My Mission for School Visits
My goal as a visiting author is to encourage both reading and writing in students, and to tailor my presentations to dovetail with the schools academic goals. I worked as a classroom teacher for fifteen years so I interact well with students and understand what it takes to coordinate successful enrichment programs. I want the school to look back on my visit as "The best day ever!"
For inquiries and availability, please send an email via the CONTACT page.
Presentations
A typical presentation runs somewhere between 45-60 minutes. My presentations are often described as "lively" "energetic" "funny" and "inspiring." I do up to three presentations per day, with any amount of autographing woven in between. Here are some of the most requested programs, but I'm happy to create a program to suit a school's goals or needs. All talks include a supplemental slideshow.
- From Inspiration to Publication -- A humorous recounting of ten years of publishing rejection prior to my "magic phone call."
- Themes: Hard work, persistence, the value of rewriting, everyday life becoming stories, why your story matters.
- Titles: Touches on most titles with an emphasis on how the Sammy Keyes series evolved.
- Best for Grades: 4th & up
- Audience Size: 50-900
- Finding New Starting Lines -- How and why an able-bodied author was inspired to write about an amputee.
- Themes: Overcoming barriers of fear, differences, ignorance. Seeing the person, not the disability. Friendship, Teamwork.
- Title: The Running Dream
- Best for Grades: 4th & up
- Audience Size: 50-900
- The Book-to-Movie Experience--Behind the scenes of Flipped the book and Flipped the movie.
- Themes: Looking beneath the surface, the long-range effects of small deeds, embracing uniqueness, love & crushing.
- Title: Flipped
- Best for Grades: 4th & up
- Audience Size: 50-900
- Shred On! -- How the Shredderman series evolved and became a Nickelodeon movie.
- Themes: Anti-bullying, inclusion, friendship, art, writing,
- Titles: The Shredderman series, The Gecko & Sticky series
- Best for Grades: 2nd-5th
- Audience Size: 40-150
- Writers Workshop -- Covers creating colorful characters, dissecting the basics of plot, theme, and tension.
- Students Will Need: Paper & pencil
- Best for Grades: 4th & up
- Audience Size: maximum around 50
Assembly-style presentations can be adapted, combined, or tailored to a specific title.
Teacher Support Materials for Shredderman books available here
Discussion Guides for stand-alone titles available here.
Helpful Information about Setting Up an Author Visit (& purchasing books at substantial discount) here.
Teacher Support Materials for Shredderman books available here
Discussion Guides for stand-alone titles available here.
Helpful Information about Setting Up an Author Visit (& purchasing books at substantial discount) here.
Equipment & Needs
I don't use a backstage rider or demand only red M&Ms. I used to teach school, remember? Here's all I need:
- Computer-Projector-Screen -- This is for running PowerPoint slides off my thumb drive. It should be set up and tested before kids arrive. Internet connection is not necessary.
- Microphone -- Any kind is fine, but I do move around a lot and "do voices" so a handheld is preferred (and the wired variety seem to be the most reliable).
- Water -- Did I mention there's jumping around? Water, please.
Honorarium, Travel & Such
For school visit inquiries, please send an email via the CONTACT page.
A couple of preliminary notes:
- For out-of-state visits, I have a 2-day minimum, but do sometimes make exceptions if one of my books is being used as an all-school or all-community read.
- I also sometimes make exceptions to the 2-day rule for cities that are direct flights from my regional airport. These include Los Angeles, San Francisco, Seattle, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix and Las Vegas.
- I am fine with being shared among schools. I sometimes do one large assembly at 3 different schools in a day.
- I'm also happy to share how some schools use book sales to generate funds for Author Day.
Hope to see you soon--we'll make it The Best Day Ever!
Testimonials
"One of the students said that just listening and watching Wendelin makes you want to read. She is very entertaining and I recommend her to all librarians when they want an author visit."-- Connie Oberneder, Librarian
"Our students loved her energy as well as her wit. We can’t keep her books on the shelf. That’s what it’s all about—convincing them to read, and she does that!" -- Becky Young, Instructional Assistant
"Wendelin has the knack for holding the audience attention from start to finish. She is very animated and brings her presentation to a different level than any other author we have had." -- Jane Everett, Librarian
"Wendelin was a star from beginning to end. She arrived from sunny California into a freezing January Chicago winter around midnight, her plane having been delayed. She was cheerier than one would expect under the circumstances. Her presentation was energetic, informative, a real crowd-pleaser. This is an author that is amazing on a personal and professional level."-- Peg Ciszek, Public Library School Liaison
"Wendelin Van Draanen spares no energy, and her enthusiasm for writing is contagious! Her flexibility to scheduling, style and substance of presentation is a plus, too. A human dynamo!" -- Linda Bennett, Library Media Teacher
"Wendelin Van Draanen has a personality that makes an instant connection with middle school kids. With her energetic vibrant style, she is able to share thoughts and ideas about writing and being an author that is appealing to students." -- Jeff Edwards, Principal
"Sammy Keyes came alive when Wendelin visited our school. She Shreds!" -- Vicky Turk, Principal
"Wow! Wendelin was fantastic!!! We loved her funny, lively, animated, heartwarming talk. She shared with us personal experiences from her childhood and really touched us with how she turned hardships into triumphs." -- Steffani Lera, Library Media Assistant
"Wendelin is a big hit at our schools. Her high energy presentations really get the kids interested in reading her books. Even middle schoolers show enthusiasm when she is here. We will invite her to come again soon!" -- George Pilling, District Librarian
"Wendelin is a motivational speaker. Her assemblies are always entertaining and result in increased writing effort by the students. She captivates her audience and instinctively knows how to differentiate her approach to keep the attention of both the primary and upper grade students." -- Kathy Pritchard, Principal
"Wonderful! I loved her, the kids loved her, they’re still asking for her books!" -- Wanda Adams, Language Arts Teacher
"My students loved her, and so did I."-- Donna Johnson, Language Arts Teacher
"Two enthusiastic thumbs up!" -- Leslie Furlong, Language Arts Teacher
"Wendelin encourages the kids to write, write, write. She sings and dances during her visit, the kids love her." -- Anne Harris, Teacher
"Not only was Wendelin delightfully entertaining in her presentation, but she was highly informative and insightful about the writing process and the highs and lows of getting published, always keeping my students' rapt attention." -- Judy Baldwin, Librarian
"Our students loved her energy as well as her wit. We can’t keep her books on the shelf. That’s what it’s all about—convincing them to read, and she does that!" -- Becky Young, Instructional Assistant
"Wendelin has the knack for holding the audience attention from start to finish. She is very animated and brings her presentation to a different level than any other author we have had." -- Jane Everett, Librarian
"Wendelin was a star from beginning to end. She arrived from sunny California into a freezing January Chicago winter around midnight, her plane having been delayed. She was cheerier than one would expect under the circumstances. Her presentation was energetic, informative, a real crowd-pleaser. This is an author that is amazing on a personal and professional level."-- Peg Ciszek, Public Library School Liaison
"Wendelin Van Draanen spares no energy, and her enthusiasm for writing is contagious! Her flexibility to scheduling, style and substance of presentation is a plus, too. A human dynamo!" -- Linda Bennett, Library Media Teacher
"Wendelin Van Draanen has a personality that makes an instant connection with middle school kids. With her energetic vibrant style, she is able to share thoughts and ideas about writing and being an author that is appealing to students." -- Jeff Edwards, Principal
"Sammy Keyes came alive when Wendelin visited our school. She Shreds!" -- Vicky Turk, Principal
"Wow! Wendelin was fantastic!!! We loved her funny, lively, animated, heartwarming talk. She shared with us personal experiences from her childhood and really touched us with how she turned hardships into triumphs." -- Steffani Lera, Library Media Assistant
"Wendelin is a big hit at our schools. Her high energy presentations really get the kids interested in reading her books. Even middle schoolers show enthusiasm when she is here. We will invite her to come again soon!" -- George Pilling, District Librarian
"Wendelin is a motivational speaker. Her assemblies are always entertaining and result in increased writing effort by the students. She captivates her audience and instinctively knows how to differentiate her approach to keep the attention of both the primary and upper grade students." -- Kathy Pritchard, Principal
"Wonderful! I loved her, the kids loved her, they’re still asking for her books!" -- Wanda Adams, Language Arts Teacher
"My students loved her, and so did I."-- Donna Johnson, Language Arts Teacher
"Two enthusiastic thumbs up!" -- Leslie Furlong, Language Arts Teacher
"Wendelin encourages the kids to write, write, write. She sings and dances during her visit, the kids love her." -- Anne Harris, Teacher
"Not only was Wendelin delightfully entertaining in her presentation, but she was highly informative and insightful about the writing process and the highs and lows of getting published, always keeping my students' rapt attention." -- Judy Baldwin, Librarian
