Virtual Visits
Whether Virtual Visits or In-person Visits, my enthusiasm for children, writing, reading and (believe it or not) rewriting remains the same.
I speak to children as fellow writers, since that’s what they are! My mission is to encourage students to use the writing tips that are embedded in my stories—in all their writing—whether non-fiction, or fiction.
I emphasize rewriting by showing drafts of my books—to demonstrate that even professional writers alter and improve their writing—over and over again, and that, (as I said,) doing so can actually be fun!
FAQ
I offer both full-day Virtual Visits with up to three one-hour-long presentations, (with a bit of extra time for Q & A), or individual hour-long presentations. I can also offer a Virtual Visit at the end of an Author Study.
I ask teachers to contact me in advance so that we can agree on which books of mine they will PRE-READ to the children, so that they are familiar with my work in advance of our Virtual Visit. (For more specifics on the kind of thing I do, please read through the info on School Visits. I will be doing something similar—just via a screen.)
My visits with older children (grades 2-5) focus on one or more of the following books:
NOTHING EVER HAPPENS ON 90TH STREET, which contains embedded writing tips and prompts. (Appropriate for grades 2-5)
THE BOY WHO LOVED WORDS, which emphasizes my love of words and promotes an appreciation of their power & pleasure. (Appropriate for grades 2-5)
MAMA, I’LL GIVE YOU THE WORLD, which emphasizes imagination, love, and the beauty of diversity. (Appropriate for grades 2, possibly 3)
F IS FOR FREEDOM, a chapter book about the power of literacy & friendship—set at the time of the Underground Railroad. (Appropriate for grades 3 and up)
DOO-WOP POP, with African/American characters, a story about how working together can overcome shyness and produce harmony--in all that word means. (an out-of-print book* that I can supply)
My visits with younger children are simpler versions of what I described above. I focus on imagination and use the following books as a launch pad for emphasizing the power of imagination:
MAMA, I’LL GIVE YOU THE WORLD, which celebrates creativity, love, and the beauty of diversity. (Appropriate for grades k-2 or 3)
GO, LITTLE GREEN TRUCK! a young, “green” book that implicitly emphasizes recycling and ingenuity. (Appropriate for grades k-2)
ALL ABOUT GRANDMAS, a young book that salutes grandmas of all shapes, sizes, and colors and the mutual love of grandmas and children. (Appropriate for grades k-2)
*I also have books of Jewish interest, including HANUKKAH! (which won The National Jewish Book Award), PASSOVER MAGIC, and PURIM PLAY, as well as several books that are out-of-print, but which can be supplied and can also be used to excite children about reading & writing: DOO-WOP POP, IN THE PINEY WOODS, CAPTAIN BOB TAKES FLIGHT, THE HOUSE OF JOYFUL LIVING, etc.
Fee For Virtual Visits
A one-hour presentation is $450. A full day of 3 one-hour presentations is: $1200.
Options: If you choose to offer books for sale to the children, I can direct you to a place to order them and can offer signed, personalized Bookplates to paste inside each purchased book. (Occasionally, schools will purchase one copy of one of my books for all students.)