MOWMT 3: Crafting Curriculum Connections with Alison McGauley

As someone who hails from a family of educators and has been an elementary teacher for twenty years, I am certainly mindful of teachable moments! When I draft and revise stories, I always consider curriculum connections. My larger goal, however, is to write big-hearted, engaging stories. So, how does one craft a compelling narrative that connects with curriculum expectations without being didactic? I believe that one way is to start with a relatable problem or strong hook and then add curriculum in fresh and engaging ways. 

Let’s look at a few mentor texts as examples!

Kenzie’s Little Tree by Alison McGauley, illustrated by Emilie Leduc 

Orca Book Publishers, 2025

My debut picture book, Kenzie’s Little Tree, features a child as she navigates a difficult family experience—her mom’s chronic illness—through the changing seasons. I wrote this story to represent and empower children and families as they face challenges (a relatable problem). 

In my writing process, I first established the premise and then thought about possible curriculum connections. As my story spans the length of a full year, this provided me the opportunity to focus on seasons. To execute this curriculum tie-in in a fresh way, I did a few things. First, I devoted one spread to each season, which I think makes the book feel a bit like it’s written in chapters. In each seasonal spread, I included all five senses (another curriculum expectation!), and facts about humans and the natural world. I also wrote these spreads with lyrical language and poetic devices. To illustrate, here’s the spread about summer: “Kenzie’s world is roses and lilies, glittering sunlight, handpicked berries, buzzing bees and sand between her toes.”

When the Air Sang by Laura Bontje, illustrated by Sarah Whang 

Annick Press, 2025

This gorgeous picture book shares the universal and highly relatable topic of waiting. Bug-loving Annie wants to hear a cicada and can’t believe that these insects waited 17 years to burst out. Kids understand the feeling of impatience over waiting for such a momentous event! This book contains science tie-ins to life cycles, living vs. non-living things, characteristics of animals, and more. By featuring cicadas, a fascinating and lesser-known insect, When the Air Sang offers educators a fresh way to teach various science topics.  

Friends Beyond Measure by Lalena Fisher

HarperCollins, 2023

Lalena Fisher’s Friends Beyond Measure is about important friendships, saying goodbye to a friend who moves away, and the big feelings associated with both. Again, these experiences and emotions are universal and highly relatable to children. What’s super fresh about this book is that Lalena Fisher tells the story using words, illustrations, AND various types of charts. This book is a great resource for teaching data management to young students. 

Alphabuddies: G Is First! by Beth Bacon and Karen Kane, illustrated by Eric Barclay

HarperCollins, 2023

In this lively graphic picture book, the letter “g” is put out because “a”, who is at the beginning of the alphabet, always gets to be first. As someone who taught first grade for almost ten years, I can tell you that the desire to be first runs deep for most 5 to 7-year-olds! Beth Bacon and Karen Kane craftily embedded curriculum connections by choosing alphabet letters for characters and by using alphabet related wordplay. 

If you’d like to provide educators with a helpful resource for their classrooms, try starting with a universal problem or kid-friendly hook, and layering in a curriculum connection (or two!) in a fresh way. Happy writing…and teaching!

Bio: Alison McGauley is a mom, special education teacher, and children’s author. Her debut picture book is Kenzie’s Little Tree (Orca Book Publishers, 2025), illustrated by Emilie Leduc. As a chronic illness warrior, Alison is passionate about writing books that speak to children and caregivers who are impacted by illness or disability. She also loves creating big-hearted stories that feature humor and the natural world. Alison resides in Ontario, Canada with her family. Connect with Alison on her website alisonmcgauley.com, Instagram @alisonmcgauley, or Bluesky @alisonmcgauley.bsky.social.

Prize: Alison is giving away a free copy of Kenzie’s Little Tree!

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