School Visits

General Information

I really enjoy visiting schools and talking with kids about books and writing.

I have two requirements for school visits: (1) Students read (or have read to them) at least one of my books before I visit the school. (2) Students take home a book order form so that they have the opportunity to order a personally autographed book. Students are not required to buy my books, but I do ask that the school sends home an order form with each student.

If you’d like to have me visit your school, there’s plenty of information here to help you coordinate a visit.

School visit brochure
Fee schedule
Calendar page
Sample book order form

For more information or to book a visit, please contact me.

Programs

Sounds All Around
Presentation for Grades preK–1
The Night Is Singing, Jacqueline’s evocative poem-book, is about the sounds we hear as we drift off to sleep. Working with hand-held musical instruments and large letters, Jacqueline directs the children to think about the qualities of sounds we hear, as well as the qualities of letter-sounds in our alphabet. Children gain an increased awareness of the craft of poetry.

Birds, Books, and a Boy Named Audubon
Presentation for Grades 1–4
Using The Boy Who Drew Birds as a launching pad, Jacqueline introduces students to the remarkable paintings of John James Audubon. She talks about birds and allows kids to get “up close and personal” by examining real birds’ nests. Jacqueline then uses 15-inch paper dolls to tell the story of how The Boy Who Drew Birds became a book—from idea through editing, illustration, and printing. It’s a story the kids will never forget!

What Do Writers Do All Day?
Presentation for Grades 1–8
Through lively stories, Jacqueline answers commonly asked questions about her writing life: how she began writing, where she finds her ideas, and—yes!—what do writers do all day? She talks about strategies for becoming a better writer and encourages students to think of themselves as the writers of tomorrow.

A Poem Is Not a Fish
Writing Workshop for Grades 4–8
What is a metaphor? Why is it a writer’s best friend? How do we create metaphors that are powerful and unique? During this hands-on writing program, students work collectively and individually to write poems composed entirely of metaphor.

I See, I Draw, I Write
Five-day poetry-writing residency for Grades 3 –8
The root of writing nature poetry is observation: looking closely at the world all around. Jacqueline begins this five-day residency by taking the children outside with sketchbooks in hand. They draw the world around them, capturing images and words on the pages of their nature journals. Then they bring those words inside and begin to write poems that use the poets’ techniques of rhyme, alliteration, and assonance. To learn more about this residency, you may download and view a slideshow in various formats: pdf, PowerPoint, or QuickTime.