My goal in school appearances is to get kids excited about books, writing and art. My presentations are energetic, interactive, and kid-friendly. I use lots of drawings, photos, and images from my books, and I always draw for the kids. Any program can be tailored to incorporate your curriculum.
Most of my programs are for grade school kids, but I also do presentations for high school students, college classes and adult groups.
PROGRAMS
How is a book created? 30-40 minute presentation / grades 1-8
The question I hear from readers most often is "How did you get started as an author?" In this presentation, I tell the story of how I wrote my first book (by accident!), how I come up with ideas for books, and how I create sketches and final illustrations. It includes an overview of three books. Along the way, I do lots of drawings for the kids (some with their input, which they LOVE), and finish up with some Q & A.
Let's create a book! 60-90 minute workshop / grades 2-7
This is a fun art and writing workshop where each child creates a book of their own. I present a quick overview of how I create books, and give the kids some starting points for their story. Then I help the kids as they create their own books. Kids get a lot out of this workshop, but please note that it requires tables or desks, art supplies and more time than the usual class period.
How to make a living making stuff up. 30-40 minute presentation / grades 8 and up
I've been very fortunate to make a living with my creativity for over 25 years. It wasn't easy at first, but I eventually worked my way into jobs in advertising and publishing that let me use my imagination every day. Now I like to share my story with young people to demonstrate that creativity is not just a novelty, but has real value in the professional world. Perfect for middle and high school kids.
Nurturing our creative side. 30-40 minute presentation / college and up
Creativity is becoming more important in our culture and our economy, but how do we teach it? Speaking from personal experience, I talk about what inspired me as a kid and how we can encourage kids to think creatively.
Miscellaneous activities. Special activites to fill the day, grades 3 and up
- Small group discussion, critique or lunch with gifted writers and artists
- Art class participation. I take part in the regular lesson and chime-in with observations.
- Storytelling mini-workshop. A condensed version of the Let's Create a Book workshop.
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