Vermont School Library Association

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Jennifer Gennari is the author of Muffled (Simon & Schuster, 2020), a Junior Library Guild selection, and My Mixed-Up Berry Blue Summer (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012), a Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year selection and an American Library Association Rainbow List title. A graduate of Vermont College of Fine Arts, she lives on the water in the San Francisco Bay Area. Before Jen became an author, she worked as an editor and a reporter. Skills from those jobs are important to writing stories. These 40-60-minute Skype or Zoom classroom workshops begin with a 20-minute presentation on one of the focused topics below, leaving time for questions and sharing. Jen’s virtual workshops are best for grades 2-6.

Jen's Virtual Workshops

Be a Reporter: Notice, Ask, Listen – Jen will introduce three reporting skills to spark creativity. She will ask students to notice what’s around them and take notes about those telling details; ask questions about things that make them curious; and listen to what people share.

Be an Editor: Read, Replace, Describe – Jen will introduce three editing tools to improve student writing. She will show how to replace plain verbs with strong action; to add comparisons to deepen understanding; and to find missing words and fix long sentences by reading aloud.

Design Your Own – Attributes of the above workshops can be mixed and matched. Please contact Jen to discuss what your young writers need!

Jack Curtin

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"I will be available throughout the 2018-2019 school year to visit schools and talk to students in Northern and Southern Vermont. I can present about any of my Picture books about friendship and teamwork. I can also discuss the process of writing and illustrating picture books with students." --Jack Curtin

Dashka Slater Image result for 57 bus photo

"I am the author of The 57 Bus, which was recently named to the Green Mountain Book Award Master List, as well as the award-winning picture books The Antlered Ship and Escargot. I am coming to Vermont to deliver a keynote at Johnson State College on September 24 and I am hoping you can help me spread the word to Vermont school librarians that I am hoping to book some additional school visits that week before moving on to events in other parts of New England. Because my travel is covered, schools and libraries would only need to cover my speaking fee and accommodations." Dashka Slater

Paula Massadas Pereia

Available for Skype talks

"I'm Paula. I'm a tenured faculty librarian in Southern California, a former ESL student picture books. I wonder if your institution would be interested in purchasing my diverse books. I do Skype presentations too. I just did one for about 80 children in Illinois. I'm used to work with institutions with all sorts of funds, so please let me know if you are interested. I work with children and adults learning English too."

Jennifer and John Churchman

Beth Shelly from Westford Elementry hosted John Churchman and said "He was affordable ($200 because he's so close to us), very easy to work with, engaging and kind to kids, and he brought 2 of his sheep dogs. The kids really enjoyed his visit and I would recommend him to other elementary libraries."

Grannie Snow