We are a Mother-Daughter team who wrote and illustrated FOREVER HOME,
an award-winning picture book about animal rescue and adoption.
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We would love to visit your school!
Meeting an author and illustrator inspires students to see the creative possibilities in their own lives.
Our Presentations:
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Are creative, engaging, and interactive with surprise elements.
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Offer topics for Pre-K to Gr. 8
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Use examples from the development and publishing of "Forever Home."
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Are offered Virtually or In-Person
Our comprehensive teacher's guide is FREE with booking.
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The learning objectives and specific skills for this guide were based on the Massachusett's Guidelines for Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Experiences.
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It will help teachers to meet their curriculum requirements.
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And provide them with interesting activities to expand upon our visit.
L-R: Illustrator, Erica Leigh,
Author, Cathy Stenquist
and rescue puppy, Honey
Presentation Options
Let's Write a Story Together
Presenters: BOTH Cathy Stenquist - Author, Fee: $600
and Erica Leigh - Illustrator
Age Range: Gr 3-5
Students will:
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Listen to Cathy Stenquist read "Forever Home." A writer needs to read!
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Understand Fiction v.s. Non-fiction and the different genre's of books you can write.
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Learn the 5 important ingredients in a story: Character, Setting, Plot, Theme, Conflict.
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Create their own character, setting, plot and resolution.
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Understand the importance of Critique and Revision.
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Help Erica Leigh do a character design of their character.
I Want to be an Illustrator!
Presenter: Erica Leigh - Illustrator Fee: $300 Age Range: All Ages
Students will:
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Learn the parts of a picture book and the 1st steps in planning illustrations.
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Understand how illustrations work with text to tell the story.
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Participate in Character Design.
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Explore the storyboard and other important Illustrator Tools
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Learn about steps needed to perfect an illustration: Research Reference and Revision
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Optional Add-On: ($50): Author Cathy Stenquist will come and read her book FOREVER HOME to your students.
Making "Forever Home"
Presenters: BOTH Cathy Stenquist - Author Fee: $600
and Erica Leigh - Illustrator
Age Range: Gr 3-5
Students will:
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An abbreviated version of BOTH "I Want to be an Author" and
"I Want to be an Illustrator."
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Optional: Cathy Stenquist reading Forever Home
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Discuss how text + pictures = picture book
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A peek inside their Writer and Illustrator Tool Boxes
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Follow the development of BOTH text and illustrations for "Forever Home."
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Possible surprise visit by Erica Leigh's rescue dog, Honey! (Available for Virtual visits only)
I Want to be an Author!
Presenter: Cathy Stenquist - Author Fee: $300
Age Range: PreK - Gr.8
Students will:
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Listen to author Cathy Stenquist read "Forever Home."
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Learn what makes a book a picture book
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The answer is Read, Read. Read! Learn what the question is.
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Discuss where a writer gets their ideas
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Get a peek inside the Writer's Tool Box
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Discover the question every writer needs to ask: "What If?"
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See that even published authors don't get their story right the first time and need to "Revise" and "Critique" to make their book better.
Community Helpers
Presenter: Cathy Stenquist - Author Fee: $300
Age Range: Pre K- Kindergarten
Students will:
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Listen to Cathy Stenquist read "Forever Home."
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Learn what Community Helpers are.
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Discover who the helpers are in "Forever Home" and how they helped the kittens.
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Discuss who the helpers are in their neighborhood
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Answer the question - "Can I be a helper too?"
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See real-life examples of age appropriate ways children and their families can make a difference.
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Take away an awareness of who the helpers are they can depend on and the good ways being a helper makes you feel.
