Heinemann Partners with Bestselling Children's Author Kwame Alexander to Develop The Crossover Literacy

New Supplemental Literacy Resource to Combine Highly Engaging Stories and Explicit Instruction for Grades 3-5

PORTSMOUTH, N.H., Nov. 10, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Heinemann today announced a new supplemental literacy resource for grades 3-5 by New York Times bestselling author Kwame Alexander. Anchored in the voice, characters and narrative universe of Alexander's Newbery Award-winning novel The Crossover, Kwame Alexander's The Crossover Literacy will combine a research-based scope and sequence with high-interest, culturally responsive trade-style books and digital resources to extend learning. The resource is designed to provide the opportunity for literacy skill refinement and application while preserving age- and grade-appropriate content, engagement, stamina and motivation. The Crossover Literacy will be available for back-to-school 2027.

"In grades 3-5, we have a real opportunity to get students invested in reading in a way that is life-giving and life-saving," said Alexander. "All of a sudden, it becomes hard to play catch up if you haven't caught up, if you haven't reached a certain level of literacy and literary engagement at the third-grade level. The Crossover Literacy is my attempt to grab young readers who are still developing a love of reading, who are still learning to read and offer them powerful stories and amazing lessons that are going to immerse them in a readerly way of life."

The Crossover Literacy features 36 transitional chapter books that serve as a prequel to The Crossover, expanding the beloved literary universe into the upper-elementary years and allowing students to explore the events that precede the celebrated novel. Alexander is joined by other notable creators from the children's book world including Nikki Shannon Smith, Charles R. Smith Jr. and Kelly J. Baptist who contribute new stories as part of the series. Art/illustration direction for the books is led by Emmy® Award winning animation director and illustrator Dawud Anyabwile, who did the illustration for the graphic novel version of The Crossover.

Kwame Alexander is a poet, educator, publisher, Emmy® Award-winning producer and a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 47 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night, Black Star, The Mighty Macy, The Crossover, Booked and The Undefeated, the National Book Award Nominee, Newbery Honor and Caldecott Medal-winning picture book illustrated by Kadir Nelson. He is the author of two professional books for educators, When Everyone Reads and The Write Thing. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world at events like Aspen Ideas, Edinburgh Book Festival and the Global Literacy Symposium in Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is a 2026 Sine 250+ Fellow at American University and the founder of the literacy non-profit One Word at a Time as well as the head of Kwame Alexander Books, an imprint of Sourcebooks. The Crossover Literacy marks Alexander's deepening commitment to literacy and teaching, partnering with educators to create instructional resources to be used in the classroom.

Explicit, Systematic, Whole-Book Instruction

"One of the most exciting things about The Crossover Literacy for me is that we are bridging the gap between engagement and explicit instruction with a resource that allows kids to get so caught up in the story that they don't even realize they are learning the literacy skills that are going to allow them to succeed in fourth and fifth and even eighth grade," said Alexander. "And by the time they reach middle school and beyond, they'll have the skills and the interest to be able to read Jacqueline Woodson and Lois Lowry and Erin Entrada Kelly. They'll have had the opportunity to become avid and invested and joyful readers, and that can open the door to a whole world of possibility for students."

The Crossover Literacy offers grade-level, whole-book instruction following the Gradual Release of Responsibility Framework with lessons aligned to a research-based scope and sequence. The series' scope and sequence and instructional design were developed by a team of academic advisors led by literacy expert and author Pam Allyn. Allyn is the award-winning author of numerous books for educators and parents, the founding director of the literacy nonprofit LitWorld and the founder of the internationally recognized and celebrated World Read Aloud Day.

Each chapter book is written at grade-level (12 per grade) and features rich vocabulary and the opportunity to practice with increasingly complex, non-controlled text. Ten lessons will accompany each book with a focus on explicit skills instruction in phonics, comprehension, vocabulary/word analysis and fluency with opportunities to apply and reinforce grade-level literacy skills alongside crucial scaffolds to address students' needs. In addition, paired nonfiction articles and student writing journals accompany each book, providing opportunities to grow grade-appropriate literacy skills. Designed to support a wide range of educator needs, the Teacher's Guide will offer implementation guidance and pacing for flexible use across whole class or small group instruction, as well as assessments and support with progress monitoring.

"We know that over a third of 4^th graders read below the basic level, and we've watched reading scores continue to decline in recent years," said Lead Academic Advisor Pam Allyn. "If we're to help all students succeed, literacy skill instruction needs to continue into the upper elementary years and students need a chance to practice with grade-level, whole texts that capture their interest and help them build stamina and strength as readers."

Motivation and Mentorship to Drive Student Engagement and Success

Throughout the resource, students will have the opportunity to receive motivation and support from Alexander via "Warm Up with Coach Kwame" videos (1 per book) that will introduce students to the world of each story, point out relevant plot points or text features and build reading excitement. Each chapter book will be available as an ebook with audio, deepening students' opportunities for multimodal engagement. The student journals that accompany each book will include a paired nonfiction article, exclusive "Coach Kwame Writing Tips" with writing about reading prompts and a culminating writing activity aligned to the book's theme, allowing students to develop self-agency in their writing and benefit from the expertise of one of the country's leading children's authors.

"The Crossover Literacy is a fresh way of looking at the partnership between classroom teachers and children's book authors, harnessing the power of both to offer students deeply engaging texts alongside the explicit instruction they need to advance as readers," said Roderick Spelman, SVP of Content Development for Heinemann. "Heinemann is delighted to partner with Kwame Alexander to bring this much-needed resource to teachers and students across the country."

For more information about The Crossover Literacy, please visit: CrossoverLiteracy.com.

About Heinemann

Heinemann is a leading provider of professional resources and educational services for educators, kindergarten through college. Heinemann supports the professionalism of teachers as they help children become literate, compassionate, engaged citizens of the world. Heinemann authors are exemplary educators eager to support the practice of other teachers through professional books and explicit teaching materials, streaming videos, podcasts and blogs, as well as professional learning experiences, both live and online. Heinemann is dedicated to teachers and the modernization of the teaching profession. Visit Heinemann.com to learn more.

About Kwame Alexander

Kwame Alexander is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of 47 books, including Why Fathers Cry at Night, Black Star, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor book, J vs K, an illustrated novel he penned with Jerry Craft, and the motivational primer for graduates, creatives, and professionals, entitled Say Yes, and The Crossover, his Newbery-Medal winning novel-turned Emmy® Award-winning Disney+ TV series, his latest release and first chapter book The Mighty Macy and his new Brainstormerz graphic novel series. He is also the co-creator and executive producer of the Emmy® nominated Acoustic Rooster and his Barnyard Band and Acoustic Rooster: Jazzy Jams, a PBS KIDS special and series of shorts produced by GBH Kids based on his beloved children's book of the same name. He regularly shares his passion for literacy, books and the craft of writing around the world, including Ghana, West Africa, where he opened the Barbara E. Alexander Memorial Library and Health Clinic. A recipient of the 2025 NAACP Image Award, Kwame is a 2026 Sine 250+ Fellow at American University and the founder of the literacy non-profit, One Word at a Time as well as the Founder and Publisher of Kwame Alexander Books, an imprint of Sourcebooks.

About Pam Allyn

Pam Allyn is an award-winning author, educator, and founding director of the renowned literacy non-profit organization, LitWorld. Pam is the author of many acclaimed books for educators and parents, including What to Read When and the Mom's Choice winner Your Child's Writing Life. She is co-author of Every Child a Super Reader and Tell Your Story: Teaching Students to Become World Changing Writers and Thinkers with her longtime collaborator Dr. Ernest Morrell. Alongside her team at LitWorld, she founded the holiday World Read Aloud Day, now in its 16th year and celebrated on the first Wednesday of every February by over 90 million people in 170+ countries worldwide. Pam is the founder of LitLife and creator of renowned literacy programs LitCamp, LitLeague, and MathCamp. Pam has received many honors for her work, including the James Patterson PageTurner Award, The Children's Village Legacy of Service Award, Scholastic's Reading Champion Award, and the Kent Williamson NCTE Award.

Media Contact:
Erika McCaffrey
Director, Communications
Heinemann Publishing
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SOURCE Heinemann