What grade levels do you like to work with?

My class presentations are primarily targeted to kids in kindergarten to third grade, but I have also worked with older students and in these sessions I tell them about what it means to be an author, the different steps it takes to create a book, how I get my ideas, etc.

How long are your presentations?

Each one is about 50 minutes in length. I read one of my books to the class, help them write their own poem together, tell them about what it means to be an author, answer questions, then sign a poem for each child that they can take home as a gift. If any of the children or teachers has copies of my books I am also happy to sign them, too.

How many students do you work with at one time?

It’s best to have between 40 and 50 kids in a classroom with me at one time. I like to sit on a low chair to be as close to them as possible. My presentations are very interactive as I encourage the kids to think up rhyming words and ask me questions and if the group is too large it’s difficult to get responses from the kids sitting in the back.

What special equipment do you need?

I just need either a blackboard or an easel with markers and a teacher or parent volunteer to write down the poem the kids create with me.

How far away are you willing to travel?

I can visit schools in Fairfield County Connecticut, the five boroughs of New York City and Long Island, but I would be open to considering traveling further, especially if I could visit more than one school in the area at the same.

Do you sign books at school book fairs?

I am happy to sign my books at school book fairs, but these events are most successful if I visit the school a week or two before so the kids become familiar with my books before the book fair begins.