School Visits
One of the very few drawbacks of working at home is that I sometimes get lonely. My cats are good company, but they have yet to answer back whenever I talk to them. So naturally I love doing school visits!
My presentations are usually 1 hour but can be 1/2 hour, depending on the needs of the school. I do presentations for Junior Kindergarten to Grade 8. Below is a general description of my presentation, but I will also tailor my visit to meet the needs of the school. Not only do my workshops foster creative thinking, they also encourage participation, as well as working together as a group to create a project. For more information or to book a visit, please email me at gpstorms@rogers.com
My session focuses on ideas for creating characters, and then drawing these characters in a story. In the first half of the session, using a marker and easel flip chart, I involve the class in a fun session of working together to create a cartoon character that could perhaps exist in a picture book or graphic novel. In the second part of the workshop
I become the Art Director of a picture book. I write out a silly story and encourage the kids to illustrate all or part of it. For older grades, I discuss the significance of naming characters, as wells the use of action and setting to create a good story. As well as walking around to give encouragement to the kids, I also work up at the easel drawing examples of the story, in order to help those who may have some challenges with thinking of what to draw. At the end of the session I encourage the children to ask questions, and come up and look at my published works, as well as some of my original art.
Nunavut
In November 2009, I went to Nunavut as part of TD Canadian Children’s Book Week. What an unforgettable experience! I visited schools in Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake and Arviat. The kids were so enthusiastic and creative, and I felt welcome wherever I went.
The Pirate and the Penguin Play
Photo by Debbie Ohi.
Not long after writing The Pirate and the Penguin I realized that my picture book would make a fun play to perform for kids. With the help of my very talented husband Guy, we have performed The Pirate and the Penguin at Toronto’s Word on the Street, TINARS for Tots, McNally Robinson bookstore, Turning Pages Literary Festival, and Totstock 2010. If our schedules permit, we are more than happy to perform the play at any upcoming kid-friendly venues!
gpstorms@rogers.com