In conjunction with my children's books, I am available for school visists. Below are two of the programs I have done in various schools. Contact me for more information. Or download one of my flyers. Visits are $500 plus any travel expenses, for up to 4 sessions.

Can You Get the Cat Off Your Head?

In the spirit of the book, I present some probability challenges.  The children find out whether, if they were Ethan, they would be able to get the cat off their own head.  Using props taken from the book (such as bags of marbles and a large box of Oatie-Woofs, a fictional dog-shaped cereal) the puzzles that are presented briefly in the book are explained in detail, and a few new ones are introduced, creating a deeper understanding of probability (and magical cats)

How Did It Get to be a Book?

The children are read (before I arrive) a few sections of one of the books, without being shown any illustrations, and they are asked to envision what the illustrations would look like.  They are asked to pick a section they like and illustrate it.
 
When I come, I read them a section from my original, typewritten manuscript of either that same book or another.  I explain that when I wrote the book, this is what I sent to the editor.  I then walk them through the proces of making those pages into the final book, from editing (I show a copy with editor's comments), to initial pencil illustrations (also shown), to inked and/or colored illustrations, to a galley of it all put together, to finally a published version.  I ask them questions about how what they envisioned was or was not like what they saw in the end.
 
One of the most exciting things about this program is it makes the process of creating books seem not just interesting, but possible.  It inspires the children in their own writing and illustrating.