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Dear Joanne,
The children and teachers were thrilled with your visit to our school. Fortunately we had purchased duplicate copies of your books because your presentations really promoted the reading of your works... I am sure that many students will carry the memory of your visit with them for years. You are a part of what makes our library so special.
-Helen Rogaway, Librarian, Beverly Vista School, Beverly Hills, CA

DO YOU WANT A GRRRRREAT AUTHOR?
JOANNE ROCKLIN IS SUPER. SHE CAN HOLD HER YOUNG AUDIENCE SPELLBOUND AS SHE TAKES HERSELF AND HER COMPANION PUPPET INTO YOUR HEART. HER BOOKS ARE EDUCATIONAL, EASY TO READ, AND ECONOMICAL. THE ELKO COUNTY READING COUNCIL HAD HER VISIT EVERY SCHOOL PLUS GIVE A PRESENTATION AT OUR YOUNG AUTHORS CONFERENCE. EVERYONE WAS EXTREMELY PLEASED.
-Beverly J. Brothers, Elko County Readingg Council, Elko, Nevada
It is exciting for me to share with audiences, especially children, the one most important thing I've learned about writing a story. And it is this: Writing is a magical, crazy, mysterious process, but it's the SAME process for everyone, young or older, teacher or student, published or unpublished.

We all start with a blank page, often a scared feeling inside, and observations and memories taken straight from our own lives. In my presentations I show kids exactly how that magic happens for me, explain some of its mysteries, and give lots of surprising tips to inspire stories.

My visit to a school usually includes:

  • A maximum of 3 "Magic Story Builders" Large Assemblies.

    (Each is a 60-minute interactive talk using a puppet, slides, readings, and student participation. 1st grade and up; grade division at school's discretion. Kindergarten may attend as well.)

  • Classroom-ready handouts for each class

    (1) "The Three Most Important Things Every Writer Should Know" based on my presentation

    (2) "Five Steps to a Story" with Teacher's Guide

    (3) Study Guides to my novels

  • Book signings
  • Written correspondence after my visit

    Optional Additions to the Day:

  • Writing Workshop on brainstorming and the basics of story structure

    (45 min.; scheduled after the main presentations)

  • K and/or 1st Grade Classroom Visits

    (maximum two; approx. 20-30 minutes each)

    (I can only offer a choice between Writing Workshop OR K/1 classroom visits on any one day.)

    Workshops for Teachers, Librarians, or Parents


  • “Write Your Story in 5 Steps!”
    1 hour. An in-depth study of my classroom-ready handout.
  • “Inside the Mind of the Child”: Selecting Literature Appropriate to the Developmental Age of the Child
    1 hour. An examination of the various genres with respect to shape, content, theme and style. An awareness of these guidelines will facilitate a more effective selection of literature for the classroom and library.
  • “The Power of Stories: How I Wrote STRUDEL STORIES”
    1 hour. How stories heal us all.
    To arrange for a visit or for more information, please contact me at jrocklin@aol.com

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