGEOUS BLUE, about the Great Plague of 1348. The author will be doing a visit like this about once a week until the shelter-in-place lifts. Follow them on Instagram @vesperillustration to find out more.
ADULT
Creating and Publishing Your Children’s Book
Grades: 7+
This is an online class describing how to create a children’s book and get it to publishers.
Virtual Chat with Michele Weber Hurwitz
Ages: Adults
For teachers, librarians– Q&A for HELLO FROM RENN LAKE–new middle grade sci-fi novel where kids take action on climate crisis. Releasing May 26 from Penguin Random House/Wendy Lamb Books.
ALL
A Writing Workshop About Character Voice
Ages: All
A self-guided writing workshop entitled, “Creating vivid characters by giving each one a unique voice.”
Ask Jody Feldman Three Questions
Grades: K-College
Teachers: Virtually solicit 3 questions from your students and Jody Feldman will respond via an in-person video to share their answers. Additional puzzles and fun links for kids & discussion guides for educators at website.
Ask the Author
Ages: 8-11
Free 15 minute Skype visits for kids and families. If you’ve read, are reading, or would like to read The Sixty-Eight Rooms series, Marianne can Skype with you!
Ages: All
Corresponding via email, we’ll read and discuss BECAUSE OF KHALID together. Mini curriculum available with purchase of book.
BOOK CLUB: Let’s Talk About Two Amazing YA Romance Novels
Ages: 13-99
In classic book club spirit, two Musas sit down to discuss the pick of the month with time for audience Q&A at the end! We kick off our book club with two YA romance titles! Mayra Cuevas’ SALTY, BITTER, SWEET and Ismée Williams’ THIS TRAIN IS BEING HELD. Read the book, join our community, and get your questions ready!
BOOK TALK: Ismée William Book Journey Interview with Zoraida Córdova
Ages: 12-99
Join Ismée Williams for a LIVE insider interview with award-winning author, Zoraida Córdova. We will discuss her newest release, the epic fantasy INCENDIARY!
Brainstorms and Origin Stories
Ages: 8-12
Children’s author and kidlit haint Candice Conner brings a workshop from the Li’l Haints Creative Writing Workshop to you virtually.
Channel Your Creativity (Webinar Workshop)
Grades: 3-5; 8-10
Experienced author/workshop leader uses readings, presentations, discussion, and hands-on writing activities to inspire creativity with fun prompts and exercises.
Ages: 8-18
A workshop that walks children through brainstorming and developing a story.
Essay Eggs Essay Writing Tutorial
Grades: 2-College
This video leads students through the first step in the Essay Eggs process, a unique, effective way of structuring writing.
Free 20 Minute Virtual Visit Writing Prompts
Ages: 5+
Meg Eden has experience teaching creative writing with all ages, from 5 to adult, and is happy to speak with any age group! However, their writing is largely targeted at high schoolers, college students and adults.
Free Online Creative Writing Exercises
Ages: 5+
Award-winning writer Sophie Masson offers free creative writing exercises for children and adults which you can access from home.
Ages: All
Artist will take you through a step by step workshop on how to create an illustrated map your local area.
Illustrator Doug Keith Art Studio Interview (YouTube)
Ages: All
Visit Illustrator Doug Keith in his art studio as he takes us through the process for creating his picture book THE STORYBOOK PRINCE.
Doug Keith
Ages: All
Improvise your way with an experienced teacher of fun to tell your own stories and create out of this world settings, characters and worrrrdz!
Ages: All
INSTAKIDLIT connects authors, agents, and editors to chat in (15) minute blocks on Instagram Live!
Ismée Williams Interview and Q&A with THIS IS MY BRAIN IN LOVE Award-Winning Author, I.W. Gregorio
Ages: 12-99
Join Ismée Williams for a LIVE insider interview and live Q&A with #WeNeedDiverseBooks founding member and award-winning author I.W. Gregorio. Besides talking books, we’ll discuss Ilene’s writing process and how she balances her career as a surgeon and her family, while writing important stories that we all want–and need–to hear.
Ages: 6+
Lizzie DiFiore will live stream the creation of children’s art on Twitch 2 times a week. It’s a family-friendly environment and kid-requested drawing prompts are encouraged!
Ages: 3+
Roxie Munro’s website: free coloring sheets and mazes, How-to videos & online step-by-steps, Read Alouds, activity guides, more.
Ages: All
Creative writing activities and resources for kids, teachers, and librarians.
Ages: 3-12
From story conception to first and final drafts, screenplay adaption, and low-budget production, this workshop will take students through the process.
Writing Stories with Ann Brady
Ages: All
Ann Brady mentors young writers in the craft of creating and writing stories. Each workshop is tailored to age and ability. Please contact Ann for more details.