School Visits

I love to meet young readers.

For the 2023-2024 school year, I am available for a limited number of in-person (local only: Central/Western New York) or virtual author events. You can find a sampling of programming options below. I can also tailor a program to specifically suit your curriculum needs. If you are interested in having me work with your students, please contact me.

Fifteen minute Q & A (Virtual)

Best for: All ages.
Question and answer session for students and teachers/caregivers using any of my books in the classroom. To make the best use of our time together, students must have read the book(s) beforehand.

The Science Behind the Story (Virtual or In-Person)

Presentation length: 30-45 minutes, depending on age group.
Best for: Grades 2-6 (adaptable).

How Do We Know What Animals Are Saying to Each Other, Anyway?
Drawing from the scientific research behind the book Predator and Prey: A Conversation in Verse and my own experience as an animal behavior scientist, we will explore how scientists have used careful observation and experiments to help them understand the language of animals.  

How Do We Know What We Know About Sea Otters and Kelp Forests, Anyway?

Healthy ecosystems are all about balance. In this interactive program, we will explore how the balance between predators and prey is maintained in ecosystems, and how scientists began to understand the importance of sea otters to the kelp forest ecosystem in the northern Pacific Ocean. 

Pollination as a Partnership

In this interactive program, we will think like scientists as we explore the beautiful diversity of the pollination partnerships between plants and animals.

Storytelling in Nonfiction (Virtual or In-Person)

Presentation length: 30-45 minutes, depending on age group.
Best for: Grades 3-6 (adaptable). Classroom-sized groups.

You’ve done your research and gathered your facts. Now what? In this interactive workshop, we’ll play with words to explore all the different ways we can use our facts to tell a story. It’s time for some fun!

The Poetry of Science (Virtual or In-Person)

Presentation length: 30-45 minutes, depending on age group.
Best for: Grades 3-6 (adaptable). Classroom-sized groups.

Science and poetry both rely on careful observation. In this interactive poetry-writing workshop, we’ll use our senses to observe a subject and play some poetry word games to help us describe what we see.

*I do offer discounts for high needs (Title 1) school districts. Please reach out to discuss.