TeachingBooks.net is a licensed online database that can be used by teachers, students, librarians and families to explore children's books and young adult literature and their authors. The database provides access to educational materials and programs (short movies, audio book readings, book discussion guides, and more) that add a multimedia dimension to reading in the classroom, library, and home. The office of TeachingBooks.net is located in Madison, Wisconsin. The company and database were imagined and founded by Nick Glass.
Contents
History and Vision
The database was founded upon the premise that educators find enjoyment and professional value in seeing and hearing authors talk about their work. Nick Glass, the founder, had hosted many author presentations in his previous work — bringing authors to bookstores, schools, libraries, and conferences — and had arranged live author programs for educators over a distance-learning video network. Each author interaction with educators inspired new insights for teaching and sharing books with children.
In April 2000, the genesis for the database took form. It debuted at the American Library Association convention in San Francisco in June 2001 and was launched on the Internet September 1, 2001. It began selling licenses in November 2003.
Common Uses
The TeachingBooks.net database is used in educational as well as home settings. Educators often use the site to host virtual author visits so students can "meet" and learn from professional writers via the audio and video resources on the site. Movies of Caldecott-winning illustrators demonstrate art processes. Audio excerpts are used by students, including English Language Learners, to independently learn the rhythm, pace, and sound of the books they are reading. Educators and students also use TeachingBooks.net to listen to poets read their work, get information for author/illustrator studies, and to find book guides for fiction and non-fiction titles.
Original Content
TeachingBooks.net specializes in creating original content with authors and illustrators. Staff from the database interview children's and young adult authors in their homes to create brief Author Program videos.
In the Original Author Program videos, authors discuss journaling, doing research, storytelling, reader's theatre, bringing history to life, and working with inspiring ideas. Illustrators show techniques they use to create picture books, graphic novels, and more.
Staff at TeachingBooks.net also call authors to record original book readings, in which authors share the inspiration behind their books and read brief excerpts.
Author Name Pronunciation Guide
The "TeachingBooks.net Author Name Pronunciation Guide" is an online audio collection of authors and illustrators pronouncing their names. Authors dial-in to a toll-free number and leave a voice message in which they pronounce their name and share the history of their name. These messages are digitized, edited, and uploaded to TeachingBooks.net. The Author Name Pronunciation Guide is available freely on the web and does not require a subscription to TeachingBooks.net. It can be used to learn how to correctly pronounce an author's name.