Programs

Learn to how to draw using basic shapes.

Want to know how to draw a dog? Or, an elephant? Follow along with an award-winning illustrator and learn how to use shapes to draw just about anything!

Joe Cepeda

30 Minute Program

$129

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Drawing party!

Let's draw! Award winning author and Illustrator Ryan Estrada has drawn Garfield, Popeye, Star Trek, Flash Gordon, and now he's going to draw with you! Grab some paper and pens! We'll play some illustration games and have a lot of fun!

Ryan Estrada

30 Minute Program

$99

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Cure your stage fright in 45 minutes!

Do you ever wish you were better at talking in front of people? Whether you're about to give a speech in front of a big audience, read a book in front of a class, introduce yourself in a job interview, or just say hello to some new friends, stage fright can make life much harder! Luckily, I have the cure!

Ryan Estrada

45 Minute Program

$129

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Flying Paintings, Chinese History + Brush Painting and Calligraphy

Flying Paintings tells the story of two Chinese brothers who grew up during the Cultural Revolution in China. Through this program we will look inside the book, learn about Chinese history, and practice Chinese brush painting - all through engaging, multimedia presentations.

Amy Alznauer

45 Minute Program

$129

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The Strange Birds of Flannery O'Connor Author Visit + Mini-Book Making

The Strange Birds of Flannery O'Connor tells the story of the odd, bird-loving author from Georgia. In this program, I will take you inside the book and inside the O'Connor archives, so you will get a rare glimpse at Flannery's childhood work. And finally, I will demonstrate several methods for making little books yourself, just as she did, and…

Amy Alznauer

45 Minute Program

$129

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Grades 1-3: Create Your Own Book!

Have you ever wanted to produce your own book? You can! This program is especially for first- through third-graders who dream of becoming authors and illustrators--and holding their own books in their hands.

Jamie Kiffel-Alcheh

45 Minute Program

$129

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Meet the Author, Hear the Story, Draw the BUNNY!

Meet author-illustrator, Shanda McCloskey! First, she'll read Doll-E 1.0, then teach you (step-by-step) how to draw the BUNNY (and a ROSE) from the story! Shanda also loves conversation and questions.

Shanda McCloskey

30 Minute Program

$150

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101 Ways to Bug Your Characters – Creatively!

The hardest part about writing is thinking of something to write, right? Wrong! You might brainstorm batches of ideas, only to get stuck in the miserable middles – or even on that dreaded first line. So how do authors do it? How do they turn great ideas into great stories? By ‘bugging’ their characters, of course! Join Lee for a fun and funny…

Lee Wardlaw

45 Minute Program

$395

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8 Things I Learned from My Cats about Writing Haiku – A Writing Workshop

Haiku is not just the world’s shortest poetry...or a unique part of Japanese culture...or even a school lesson about syllables. Haiku is also cat-like (compact, elegant, speaking volumes in a few choice ‘meows’)...and learning to write it will help you spy, pounce, and capture the ordinary moments of your day and turn them into something…

Lee Wardlaw

45 Minute Program

$395

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Draw with Me!

Spend time drawing with a professional illustrator! Get tips and tricks on drawing animals, people or whatever you like. Grab your favorite art supplies and let's have fun creating together.

Stephanie Roth Sisson

45 Minute Program

$140

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Storytime and Drawing Demo!

You can choose one of my books to read, and then I’ll draw the character of your choice. A laughing truck perhaps? A smelly sock? A lost mitten? An Extremely Cute Animal operating some heavy machinery? Anything you want!

David Gordon

45 Minute Program

$129

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Picturing the Wind

Wind is invisible--but can you make it blow across the page so that other people see and feel it? Let's make some collage art together and I'll show you how!

Ruth Goring

45 Minute Program

$150

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Dance the FREEDOM dance and learn about the cultural traditions of a Passover Seder

Kids will learn about the cultural traditions of Passover as Mr. Snoozle gets invited to his first Seder. Kids will move and dance to the Let My People Go song ,

Susan Chodakiewitz

45 Minute Program

$180

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A sensory exploration into the magical world of tea.

Explore the smells, sounds, colors and textures of the magical tea forest in the story Master Davey and the Magic Tea House.

Susan Chodakiewitz

30 Minute Program

$99

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Learn the Friendship Dance and GET MOVING!

Meet author Susan Chodakiewitz and Learn The Friendship Dance from the Picture Book Wobegon and Mildred. Kids will learn about the process of writing a picture book, discuss the important social emotional lessons from the book and learn the dance steps to the My Best Friend Dance, from the musical version of the book Wobegon and Mildred.

Susan Chodakiewitz

45 Minute Program

$180

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WORDS can dance!

Kids will Dance and Move to the different words featured as characters in the Alphabet Thief. Author Susan Chodakiewitz will read the story and discuss each word and what makes its special. What do the words inspire in us? Each child will create their own choreography for a word while learning their meaning.

Susan Chodakiewitz

30 Minute Program

$99

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Ask the Author & Storytime - A CONVERSATION

Kevin answers questions you have about writing, publishing, and bringing books to life!

Kevin Fleming

30 Minute Program

$99

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Write a SONG Together!

Compose a song together on a topic of your choice!

Kevin Fleming

45 Minute Program

$150

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Sing, Dance and Move to the Musical Picture Book Too Many Visitors for One Little House

Too Many Visitors for One Little House picture book explores the importance of feeling through Songs, Dance and Theater. In this presentation kids will read the story together, understand the themes of the power of inclusion and learn a song from the Picture Book Musical, Too Many Visitors for One Little House

Susan Chodakiewitz

30 Minute Program

$99

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STEAM BUILDING: Using Recycled Materials to Design and Invent

Can we use the junk we see everyday to create amazing things? Using STEAM thinking, engineering, and problem solving we'll create an interactive hands-on Arts project together made entirely from recycled materials you already have around your home. Learn to be a maker! Reference Book: Junk Re-Thunk

Brian Yanish

45 Minute Program

$275

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Dynamic Characters for Comics

Learn to create dynamic characters for comics! What makes a character stand out? We'll explore the details that bring a character to life, talk through different techniques we can use in comics and visual storytelling and try our hand at creating a mini comic using our invented character.

Brian Yanish

45 Minute Program

$275

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Once Upon a Time, YOU Wrote a BOOK!

Doing something BIG like writing a book can be daunting, but it’s totally doable when you break it up into fun little pieces. We’ll collect story elements and then talk about how to bring them all together to make a page-turning, shelf-worthy book!

Sarah Giles

45 Minute Program

$200

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Adventure Calls!

Join me for a reading of A Spectacular Birdie, Q & A, an action-packed exploration of story circles, and a bookmaking project.

Sarah Warren

45 Minute Program

$200

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Everyday Heroes Series-Beyoncé!

Join me for a reading, Q & A, and an art project. Can you shine your light like Beyoncé? Let’s find out!

Sarah Warren

30 Minute Program

$150

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Creative adventure with a plain piece of paper

We’ll get creative with papers: Crumple, fold, cut, tear, paint and glue. Our imagination will lead us on this fun journey all the way to a surprising artwork

Miri Leshem-Pelly

30 Minute Program

$99

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Perform Your Poem!

Whether you already love writing and reciting poetry or just want to try it out, this workshop will make it easy and fun. We'll practice both composing and performing an evocative poem. Participants should have a notebook and writing utensil. Family members are welcome to participate together.

Joy Jones

45 Minute Program

$299

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Play Well, Write Well!

My book, JAYLA JUMPS IN, came as the result of me playing a childhood game! With PLAY WELL, we talk about the story behind some toys, sports and games. Bring paper and pen.

Joy Jones

45 Minute Program

$299

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Pro tips for Drawing and/or writing

This one can be catered to the specific needs or wants of the audience - but, basically, Kevin will try to give more of a master class in how he writes and draws and what YOU can steal from him to make your own art better.

Kevin Sylvester

45 Minute Program

$350

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Mistakes and Success - plus some laughs and cartoons

Kevin shares stories from his middle grade books, including MINRs, the Neil Flambé Capers, The Hockey Super-Six and more. AND he shares some tips to help kids find their own style for drawing cartoons.

Kevin Sylvester

45 Minute Program

$250

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Laughs and surprises (and cartoons!) for little readers

Kevin reads two of his interactive pictures books - Gargantua Jr: Defender of Earth and Super-Duper Monster Viewer - then leads the kids in a simple cartooning 'class'.

Kevin Sylvester

30 Minute Program

$125

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Wild Card Q&A!

Ask Sofiya whatever burning questions you can come up with!

Sofiya Pasternack

30 Minute Program

$99

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The Complete Beginner's Guide to Magic

What's the most fun part of writing a fantasy book? Why, the magic, of course! Come learn about the different types of magic in your favorite fantasy stories, and all the things you need to think about when you're getting ready to make your own!

Sofiya Pasternack

45 Minute Program

$129

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How to Plot a Story (Without Totally Losing It!)

Do you want to write a story, but then you look at the GIGANTIC task of plotting out that whole thing, and you say, "Never mind!" Well, fear no more! Learn how plotting can be fun!

Sofiya Pasternack

45 Minute Program

$129

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Turning History Into Fantasy

Have you ever heard that there are two sides to every story? Well, that's not true. There are, in fact, THREE sides to every story! Learn about the three sides of history, and how to use this triangle of facts and fancy to write stellar historical fiction and fantasy!

Sofiya Pasternack

30 Minute Program

$99

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Find Your Voice!

For serious authors working on the intangible and sought-after voice! What is voice, and how do we develop one? (Hint: lots of practice!)

Sofiya Pasternack

45 Minute Program

$129

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All Writing Is Good Writing!

What ways can writing fiction help you with writing for school, for work, and beyond? Um IN EVERY WAY! Learn about how your brain can't tell the difference between dragons and dissertations!

Sofiya Pasternack

45 Minute Program

$129

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Let's Make Stories So Much Neater! Write a Book in Rhyme and Meter!

A session about not just rhyming, but structuring the words so that they flow in rhythm!

Adam Ford

45 Minute Program

$135

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I Can’t Draw! Can You?

Let’s draw simple smiley-faces!

Adam Ford

45 Minute Program

$135

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Springtime Dance - Books with Music!

An engaging musical introduction to Books with Music, ventriloquism, puppetry, and songwriting.

Valerie Smalkin

30 Minute Program

$250

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Let's create and design characters!

I’ll guide you step-by-step on how to draw and design your own characters. It’s easy and fun, everyone can succeed!

Miri Leshem-Pelly

45 Minute Program

$149

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Struttin' With Some Barbecue: Make a rhythmic poem with the author

With the author, students will write a poem using a familiar rhythmic poem as a model. We'll explore rhythm, rhyme, alliteration, repetition, and more; after hearing a brief lively reading of an early jazz poem. The students will go away with a fun assignment to listen to their favorite music, absorb the rhythm, and write along those lines.

Patricia Hruby Powell

45 Minute Program

$150

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Struttin' With Some Barbecue: Write a rhythmic poem

Patricia will do a lively reading of a syncopated rhythmic poem, describe how she wrote it--with Power Point visuals--then with the group write an original rhythmic poem (with an anapest or triple rhythm)--using rhythm, rhyme, repetition, alliteration. She'll encourage the students to (later) listen to their favorite music and write a poem in the…

Patricia Hruby Powell

30 Minute Program

$129

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Cut and Glue! Storytime with Paper Collage Workshop

We’ll use several types of paper, cut and glue them to design our collage. Simple, fun art activity with impressive results! Includes reading of the picture book Penny and the Plain Piece of Paper. You'll need different types of paper, scissors, glue and a bit of imagination!

Miri Leshem-Pelly

45 Minute Program

$129

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Time to get creative! Storytime with drawing workshop

Storytime: Penny and the Plain Piece of Paper followed by easy step-by-step drawing lesson and presentation about the book’s creative process. Bring some papers and colors and join the fun!

Miri Leshem-Pelly

45 Minute Program

$129

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Fracture a Fairytale

I'll read one of my fractured fairy tales and together we'll brainstorm possibilities for new stories.

Rebecca Gomez

45 Minute Program

$129

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Lift As You Climb: Be an Activist, Write a Poem

Patricia will introduce herself as a dancer/storyteller-turned writer; guide students to write their own simple poems about themselves, using the poetry of Lift As You Climb: The Story of Ella Baker and Josephine: The Dazzling Life of Josephine Baker as models. We will discuss the question: What do you hope to accomplish? (for 1st – 5th grades;…

Patricia Hruby Powell

45 Minute Program

$300

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FROM STEM TO STEAM TO STREAM!

Add the "A" for Art (Dance) and the "R" for Reading to playfully explore STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) subjects. Connie will create a fun and enriching learning experience tailored to your child's STEM interest. We will explore a STEM topic of your choice from Connie's book ONE, TWO, WHAT CAN I DO? DANCE AND MUSIC FOR THE WHOLE…

Connie Bergstein Dow

30 Minute Program

$99

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Poetry Workshop

Poetry is often feared, but it’s a wonderful way to be creative and fun with words. Join Camilla in this interactive workshop to create fun, imaginative poems you’ll want to cherish.

Camilla Chester

45 Minute Program

$150

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Let's Make a Dance Story About FROM A TO Z WITH ENERGY!

This session will be designed around my picture book FROM A TO Z WITH ENERGY! During the thirty minutes, l will read the book aloud, then give a series of playful movement prompts as we retell the story through dance and music. This program requires the child/children to have a small, unobstructed space for dancing. If there are two or more…

Connie Bergstein Dow

30 Minute Program

$99

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Interactive Picture Book Reading and Activity

Author will share picture book, YOU KNOW WHAT? as an interactive read aloud and do a follow-up thinking activity as well as talk about writing and being an author as time allows.

Carol Ekster

30 Minute Program

$100

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Gratitude Poems

The picture book, BEFORE I SLEEP:I SAY THANK YOU, will be shared along with writing tips and then the audience will write gratitude poems.

Carol Ekster

45 Minute Program

$150

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DANCE THE ALPHABET!

Children will move and groove from A to Z while learning and having fun! I will read my picture book FROM A TO Z WITH ENERGY! and we will do playful movement together that corresponds with each letter of the alphabet. The only requirement for this program would be a space, inside or outside, that allows children to move freely. It can be small or…

Connie Bergstein Dow

30 Minute Program

$99

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History Kids Care About

How do you go to the bathroom in a suit of armor? Were there dogs on the Mayflower? What's a fast-acting poison that can't be traced? What insect has caused the most misery in human history? When was underwear invented? A lively, interactive discussion about the history that kids really want to know about.

Sarah Albee

45 Minute Program

$300

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Princess Tea Party!

The only thing you need to bring to this party is a smile...but it will be much more fun if you have some "tea" of your own and at least one stuffed animal friend!

Alethea Kontis

45 Minute Program

$149

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Quick Draw! Anyone Can Draw Cartoons

To participate, all you need is paper, pen or pencil, and imagination.

Bruce Hale

45 Minute Program

$300

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