Have Talitha visit your school or event!
Inspiring kids to become creative beings their whole lives!
I visit schools, libraries, bookstores, festivals, and conferences. I love to encourage kids who may be feeling unsure of themselves when it comes to their art skills. Everyone should have a chance to find their own unique style of creativity.
Topics covered in my school visit presentation:
Collaboration (working together as a team)
Revision (receiving feedback and making a story or art even better using that feedback)
The process of creating a picture or chapter book
Drawing together! I’ll teach your students to draw a character from one of my books.
Q&A: No question is too wonky. Yes, I’m old. No, I have never met Taylor Swift. I’ve even been asked what my sign is by a third grader (it’s Aries, by the way.)
FAQ
What is the length of your visit?
I prefer to book either full-day or half-day visits. Sometimes, two schools near each other will book me on the same day and pool resources to each get a half-day visit.
I tailor my presentation length and content for each age group. Preschool presentations will not exceed 30 minutes (including a book reading). Elementary presentations typically run between 45 and 60 minutes, depending on each school’s specific needs. Having said that, I would love to have 60 minutes with each group, so we can fit in a drawing session and some Q&A.
What is your presentation like?
As an illustrator and author, I enjoy sharing visual aids like sketches and final artwork to explain the process of creating books. I use a PowerPoint presentation full of colorful imagery, and I bring physical books and even original watercolor art with me, so kids can have tangible examples as well. My presentation is interactive and engaging. Kids will have a chance to work together in small groups to create their own story ideas and art based on a prompt I provide. I also love to draw with your kids. They are amazing artists, and I want to do everything I can to encourage their creativity.
What age ranges work well for your presentations?
I’ve found that grouping K-1 together works well, followed by 2nd and 3rd grades, and then 4th and 5th grades. The smaller the groups, the better! If you need to do larger groups, lower elementary (K-2nd) and upper elementary (3rd-5th) also work well.
What do you charge for visits?
Please contact me using the form below to discuss honorarium requirements. In the past, many schools have reached out to their PTA for funding, but you can also organize a fundraiser to bring me to your school! If you’re within an hour’s drive of my home base (Fort Wayne, IN), I don’t charge travel fees!
What do you need for your visit?
Presentation projector (I’ll bring my own MAC laptop and HDMI connection)
Large easel for drawing demonstrations
Lunch if you’re booking me for a whole day. I don’t have any dietary restrictions!
A microphone is a plus if I’m in an auditorium or a gym.
A clipboard, pencil, and printouts for each child (I’ll send the printout PDF files before the visit).
A detailed schedule should be sent at least two weeks in advance so I can tailor my presentation to the allotted time.
How can we get ready for your visit?
Please have students read some of my books. Your kids will get so much more out of an author visit if they are familiar with my work.
Host a book sale! I partner with an amazing local Indie bookstore (Sunbound Books) to bring signed books to your students. Book sales require at least a month of lead time before my visit, so the bookstore can place the orders and have the books shipped. I have PDF order forms available for you to send home to caregivers.