Colorin Colorado: Helping children read... and succeed!
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Teachers who work with English as a Second Language learners will find ESL/ESOL/ELL/EFL reading/writing skill-building children's books, stories, activities, ideas, strategies to help PreK-3, 4-8, and 9-12 students learn to read.

A bilingual site for families and educators of English language learners
Preschool ELLs

Preschool ELLs

Take a look at our updated resources for young ELLs! See section >>
Meet the Author: Grace Lin

Meet the Author: Grace Lin

Discover the magic of Grace Lin's books in this interview! See video >>
Asian Pacific American Heritage

Asian Pacific American Heritage

Celebrate APA Month with these resources compiled by Colorín Colorado! Learn more >>
Updated! Writing and ELLs

Updated! Writing and ELLs

Take a look at these ideas in our writing resource section! See ideas >>
  • Preschool ELLs
  • Meet the Author: Grace Lin
  • Asian Pacific American Heritage
  • Updated! Writing and ELLs
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Books and Authors

Featured Book: Starry River of the Sky

By: Grace Lin

Starry River of the Sky

Product Description: The moon is missing from the remote Village of Clear Sky, but only a young boy named Rendi seems to notice. Rendi has run away from home and is now working as a chore boy at the village inn. He can't help but notice the village's peculiar inhabitants and their problems, but when a mysterious lady arrives at the Inn with the gift of storytelling, Rendi begins to realize that perhaps it is his own story that holds the answers.

Newbery Honor author Grace Lin brings readers another enthralling fantasy featuring her gorgeous full-color illustrations in this companion to Where the Mountain meets the Moon. (Grades 3-6)

Children's Books: The Merry Month of May

999 Frogs Wake Up

Take a look at these recommended booklists from Reading Rockets for some stories that celebrate the changes in the air!

Recommended Resources

Featured Book: Many Languages, Building Connections: Supporting Infants and Toddlers Who Are Dual Language Learners

By: Karen Nemeth

Many Languages, Building Connections: Supporting Infants and Toddlers Who Are Dual Language Learners

Product Description: Many Languages, Building Connections outlines adaptable strategies that caregivers of infants and toddlers can use to learn how language develops, how cultural differences can come into play, and how to assess an individual child's situation to provide appropriate support. These helpful strategies prepare caregivers for the diverse reality they encounter in their work.

This Month's Highlights

Common Core and ELLs Blog

Young girl writing

This blog from Colorín Colorado includes Common Core updates related to language proficiency standards, assessments, and professional development. For more information on the Common Core and ELLs, see our CCSS resource section.

Colorín Colorado Discussion Group

Colorin Colorado Facebook Group

Colorín Colorado is pleased to launch a new discussion group on Facebook! Feel free to join and post your ELL comments and questions.

Serving English Learners: Laws, Policies, and Regulations

ELL Regulations Guide

This guide, written for Colorín Colorado by Dr. Debbie Zacarian, provides an overview of federal ELL policy in a user-friendly way and describes how these regulations are practiced in our schools.

Topics include identification, instruction, assessment, and parent communication.

For more information on NCLB waivers and ELLs, see Using No Child Left Behind Waivers to Improve English Language Learner Education, a new report from the Center for American Progress.

New on Colorín Colorado!

New Booklist! Adoption and ELLs

Adoption and English Language Learners

These titles offer guidance to educators and parents about the language development of internationally adopted children who are English language learners.

Topics include factors that affect language acquisition such as age and country of origin, assessment and interventions, social communication, and information about older adopted chldren.