MARCIE ABOFF

One of my favorite parts of writing children's books is visiting schools, libraries and bookstores. It's always exciting to see the childrens' faces light up when they meet a 'live' author and in turn it gives me such a lift to know that I might be contributing to the children's love of reading and writing.

My programs are very interactive and I encourage the children to participate - whether they're guessing jelly bean riddles from my book, The Giant Jelly Bean Jar, or acting out with puppets as 'Big Bear' and 'Little Bear' from my short story, Just Right (lower grades) or whether they're creating and writing their own unique stories with a little help from my What's YOUR Story? writing packet (older grades).

See specifics about my programs below.

Students will see a powerpoint presentation of an 'authors life' and learn how story ideas turn into finished books. I show them pictures of my editor and art director (and explain what they do) and pictures of my own children and our cat, Sneakers, who almost looks like he is possessed by an alien with his green glowing eyes, but I assure the children he's not. He's just thinking of his latest mischievious scheme....

With my story characters' props, like 'razzle stone jewels', crazy hats, and a grandmother's knitted blanket, I talk about how I get ideas for stories and how the children can get ideas for their own stories - it's not as hard as they might think. I talk about revisions and drafts ('sloppy copies') and show them my editor's big red correction marks (ouch!) on my manuscript. I talk about rejection (double ouch!)and the importance of being persistent. It's a thrill when I see my finished books and I am able to share my stories with my readers.

Each child receives an autographed bookmark or coloring sheet. The older children keep the handouts from my What's YOUR Story? writing program, which includes story idea sheets, writing tips, and young author resources to learn more about the writing and publishing process.

-------------------- SPECIFIC PROGRAMS -----------------


My Life as An Author - Grades K-6
Assembly program or for smaller groups. With slides and lots of story character props like 'crazy hats', a grandmothers quilted blanket, a basketball from a student-teacher basketball game, etc., I talk about my life as an author, how I get my story ideas, the people that work together to make a book, as well as rejections, persistence, and more.
---- This program is about 40 minutes.


Story Fun - Grades K-2
Assembly program or for smaller groups. The children help me "read" my stories and have lots of fun acting out with bear puppets and guessing jelly bean riddles (and sometimes they come up with their own riddles!) There is a lot of interaction and movement.
----This program is about 30 minutes.


What's YOUR Story? - Grades 3-6
(I have also done this program with 2nd graders)
Interactive writing workshop. With idea-generating worksheets and the power of their imaginations, the students get very involved creating their own unique stories based on their interests, hobbies, likes, dislikes, etc. We talk about the beginning, middle, turning point, and end of stories, as well as vocabulary choices, description, dialogue, and more. Students keep the writing packet. Program is geared to individual grades I am speaking with.
---- The writing workshop is about 1 hour. I can do this for up to 100 students at a time, although the smaller number of students, the more they can participate.


NEW! Data Mania - Grades 2-3
Students combine math and literacy with my new Data Mania books on sorting, data, and probability. They'll have fun creating their own school 'Cafe' as they take on the roles of chef, waiter, host, and customers while using math skills in 'real life' situations.
----This program is about 45 minutes



NEW! Laugh, Cry, Smile ... Try - Grades PreK-1
Based on my new books, Everyone Feels Scared Sometimes and Everyone Feels Sad Sometimes (and two other books in the series about feeling happy and angry), young children will learn a variety of productive ways to express their feelings. With amusing puppets, lively reading, and animated exercises, the children will learn empathy for other people's feelings, too.
----This program is about 30 minutes

SOME DETAILS......

*** NUMBER OF PRESENTATIONS: Up to 4 presentations (plus optional book-signing session) for a full day visit. (Local half-day and single session visits can also be arranged.)

*** NUMBER OF STUDENTS: I can do assembly-style presentations as well as full grades, combinations of grades and single classrooms of students. Of course, the smaller number of children, the more the children can participate.

If you are interested in learning more about my school visits, including fees and scheduling, please e-mail me. I will be happy to send you more details.

How many times have you asked your students to write a story and they say they say they have NOTHING to write about? Surprise them with all they DO have to write about - and give them the tools they'll need to make their stories come to life!

We ALL have stories to tell – the trick is to find out what interests your students, what excites them, what scares them...I'll share with you tips on generating all kinds of stories - stories your students will want to tell - and write! With lively, active exercises, the students will discover the importance of the story arch, vocabulary choices, description, dialogue, 'show don't tell' - plus lots more!

Take-home worksheets will be distributed to all participants. Please contact me for more details.



***** THE ABC's OF GETTING PUBLISHED ******

Do you have a great idea for a children’s book? Maybe you’ve already written an article that would be perfect for a children’s magazine. What do you do next? How do you get your book, story, or article published for children and/​​or other teachers to read?

Topics include -

1. The different kinds of children’s publishers and markets – trade, educational, mass market, magazines.

2. How to find out what publishers are looking for – special emphasis on educational publishers, some who only publish material from teachers for both fiction and nonfiction.

3. How to research markets – using publishers catalogs, market guides, the internet, publishers you already are familiar with from your own classroom use.

4. Initial contact with publishers – What is a query letter?

5. Mailing your manuscripts to publishers – what to include.

6. Children’s writers organizations to join, importance of critique groups

7. Questions and Answers


PLUS, I'll supply handouts that include websites and books to learn more about the children’s writing and publishing process – Learn everything from the correct way to format a manuscript to contract negotiations.

I am available for teacher presentations and in-service days. Please contact me for more details!