Knowledge Quest: CBC Columns

The Children’s Book Council collaborates with the American Association of School Librarians (AASL) on an article in each issue of their journal, Knowledge Quest. Articles are written by a wide range of beloved and debut authors and illustrators published by CBC’s over 140 member children’s publishers. This CBC Column highlights and expands on the theme of each Knowledge Quest issue from the book creators perspective and introduces readers to new authors/illustrators and their work.

Each column embodies common goals that AASL and CBC share: belief in the power of reading, immersive learning, and a commitment to a high level of literacy for every child. Some previous topics include oral storytelling, diverse libraries, empathy, and accessibility.

Columns are written by authors and illustrators with a wide variety of styles and genres. The opportunity to submit authors and illustrators for consideration is only available to CBC member publishers.

Read previous Knowledge Quest CBC Columns below.

2025

January / February—Not Your Typical Phonics Books (Amanda Gebhardt, Cherry Lake Publishing Group)

2024

November / December—The Circumstance of Assessment (Liz Montague, Scholastic)
September / October—Hilda: Community Spirit in Comics (Luke Pearson, Flying Eye Books)

2023

November / December—It Is Not Hard to Talk About Skin Color (Holly Y. McGee, PhD, Catalyst Press)
September / October—Working at the Children’s Book Council and Every Child a Reader (Jenna Groshek, Children’s Book Council)
March / April—The Picture Book That Made It Despite the Pandemic (Danny Ramadan, Annick Press)
January / February—Walking Books and Pixie Dust: The True Magic at Arm’s Length (Charity Alyse, Simon & Schuster)

2022

November / December—Chapter Books Can Make a World of Difference (Judy Bradbury, City of Light Publishing)
September / October—Writing as Activism (Sheila Modir, PhD & Jeffrey Kashou, LMFT, Familius)
May / June—Covid Kills Books, Too (Lois Wickstrom, Gripper Products)
March / April—Representation Matters (Chris Singleton, Bushel & Peck Books)
January / February—Connecting Authors to Young Readers: Using the Virtual Landscape to Bring New, Diverse, and Inclusive Books Into Your Schools (Payal Doshi, Mango & Marigold Press)

2021

November / December—Raising Young Thinkers (David Miles, Bushel & Peck)
September / October—Mouse’s Last Visit (Dori Hillstad Butler, Holiday House)
May / June—Connecting with Young Learners during the Pandemic (and a Thank You to School Librarians) (Debbie Ridpath Ohi, Simon & Schuster)
March / April—Black History is American History (Don Tate, Peachtree Publishing)
January / February—Falling Though the Cracks (Angela Shanté Johnson, West Margin Press)

2020

November / December—How Do You Mend a Broken Heart? Ask a Librarian (Kate and Sarah Klise, Algonquin Young Readers)
September / October—The Importance of Providing Challenging Materials to Students (Mark Oshiro, Tor Teen)
May / June—Using Oral Storytelling Techniques in Reading Sessions (Srividhya Venkat, Yali Books)
March / April—Choosing Books for Today’s Children (Marcia Strykowski, Regal House Publishing)
January / February—Behold the Gatekeepers: Unlocking an Equal and Diverse Library (Tiffany Rose, Little Bee Books)

2019

November / December—Making Mirrors (David Bowles, Cinco Puntos Press)
September / October—From Head to Toe and in Between: Scientists Get Dressed! (Deborah Lee Rose, WunderMill Books)
May / June—Why I Wrote about Libraries in My Debut Novel (Allison Varnes, Random House Children’s Books)
March / April—Author Visits Can Spark a Sense of Wonder and Enhance Content Areas (Michelle Cusolito, Charlesbridge)
January / February—In the Field and in the Literacy Lab: Science Poetry! (Leslie Bulion, Peachtree Publishers)

2018

November / December—Science Nonfiction: A Gateway to the Outdoors (Anita Sanchez, Charlesbridge)
September / October—Fake News: Teaching Skeptics, Not Cynics (Darcy Pattison, Mims House)
May / June—Teaching Empathy for a Better World (Francesca Sanna, Flying Eye Books/Nobrow)
March / April—Reading to Dogs—How a Loyal Listener Can Help (Lisa Papp, Peachtree Publishers)
January / February—Circling Back to Start (Xelena González, Cinco Puntos Press)

2017

November / December 2017—Literacy: Learning and Loving It! (Molly Hurd, Lorimer/Formac Publishing)
September / October—Coloring beyond the Lines (April Chu, Creston Books)
May / June 2017—Reading Can Save Lives (Peter Brown Hoffmeister, Knopf Books for Young Readers)
March / April 2017—Adventure Play (Adam Shaughnessy, Algonquin Books for Young Readers)
January / February—Take Another Look (Kody Keplinger, Scholastic)

2016

November / December—Walt Disney, Easter Eggs, and Monsters (Wendy Grieb, Mighty Media)
September / October—How to Build a Bridge (Eva Murray, Tilbury House Publishers)
May / June—Picture Books and Schoolhouse Rock! (Paul Czajak, Mighty Media Kids)
March / April—Hacking for Good and Bad, and How to Protect Yourself against Hacks! (Barnas Monteith, Tumbledown Learning)
January / February—The Art of Storytime (Ellen Fischer, Mighty Media Press)

2015

November / December—Always Feed the Clowns (Jason Edwards, Rogue Bear Press)
September / October—Books Unchained: The Protective Power of Access to Ideas (Blythe Woolston, Candlewick)
May / June—Drawing a Ring around the World (Tricia Springstubb, HarperCollins)
March / April—No More Silence in the Library (J.J. Howard, Point)
January / February—Adventures of a Research Geek (Kate Messner, Scholastic)

2014

November / December—The Role of Inquiry & Research in Hatching the Glorious Goddesses (Shirin Yim Bridges, Janie Havemeyer, and Gretchen Maurer, Goosebottom Books)
September / October—Accidental Finds (Julie Fortenberry, Alazar Press)
May / June—Writing Historical Fiction (Or How Research and Creativity Go Hand In Hand) (Makiia Lucier, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)
March / April—Ripples (Amy Gordon, Holiday House)
January / February—Storytelling Your Way into the Common Core and Beyond (Margaret Read MacDonald, Jennifer MacDonald Whitman, and Nathaniel Forrest Whitman, August House).

2013

November / December—How Dewey Find What We’re Really Looking For? (Chris Grabenstein, Random House Children’s Books)
September / October—Seeing Things Through (Beth Finke, Blue Marlin)
May / June—Nurturing the Pursuit of Learning (Tanya Lee Stone, Wendy Lamb Books)
March / April—How to Work With Your Brother and Survive (Shirin Yim Bridges, Goosebottom Books)
January / February—Let Your Imagination Soar: Collaboration Between Creators and Readers is Essential (Charles Vess, Viking Juvenile)

2012

November / December—PLNs From Authors’ Perspectives (Alison Formento, Albert Whitman & Co.)
September / October—Producing and Consuming Content: Participating in the Online Social Culture (Darcy Pattison, Sylvan Dell)
May / June—Mrs. Thornton, ‘The Ghost House’, and the Remarkable Value of Care (J.J. Johnson, Peachtree)
March / April—There’s A Book Looking For You! (Carmen Agra Deedy, Peachtree)
January / February—Thinking Outside the Cover (Pendred Noyce, Scarletta Press)

2011

November / December—It’s All Story (Patricia Reilly Giff, Zigzag Books)
September / October—Gaming and Core Content: Conjoined Twins (Doris Settles, Pelican)