The Importance of an Educator’s Guide for your Children’s Book by Donna McDine

The Importance of an Educator’s Guide for your Children’s Book 

By Donna McDine

After I signed the book contract (oh my over ten years ago) for The Golden Pathway I took the time out to discuss with teachers what sparks their interest in children’s books for their classrooms beyond what the school provides. Many times over I heard they are under strict confinements with their curriculum and books need to fit into their daily teachings. I then took to task to research state curriculum guidelines and learned the creation of an educator’s guide for The Golden Pathway needed to be a comprehensive across the curriculum guide. After meeting homeschool specialist, Amy O’Quinn through the Working Writer’s Club I approached Amy about hiring her to write an educator’s guide for The Golden Pathway. The end result was beyond my expectations!

The educator’s guide is a teaching tool for English, Social Studies, Math, Science, and Art teachers, as well as for Homeschooling families. Activities include:

Language Arts: Writing/Vocabulary 


Integrated Language Arts/Social Studies: Topical Study/Presentation Boards 


Social Studies: Timeline, Mapping and Geography 


Math: Map Work Mathematics, Calculations, Time, Recipe Math, Quilt Math 


Science: Astronomy, Skin, Plants and Crops, Alcoholism, Five Senses 


Role Playing, Disguises and Escape/Safe Houses 


Toys and Games of the 19th Century: Make a Rag Doll, Make a Nettie Doll, Information 
on Games/Toys 


Songs of Slavery and the Underground Railroad: Background Information and Lyrics 


More Fun Art Projects, Activities, and Resources: Coloring Sheets, Printables, 
Juneteenth, Make A Tin Can Lantern 
It is in my opinion well written children’s books have a better chance of finding their way into schools when it is accompanied with an educator’s guide. By having this guide for The Golden Pathway it has certainly helped spark additional interest with school visits. Case in point, when I participated in the New York State Reading Association, October 2011 I had the opportunity to meet with teachers from across the tri-state area (NY, NJ, and CT) and many commented on the educator’s guide I was chatting up with them as they stopped by my table. They were delighted and impressed to learn of this complimentary addition to The Golden Pathway, explaining their time is at a premium and to have activities already planned for them saves them valuable time. At this point in time, one of these conversations has turned into a weeklong visit to a local elementary school. The Parent Teacher Association purchased The Golden Pathway for each classroom and when I presented each teacher with the complimentary CD of The Golden Pathway Educator’s Guide their responses where overwhelming positive.


As writer's many of us can and do create our own educator’s guides, but for myself I wanted someone with the expertise of being in the trenches of teaching to formulate my educator’s guide. By outsourcing this project, it has freed me to up to work on new manuscripts, marketing, and client work. Amy O’Quinn also created educator guides for my children’s books, Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey.

Details of my author school visit my website.  

To learn more about my writing career or to order an autographed copy of any of my six children’s books visit my website.

Gift with purchase for The Golden Pathway, Hockey Agony and Powder Monkey comes with a customized Educator’s Guide for each.

I'd enjoy hearing if you have an educator's guide for your children's book. If yes, did you create it yourself or did you outsource this project? 

Thank you for your time and interest.

Continue to be safe and well!

#educatorsguide

#thegoldenpathway

#hockeyagony

#powdermonkey

#donnamcdine

#childrensbooks

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Best wishes,
Donna M. McDine
Multi Award-winning Children's Author
Ignite curiosity in your child through reading!


Angel's Forever Home ~ March 2019 ~ Mascot Books ~ 2019 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Six and Older

Dee and Deb Off They Go Kindergarten First Day Jitters ~ December 2015 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2016 Purple Dragonfly Honorable Mention Picture Books Five and Under and Story Monster Approved

A Sandy Grave ~ January 2014 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Place Picture Books 6+, Story Monster Approved, Beach Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014 and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Powder Monkey ~ May 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Historical Fiction 1st Place, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

Hockey Agony ~ January 2013 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ 2015 Purple Dragonfly Book Award Honorable Mention Picture Books 6+, New England Book Festival Honorable Mention 2014, Story Monster Approved and Reader's Favorite Five Star Review

The Golden Pathway ~ August 2010 ~ Guardian Angel Publishing, Inc. ~ Literary Classics Silver Award and Seal of Approval, Readers Favorite 2012 International Book Awards Honorable Mention and Dan Poynter's Global e-Book Awards Finalist