The ability to separate fact from fiction is an essential skill for students and lifelong learners. To help educators and young readers build critical thinking, digital literacy, and problem-solving skills, Capstone and the International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) have partnered to publish the middle-grade chapter book series Cyber Sleuths. Educators can get an early look at the series at Capstone’s booth 724 during ISTELive 24 in Denver.
At ISTELive 24, attendees are invited to join the Cyber Sleuths Scavenger Hunt from June 23–26. Each day, a Sasquatch Squishmallow — inspired by The Sasquatch Suspect, one installment in the series — will be hidden around the convention center. The participant who deciphers the daily clue and finds the hidden Squishmallow will receive a prize package featuring children’s books from Capstone and ISTE plus additional prizes.
The Cyber Sleuths mystery series follows a global online network of tech-savvy kids who use digital tools and data to expose scams, debunk hoaxes, and confront bad actors on the internet. Through smart use of technology, the characters tackle misinformation, disinformation, and malinformation, modeling media literacy practices and collaborative problem-solving for middle-grade readers.
“The digital age has given people unprecedented access to tools and platforms for creating and sharing media. That accessibility also raises challenging questions about who created content, why it was made, and whether it can be trusted. Teaching media literacy is therefore more complex and more important than ever,” said Capstone CEO Randi Economou. “Our renewed partnership with ISTE produces a special collection of children’s books that promote media literacy, creative technology use, and positive digital citizenship. These books give educators resources to spark productive classroom conversations and inspire students to use technology to create, solve problems, and learn.”
ISTE also emphasized the series’ classroom value: the four mystery titles invite readers to problem-solve alongside global peers as they work to debunk myths and stop the spread of false information. Supporting resources include an Educator’s Guide aligned to the ISTE Standards, offering classroom activities and discussion prompts that extend learning and help teachers integrate media literacy and digital responsibility into instruction.
The Cyber Sleuths series will be published on August 1. Educators can preview an advance reader copy of one title and learn more about the Capstone–ISTE partnership at https://www.capstonepub.com/iste. That page also provides free access to the Cyber Sleuths Educator’s Guide, which links discussion questions and hands-on activities to the ISTE Standards, a widely used framework for using technology to support learning.
Alongside Cyber Sleuths, Capstone will release hundreds of new titles this fall across formats including nonfiction, picture books, early readers, chapter books, Spanish-language titles, and graphic novels. Capstone’s interactive eBooks are offered for a one-time fee, and schools or districts can add titles at a discounted rate through the PebbleGo platform.
More about Capstone
Capstone is a leading educational publisher of K–5 digital solutions, children’s books, and literacy programs for school libraries, classrooms, and at-home reading. Through print books, interactive eBooks, and curriculum-connected resources like PebbleGo™, Capstone focuses on inspiring student curiosity and supporting strong literacy outcomes. As a publisher of children’s content, Capstone is committed to amplifying diverse voices and perspectives and providing engaging materials that honor the work of educators and help students succeed. Visit CapstonePub.com for more information.
If you’re attending ISTE
The International Society for Technology in Education (ISTE) is a nonprofit that partners with the global education community to accelerate innovation in learning through effective use of technology. ISTE advances a bold vision for education transformation with the ISTE Standards, a framework that guides educators in creating meaningful, technology-enabled learning experiences. ISTE hosts ISTELive, one of the world’s leading education conferences, and provides professional learning and resources to support educators in blending technology, pedagogy, and content for better student outcomes.