Author Visits
Cathy takes great pleasure in speaking to readers and writers. Below are a few programs she has to offer. She can also tailor visits to meet specific needs. A basic school visit includes three presentations per day and time for book signings within 50 miles of Pelham, NH. For author fees and visits that are greater than 50 miles, please contact Cathy to discuss.
Small groups are preferred, but classes may be combined with no more than 50 students.
Grade PreK-Kindergarten: 20-30 minutes with time for Q & AGrades 1-2: 45-60 minutes with time for Q & AGrades 3-5: 45-60 minutes with time for Q & A Programs for The Little Red Chair
PreK-Kindergarten
“Reading brings us unknown friends.” ~Honoré de Balzac
Story time begins with an activity using paper plate emojis to discuss feelings. Introduce the book and the little red chair, which has feelings and expresses itself through its squeaky wheels. Read The Little Red Chair. Afterward, talk about how the chair’s squeaky wheels express its feelings.
Grades 1-2
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends.” ~Charles W. Eliot
Story time begins with a discussion of feelings, using paper plate emojis. Have students guess what the book is about. Before reading, the author asks the class to listen for feelings expressed by the chair in the story. Read The Little Red Chair then ask what feelings the little red had in the story and how it expressed itself.
OR
Reading of The Little Red Chair. Afterward, the author discusses the writing process from the idea to the finished product in terms easily understood by first and second-graders.
Grades 3-5
“Writing is the painting of the voice.” ~Voltaire
The Craft of Writing: Elements of Writing and How to Write an Interesting Story. Using different picture books, including PEW! and THE LITTLE RED CHAIR discuss different story structures, hooks, word choice (wild and wonderful words and vivid verbs), sensory details, onomatopoeia, and wordplay.
Programs for PEW! The Stinky and Legen-Dairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~Ernest Hemingway
PreK-Grade 1
Story time begins with the introduction of the book cover, author and illustrator, and what they see on the cover. Reading of PEW! Discussion of cheese making and Cheesy Facts from the back matter. Hands-on activity with a replica of the “enormous cheese.” Challenge: How many mice can you find in the illustrations?
Grades 2-3
“Books are a delicious, sunny place to escape.” ~Anne Lamott
Where Do Ideas Come From? Pre-discussion about how an author comes up with an idea and how the book PEW! came to be. Briefly discuss the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Before reading the book, discuss the illustrations on the cover. Read PEW! and Favorite Cheesy Facts. End with a hands-on activity, using a replica of the “enormous cheese.”
Grades 4-5
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” ~Martin Luther
Nonfiction vs Fiction: What’s the Difference? Pre-discussion of the difference. Examples of fiction and nonfiction books. Read PEW! followed by details of where the ideas come from, and what an author must do to create a finished manuscript. Extra: Hands-on activity of the “enormous cheese.”
OR
The Craft of Writing: Elements of Writing and How to Write an Interesting Story. Using different picture books, discuss different story structures, hooks, word choice (wild and wonderful words and vivid verbs), sensory details, onomatopoeia, and wordplay.
If you have any questions, contact Cathy using the contact form below.
Grade PreK-Kindergarten: 20-30 minutes with time for Q & AGrades 1-2: 45-60 minutes with time for Q & AGrades 3-5: 45-60 minutes with time for Q & A Programs for The Little Red Chair
PreK-Kindergarten
“Reading brings us unknown friends.” ~Honoré de Balzac
Story time begins with an activity using paper plate emojis to discuss feelings. Introduce the book and the little red chair, which has feelings and expresses itself through its squeaky wheels. Read The Little Red Chair. Afterward, talk about how the chair’s squeaky wheels express its feelings.
Grades 1-2
“Books are the quietest and most constant of friends.” ~Charles W. Eliot
Story time begins with a discussion of feelings, using paper plate emojis. Have students guess what the book is about. Before reading, the author asks the class to listen for feelings expressed by the chair in the story. Read The Little Red Chair then ask what feelings the little red had in the story and how it expressed itself.
OR
Reading of The Little Red Chair. Afterward, the author discusses the writing process from the idea to the finished product in terms easily understood by first and second-graders.
Grades 3-5
“Writing is the painting of the voice.” ~Voltaire
The Craft of Writing: Elements of Writing and How to Write an Interesting Story. Using different picture books, including PEW! and THE LITTLE RED CHAIR discuss different story structures, hooks, word choice (wild and wonderful words and vivid verbs), sensory details, onomatopoeia, and wordplay.
Programs for PEW! The Stinky and Legen-Dairy Gift from Colonel Thomas S. Meacham
“There is no friend as loyal as a book.” ~Ernest Hemingway
PreK-Grade 1
Story time begins with the introduction of the book cover, author and illustrator, and what they see on the cover. Reading of PEW! Discussion of cheese making and Cheesy Facts from the back matter. Hands-on activity with a replica of the “enormous cheese.” Challenge: How many mice can you find in the illustrations?
Grades 2-3
“Books are a delicious, sunny place to escape.” ~Anne Lamott
Where Do Ideas Come From? Pre-discussion about how an author comes up with an idea and how the book PEW! came to be. Briefly discuss the difference between fiction and nonfiction. Before reading the book, discuss the illustrations on the cover. Read PEW! and Favorite Cheesy Facts. End with a hands-on activity, using a replica of the “enormous cheese.”
Grades 4-5
“If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write.” ~Martin Luther
Nonfiction vs Fiction: What’s the Difference? Pre-discussion of the difference. Examples of fiction and nonfiction books. Read PEW! followed by details of where the ideas come from, and what an author must do to create a finished manuscript. Extra: Hands-on activity of the “enormous cheese.”
OR
The Craft of Writing: Elements of Writing and How to Write an Interesting Story. Using different picture books, discuss different story structures, hooks, word choice (wild and wonderful words and vivid verbs), sensory details, onomatopoeia, and wordplay.
If you have any questions, contact Cathy using the contact form below.
Contact Cathy