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I work primarily with elementary school groups, but have also done visits with middle school and high school classes. All of my talks are tailored to the age of the audience.

Topics include:

• my background
• my studio
• getting an idea down on paper
• writing and rewriting
• photography
• collage
• how a book is made

I will make up to four presentations in a day. Out of town visits are flat fee (plus expenses). I have more flexible rates for visits within New York City and are based on the number and type of presentation.

The sessions are generally about 45 minutes long to coincide with class periods. However, I find that with pre-schoolers and even some kindergarten classes that 30-35 minutes is sufficient.

I believe that the experience is richer if the presentations can be made in a classroom or library with no more than 60 students per session. Of course, schools have budget and scheduling considerations that at times may make larger auditorium presentations the only feasible way to go.

Depending on the anticipated audience size, I can either show original art and photgraphs that I bring in a portfolio or do a Powerpoint presentation.

What ever the age and what ever the length of the visit, I devote time towards the end of the session to questions. This is an opportunity for the children to talk with a real live children's book author and I feel that this dialog is as important as anything I present to them.

School visits are most successful when the students have read my books before I arrive and have spent some time talking about them with their teacher or the school librarian. It can be useful for the children to think about questions that they have for me a day or two beforehand.

Virtual visits will basically follow the format of a regular school visit.

I will make up to four presentations in a day.  Fees are based on the number of presentations involved. The presentations are generally about 45 minutes long to coincide with class periods. However, I find that with pre-schoolers and even some kindergarten classes that 30-35 minutes is sufficient.

All of my talks are tailored to the age of the audience.

Topics include:

• my background
• my studio
• getting an idea down on paper
• writing and rewriting
• photography
• collage
• how a book is made

At present, Skype does allow for both live video feed and screen-sharing though the user must switch between the two formats and there is some lag time during the switch. A visit could include powerpoint (via screen sharing) and a “live” (video) q&a; or a visit could be done in a more intimate form where I would hold up examples of work to my computer camera and would also include a q&a. In both cases, technical run through would be needed before the actual “visit”.

Visits are most successful when the students have read my books before I arrive and have spent some time talking about them with their teacher or the school librarian. It is useful for the children think about questions that they have for me a day or two beforehand.

No recording of Skype sessions is allowed without prior permission.

I read my work and present an introduction to my life as a children’s book author.

Topics include:

• my background
• my studio
• getting an idea down on paper
• writing and rewriting
• photography
• collage
• how a book is made

As these events are generally open to all ages, I try to provide a little something for everyone.

The presentations run for about an hour including time for questions at the end.

Depending on the anticipated audience size, I can either show original art and photgraphs that I bring in a portfolio or do a Powerpoint presentation.

I have done a number of different art workshops with children. I am happy to brainstorm with you to plan a fun and educational way to introduce art techniques and illustration concepts to your classroom.

Following are brief descriptions of a couple of projects I have done in the past:

Using One Hot Summer Day as inspiration. Fourth and fifth graders digitally photographed and wrote collaborative stories weaving observations about their neighborhood into their stories.

Using The Neighborhood Mother Goose as inspiration, 2nd graders created their own interpretations of classic Mother Goose rhymes in mixed media collages.

I look forward to opportunities to discuss my work with educators, librarians and other book professionals.

Past Events:

• "Picture Book Families," Author Symposium at William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ , April 2009
• Commencement Speaker, Creative Writing MFA Graduation, Pine Manor College, Chestnut Hill, MA, July 2008
• The Virginia State Reading Association Conference, March 13-15, 2008
• NCTE, ALA Notable Children’s Roundtable, November 20, 2005, Pittsburgh, PA
• New York Public Library Bookfest, “Places in the Heart,” November 6, 2004, New York, NY
• Suncoast Young Authors Celebration, University of Southern Florida, April 10 & 11, 2002, Tampa, Fl
• "Voices of Children,” Price/Campbell Symposium, Appalachian State University, October 27 & 28, 2000, Boone, NC
• Association for Library Service to Children Pre-conference, "Through the Artist's Eye," ALA, July 6, 2000, Chicago, IL