Annette Whipple's Blog

Engaging Students During Author Visits: Ask Questions

Previously, I shared about the importance of student engagement during an author visit. When an author visits a school it should be a special event and much more than a read aloud. Nor is it a speech. It's an opportunity to inspire students to be readers and writers! 

One way we can inspire students to be readers and writers is to engage them with our stories, interaction, and questions. Engaged students actively participate and interact with what is happening.  Engagement leads to high levels of...

10 Shark Facts You Need to Know

Sharks are one of the most misunderstood animals on the planet, (mostly thanks to the movie Jaws--which was a book first and even some of the hype around Shark Week). But I want to celebrate the truth about sharks! They're amazing! One way we can respect sharks is to learn more about them. 

1. Some sharks have belly buttons.Sharks are fish, and some lay eggs, but not all shark species lay eggs. Pups born in the lemon shark family are actually born alive instead of hatching from eggs. Since lemon ...

Engaging Students During an Author Visit: Part 1 Interaction

During author coaching, I frequently get asked how to engage large audiences of studentsduring author visits.
Author visits aren't speeches, so get on the same level as your audiences. Don't stand behind the lectern. Definitely move around so all children have the opportunity to see you--even if they're seated behind the tallest kid in the school. 
Author visits aren't just read-alouds. If you readyour book, it is a small part of a larger presentation. But you also need to be true to yourself an...

How to Self-Edit a Children's Book

Over the years, I've used this site to share a lot of information with writers, as well as teachers. (Of course some are just curious about the writing process. I'm here for you, too!) I want to be a resource for others. 
Before submitting a manuscript to a publisher (or self-publishing), a manuscript can't just be good. It needs to be fantastic, AND it needs to stand out. But before it can stand out, it needs to cover the basics. 
Today I'm providing a free self-edit chart focused on picture book...

2025 Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award

Earlier this year I received an email that stunned me. The Pennsylvania School Librarian Association (PSLA) had named me the 2025 Outstanding Pennsylvania Author ! PSLA is an organization I am long-familiar with. I first attended their annual conference as a an author in 2019. I’ve attended several more times since then. They also nominated my book, Whooo Knew? The Truth About Owls to the Pennsylvania Young Readers’ Choice Award for 2022-2023. (This award has just been renamed the Mountain Laurel ...

Free Teacher Guides for Nonfiction Books

Recently as I was preparing to teach a professional development workshop for teachers. I planned to recommend they use author's teacher guides as a way to celebrate curiosity in the classroom with nonfiction books . And I realized I didn't know of a source listing teacher guides specifically for nonfiction books. 
Of course, if you are reading a book written for children or teens and you visit the author's website, there's an excellent chance you'll find a free teacher guide at their site. (Someti...

How to Write Samples for the Educational Market

Want to write? Then study mentor texts--the kinds of things you want to write. If you want to write about crafts for a magazine, then study how the magazine you want to write for includes them. If you want to write middle grade mysteries, then study how middle grade mystery writers write. And if you want to write for the educational market, study a series of educational market books.

If you're really interested in writing books for the educational market, you are supposed to create an introductor...

An Author's Year: Writing 2024

If we haven't had the chance to meet before, happy New Year! I'm Annette. I celebrate curiosity and write nonfiction for children (mostly). This blog post summarizes a bit of my year as a professional children's writer and presenter. I don't have a set number of hours I work each week, but I do appreciate my flexible schedule which allows time for taking care of my family. (I have three teens!) I generally work a full-time schedule, with 30-40+ hours a week.  With another year behind us, I though...

10 Tips for New Children's Writers

Have you written a book for kids but aren't sure what to do next? Or do you want to write a children's book? I'm have some advice for you! (As of today, I'm the author of 15 published books with eight different publishers. I have many more books coming.)
It's fabulous that you want to write for kids! Even if you think your manuscript is ready to submit to publishers or self-publish, whatever you do, don't do it yet!
I have ten big tips for new (or newish) children's writers like you!

1. Learn more ...

Owl Unit Study with 19 Activities

I was once a classroom teacher, so I love creating resources for teachers including educator guides for my books (as well as other authors). My goal for my educator guides is to create a versatile guide that can be adapted to different grade levels. I know some teachers will only have time to complete one or two activities from my teacher guides. Others will use it as a stand-alone unit study. 
I had a lot of fun creating this owl teacher guide a couple of years ago. It's the most popular of all ...