Let's Visit
Programs
I’m thrilled to offer a range of interactive programs and events to engage kids, families, educators, and organizations. Whether it’s a classroom visit, a school-wide event, or a community book fair, I’d love to share the magic of The Zoo Crew Adventures with your audience.
Bring The Zoo Crew to Life!
I’m thrilled to offer a range of interactive programs and events to engage kids, families, educators, and organizations. Whether it’s a classroom visit, a school-wide event, or a community book fair, I’d love to share the magic of The Zoo Crew Adventures with your audience.
Author Reading & Q&A
- A lively reading of Play Day: Emily’s Sticky Situation
- Followed by a Q&A session where students, parents, or educators can ask questions about:
- The story and its characters.
- What it’s like to be an author.
- How the book came to life.
- Length: 30-45 minutes
- Audience: Classrooms (K-5), school assemblies, homeschool groups, zoo kids programs, adult groups.
Classroom or Small Group Activities
I offer engaging activities designed to align with curriculum standards while sparking creativity and critical thinking. These activities can be tailored to different age groups to ensure they fit the developmental and educational needs of your students.
For Grades K-2
- Interactive Read-Aloud: Students actively participate in the story, guessing what happens next and connecting with the characters.
- Animal Adventures: Learn fun facts about the real animals that inspired The Zoo Crew.
- Craft Activities:
- Make-your-own Zoo Crew masks or character puppets.
- Create a “sticky situation” mini-poster with drawings and ideas for solving it.
- Inclusion and Problem-Solving Discussion: Simple, guided conversations about what it means to work together, make friends, and solve challenges.
For Grades 3-5
- Creative Writing Workshop:
- Write your own Zoo Crew adventure or create a new character to join the team.
- Focus on narrative structure, character development, and teamwork themes.
- Zoo Animal Research Project: Students can research one of the animals featured in the story and present fun facts to the class.
- Discussion on Inclusion and Problem-Solving: Explore themes of inclusion, teamwork, and finding creative solutions to challenges.
- Example questions:
- What can we learn from the way Emily and her friends solve problems?
- How can we make sure everyone feels included in a group?
- Example questions:
Curriculum Alignment
All activities can be aligned to curriculum standards in areas such as:
- Literacy: Reading comprehension, storytelling, and creative writing.
- Social-Emotional Learning (SEL): Inclusion, teamwork, and problem-solving.
- STEM: Simple design projects or animal-based research activities.
Why These Activities?
These programs encourage creativity, empathy, and collaboration while fostering skills in literacy, critical thinking, and communication. By connecting the story’s themes to real-world concepts, students engage in meaningful learning that extends beyond the book.
School Events - Book Fairs -Community Events
- Author Presentation: A dynamic reading followed by a behind-the-scenes look at how books are created—from idea to illustration to publishing.
- Meet-the-Author Booth: A chance for students and parents to get books signed, take photos, and chat about the story.
- Themed Activity Stations:
- Zoo Crew scavenger hunt or puzzle games.
- “Build Your Own Sticky Situation” problem-solving activity.
Book Events for Libraries, Book Stores, or Community Groups
- Author reading and discussion tailored for kids, families, or adults.
- Writing workshops for aspiring authors or storytellers.
- Storytime and crafts (great for family-friendly events).
- Photo ops with props or illustrations from The Zoo Crew.
Some possibilities for you!
- Live Reading with Props: I can bring visual props, stuffed animals, or even a slideshow of the book’s illustrations to make the story come alive.
- Interactive Storytelling: Engage kids by letting them decide what happens next in a short Zoo Crew adventure.
- Creative Writing Workshops: Teach children or adults how to write stories or create their own characters.
- Animal Education Sessions: Share fun facts about the animals in the book and their real-world counterparts.
- Book Signing and Photos: Offer personalized book signings and fun photo opportunities with Zoo Crew-themed backdrops or props.
- Illustration Showcase: Highlight the process of working with an illustrator, showing sketches and the final artwork.
- Parent & Educator Q&A: For adult groups, I can share tips on encouraging children to read, write, and explore their creativity.
- Seasonal or Holiday Events: Offer special activities tied to themes like zoo animals in winter or back-to-school adventures.
How to Book Me
If you’re interested in scheduling a visit or event, I’d love to chat about how we can tailor the program to your needs.
Available for: In-person events or virtual visits anywhere!
Available for: In-person events or virtual visits anywhere!