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Chris Rumble


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Chris Rumble, Author/Illustrator
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  • Chris Rumble Author/Illustrator

    TITLES

    All titles are published by Tricycle Press (Berkeley, CA) and are part the highly-illustrated Adventures of Uncle Stinky series. All titles are Accelerated Reader books.

    • The Good, the Bad and the Smelly, 2004
    • Stink Trek, 2004
    • Moby Stink, 2005

    GRADES

    K-12

    LENGTH

    Typically, the presentation is a fast-paced 45 minutes. However, Chris is very flexible and can shorten or lengthen the program according to your desires.

    AUDIENCE SIZE

    No restrictions! Though he prefers the more intimate face-to-face, heart-to-heart communication with kids, Chris is as comfortable with energizing and encouraging an entire school at once as he is sharing with a single class. Your wish is his command!

    The Good, the Bad and the Smelly
    PROGRAMS

    My most popular program is a unique READING PEP RALLY combining art, music, audience participation and lots of laughter that will leave your students fired up about reading!

    Before becoming an author-illustrator, I came to be known as the Reading Guitar Man (a name my daughter gave me when she was in second grade) for my volunteer work done in schools encouraging kids to read.

    I use classic, upbeat songs, the tunes of which your students will easily recognize, to exalt the virtues reading. I'm a Believer becomes I'm a Big Reader, My Girl becomes My Book, Twist and Shout becomes Read and Shout, etc. You can download samples of my music at chrisrumble.com!

    In addition to the music, I incorporate art into the performance as I draw cartoons for the kids on a big sketch pad. I work with the event host who selects students with more-than-average challenges to receive the drawings, along with a big dose of encouragement, in a way that they will not soon forget. This is my favorite part of the program!

    Stink Trek
    I then spend some time reading to the students from my books while displaying the illustrations using an overhead projector. I typically field questions from the students and then wrap it up with a final song and the additional words of encouragement.

    Each performance is 45 minutes long and is heavy on audience participation.

    I will work with you to customize an event according to your specifications. I've done and will do just about anything, so don't be shy about asking! Let's explore the possibilities! We could have a BLAST —and inspire your students at the same time!

    DAYTIME AUTHOR VISIT OPTION

    • High Energy Reading Pep Rally: Your kids will be excited about reading!
    • Writing Workshop: The secrets to writing fiction made clear and easy to remember.
    • Introduction to Illustration: simple and fun cartooning techniques.
    • A Peek Into the Hidden World of Publishing: how an idea becomes a book.

    PARENTS' NIGHT OPTIONS

    • High Energy Reading Pep Rally: Your families will be excited about reading!
    • Talks That Will Make Your Parents' Night Sizzle:
      Dreams in the Hallways, Dreams in the Hearts: How lives are shaped with a whisper.
      The Power of Story in the Family: Foundation and Flight.
      Seven Great Reasons to Read to Your Child: It's way deeper than test scores!

    Moby Stink
    AUTHOR/ILLUSTRATOR-IN-RESIDENCE

    The Author/Illustrator Residency is an intensive exploration of writing, illustration and all aspects of publishing, all done in the intimate setting of the classroom where authentic relationships fuel the inspiration. During this valuable face-to-face, eyeball-to-eyeball, heart-to-heart time, Chris teaches children that, "The adventures of reading, writing and illustrating are much like going digging for the treasure. An amazing, wonderful thing happens when you unearth the treasure inside of you! In fact, YOU are the treasure!"

    The residency also includes the Pep Rally and Parents Night mentioned above. Pricing is based on the one-week residency. Ask about shorter residencies or discounted multiple-week residencies.

    WRITER'S CONFERENCES

    • Conference Kick-Off! Get your conference off to a hilarious start with fun music just for writers (Ode to Writer's Block, for example!) and audience participation.
    • School Visits for Writers Workshop: Learn the basics of getting your foot in the door at schools, making the most of your time while there and then building word-of-mouth buzz about your presentation.
    • Illustrating for Beginners Workshop: If I can do it, why not you?

    TEACHER IN-SERVICE

    • Creating a Culture of Encouragement: In the Classroom, in the School.
    • Writing Great Stories the "C.A.R.E.S." Way: An easy-to-remember formula for creating fun fiction.
    • Dreams in the Hallways, Dreams in the Hearts: How lives are shaped with a whisper.

    A WORD FROM CHRIS RUMBLE

    "I have your students on my heart! I am passionate about encouraging the next generation to rise up to be all they were created to be. I am convinced that opening up to them the worlds of reading, writing and the arts is vital to that growth process. When I have the honor and privilege of looking into the faces of your precious children and encouraging their hearts, I KNOW that I am doing that for which I have been created.

    "I'd love to visit your school! We could have a BLAST — and inspire your students at the same time!

    FEES

    Guitar Action
    The fee for an Author-Illustrator Visit is $795 (plus reasonable expenses) per day and includes up to four presentations. If the schedule requires more the four presentations, add $100 for each additional presentation. A multiple-school discount is offered when three or more days are spent in the same area.

    Evening Presentations and After-School In-services are available for an additional $295 when booked in conjunction with a day program. When booked separately, the fee for these programs is $395 (plus reasonable expenses). If either of these programs requires more than two presentations, add $100 for each additional presentation.

    The fee for the week-long Author/Illustrator-in-Residence is $2995 (plus reasonable expenses). The Residency can take on many forms and may even be shared among multiple schools in the same district. Ask about details!

    International School Visits: $1000 per day plus expenses for up to four student presentations, one Teacher In-service, and one Family Evening Presentation.

    SET-UP AND EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS

    1. An overhead projector (with a screen or a blank focal wall works fine).
    2. If there will be more than 100 people in the audience, a sound system.
    3. A wireless lapel microphone.
    4. Two standard microphones with microphone stands for each. (If you do not have a wireless system, please provide three standard microphones with stands for each.)
    5. A slightly elevated stool to sit on during the program.
    6. A table for books.

    AUTOGRAPHING

    To make book sales as easy as possible for everyone involved, Chris handles book sales in the following manner:

    • Pre-orders
      Chris provides order forms to the schools. The forms should be sent home with the students 2-3 weeks prior to the visit and then again the day before. It is recommended that the schools group order slips by grade and teacher. All books will be autographed and personalized in an artistic way before the event and the child's name will be added to the book the day of. The books will be grouped by grade levels and by teacher and delivered to the child on the day of the visit.

    • Day of visit or post-visit orders
      Chris always brings plenty of extra books to offer to those ready to purchase. Also, once students (and teacher!) experience the assemblies, they realize they forgot to order books! Some are not prepared to purchase that day, so schools may have a post-visit book sale for one week after the visit. All order slips with payment are sent together and Chris will fill the orders and send the books back to school and charge nothing for shipping.

    LEARN MORE ABOUT CHRIS RUMBLE

    CONTACT INFORMATION

    Chris Rumble
    11 Cherokee Camp Trail #20451
    Jasper, Georgia 30143
    Phone: 706-692-2199
    Alternate Phone: 770-617-8381
    Fax: 706-692-2199
    E-mail: mail@chrisrumble.com
    Web Site:www.chrisrumble.com

     


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