SCHOOL & LIBRARY VISITS
Candlewick Press offers 40% book discounts to schools that book a visit!
Now booking school and library visits for the ’22-’23 school year though How Now Booking. For more information and to book presentations/workshops, email Sarah DeVore at sarah@hownowbooking.com.
Select one to two options or mix three together to create a full day’s schedule:
Assembly or Grade-Level Presentation:
FIND YOUR STORY!
In this interactive, assembly-style presentation, I’ll share how I turn my ideas into books, show all stages of my writing process, offer tips for students to find and write their own stories, and give students a sneak peek at my not-yet-published books! Includes visual presentation, a sing-along, and other interactive elements.
- 30 minutes + Q & A for grades K-2
- 40 minutes + Q & A for grades 3-5 (takes a more in-depth look at revising and more advanced writing tips)
- Optional addition: lunch with the author for a group of 10 or less
Writing Workshops:
THE SECRET NOTEBOOK CLUB
Your students are invited to be an official member of the Secret Notebook Club! All they’ll need are a pencil, a notebook, and their imagination. I’ll show them how all of my books were born and developed in my writer’s notebook. Then they’ll participate in short writing prompts and activities, tailored to each grade, to explore character, setting, conflict, and sensory details that bring a story to life. Students will leave with a notebook of ideas that they can turn into stories.
- 30-45 minutes
- Grades 2-6; one class per workshop
WHAT A CHARACTER!
Sometimes a book can begin with a character’s voice whispering in an author’s ear, “Tell my story.” In this workshop, I’ll share how many of my books began with a character (or two) and grew from there. Students will brainstorm characters, flesh them out by pretending to be detectives, and use the “Story Machine” to discover their character’s story. Along the way, students will also learn about conflict and story arc. They’ll end the workshop with a character profile and story starter.
- 30-45 minutes
- Grades 2-6; one class per workshop
AND MORE: I offer additional workshops for a wide range of ages, and I can tailor each one to best fit your school’s curriculum.
Full- and half-day rates are available upon request.
FREE FUNDAY FRIDAYS
I offer a limited number of complimentary 15-minute virtual visits, which include a brief overview of my writing process, Q & A, and a reading, if time allows. (Fridays only. One Free Funday Friday visit per school.)
EVENTS
Stay tuned for Dakota Crumb and the Secret Bookshop: A Tiny Treasure Hunt events — coming soon!
Endorsements
“Jamie did a fantastic job speaking to and interacting with my first graders. She had a very organized and engaging presentation, and she explained the writing process in such a kid-friendly way. My students were so inspired by her!”—Cindy Eaglin, First Grade Teacher, Artondale Elementary School, Gig Harbor, WA
“Jamie Michalak is wonderful with the kids. She uses her experience as a published author and also her memories as a young writer to inspire the kids to write. . . . The skills and tools they learned from Jamie continue to show up in their writing.”—Kristel Dunphy, Fourth Grade Teacher, St. Luke’s School, Barrington, RI
“For the reluctant writer in my class, Jamie was a treasure! Her calm, motivating talent for writing will stay with my class for a long time.”—Robin FitzGerald, Third Grade Teacher, Stony Hill School, Wilbraham, MA
“I have heard nothing but rave reviews from the students and the teachers. Thank you so much for this opportunity to visit the kids to discover new books and to learn about what an author does to create a story and book. Your little touches really bring the magic alive. It was a good learning opportunity, and your visit was really special.”—Cynthia Hughes, Librarian, Elm Hill School, Springfield, VT
“Our visit with author Mrs. Michalak was so successful! Her presentation was engaging, interactive, and age appropriate! Although the students were sad to see her visit come to an end, they were motivated to get into their writing folders! As a class, we referred to her ‘author’s advice’ throughout the year as writers.”—Christina Squatrito, First Grade Teacher, Sowams School, Barrington, RI
“Jamie Michalak visited my classroom to share about her experiences as a writer. She shared her story about her interests in reading and writing as a kid. She also showed us her ‘writing toolbox’ that helps her through the writing process. Jamie’s conversation with my students left a lasting impression. She inspired my students to become authors themselves and they are excited to write their next piece!”—Jenny Gaynor, Third Grade Teacher, Sowams School, Barrington, RI
“Jamie Michalak is an engaging presenter who captivated the third grade students at White Street School. Her humor and ability to connect to the students motivated them to write when back in the classroom. The library at White Street School was full of laughter and smiles created by a creative, successful author.”—Lauren Morency, Third Grade Special Education/Inclusion, White Street School, Springfield, MA
“Getting to meet Jamie via Zoom inspired my students to read and write more! She is warm and funny and kept the kids engaged with her personal stories and a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process.”—Rhonda Jett, Media Specialist, Bailey Elementary School, Dover, FL
“We hosted Jamie for our School Readiness program and she was great! The children were engaged and couldn’t wait to hear what happened next to Joe and Sparky when they visited school. She brought along a craft and photo board cut out which were big hits! Jamie is sweet, kind, and funny, such great attributes for a visiting Children’s Author!”—Chanda Williams, Librarian, Youth Services Librarian, Hampden Public Library, Hampden, MA