All the following presentations include plenty of time for questions and interaction with the children.  And all are flexible.  My goal is to get the kids thinking, and that sometimes means
adapting to their train of thought.

 
BARNYARD BAG
                                      

Grades 1-3
45 minutes
equipment needed: overhead projector

Children are invited to choose poems by picking an animal from my Barnyard Bag.  Some poems lend themselves to kids acting them out, some to sharing fun facts about the animals, some to a simple explanation of poetic form (even the youngest child can understand the concept of a list poem), some to talking about the writing process or where an idea came from. 

EVEN EDITORS MAKE MISTAKES                 

Grades 4-6                             
50-60 minutes
equipment needed: overhead projector                        

I lead off with a funny poem or two to crack the ice, then share some editorial bloopers in books I’ve edited and books I’ve written.  Using other poems as examples, I talk about

● the editorial process, including revisions, poems that were deleted from  my collections, poems that got changed to fit the illustration

● the writing process (I often use a tape recorder while I’m driving and bring tapes as well as samples of early drafts)

● research—I often learn much more about the subjects of my poems than I can possibly fit into the poem.  (Did you know that Queen Elizabeth I  had a pet guinea pig?)

LIMERICK/GRIMERICK—HAVING FUN WITH LIMERICKS

Grades 4-6
50-60 minutes
equipment needed: overhead projector

Limericks are great fun to write and one of the easiest verse forms to learn.  Since they are all about being corny and silly, most kids take to them right away.  I share some of the great limericks with them as well as some of my own “grimericks,” and work less with them on writing their own.

FOR PARENTS AND TEACHERS

50-60 minutes
equipment needed: overhead projector

Using anecdotes and pictures, I share the joys, sorrows, humor, irritations, changes, and great satisfactions of my 30-some years spent writing and editing books for children.

IN GENERAL:

My presentations work best with groups of 100 or fewer children—classroom, double classroom, or library presentations are preferable.  I will also do very short sessions with kindergartners—those work best if I see the kindergartners by themselves rather than mixed in with an older group.  I’m also happy to talk with junior-high/middle-school kids (in small groups only), though my books are directed at younger children.

FEES

My honorarium of $1,000 per day, plus transportation and lodging, includes:

● four presentations per day

● book signings whenever you want to schedule them in the day

● a casual breakfast or after-school meeting with teachers if you want to plan one

TIPS ON HOW TO HAVE A SUCCESSFUL AUTHOR VISIT

1.                  In the weeks prior to my visit, share my books with teachers, librarians, and students. During the two weeks right before my visit, read a poem a day over the loud speaker at morning announcements.

2.                  Plan activities using my poems.  Children might do a research project on one of the animals.  If you’re studying farms, read from Squeal and Squawk.  If you’re discussing food or nutrition, “A Chicken Will Eat Most Anything” fits right in.  If snow is falling, try “Winter Miracle.”

3.                  At least 6 weeks before the visit, place book orders with publishers or local booksellers.

4.                  At least three weeks before the visit, please send me directions, accommodations, and a schedule of the day’s events.  If I’m flying in, I’ll need my e-ticket by now.

5.                  One week before the visit, have the children write down the questions they
 would like me to answer.

6.                  During the visit, take pictures!  They’ll be great for encouraging memories and further discussion after I’ve gone, and if you send some to me, I’ll post what I can here on my web site.

7.                  HAVE FUN!

HOW TO ORDER THE BOOKS:

From Marshall Cavendish:

Call 914-332-8888 and ask for the order department
or
Fax orders to 914-332-1888
or
Visit www.marshallcavendish.us

 From Blue Apple Books (distributed by Chronicle Books)

Call Chronicle Customer Service at 800-722-6657, extension 5
or
Fax orders on official school letterhead or purchase order to 800-858-7787

 Order 24 books or more for a 50% discount.
Any unsold books are returnable for credit.
Schools may submit orders on letterhead or purchase order to receive a bill
or prepay by credit card or check.
Author event orders should be placed at least two weeks prior to the event.