April 2026 Edition

Lorena Ramírez runs ultra marathon races—60 miles—wearing traditional sandals and skirt. She belongs to the Rarámuri people, whose name means “those who run on foot.” In a new picture book biography, Daughter of the Light-Footed People: The Story of Indigenous Marathon Champion Lorena Ramírez, readers learn about her background, challenges, and accomplishments. Maybe, even more importantly, they will connect with the runner—they too, can do the “hard things.”

With our new Biography Lesson Organizers, students can now record the details they learn while reading biographies. Educators, home-schooling facilitators, and librarians can select from four increasingly difficult options for assessment and differentiation. From genre studies to reports and research to skill reinforcement, you’ll find a plethora of resources that support the work your children and teens are doing. Add the following to build your next engaging biography activity.

• Explore resources in the Biography Collection for titles new and beloved. 
• Filter Meet-the-Author Recordings by biography.
• Enhance listening skills with a Listen & Respond organizer. 
• Use Discover Like Books to find related titles. 

Let us know how you plan to use biography graphic organizers with your readers. 

Our best,
The TeachingBooks Team

Teaching Ideas, which include Timely Topics and Monthly Lesson Ideas are designed for instructional planning for teachers and homeschool families. They provide easily implemented and shareable content. Library programming ideas are intentionally designed for children's and teen library programs to weave into storytime, book clubs, or other patron events.

Together, these resources make learning feel connected, flexible, and fun—no matter where it happens and for all of the patrons you support. Each is thoughtfully curated to save planning time while sparking curiosity and creativity in readers of all ages. Whether you're building a weeklong unit, refreshing a homeschool routine, or crafting a one-time library experience, you'll find ready-to-use ideas that invite participation and conversation.

From hands-on activities and discussion prompts to book pairings and extension ideas, our offerings are built to adapt. Use them as-is or remix them to fit your unique learners and community. Our goal is simple: to help you create meaningful learning moments that feel accessible, engaging, and easy to share—month after month.

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 1PM CT

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