D I R E C T O R Y   O F   A U T H O R S   &   I L L U S T R A T O R S

Tom Birdseye

Award-winning author of 19 books, including novels, picture books, and non-fiction, Tom also has ten years of classroom teaching experience (5th grade, kindergarten, ESL), and has given over 3,000 presentations worldwide. He knows kids and how to get the most reluctant excited about writing. Entertaining and full of insights, Tom's multi-media, dynamic presentations demystify the writing process — from initial idea to final rewrite — and provide concrete techniques that aspiring authors can use the next time they sit down in front of a blank paper, a blank screen, or a writing assessment. Invite Tom to your school, library, literacy event, teacher training, conference, or as an artist-in-residence. All who hear him will be inspired!

Daryl Cobb

Daryl is an author (13 children's books) /singer/songwriter and premier educational performer whose use of performance arts to teach and entertain has students, educators and assembly coordinators everywhere rightfully excited. His programs are unique and considered among the best around, but it's Daryl's success in making the students part of the process that makes everyone's experience one to remember. Daryl takes his audience on a journey through the creative and writing processes by cleverly blending educational information (developing ideas, editing, illustrating, the importance of words, conflict, detailing, etc.) with live performance, music, reader's theatre, readings and interactive activities. His performances are compelling, his energy and excitement for his craft is contagious and Daryl's ability to make an honest personal connection with his audiences, both young and old, is a joy to watch. Students need to see that reading, literacy and lyrics can be fun and Daryl's performances do just that!

Lisa Funari Willever

Award-winning author, Lisa Funari-Willever's presentations are FUNNY, INTERACTIVE, and MEMORABLE. A former teacher, Lisa's assemblies and workshops hold the attention of students and staff members because she truly loves her job. She is the author of the acclaimed Nicky Fifth chapter book series, A Glove of Their Own, 2009 Benjamin Franklin Award winner, Chumpkin, displayed at the White House by Laura Bush, Everybody Moos At Cows, featured on the Rosie O'Donnell Show, and Nicky Fifth named three times to the New Jersey Battle of the Book List. Her presentations are INSPIRATIONAL and storytelling abilities are superb (though she never considers herself a storyteller!). Her titles include chapter books and picture books, as well as Exciting Writing and On Your Mark, Get Set, Teach! New titles include Nicky Fifth at the Jersey Shore and Nicky Fifth's New Jersey and her main characters are to be named the state's Official Junior Ambassadors.

David Greenberg

David Greenberg presents two different types of assemblies:

1/ Poetry Assemblies are based on his superbly-reviewed poetry picture books (Slugs, Bugs!, Skunks!, Snakes!, Crocs!, Don't Forget Your Etiquette, Enchanted Lions, among others). These assemblies are fun, funny, inspirational. They strongly emphasize the qualities that make writing effective. They reinforce the writing academics imparted in the classroom. Children depart saying "I want to be a writer when I grow up!" All grades.

2/ Civil Rights Assemblies are based on his novel A Tugging String (winner of the 2008 Oregon Spirit Award, finalist for the 2008 Oregon Book Award) which tells the story of Greenberg's dad who was chief lawyer for Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. (and who helped argue Brown v Board). This deeply moving, graphically rich assembly describes the issues, attitudes, personalities, events associated with King's history-changing Selma-Montgomery Voting Rights March in which Greenberg's dad played a crucial role. It makes the civil rights movement spring to life and shows just how pertinent it is today. Grades 3 & up.

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John Steven Gurney

John Steven Gurney's books are already on your library shelves. He has illustrated many of America's best loved chapter book series, including The A to Z Mysteries, The Bailey School Kids, The Calendar Mysteries, and Big Apple Barn. He is also the author and illustrator of the picture book Dinosaur Train. John's presentation helps students understand the thought process involved in creating an illustration. Every illustration tells a story, but how? John shows that Character Design, Lighting, Color, and Perspective are the elements that make any illustration effective. He uses a PowerPoint presentation to share his illustration development process, which includes concept sketch, visual research, refined sketch, and painting. John's presentation is loaded with information, but he conveys it with plenty of humor. He closes his session with fun drawing demonstrations and the entire audience can draw along and create some cartoons that are full of surprises.

Christine Petrell Kallevig

Kids love origami! They love stories, too. What could be better than enjoying both stories and origami at the same time? About twenty years ago, award-winning author and professional storyteller Christine Petrell Kallevig figured out how to illustrate short stories with the progressive steps of simple origami models. Originally intended as a fun addition to her children's novels, Storigami instead evolved into an enticing experience that captivates audiences and sends them hurtling back and forth across an enchanted bridge. Christine's Storigami bridge connects lively, descriptive language to amazing, three-dimensional art. It's definitely a bridge where you want to let your fingers do the walking!

Jeff Mondak

Get ready to dance! Get ready to sing! Poet and songwriter Jeff Mondak's school programs educate and entertain. Accompanied by musician Joe Martin, Tim Frazier or Sergio Wals, Jeff combines discussion of poetry and songwriting with some sheer foot-stomping, hand-clapping fun. After discussing techniques for writing good poems, you'll learn about the relationship between poetry and songwriting, culminating in a raucous concert including songs such as "The Rock and Roll Hop," "Pluto's Not a Planet Anymore" and "Michael Closed the Bathroom Door." Jeff's poems appear in My Teacher's in Detention, I Hope I Don't Strike Out, Rolling in the Aisles and more. Jeff's poems also are found in many magazines, including Cricket and Spider. Jeff's songs appear on several CDs and choral songbooks, and have aired on NPR's All Things Considered, the Dr. Demento Show, and many children's music radio programs.

Herman Parish

Invite Amelia Bedelia to your school! Author Herman Parish carries on the misadventures of Amelia Bedelia, the literal-minded housekeeper, created by his Aunt Peggy Parish. Herman has added 23 books to the series, three of which have become national bestsellers. In addition to continuing the classic character, Herman's latest books take a big step back in time, to when Amelia Bedelia was a young girl. Of course, she's as literal as ever — only littler! These new picture books are perfect for the youngest grades and compliment the other books in the series that have so successfully encouraged young readers and writers. Who knows, maybe Amelia Bedelia herself will stop by for a visit...

Laurence Pringle

Winner of several major lifetime achievement awards, Laurence Pringle is one of the very best authors of nonfiction for children. His highly-praised titles — soon totaling 110 — include Penguins! Strange and Wonderful, Naming the Cat, Imagine a Dragon, One Room School, American Slave, American Hero: York of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

Creating each of these books is a unique experience, and gives Larry a wealth of wisdom to share with students. He happily gives up to 6 programs a day, tailored to a wide range of grades. Larry's popular programs, highly recommended by teachers, nurture writing skills and excite interest in reading. They reinforce state standards in language arts — both for reading and understanding informational texts, and in the writing process.

Fern Schumer Chapman

Inspire your students to think about moral choices. Awaken their desire to learn who they are through writing. Award-winning author and sought-after speaker Fern Schumer Chapman has presented to students in all grades and to adults in a variety of settings. She brings her audience along on her mother's journey as one of the children rescued from Nazi Germany by a little-known American program called The One Thousand Children project. This unique story of childhood immigration captured in Is It Night or Day? resonates with universal themes of assimilation, family legacy, prejudice, loss, and identity.

By encouraging students to put themselves in her mother's shoes, Fern gives young people an understanding of the immigrant experience. She poses questions of choice and encourages students to determine who they are through writing — an experience your students will never forget.

Contact Authors and Illustrators Who Visit Schools