Question 1

Quick Visit

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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!

Question 2

How Do They Stay Warm – or Cool? Amazing Animal Adaptions

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 3

5 Books Under 1 Umbrella

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 4

The Writing Process with Author Carrie Pearson

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 5

Climb the Tallest Tree on Earth

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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

Carrie’s latest book, 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

Question 6

What Do Scientists and Writers Have in Common? Observe, Wonder, and Question

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 7

Author Q & A

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 8

Meet An Author

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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. An optional Readers’ Theater experience of A WARM WINTER TAIL gives students a chance to shine as one of her books is read aloud by students and viewed on the big screen. Students leave the assembly understanding and being WOWed by how several amazing animals adapt to heat and cold and how the tallest tree in the world survived despite many challenges.

Question 9

The Story Behind The Story

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 10

Rockin’ Writing

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 11

Let’s Be Funny!

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

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.

Question 12

The New Nonfiction

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

upper elementary to early high school
50 minutes to 2 hours
virtual or in-person

The genre is blossoming, and in some cases, is hard to define. Using mentor texts to illustrate the concepts, this workshop clarifies the five types of nonfiction and how the line between fiction and nonfiction can seem blurry sometimes. The presentation compliments and extends students’ understanding of what it means to read and write nonfiction and is particularly helpful before digging into longer research projects. We look at research methods, best practices, and organization of information, how to find and develop ideas, and the top ten reasons why writing and reading nonfiction is an exciting gateway to learning. Includes visuals, group discussion, individual work time, and Q & A.

Question 13

NEW PRESENTATION: An Interactive Picture Book Manuscript Writing Workshop for Librarians

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

Are you a librarian who has always wanted to write and traditionally publish a picture book? Have any of these internal messages created a roadblock?

“It’s too daunting” “I don’t have time” “I’m a librarian, not a writer”
“I don’t know how to [insert appropriate phrase] come up with a good idea, format a manuscript, get good feedback, pick a publisher”
“I have a draft but it sits on my computer/in my drawer because I don’t know what to do next”

In this workshop, Carrie will take you through the process of creating a first draft of a picture book including: idea generation (with an eye toward market sensibilities), parts of a picture book and why understanding picture book format is important for the writing process, page turns and PB forms, creating a book dummy for non-artists, loglines and how they can keep you on track throughout the writing process. Along the way, we’ll take time to apply what we discuss so attendees will leave the breakout having made solid steps forward toward an outline, first draft, or better draft.

Question 14

Finding Your Agent Match

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

Finding the right agent has often been compared to finding a spouse–hopefully, they will be your lifelong business partner, a creative collaborator, your negotiations champion, and eventually the go-between for difficult conversations with your publisher. But finding an agent can be overwhelming. Where do you start? Join Carrie Pearson for a presentation focused on preparing for and finding the right agent fit for you and your work. It’s not enough to find an agent; the important work is to find your agent match. Carrie’s experience spans 15 years in the children’s book industry. She’ll share why she’s had three agents (third one’s the charm!) and help you think differently about how to find your agent match.

Question 15

Children’s Book Publishing Industry 101: Tips, Terms, and Twists

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

A one-hour, fast paced, nuts and bolts session for children’s literature writers and writer/illustrators who want to be published — and sooner rather than later. Like every industry, children’s book publishing has conventions. If we follow them, we are one step closer to being part of the in-crowd. Participants will learn necessary standards for traditional publishing (formatting, important terms, word counts for categories, what’s pushy, what’s polite), how the industry works (role of agent vs. editor, types of publishing houses, large house vs. small vs. regional), and how creators get paid (advance, royalties). Lecture format with visuals, a take-away, and Q & A.

Question 16

Fiction, Nonfiction, and Shades of Grey in Between for Writers

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

This is a session for writers wanting to break into today’s exciting and growing nonfiction market. The rise in innovative and engaging nonfiction has opened a world of possibilities but also confusion. For instance, how do we label manuscripts that blend true information with fictional characters or settings or invented dialogue? Participants will walk away with a clear definition of different types of nonfiction and identify what type they might like to write or what they’ve drafted already.  Lecture format with visuals, a take-away, and Q & A.

Question 17

Putting It Out There

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

Two-hour intensive. Don’t give an editor a reason to reject a manuscript just because you didn’t play by the rules. Get an insider look at industry expectations so you are viewed as a professional. We’ll cover a traditional children’s book publishing industry primer (formatting, word count expectations, conventions, important terms), how to know when your manuscript is ready to submit, how to package it (query versus cover letters), how to research agents, editors and publishing houses, how to track submissions, when (and how) to nudge, how to deal with inevitable rejections, and how mini-successes lead to bigger accomplishments. Lecture format with visuals, take-aways, some group discussion, and Q & A.

Question 18

Fiction, Nonfiction, and Shades of Grey in Between for Educators

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

The rise in innovative and engaging nonfiction (informational books) has opened a world of reading possibilities but also confusion. How do we label books that blend elements of fiction and nonfiction? How can we determine what is a verifiable fact versus a narrative thread? Why is this even important? In a world where half-truths can be mistaken for full-blown facts, it’s important for students to learn how to tell the difference between a verifiable detail and that which has been invented. This session will provide ways for teachers and students to analyze content that is fiction, nonfiction, or a relatively new category called informational fiction. Includes sneak peeks at new nonfiction titles, too.

Question 19

Bring on the Funny

websydaisy · Accepted Answer

Humor has been proven to positively impact learning environments and learning outcomes. So how do we bring funny into the classroom? Use a Humor Style Test to identify what kind of humor you use, and then learn how can you build on your own style (or possibly modify it if it isn’t working) to create a positive, enhanced classroom. Includes a review of children’s literature that uses different elements of humor effectively, age-appropriate humor, and lesson ideas for adding humor to student generated writing. One hour lecture format with visuals, a take-away, and Q & A.

Speaking

SCHOOL AND LIBRARY VISITS

Programs: