Hit>Author Suggestions

["Allison S. Williams" <awilliam@PEN.K12.VA.US>]

Several people asked if I would send the responses I got on
visiting authors on the network so here goes--
From: koneal@llohio.wviz.csuohio.edu (Kathy O'Neal)

Hi, Allison.  I'm a k-4 librarian in Shaker Heights, Ohio.  I
have some
suggestions for you.  Kathryn Lasky and Christopher Knight (her
photographer
husband) are wonderful guests.  They do such a wide variety of
work that
it's a joy preparing students for their visit, and they are
great with kids.
I can also recommend Ashley Bryan, African-American
poet-storyteller-illustrator.  His presentations are truly
unique and
dramatic, and he really loves kids.  We've also had Seymour
Simon, Wendy
Watson, and Carol Carrick---listed from most successful to
least... Nancy
Willard is in a class by herself---intellectual, almost
eccentric, but
in such a warm and lovable way.  Floyd Cooper is coming to our
district this
spring.  I've seen him present to adults at the Kent State Univ.
Multicultural Literature Conference and he was really loose and
funny and
light.  Good luck in your search!  Kathy O'Neal


Date: Sat, 29 Oct 1994 22:31:39 -0500 (CDT)
From: Betty Dawn Hamilton <bhamilt@tenet.edu>

Our 4th/5th grade campus had Bill Wallace (_Snot Stew_ and _A
Dog Called
Kitty_, etc.) last year.  He is quite good and held a large
audience
spellbound for a good while.  He was an elementary principal
for a number
of years, so he knows schools and kids.



From: MAJORE@TEN-NASH.TEN.K12.TN.US

Allison, I am not sure how dynamic you would consider this
author, but
recently Lisa Horstman visited my elem. school and spoke to 2nd
and 5-6th
graders.  She presented a slide show, including her original
art work in
the slides, and talked about her life and work as well as a Q &
A time from
the students.  The students attended in 2 different sessions in
which Ms.
Horstman presented basically the same info., but adapted it
quite well to
the differing ages. All 3 grades and their teachers were quite
complimentary of her.  I felt the children really enjoyed her
presentation,
and learned about publishing from it.  She added nice touches
of humor to
her presentation.  We spent a good bit of time prior to her
visit learning
what we could about her as she was awarded the first annual Dr.
Seuss
Picture Book award which was given for the first time this
year.  This award
will be given every other year to a first time author who shows
promising
talent.  It carries a $25,000 cash prize as well as a
publishing contract.
Ms. Horstman was one of approx. 1200 entrants--so she must have
made quite
an impression with that many entries.  Her winning book is
titled, Fast
Friends, A Tail and Tongue Tale.  You could possibly contact
her through
Random House, which sponsors this award.  Our 2nd graders study
all about
Dr. Seuss's books and about him as an author, so this
presentation and new
award was wonderful for our curriculum.  It was perfect timing
for us.  I
believ4e you would like her.  I also heard Barbara Park at the
Tenn. State
Library Assn. convention about 2 yrs ago and she was
delightful.  Her
touches of humor would be appreciated by students, I think.
Good luck in
your search for a visiting author.  I would appreciated hearing
about your
results; we are always on the lookout for interesting authors
ourselves,
especially those that are not so expensive!!


Edna Major, Library Media Spec.

Date: Sun, 30 Oct 1994 12:51:29 -0400 (EDT)
From: AMCDACE@delphi.com

Dear Allison,
We just had Colleen O'Shaughnessey McKenna visit our school for
a day.
She definitely held the attention of our children 1st-6th grade
at the
all school assembly.  She was guest of honor at a "Have Lunch
with the
Author" session.  That was a huge success with about 20 essay
winning students
in attendance.  She also held two creative writing workshops,
and
autographed pre-sale books.  She is entertaining, informative
and
funny.  You can reach her through Scholastic Publishing.
Some of her books, TOO MANY MURPHIES; EENIE MEANIE MURPHY NO;
LIVE FROM
THE 5TH GRADE.  If you need more information, please contact me
through
email or phone.
Arlene McDace, Library Media Specialist, Pine Crest School,
Ft. Lauderdale, FL  305 492 4148    amcdace@delphi.com


From: sdemetri (Shelia N. Demetriadis)

Allison:  How about Mary Lyons?  She is the author of Sorrow's
Kitchen:the Life and Folklore of Zora Neale Hurston


Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 09:52:55 -600 (CST)
From: Carolynne Lathrop  <udclathr@lcac1.loras.edu>

I have seen Pat Cummings, Patricia Maclachlan, Jean Little, and
Marc
Broawn at Children's Book Festivals, and I think all of them
would be
appropriate for your age range.  Betsy Byars is also very good,
but
perhaps her books are a little old.  I have no idea what any of
them
charge, but they were all excellent.  They were speaking to
librarians, of
course, which is different from speaking to children.
        Marc Brown draws as he talks, which I think children
would like.
Betsy Byars and Jean Little are both amusing.  Jean Little has
a very
self-deprecating type of humor I found very engaging.  She is
nearly
blind, but had an assistant who read part of her talk. Pat
Cummings is a
warm friendly person--she showed lots of slides.  Good for a
multicultural
presentation.  Patricia Maclachlan was very down to earth
although she had
recently won the Newbery.

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 19:25:09 -0500
From: Kathy Buck <ah043@DAYTON.WRIGHT.EDU>

David Wisniewski visited our schools last year and was
wonderful.  Also Peter Catalanotto is very good.

Date: Mon, 31 Oct 1994 18:26:37 -0600 (CST)
From: Julie Walker <jawalker@tenet.edu>

Allison,
Last year we had Brian Selznik.  At that time he had only done
"The
Houdini Box" (3-6).  Since that time, he has illustrated "Doll
Face Has a
Party" authored by Pam Conrad.  He was WONDERFUL.  He lives in
New York
and when we had him, he was under $1,000.  Denise Fleming is
another pick
hit.  She has done a number of picture books and demonstrates
her paper
making technique. I felt I had made a new friend when she left
--- the
kids were enchanted.  Hope this helps!

Julie A. Walker                         District Media Center

Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 10:19:53 -0600 (CST)
From: Sandra Gilbert <sgilbert@tenet.edu>

We have a wonderful, very active visiting author program in our
district.
The two all-time best ones are Shelley Gill from Alaska and
Peter
Catalanotto from Pennsylvania. Shelley's books include The
Alaska Mother
Goose; Alaska's Three Bears; Alaska ABC; Thunderfeet-Alaska's
dinosaurs;
and Kiana's Iditarod. Shelley completed the 149 mile dog sled
race to
research the Iditarod book. She shares the great adventures of
her life,
and we all wanted to pack up and go to Alaska when she left!
Peter
Catalanotto is a wonderful illustrator and author who is
extremely
motivating to the students and leaves a lasting impression on
the students
and staff. His books include Dylan's Day Out; Who Came Down
That Road;
The Catspring Somersault Flying One-handed Flip-flop; and
others. His
newest one is Momma Was a Coal Miner. Shelley can be reached
through
Charlesbridge Publishing and costs about $600 a day. Peter is
through
Orchard and costs about $1200 a day (and worth every penny.) In
our
district, we generally have an author stay a week and visit ten
schools
so we can split the transportation and lodging costs.

From: maltshul (Meredith T. Altshuler)
Subject: author visit
To: awilliam (Allison S. Williams)
Date: Tue, 1 Nov 94 19:06:21 EST

        We had David Wisniewski speak last spring and both
students and faculty agreed the whole experience was
outstanding.  We are a K-5 school. The visit was arranged by
Noreen Bernstein, Children's Librarian, at the Williamsburg
Regional Library who could give you details.


Date: Tue, 1 Nov 1994 21:00:11 -0500 (EST)
From: "Nancy J. P. Lively" <nlively@umd5.umd.edu>

Did anyone suggest David Wisniewski?  I by passed your request
and then
saw it was from Richmond Va.  He is a Maryland author but lives
rather
close.  He is somewhere between us and DC so he can't be over
150 miles
from you.  He is really quite wonderful with kids.  If he does
hiw shadow
puppets (which is where he got his start) the kids will enjoy
it very
much.  He has done some love paper cut books. Do you know
them.  I have
"Sundiata: Lion king of Mali" here with me.  Some of his other
books are
prettier and better.  But you might enjoy him and I think he
would go
that far.

Nancy JP Lively
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
Professional Library
2644 Riva Road
Annapolis, MD. 21401


--
                        Allison Williams
                        awilliam@pen.k12.va.us
                        Collegiate School
                        No. Mooreland Rd.
                        Richmond, VA 23229
                        (804)741-9785