Workshops and Author Events
Want to set up an author visit for your school, library, or bookstore? It's easy!
Contact Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree for details, pricing, and further information.
Contact Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree for details, pricing, and further information.
A World of Words:
How to write engaging true stories
In this workshop, students will learn how to write a biography about their favorite hero or celebrity. From researching and interviews to the printed page, this hands-on workshop will focus on finding facts and learning the best way to present them, from narrative nonfiction to expository to informational fiction, and more. Key terms: tense, point of view, plot, and pacing. What questions need to be answered? What is the thread that must be pulled through the story? Let's find out together!
Two 45 minute workshops offered: one for 4th-5th graders and one for 6th-8th graders. Links and handouts available for teachers to continue working with students after the session ends.
Two 45 minute workshops offered: one for 4th-5th graders and one for 6th-8th graders. Links and handouts available for teachers to continue working with students after the session ends.
A Universe of Ideas:
How to write amazing novel length stories
Teaching students to write poetry, picture books, or even novel length works can be difficult. No worries! In this 45 minute workshop, students will learn the basics of crafting engaging stories with expert plotting, tension, and vivid vocabulary. And have fun at the same time! Level I is for 4th-5th grade and Level II is for 6th-8th grade.
Optional half day sessions available for in depth creative writing opportunities.
Optional half day sessions available for in depth creative writing opportunities.
Bartali’s Bicycle - The Making of a Hero
This 45 minute presentation for 4th grade and up features my research journey to Italy and the story behind the heroism of 1938 Tour de France winner Gino Bartali, who saved more than 800 Jewish men, women, and children and 50 captive soldiers from certain death at the hands of the Nazi regime during World War II. A readaloud and slide presentation followed by Q&A and a discussion about citizenship, human rights, heroism, courage, and how to find the strength to do the right thing even when everyone else is not.
Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. He became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and that changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested. To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino’s greatest achievement was something he never told a soul—that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.
Optional STEM features: Math (speed, time, distance); geography, climate, and terrain of Italy (seasons he had to cycle long distances included winter storms and summer heat across mountains).
Heroes from History:
Meet Gino Bartali, Isaac Stern, and Dr. Katalin Karikó
In today's highly charged political climate, it's more important than ever to teach our children how to be kind, generous, selfless, and brave. This session focuses on identifying what makes a person a hero and the many ways in which we can help people every day, just by being available and willing to take action. We will read one of the books aloud (teacher's choice) and follow it up with an interactive discussion about heroes and a short writing exercise. Students will experience the heroism of three very different people and learn about their decision to take action and change the world. This session features Bartali’s Bicycle, The Greatest Song of All, and Kati’s Tiny Messengers.
A Musical Masterpiece
FeaturingThe Greatest Song of All
This session follows the incredible history and legacy of music performance in NYC through the gorgeous and elegant Carnegie Hall. Discover the often money-based mechanisms of city planning and preservation and root for the building along with dancers, musicians, and children across the city. Students will also learn about the masterful violinist and humanitarian, Isaac Stern.
Following a readaloud of The Greatest Song of All, students will look at different aspects of a building's architecture, learn about what makes a neighborhood or city special, and figure out how to make sure it stays that way. Presentation followed by Q&A. Handouts on STEAM topics available for download.
Following a readaloud of The Greatest Song of All, students will look at different aspects of a building's architecture, learn about what makes a neighborhood or city special, and figure out how to make sure it stays that way. Presentation followed by Q&A. Handouts on STEAM topics available for download.
Happy New Year! A Celebration of Jewish Life and Culture
Featuring Tzimmes for Tzipporah, a farm to table story about a young Jewish girl sharing for the first time in both the hard work and the joy of the Jewish New Year holiday of Rosh Hashanah, this session is primarily for Jewish day schools and any others interested in fostering under-standing and battling antisemitism. Students will learn about fresh healthy food, Jewish life, friendship, and family.
Readaloud followed by a slide presentation and Q&A. Ages 3-5.
Readaloud followed by a slide presentation and Q&A. Ages 3-5.
Meet Nobel Prize Winner Dr. Katalin Karikó
When she was young, Katalin Karikó decided she would study science—even though she had never even met a scientist! But she was determined to learn as much as she could about the human body, and once she made a decision, she stuck with it. Katalin had to learn English while attending university, but she worked hard until she became a doctor.After facing many challenges, including lack of research funding and harsh immigration policies, Kati and her family uprooted from Hungary and moved to America, where she became a top researcher. She knew that, with work, she could teach one of the building blocks of life, messenger RNA, to fight off harmful viruses. There was just one problem—no one else believed her. Then, the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and Kati and her work were thrust into the spotlight. But with her unshakable will, she was ready to face the challenge.
Students will learn a bit about the science surrounding vaccines and topics may include: perseverance, hard work, and determination.
Students will learn a bit about the science surrounding vaccines and topics may include: perseverance, hard work, and determination.
New York! New York! Learn about the history of NYC from Carnegie Hall to Grand Central Terminal
There was once a place in New York City that had a tennis club, movie theater, and art gallery—all in the same building! It also had a secret passageway, a huge library, and even a ski slope! This astounding building is Grand Central Terminal, and it was the work of one brilliant man, William J. Wilgus, who wanted to create a new electric-powered train system and knew he needed to house this special fleet somewhere exceptional. His grand idea of a solution? An underground multilevel train station that would become an iconic New York landmark, and one that is still an integral part of the city over a century later.
Students will learn about architecture, city planning, the development of electric trains, and the Gilded Age through the modern era as we celebrate all things NYC!
Students will learn about architecture, city planning, the development of electric trains, and the Gilded Age through the modern era as we celebrate all things NYC!
A few final details...
Prices will vary based on travel, distance, and number of visits per location.
Book sales will be handled by local independent bookstores in partnership with schools. I can provide a flyer to send home with students to facilitate outside book sales, but discounts may be available in partnership with schools if purchased as a block directly from your local bookseller.
If you would like to set up a virtual event but still want to offer your students personalized autographed copies of my books, they may be ordered in advance through my local bookstore, Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina. Please place your orders at least a month in advance of the event so that I will have time to go to the store and sign them before they are shipped to you.
To set up an author visit, please contact Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree.
Book sales will be handled by local independent bookstores in partnership with schools. I can provide a flyer to send home with students to facilitate outside book sales, but discounts may be available in partnership with schools if purchased as a block directly from your local bookseller.
If you would like to set up a virtual event but still want to offer your students personalized autographed copies of my books, they may be ordered in advance through my local bookstore, Park Road Books in Charlotte, North Carolina. Please place your orders at least a month in advance of the event so that I will have time to go to the store and sign them before they are shipped to you.
To set up an author visit, please contact Louise Campbell at The Booking Tree.