Digging for Words: Educator's Toolkit
Thank you for using Digging for Words in your classroom! Here are some free resources for teachers, librarians, and caregivers. If you're interested in a virtual visit, you can find out more here!

Video Links
Want to listen to the book in Spanish? Here's Rescatando Palabras as read by José Pimienta.

And here is a webcast of "A Celebration of Children's and YA Latin American and Latinx Literature" with fellow authors Raúl the Third, Aida Salazar, and Yamile Saied Méndez, hosted by the Library of Congress. This LOC blog post provides family discussion questions as well as writing and thinking prompts.

Audio Links
Here's an interview with Nutmeg Book Drops, a podcast produced with Connecticut school and public librarians. Digging for Words is a 2023 Nutmeg Book Award nominee.

Extension Activities

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Colombia Fact Sheet
Click on the image for a printable one-pager on Colombia from CIA's World Factbook. For use with older students.

Digging Word Search
Click on the image for a print-and-go pdf. This is a fun extension activity for PreK through Grade 3, using both English and Spanish vocabulary from the book.

Stories That Inspire
Click on the image for Random House virtual story time guide on "Stories that Inspire," including Digging for Words. Many ideas could be adapted for classroom use.

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TeachingBooks

If you subscribe to TeachingBooks, make sure to check out their resource page for Digging for Words. Even if you're not a subscriber, you can check out resources to go along with Digging for Words on the TeachingBooks Virtual Book Tour.

Dual-Language Read-Alikes
More Books About Books

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Planting Stories: The Life of Librarian and Storyteller Pura Belpré / Sembrando historias: Pura Belpré bibliotecaria y narradorade cuentos by Anika Aldamuy Denise, illustrated by Paola Escobar

And be sure to check out this lesson plan by Maureen Schlosser, which asks students to compare and contrast Digging for Words and Planting Stories.

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Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando el Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra

Maybe Something Beautiful/Quizás algo Hermoso by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López

el-violin-de-ada-adas-violin-97814814665

Ada's Violin/El violín de Ada by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

Angela Burke Kunkel

Colombia Fact Sheet
Click on the image for a printable one-pager on Colombia from CIA's World Factbook. For use with older students.

Digging Word Search
Click on the image for a print-and-go pdf. This is a fun extension activity for PreK through Grade 3, using both English and Spanish vocabulary from the book.

Stories That Inspire
Click on the image for Random House virtual story time guide on "Stories that Inspire," including Digging for Words. Many ideas could be adapted for classroom use.

TeachingBooks

Dual-Language Read-Alikes
More Books About Books

Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando el Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra

More Books About Solving Community Problems

Maybe Something Beautiful/Quizás algo Hermoso by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López

Ada's Violin/El violín de Ada by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

Colombia Fact Sheet Click on the image for a printable one-pager on Colombia from CIA's World Factbook. For use with older students.

Digging Word Search Click on the image for a print-and-go pdf. This is a fun extension activity for PreK through Grade 3, using both English and Spanish vocabulary from the book.

Stories That Inspire Click on the image for Random House virtual story time guide on "Stories that Inspire," including Digging for Words. Many ideas could be adapted for classroom use.

TeachingBooks

Dual-Language Read-Alikes More Books About Books

Waiting for the Biblioburro/Esperando el Biblioburro by Monica Brown, illustrated by John Parra

More Books About Solving Community Problems

Maybe Something Beautiful/Quizás algo Hermoso by F. Isabel Campoy and Theresa Howell, illustrated by Rafael López

Ada's Violin/El violín de Ada by Susan Hood, illustrated by Sally Wern Comport

Colombia Fact Sheet
Click on the image for a printable one-pager on Colombia from CIA's World Factbook. For use with older students.

Digging Word Search
Click on the image for a print-and-go pdf. This is a fun extension activity for PreK through Grade 3, using both English and Spanish vocabulary from the book.

Stories That Inspire
Click on the image for Random House virtual story time guide on "Stories that Inspire," including Digging for Words. Many ideas could be adapted for classroom use.

Dual-Language Read-Alikes
More Books About Books