Speaking

• up to 30 minutes depending on grade level
• optional Q & A
• $100 flat fee
• virtual

Can be designed to highlight a special theme, like March is Reading Month or Summer Reading Kickoffs
Pick one of my authored books, add at least one to your library, and I’ll join your class virtually to read the book aloud, offer behind the scenes insights, and engage readers, writers, and artists!

• 30-50 minutes depending upon grade level
• book reading: A Warm Winter Tail or A Cool Summer Tail
• virtual or in-person

This session can be adapted (see what I did there?) for K-5 and meets several science and NGSStandards on structures, weather/seasons, characteristics passed from adult to young, survival, traits, environmental interactions, habitats, and more. Carrie provides an engaging combination of nature images, science facts, and empathy-building content while she reads A WARM WINTER TAIL, Carrie’s award-winning informational fiction picture book about animal adaptation to cold or A COOL SUMMER TAIL about animal adaptation to heat, both with layers of several ELA and CCSStandards.

• adaptable for grades 1-5
• 30 minutes per book, can be set up over a series of days
• virtual

Readalikes give practicing writers a clear picture of how different authors and illustrators have chosen to approach the same idea. For this session, educators select in advance a theme, genre, or linking topic and determine if they want the readalikes to be fiction, nonfiction/informational, or both. Carrie selects the books, reads each book aloud either in one session or across a time to be determined. Carrie leads a per book discussion about craft moves and text features from a working author perspective weaving in personal anecdotes and thought processes. Then, upon completion of the five books, summarizes and compares/contrasts across them all. Students recognize how one idea can be approached differently and successfully by each individual writer, including themselves.

• adaptable for grades 1-5,
• 30-50 minutes with workshop component
• virtual or in-person

Need some fresh ideas for writing workshop? Support for writing process instruction (I’m looking at you, editing)? Need a new mentor text for nonfiction or informational writing and book study? This session combines writing process with an award-winning informational book. Here’s a peek at an abbreviated version.

• adaptable for grades K-6
• 30-50 minutes plus Q & A
• virtual or in-person

The award-winning book authored by Carrie, STRETCH TO THE SUN: FROM A TINY SPROUT TO THE TALLEST TREE ON EARTH, is a beautifully illustrated narrative nonfiction picture book about the tallest tree on Earth. Through an interactive presentation, students will “climb” this tree and learn about a newly explored ecosystem — described as “a coral reef in the sky” — that is home to a critically endangered bird species and thousands of livings things great and small.

As we climb, we’ll compare/contrast the growth of this tree to other tall structures and humans and overlay social history milestones that took place as this ancient giant stretched toward the sun. The assembly includes a book reading (or book review for younger grades) and discussion, Q & A, and a downloadable measuring activity and a Discussion and Activity Guide for parents and teachers.

“Super interesting and informative presentation! Love the pictures of the trees and tree researchers, and I love the way Carrie helps kids understand the majesty of this tree. What a beautiful book!” —Mavonwe Banerdt, Library Coordinator, Jackson STEM Dual Language Magnet Academy, Altadena, CA

• adaptable for K-6
• 20 – 50 minutes
• virtual or in-person

As an author, Carrie’s process for writing a new book is like a scientist’s process in discovery. Using her books as examples, Carrie will show how her observation, wonder (inquiry), and questioning were the underpinnings of her stories. Concurrently, students will use an item from their environment to observe, wonder about, and develop questions to guide their investigation and their writing. Resources needed: paper, writing utensil, and an item to be found at home or school.

• adaptable for K-adult
• 15 – 60 minutes
• virtual or in-person

Over the years, Carrie has fielded questions from “do you eat frogs?” to “if you care about trees, why do you use paper to make your books?” and everything in between. Consider formulating questions as a class that relate to topics your students are engaged in. Develop questions that arise as you read Carrie’s books as a class. This is your chance to pose burning questions and receive thoughtful, curriculum-adjacent answers from a working author.

• adaptable for grades K-6
• 30 – 50 minutes
• virtual or in-person

Using PowerPoint visuals and audience interaction, Carrie shares her story of becoming a traditionally published author, incorporating life lessons about persistence and striving for excellence. Students leave the assembly understanding and being WOWed by how a working writer finds new ideas and polishes them to engage readers.

• adaptable for grades 6-12
• 30-50 minutes
• virtual or in-person

Carrie infuses the topic of how she wrote her children’s books with personal strategies for student writers. They will leave the presentation with a better understanding of how to: imagine story ideas, use ten specific revision techniques for works in progress, approach shorter and longer rewrites, and use best practices for critiquing others’ work. Includes a brief overview of the publishing industry and strategies for turning negative feedback into a better story. Visuals plus group discussion, individual creative time, and Q & A.

• grades 2-4 if virtual, K-4 if in person
• 30 -50 minutes

Using their five senses and their creativity, students make a rock come alive through story! The workshop includes visuals, a rock gift for each participant if held in person. If virtual, students are instructed to find a rock prior to the workshop. Includes an individual writing activity, and a chance for everyone to read their inherently funny (it’s about a rock, for goodness sake!) stories aloud for instant positive feedback. The workshop also supports topics addressed in the standards, particularly: word choice, figurative language, text structure, point of view, close reading, central themes, and idea generation.

• grades 4-12
• 30-50 minutes
• virtual or in-person

Human behavior experts agree that humor engages the brain and enhances memory. So how can writers use the power of humor to captivate readers? Carrie leads an interactive and lively discussion about elements of humor in literature, and reviews mentor texts with students to determine what works/what flops. Students learn how personal taste and human development impacts our perception of funny and how to add age-appropriate humor to engage readers.