Author Visits

I love talking to kids about writing. And I love talking to them about the ocean. If you think a visit that marries these two subjects would be cool for your classroom or school, please reach out. I have a couple ideas at right and I am happy to brainstorm with you.

1

From Idea to book

How does a book become a book? Brooke will share her journey to write If You Went to the Bottom of the Ocean from her initial spark (animals that dive!) to research, drafting, and revising to make a story. Along the way, kids will learn about our global ocean, and meet many of its marvelous creatures.

Brooke will also share what happens at the publisher to make a book––editing, plus fact-check, design, and illustration. With plenty of pictures of the book at various stages, kids will get a window into one writer’s messy but persistent process, plus plenty of inspiration to take on their own projects. Brooke will also read the book aloud and there will be time for Q&A from students.

40-50 minutes; recommended for 2nd-4th grade

2

Following curiosity

Nonfiction writing begins with a question. A book is a writer’s journey to answer it, and to share that journey with others. Brooke will share her writing process for If You Went to the Bottom of the Ocean, from idea to book, with special attention to how writing nonfiction can help kids explore their own questions. Kids will hear about how Brooke found a question that fascinated her (it didn’t come right away!). Kids will also learn about how a question can help a writer decide what should go into a book and what will be the story’s beginning, middle and end. Brooke will also read the book aloud and there will be time for Q&A from students.

Kids will take away new perspectives on writing nonfiction, plus a greater understanding of our global ocean and its marvelous inhabitants.

40-50 minutes; recommended for 2nd-4th grade, but could be aged down for 1st grade.

3

poetry? Ocean Zones? Let's customize!

If neither of the above seem like the just-right fit for your school, we can customize a presentation.

I am happy to talk to students about the ocean zones (from sunlight zone down into the hadal zone) in greater depth. A presentation like this would be a great fit for K-2.
I would also be glad to do a writing workshop with students, especially on poetry or nonfiction writing.

Rates

Half-day

$500

Full-day

$800

All visits require book sales, whether through your local bookseller or the publisher.
Visits 30+ minutes outside Charlottesville will also require reimbursement of reasonable travel expenses.