What's NEW in Children's Books and Creative, Powerful Strategies to Use Them in Your Program (Grades K-6) 2026

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Presented by Deborah Salyer Award-Winning Media Specialist, Nationally Recognized Children's Book Expert, Librarian, and Outstanding International Presenter

In this highly engaging seminar, award-winning library media specialist and international presenter Deborah B. Salyer will highlight the best, NEWLY published children's books, including picture books, chapter books, novels, graphic novels, poetry, nonfiction titles, and more! Deborah reads and evaluates each new children's book, then develops fresh, innovative ideas to use them in all areas of your curriculum or programming. As a bonus, she also finds the best, new online tools and apps to pair with the books she shares. Many of the ideas, apps and online resources are applicable to other books, as well. From the dozens of books, resources, and strategies, you can choose the new books and activities that are best suited to your students and the priorities of your classroom or library. You'll also learn great ways to use technology to extend your interactions with readers about books in ways they love to learn.

Join Deborah for a compelling day filled with engaging, ready-to-use ideas, highly appealing booklists, her comprehensive digital handbook, and unique teaching tips to introduce and fully extend learning based on the newest, most outstanding children's books. Engage yourself in an energizing celebration of the best, new books and powerful ways to use them with your students!

Here's my idea of a lovely day. Let's gather with like-minded colleagues. Bring your own snacks. For lunch, we'll take an hour – no lunch duty! During the day we talk and learn about books. Lots and lots of children's books. We'll read aloud. We'll explore dozens of free resources to engage our readers with required and independent reading. We'll hold new books in our hands, marveling at the talent of book creators.

Sound amazing? It is. This is my annual workshop where over the course of twenty plus years thousands of teachers and librarians have a day to themselves – just for books. Every year the content is different. New books. New resources. New strategies. It's a day when you can step away from your daily responsibilities and recharge your batteries. Learn new things. Collaborate with colleagues or make new friends.

Each year I read hundreds of titles, narrowing down a selection of more than two hundred titles for Kindergarten to Grade 6 with resources for each. In this NEW seminar we will discuss a sampling of genres, formats, reading and interest levels, and subject areas throughout our day. This year we will also spend more time on early literacy support, exploring ways we can support young readers. And we will discuss engaging ideas to get our older students reading, writing, and researching. We will bring back the joy of reading!

The accompanying digital resource handbook is far from being just a bibliography; it's full of supportive hot links for resources you can explore at your leisure. You'll find yourself using your handbook long after we part. And you can build your book shopping list while we work!

We can teach our students to be better readers without taking their joy. Join me online, in person, or on the recorded version to reenergize your own reading joy. Get inspired. Get affirmed. Grow your knowledge of the world of children's publishing.

If you work with elementary-aged students and readers and you use children's books in your work, this event is for you. I can't wait to see you. Bring snacks.

P.S. Come ready to enjoy a fast-paced day full of outstanding new books – plus powerful tools and innovative activities to use with them.

K-6 Classroom Teachers, Media Specialists, Librarians, Children's Librarians in Public Libraries, Library Aides, Reading Specialists, Resource Teachers, Special Education Staff, and Administrators

Extensive Children's Books Digital Resource Handbook You will receive an extensive digital resource handbook giving you access to countless strategies. The handbook includes:

For in-person seminars, registrants will also receive a printed copy of the resource handbook as long as their registration is received in the BER office at least 15 calendar days before the event.

Share Ideas This seminar provides a wonderful opportunity for participants to meet and share ideas with other educators interested in the best, new children's books.

Consultation Available We stand behind the high quality of our programs by providing the following unconditional guarantee: If you are not satisfied with this program, we'll give you a 100% refund of your registration fee.

Semester Credit Option Up to four graduate level professional development credits are available with an additional fee and completion of follow-up practicum activities. Details for direct enrollment with University of Massachusetts Global, a nonprofit affiliate, will be available at this program.

Meet Inservice Requirements Participants of both the Live Online Seminar and those completing the Recorded Version online can receive a certificate of participation that may be used to verify five continuing education hours. State CEUs are available for both versions of the course. For specific details, visit www.ber.org/ceus.

What you'll learn

• The very best, new books most recently published, matched with dozens of innovative, engaging strategies to use them in ALL areas of your program
• A lively, fast-paced presentation with a wealth of multi-format titles that will spark students' interest in standout stories and nonfiction they'll love to read
• Receive an extensive, ALL NEW children's books digital resource handbook with comprehensive, annotated bibliographies, ready-to-use activities, and corresponding websites that will make new books come alive for children in highly appealing ways!