SCHOOLS, LIBRARIES, AND NATURE CENTER
VISITS FOR CHILDREN

Photo by Janice WilliamsI visit schools, libraries, and nature centers within a one-hour radius of my home in Burlington, Connecticut, and enjoy sharing my excitement about researching and writing with young budding authors who all have their own stories to tell. My presentations involve engaging the children in dialogue and pulling out their ideas in relation to the topic being discussed.

My presentations work best in a classroom setting as opposed to an auditorium, with one to two classes (max of about 50 kids). I find that in this smaller setting, children can better see my books and other “props” I bring. However, I can certainly accommodate larger audiences as well.  

Below, I have suggested times and grades for each presentation, but these can be customized to fit your needs.

My fee for school visits within Connecticut is $700 a day, which includes four presentations. Library and nature center visits are $250 for an hour-long session, which includes a craft activity. (Please add travel expenses if school or library is more than 50 miles from my home.) Both types of visits can also include a book signing.

All Primary Grades: (30 to 45 minutes long)

AN AUTHOR'S BACKPACK
In this presentation, we will discuss the "invisible backpack" an author wears her whole life. This backpack is a place to collect creative sparks--the experiences, characters, and ideas that we can transform into stories. Using fiction and nonfiction examples, we will talk about the collection process and how to make seemingly random ideas into words readers can enjoy. The books we'll discuss include A Box Can Be Many Things and A Star in My Orange for younger children, and Rubber Duck and Black Holes for older children.

ALL AROUND EARTH
In this more science-based presentation, we'll learn more about our home planet as we talk about how an author is like a scientist, using the power of observation to learn more about the world. Using some of my nonfiction books about Earth, we'll discover Earth is full of circles and cycles. And we'll learn how Earth reuses its resources, and so should we!

PreK to Grade 1: (30 minutes long)

LOOK FOR LADYBUGS!
Using my early reader Look for Ladybugs and my nonfiction book Crawl, Ladybug, Crawl, we will talk together about the difference between fiction and nonfiction. I will discuss how an author works, by taking real facts and making them into a story. Look for Ladybugs also includes many Boehm concepts that the children are learning at this age. We will “play” with ladybugs and practice these directional concepts.

IDEAS APLENTY
With my latest early reader for preschoolers, Corn Aplenty, we will celebrate corn! We will talk about how I turned an idea into a story and touch on the concepts of patterning, sequencing, and comparison. And we will discuss things that grow--not only corn, but friendship, too!.

PATTERNS AND SHAPES IN NATURE
My nonfiction picture book A Star in My Orange and my series The Shape of the World introduce children to the power of observation and looking for shapes around them. This presentation touches on science topics and the mathematical concept of sorting based on attributes. We will discuss how the world is made of shapes, and create a picture from shapes ourselves.

Grades 2 to 5: (45 minutes long)

RESEARCH, REWRITING, AND REWARDS
This program will focus on a writer’s process, especially in regard to nonfiction, and the challenge of making true topics read like stories. This will include getting ideas, research techniques, and the development of plot. I will also delve into how I research and rewrite, and the steps it takes to turn a finished story into a book.

PRESENTATIONS FOR ADULT WRITERS, TEACHERS, OR LIBRARIANS

I am also available to speak at conferences geared to fellow authors refining their craft or to teachers and librarians who use my books in their classrooms or libraries. I have presented the following workshops and can adapt them to any venue, or develop a new workshop based on your needs.

Reaching into the Author Backpack: Using What You Know to Write About What You Don't
An author's life is spent collecting ideas. But this "author's backpack" of inspiration also holds the tools to craft effective nonfiction. In this interactive presentation, I will use examples from my own writing life to share strategies with teachers to help empower students to write. By asking questions and using prior knowledge in their backpacks, young authors will find nonfiction can be an exciting journey of discovery.

The Dos and Don’ts of Writing Early Reader Books
This workshop will cover the basics of writing early readers. We will discuss the restrictions that make this format different from storybooks and poetry, as well as creative ways to weave in whimsy and fun. Tips for writing will be shared by charting out a list of do’s and don’ts, and by looking at various examples of early readers and why they work.

Kid-Friendly Nonfiction: Making Your Facts Come Alive
Learn how to make information easily accessible to readers. We will discuss research techniques and ways to distill complex information into a kid-friendly format, add story elements, and find those fabulous details that kids will never forget.

Simplifying the Submission Process: Staying Organized
Figuring out where to send a manuscript needs to be approached with as much energy and care as your creative endeavors. I this workshop, we will discuss how to find the right publisher, keep track of submissions, and learn from rejections.

Printable Author Bio and Awards List (PDF)
Printable List of Published Works (PDF)
Printable Reviews (PDF)