ISTE and Capstone Announce A New Partnership and My New Book In The ISTE Young Innovators Collection, Sonia's Digital World!

 

I am so excited to share a new partnership between ISTE and Capstone. In fact, I have been working on a very special project within this new partnership. I wrote the first title debuting in the ISTE Young Innovators collection, Sonia’s Digital World which is published on August 1, 2023. 

As shared in the press release on April 13,2023, 

Capstone, an innovative learning company merging children’s content with easy-to-use edtech tools for K-5 classrooms, libraries and homes, announces a licensing agreement with the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE), an education nonprofit that supports the use of technology to accelerate innovation in education, to publish a collection of children’s books promoting digital citizenship awareness and the positive and creative use of technology and digital tools. The license includes world rights for print and digital books, with ISTE providing supplemental resources supported by the ISTE Standards, a framework for using technology to support learning.

“We’re thrilled to partner on this project with ISTE, connecting their subject matter experts and research-based best practices on technology use in schools with Capstone’s delightful, engaging storytelling for young readers. Our collaboration gives educators an accessible way to start a positive dialogue around digital citizenship, creative use of technology, and our global connection—all knowledge kids need to help prepare them to confidently navigate the digital landscape,” said Beth Brezenoff, Capstone VP of Publishing.

The first title debuting in the ISTE Young Innovators collection, Sonia’s Digital World (pub 8/1/23), is written by award-winning librarian Shannon McClintock Miller, an ISTE Making IT Happen Award recipient, Future Ready Librarians spokesperson, Follett thought leader, and AASL Leadership Luminary social media superstar. The picture book follows the characters on a virtual trail as they chat, create and play together, and make discoveries and connections with digital tools. 

“We’re excited to partner with Capstone to provide young learners with fun, engaging books to help them learn to thrive in today’s digital world. The support materials from ISTE that accompany the books will help teachers reinforce important topics like using technology to create and problem solve as well as what it means to be an empowered digital citizen,” said Richard Culatta, CEO of ISTE and ASCD. 
A book launch for Sonia’s Digital World will take place at ISTELive 23, June 25-28 in Philadelphia. Forthcoming titles in the ISTE Young Innovators collection include Exploring AI, an in-depth look at the growing AI revolution (pub 1/1/24), and Cyber Sleuths, a middle-grade chapter book series with characters solving misinformation mysteries (pub 8/1/24).

Sonia's Digital World will be a wonderful addition for our libraries, classrooms and homes.  I can't wait to share this story with all of you and your readers. 

We are all connected in so many ways! Find out how with a bird's-eye view as Sonia, her friends, and her community chat, create, and play together with digital tools. Follow the virtual trail at home, at school, and all around the world as Sonia, friends, and families make discoveries and connections. Whether face to face or far away, find out how Sonia--and you!--are part of the digital world! 

Full-color illustrations and back matter supporting ISTE standards for Digital Age Learning provide even more for children, teachers, and parents to explore.

You can preview an advance copy of the book at: bit.ly/SoniasDigitalWorldARC.