AUTHOR visits
I love visiting classrooms and taking kids on a virtual field trips in caves and under piers, and marveling in the wonder of glowing skies. I share photos of my real life inspiration, take students through the process of a first messy draft through revisions, talk about book design and the job of the illustrator, and share my excitement of going on adventures in nature. Fill out the Information Request Form to get started!
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nell's presentations
PRESENTATION OPTIONS
CAVES
What can you find in a cave? Glo-worms, bats, giant crystals, cave art, fossils, underwater caves, and of course stalactites and stalagmites! Nell will share an engaging read aloud, stopping to spend some time in each cave to share photos and facts from her research for more in-depth learning of earth sciences and anthropology. She’ll also share personal photos from her cave explorations and inspire students to seek out caves to visit with their families, as well as talk about her original inspiration for writing the book. Plus students will get a sneak peek at the second book coming in this series.
Can be adapted for all ages and works well for grades 2-5.
WHEN THE SKY GLOWS
Photo Safari
Get ready for an adventure as we pack our imaginary “bag” and take our “cameras” for a field trip around the world marveling and learning about what makes amazing skies all over the world. We’ll travel to Iceland as volcanic eruptions make the sky glow, to a lake in Venezuela, famous for a near continuous electrical storm that makes the sky glow, to the sunrise, sunset, and full moon, whose beauty is visible by everyone.
When we come back from our “trip”, we’ll use all the pictures we took to make our very own mini When the Sky Glows books (one page printable folded up). Students will be both author and illustrator of their books, the perfect souvenir of Nell’s visit.
Students will also hear how Nell’s love of rainbows inspired the writing process, and hear more about revisions and how ideas become books.
Best for ages PreK-2nd
Following your curiosity: How ideas become books.
In this presentation for older grades, Nell will share how her love of rainbows inspired the story that eventually became When the Sky Glows. More explanation about working with writing groups, getting feedback, making revisions, and traveling to England to meet David Litchfield to learn how he makes his art.
Nell will also talk about the science behind each type of sky featured.
Best for grades 2nd-5th
DOWN UNDER THE PIER
Nell will share the writing journey of how an in-class writing prompt ended with her first published book, and all the steps in between. We’ll talk about sensory language, juicy words like “festoon”, and how Nell uses a thesaurus to find words that are fun to say. We’ll learn about the animals revealed at low tide and how much fun it is to explore at the beach. We’ll get to see photos of Nell as a child at the aquarium touch tanks.
Good for grades K-5.
WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?
In this presentation, good for all ages K-5, Nell talks about her life growing up with a librarian mom and a biologist dad, sharing photos from her childhood exploring nature and reading. She’ll share how she gets story sparks and makes sure to write them down right away, discusses her research process, and how she gets out the messy first draft and then revises and revises and revises with the help of her friends and editors. Favorite spreads from Caves, When the Sky Glows, and Down Under the Pier are shared, but no book is read in entirety.
CAVES
What can you find in a cave? Glo-worms, bats, giant crystals, cave art, fossils, underwater caves, and of course stalactites and stalagmites! Nell will share an engaging read aloud, stopping to spend some time in each cave to share photos and facts from her research for more in-depth learning of earth sciences and anthropology. She’ll also share personal photos from her cave explorations and inspire students to seek out caves to visit with their families, as well as talk about her original inspiration for writing the book. Plus students will get a sneak peek at the second book coming in this series.
Can be adapted for all ages and works well for grades 2-5.
WHEN THE SKY GLOWS
Photo Safari
Get ready for an adventure as we pack our imaginary “bag” and take our “cameras” for a field trip around the world marveling and learning about what makes amazing skies all over the world. We’ll travel to Iceland as volcanic eruptions make the sky glow, to a lake in Venezuela, famous for a near continuous electrical storm that makes the sky glow, to the sunrise, sunset, and full moon, whose beauty is visible by everyone.
When we come back from our “trip”, we’ll use all the pictures we took to make our very own mini When the Sky Glows books (one page printable folded up). Students will be both author and illustrator of their books, the perfect souvenir of Nell’s visit.
Students will also hear how Nell’s love of rainbows inspired the writing process, and hear more about revisions and how ideas become books.
Best for ages PreK-2nd
Following your curiosity: How ideas become books.
In this presentation for older grades, Nell will share how her love of rainbows inspired the story that eventually became When the Sky Glows. More explanation about working with writing groups, getting feedback, making revisions, and traveling to England to meet David Litchfield to learn how he makes his art.
Nell will also talk about the science behind each type of sky featured.
Best for grades 2nd-5th
DOWN UNDER THE PIER
Nell will share the writing journey of how an in-class writing prompt ended with her first published book, and all the steps in between. We’ll talk about sensory language, juicy words like “festoon”, and how Nell uses a thesaurus to find words that are fun to say. We’ll learn about the animals revealed at low tide and how much fun it is to explore at the beach. We’ll get to see photos of Nell as a child at the aquarium touch tanks.
Good for grades K-5.
WHERE DO IDEAS COME FROM?
In this presentation, good for all ages K-5, Nell talks about her life growing up with a librarian mom and a biologist dad, sharing photos from her childhood exploring nature and reading. She’ll share how she gets story sparks and makes sure to write them down right away, discusses her research process, and how she gets out the messy first draft and then revises and revises and revises with the help of her friends and editors. Favorite spreads from Caves, When the Sky Glows, and Down Under the Pier are shared, but no book is read in entirety.
virtual and in-person school visit information request
Click here to fill out a request form to have Nell come visit your school, book festival, or library appearance.
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praise for nell's author visits
Nell easily engaged my kids and connected with them throughout her visit - which is no easy task when trying to communicate across distance and Zoom. Following her visit, children wrote "Thank You" cards to Nell - one student dictating that her book was "the greatest book I've ever heard in my life!"
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Sara Lev
TK teacher, Larchmont Charter School, Los Angeles, CA |
Nell was lively and engaging from start to finish. The fact that my 1st graders were attentive the entire time is a testament to the talent and passion of the author.
Shauntrell Leaks
1st grade teacher, Clinton Elementary School, Compton, CA
1st grade teacher, Clinton Elementary School, Compton, CA
The kids were totally enthralled while you were reading and were anxious to participate with you during the Q & A section. They talked about the book for the rest of the day, so I'd say you were a definite hit!
Elaine Cimino
2nd grade teacher, Wiesbrook Elementary School, IL
2nd grade teacher, Wiesbrook Elementary School, IL
Past Visits:
Apex Elementary School, Apex, North Carolina
Will Rogers Elementary
West Elementary
Wiesbrook Elementary
St. Paul the Apostle Elementary
Mission Viejo Christian School
Webster Elementary Malibu
Merriam School 2nd grade
Clinton Ave Elementary School 1st grade
Short Hills Elementary School 1st grade
Larchmont Charter School TK
Westwood Charter Elementary School "Bedtime Story Jam"
Wildwood School after school creative writing enrichment
Brentwood Presbyterian Church Preschool, 2s, 3s, 4s whole school visit
New Roads School 2nd grade
German International School of New York
Yorkville District 115 Bedtime Storytime
Stay informed for free visit opportunities and new books |
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Sign up for her mailing list below and be sure to check the Educator box!