One of my favorite book releases this year is from the brilliant and generous Jarrett Lerner, “Give this Book a Title” . Since the pandemic shut us down he has been a major giver, inspiring many to kickstart our creativity with drawing and writing prompts, confidence boosting lessons and ideas, and general awesomeness. As I shared on Instagram, I can’t get over the brilliance of this book.
This book begs to be used with kids (and adults) as we search for ways to help kids draw, write, inspire, and feel like they can add value to the world. With more than 100 activities, you are sure to find something that you can use with your students as we continue to engage with writing, drawing, and playing with words.
As the blurb says, “This collection of fun, open-ended writing and drawing prompts will challenge kids to think and create in new ways with every turn of a page. In the Finish This Comic section, young writers are inspired to write and illustrate a six-panel story. Following How to Draw instructions will encourage kids to find their own drawing styles. Every fun activity and silly prompt will keep young readers engaged and entertained!”
So imagine my surprise when a whole stack of these amazing books showed up at my house yesterday! Turns out Jarrett Lerner thought that perhaps the world could use a few more copies and I couldn’t agree more. So, I have five copies to give away of this incredible book four to educators in the US and one to the rest of the world (I am paying for shipping, thus the wonky numbers). All you have to do to enter is leave a comment (make sure you add your email when you enter it so I can contact you) and let me know what you would use this amazing book for. The contest will run from today to lille juleaften which for all you non-Danes is December 23rd at 8 PM CST.
I cannot wait for more amazing creations to happen because of this great new book but if you don’t win, you should order it!
Pernille Ripp 
This sounds like a perfect addition to distance learning! These kids need something fun! 🙂
I can’t wait to use this book with my fourth graders. Many feel like they don’t have anything worth writing about. This book will give them the spark they need to just jump in and try. I hope I win, but it is in my Amazon cart just in case!
Love this idea! I’m in AB Canada. Thanks for sharing the love!
I have been eyeing this one! What a wonderful resource to use with online library classes!
I am looking for fresh new ideas to keep kids engaged during Distance Learning.
I have so many 6th grade artists in my language arts/reading classes that I would use this book as a motivating starter for class. My students are such a community and love to share their art, writing, and thoughts. I believe this book would be an amazing addition to our creative activities.
I would use this book to spark creativity during remote learning meetings with my students. I would also use it during in person lessons. I would be honored to win, but will buy a copy if I don’t! Thank you for the chance.
My students get bored with the typical Calkins workshop assignments. This would help liven up writers workshop for my kiddos!
I would use this book with the students I work with in my clinical 1:1 setting! This book would be wonderful to spark their creativity and bring joy to writing.
I would love to use this book with my class to inspire them to create their own books.
This is so nice. It’s been such a wonky year, we all need something.
I saw a few other reviews of this book, and was very excited to see you giving a few copies away. I am an elementary school librarian and am working on a schoolwide reading challenge. I would love to use some of these with classes to keep them engaged. Trying to get them to read has not been an easy task. (I love reading your emails/blog to help motivate me!)
Thank you.
I would love to use this book as a springboard for writing in the library program with middle schoolers where I work in Washington state. I think it would fit nicely with these standards and probably many others:
With some guidance and support from peers and adults, develop and strengthen writing as needed by planning, revising, editing, rewriting, or trying a new approach.(CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.5)
…and this one:
Write routinely over extended time frames (time for research, reflection, and revision) and shorter time frames (a single sitting or a day or two) for a range of discipline-specific tasks, purposes, and audiences. (CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.W.6.10)
All the way from New Zealand I follow your blog. Your words are not only inspirational but are spoken with passion and common sense. I am a literacy facilitator who works with teachers helping them build their capacity to create life long readers; readers who read for pleasure and use their reading ability to access the curriculum and life. I would share Give This Book a Title with as many teachers as possible through my work in schools.
Here in NZ we feel so priviledged to be having a “normal” Christmas while most other parts of the world have restrictions placed on them. Normal for us will be a large family lunch with a barby and ham, a swim at the beach and long summer days of reading all those books we did not find time for during the busy school year. My kindest wishes go out to all fellow Pernille Ripp blog readers for a safe and kind Christmas. Take care of you, your family and others in your community. As our beautiful Maori language would say Mere Kirihimete and aroha to you all. 🎄🏄♂️❤
It would be an amazing addition to inspire creative thinking with our elementary learners. mjantzi@rockingham.k12.va.us
Oh, and if I should win your contest, you can contact me at klinek@issaquah.wednet.edu
My freshmen English Learners would benefit from the writing prompts in this book.
nicole.romanov@sd129.org
I am so excited about this book! What a great way to inspire students’ creativity. Thank you for the opportunity 🥰📚♥️
I will use it to connect with my granddaughter. We haven’t seen her in almost 1 year due to the pandemic! (Her name is Thea!) Thank you for suggesting it!
I would love to gift this to a special little guy at our school! I am pretty certain it was created just for him!
This looks like an amazing book to give my students permission to “play” and be creative. It would spark great discussions and build community within our remote setting.
I would love to have a copy to use with my students.
I would use with my grandaughter who is remote learning. I have followed his work for quite sometime now
I would love to use this book to inspire readers and writers of the future. I love the work and dedication of the author of this book. Merry Christmas!
I have been seeing this book ALL OVER! Can’t wait to get a copy and share it with the kids in my circle – and my college students. Thanks.
I would love to share this with my students & show them how writing can be a creative outlet! Happy holidays !
Kserpa@pgusd.org
Thank you for being you
I would use this book with my eager 5-year-old boy who just discovered he’s a artist, thanks to his awesome art teacher at school. 💜 🎨
As a school librarian, I know several teachers who are always looking for some creative and fun ideas to get the kids thinking and writing (and drawing, too). I would love to be able to say, “look what I have for you.” We are all so busy and a bit stressed in this time of pandemic teaching, I’d love to just say “take a look at this book I just added. It is filled with creative and fun writing activities.”
Oh my goodness! I am so intrigued with this book. I am a literacy consultant and coach, so I would use this book to share with teachers and help them inspire their learners to create!
I learned to trust your recommendations so I will use the book to inspire my 3rd graders to write, write and write.
olgarosino@gmail.com
As a teacher librarian for over 500 kids, I’d love to share these creative ideas by Jarrett Learner with staff and students. What an amazing resource he has been on Twitter!! I’m from Canada and will share the lovely book here.
The book looks amazing! I’d love to use some activities in my library classes for 4th and 5th grade.
Love trying new things with my 7th grade writers! Would love to win a copy of this book.
As a fellow Wisconsinite and Library Media Specialist for a small school district in Wisconsin, I would love to be able to use and share this resource with my students and staff. Thanks for sharing!
I love trying new things with my students. This sounds perfect for distance learning! Anything that might increase engagement is welcome.
Wow! Hope. Dreams. Light. We need more of these each day and our students can and WILL be the change makers. This book is wonderful inspiration for our students and all of us, too! Teachers and parents can help model the creative knudge we need more today than ever before to keep going. Dig a little deeper. Help spread kindness a little more. Help our world!
This would be a great addition to inspire creativity with our elementary learners. mjantzi@rockingham.k12.va.us
I would give this book as a prize to our top comic books reader for the month of January. We are launching our reading and writing comic book unit January 4th.
This would be great to use with my RTI students! A great way to spark creativity.
I’m going to comment and cross my fingers, but not going to lie, after the 23rd I will probably hit up Amazon:) My school/professional goal is to get our 3/4s writing every day in authentic and meaningful and FUN ways (I’m a literacy coach). AND I just spoke to a university class of first year middle years education students who asked where to access sources to inspire writing—woot woot!!
I would use this book to inspire my 6th graders!
His prompts inspired so much joyful writing and creativity during school closure. I’m fortunate to have many students again this year. One student who is sadly unable to be in-person with us would love it!
I would love to use this book with my middle and high school special education students! They often struggle with finding topics to write about.
I just bought it…perfect to use with my document camera, yes?! Thanks for the heads up. He is a generous fellow—and creative!
THANK YOU for sharing this gift you received!!!
I have been wanting this book! This year, for the first time, I am sliding some work with kindergarten as well as 8th grade – I would love to see students from both grade levels be able to share with each other!
I would love to use this book with my kids whenever they say they are bored or have nothing to do. Writing and drawing prompts are the best for tackling boredom! Such an engaging and interactive book!
Mdarrow1@hotmail.com
Hi Pernille! This is a book I plan to use in my classroom and winning it would be a bonus! Great idea to project it! Thanks, Erika (non US)
Pernille,
I would love a copy of this book to share with my Grade 6 students! In this time of virtual learning, I am trying all sorts of creative ways to keep them engaged in reading and writing. My excitement for a new book quickly spreads to them; they would love this book. Thank you for all you do to foster a love of reading!
– Tara
I would love to use this book in my 6th grade LA classes. It would be a great way to add some ‘fun’ into distant learning.
Looking to fill my cup with more inspiration to spill out to others
Hi Pernille; I’m becoming a Literacy Coach, and I’d use this book to share ideas with my colleagues in our PD Literacy meetings and with students when I work one-on-one or in small groups.