FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
LIGHTSWITCH LEARNING’S NEW NONFICTION Make It Happen! SERIES PROFILES DIVERSE ROLE MODELS AND INSPIRES KIDS TO MAP THEIR CAREER PATH AND FIND THEIR PASSION
“Part biography, part guide to career readiness, this series aims to inspire as much as it informs.”
— School Library Journal
How do people become successful? Is it luck? Genetics? Even for adults with life experience as a frame of reference, the answers to questions like these are often elusive. How then are we supposed to address these issues with our kids? Lightswitch Learning’s new multi-level series, Make It Happen! (January 2018) is the perfect entrée for teachers, librarians, and parents into conversations about what it takes to be a success. The books profile everyday people who have done amazing and inspiring things on a realistic scale — this is not about learning to save the world or become a celebrity — and the concrete steps they’ve taken to overcome challenges and succeed in work and life.
Parallel but customized sets of books for Grades 2-5 and Grades 6-9 make the titles in the Make It Happen! series uniquely appealing to a wide range of reader ages, and offers easily accessible sets for convenient use by schools and libraries. The books provide step-by-step guides to set kids up for success in a number of exciting yet achievable careers by profiling ordinary people who have done extraordinary things:
- Wé McDonald, Singer (best known for being a contestant on NBC’s The Voice)
- Solomon Dubner, Teenaged sports expert and podcaster (Footy for Two)
- Alfredo Quiñones-Hinojsa, Brain Surgeon and immigrant to the U.S.
- Big Boy Wills, Cartoonist and person with autism
- Ashima Shiraishi, Professional Rock Climber
From broad details, like how to begin exploring careers that might be interesting to a particular reader, to specific ones, like how to create a daily schedule that allows readers to fit their passions like rock climbing into an already busy school schedule, the books in the Make It Happen! series serve as both inspiration and a concrete how-to guide for success. In addition to biographical details about how these diverse influencers overcame obstacles and worked hard to succeed, the books include fun activities that motivate kids to learn the basic skills required to reach their goals.
The “roadmap” offered to young readers in the Make It Happen! series directs them toward finding happiness and stability through learning skills that help them adapt to fast-paced work environments. This path is critical to developing their sense of self as well as ultimately becoming the backbone that supports their families, communities. and themselves.
About Lightswitch Learning:
Lightswitch Learning is a division of Sussman Education Company, a leader in K-12 digital and print educational resources for over 45 years. Lightswitch Learning’s mission is to provide the most engaging and relevant resources parents and teachers need to help children succeed socially, emotionally, physically, and academically.
To support its mission, Lightswitch Learning publishes inspiring picture books, informational text collections, fiction collections, and bullying prevention programs for students. These titles model positive behaviors that can help students build the self-confidence they need to manage academic and social stresses while improving literacy skills and subject knowledge. Resources for teachers include professional development materials, companion teacher’s guides, classroom activities, and more. Parents are supported with parent guides created by leading practitioners to provide practical strategies to support their children in today’s complex world. These resources help students build 21st century skills and are available in grade-appropriate bundles for schools and community engagement programs.
Lightswitch Learning donates a portion of the proceeds from their books to a number of non-profit organizations with related social missions, including: pacer.org, nobully.org, reason2smile.org, afroamcivilwar.org and many others.
For more information on Lightswitch Learning and to view the full catalog visit www.lightswitchlearning.com.
REVIEW COPIES OF TITLES IN THE MAKE IT HAPPEN! SERIES AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
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