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    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
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    • Writers write all kinds of things
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    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
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Patricia NewmanPatricia Newman
Sibert Honor Children's Book Author & Environmentalist
  • Home
  • Books
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • English language-learner books
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • LitLinks
    • Teacher Guides
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Manuscript Critiques
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch

appearance calendar

maybe I'll be in a town near you

2021 – 2022 SCHOOL YEAR

AUGUST 2021

25 — J. Orin Edson Entrepreneurship + Innovation Institute, Arizona State University

SEPTEMBER 2021

15 — Magical Books for Kids Podcast airs

OCTOBER 2021

2 — Breakfast with the Authors (virtual event), Santa Barbara County Education Office

22 — Panel, “Saving Our Earth: Books to Inspire Action” at the American Association of School Librarians Conference (AASL), Salt Lake City, UT – Friday at 4:30 pm.

NOVEMBER 2021

13 — Panel, East West Literary Agency’s Second Saturday, with Carol Hinz, Associate Publisher, Millbrook Press/Carolrhoda

18-21 — Panel, “Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: Promoting Equity, Justice, and Anti-racism through Informational Writing” at the NCTE Annual Conference (virtual)

JANUARY 2022

24-28 — Virtual Author Go-Round, Santa Barbara County Education Office

FEBRUARY 2022

1-2 — Virtual Author Go-Round, Santa Barbara  County Education Office

18 — Panel, “Nonfiction Writers Dig Deep: Promoting Equity, Justice, and Anti-racism through Informational Writing” at the CSLA Annual Conference (virtual), 1:00 pm – 1:45 pm.

28 — Visiting author for the Elko (NV) County Reading Council

MARCH 2022

1-4 — Visiting author for the Elko (NV) County Reading Council

APRIL 2022

26 — Panel, “Turn Earth Day to Earth Year: Developing Active Eco-Stewards” with Rochelle Menendez and Erin Dealey, Texas Library Association, 11:30 am

28 — Patapsco Middle School virtual author visit

MAY 2022

15 — Assembling a Jaw-Dropping Nonfiction Package at the SCBWI California North./Central Virtual Spring Spirit Conference, 10:00 am Pacific

23-27 –– In person author visits with several New York City schools

JUNE 2022

25 — Panel, “New Environmental Justice Titles Resonate with Kids and Teens” at ALA in Washington, D.C. with Carole Lindstrom and Mélina Mangal, 9:00 am Eastern, Washington Convention Center, 147A

JULY

13 – Compton Unified School District summer school visits

2022-2023 SCHOOL YEAR

SEPTEMBER 2022

27 — Mastering the Nonfiction Children’s Book Proposal webinar with Children’s Book Insider/Writing Blueprints, 5:00 pm Pacific. Stay tuned for a registration link.

OCTOBER 2022

5 — University of North Georgia, College of Education – two half-day workshops for preservie teachers and professors on using nonfiction in the classroom

Demos

Write!

I learned...

Writing workshops

Signing

Signing

Presentation

Q & A

Interactive visits

Interactive visits

Assemblies

Research

Research

Baby and JTB

Fans of all ages

CRA 2015, Riverside

Conferences

Great Valley Bookfest

Festivals

Author Visit Programs

Whether you choose an in-person visit or a virtual session, I share my excitement for writing and inspire readers and writers of all ages to share their stories. Click the STAR to get started.

Author Visit FAQs

How do I justify your visit to my administration?

Authors who visit schools:

  • Forge a personal connection between students and the creators of books
  • Create a surge in library use
  • Reinforce a connection between educational standards and specific content
  • Motivate kids to read
  • Motivate kids to express themselves with words—writing and revising their own works
  • Motivate kids to persist in their dreams and not give up when challenged
  • Contribute to improvements in reading scores
  • Improve school-wide morale as students and staff work together reading the author’s books and performing classroom tasks
How can my school/library fund your visit?

Inquire about the following school-based funding resources at your next staff meeting:

  • PTA
  • Adopt-a-School Sponsors
  • Title I
  • Title VII
  • School Improvement Plan (SIP)
  • Grants (from local nonprofits or your local reading association)
  • Grandparents
  • Parents
Will community organizations fund author visits?

Yes! And by helping you fund an author visit, the organization achieves greater visibility by forging partnerships with neighborhood schools resulting in greater community “buy in” to literacy issues.

  • Service organizations: Rotary Clubs, Kiwanis Clubs, Lions Clubs, etc.
  • Museums that have a special tie-in to the author’s books
  • Major corporations: Target, Wal-Mart, McDonald’s, Burger King, Publix, Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.
  • Friends of the Library organization of your public library
  • Local independent businesses that support other aspects of your community (look for plaques in restaurants, libraries, schools, stadiums, law offices, and medical offices).
  • Philanthropic groups: Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation’s literacy programs, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, etc.
Do you have your author visit information in printed form so I can share it with my colleagues?

Yes! I have a 2-sided brochure that you can either print and share or share as a link. Click here:  Appearance Brochure

I’ve scheduled an author visit: Now what do I do?

Good question! The key to a successful event is preparation, and there is no such thing as starting too early. I want to establish a genuine connection with your students–my goal is to supplement your curriculum, not distract from it. I hope to leave your students inspired to create their own work and with a deeper understanding of my process from idea to publication. Download these handy tips:  Author Visit Prep Tips

Do you perform virtual visits?

Absolutely! I’ve used most of the popular video chat platforms. Please read my tips for a successful virtual visit. You can download them here:  Virtual Visit Prep Tips

Planning an author visit?

Click to contact me.

What everyone’s saying about my author visits

  • Dear Mrs. Newman, Thank you for showing us your book. I really liked the part when the guy said whitewash. Your friend,

    Lauren in Kindergarten
    Mather Heights Elementary School, Mather, California
  • Your presentations were so wonderful to see – the kids were very engaged, and you made the science come alive for them.  In fact, that night my own 4th grader asked if we could return to the Elkhorn Slough, to see the otters. It’s always a pleasure to host an author that knows how to hold an audience, and is truly interested in hearing what the students think – AND you helped them understand some pretty complex science.  Well done.

    Eric Silverberg
    Teacher Librarian on Special Assignment, Berkeley Unified School District
  • Before we leave for the summer I wanted to send along another thank you for your wonderful presentations.

    The presentations aligned perfectly with both the goals and the curriculum of our Ocean Guardian school, and were very engaging for the students. They loved the audience participation, and I’m sure they’ll also remember the overall theme of your message: to give up single-use plastic in order to preserve the ocean for their future!

    Thanks again for your visit,

    Abbi and Annie

    Annie Jasper and Abbi Strawser
    Librarians, Carmel River School, Carmel, CA
  • “I would strongly recommend Patricia as a speaker and to lead a writers’ workshop. Her message was perfectly customized for each group of students (K-2nd and 3rd-5th), and was thought provoking, spirited, engaging, entertaining, and motivational. Teachers and students alike let me know how much they enjoyed her books and the thoughtful things she had to say as a speaker.”

    Nicole Martin
    Library ICT, Mariemont Elementary
  • Thank you, Patrcia, for your awesome work in bringing awareness to others over the importance of taking care of our world. I really enjoyed your presentation it was very informative and engaging. Our students had fun while they learned and took home some awareness! I look forwards to reading more of your work and creating another PBL based on your books.

    Jose Gonzalez
    21st Century learning Specialist/ VILs Coac, Davis Middle School, Compton, CA
  • It was a great honor having Patricia Newman at our very first Standiford Literacy Night. Her presentation captured our audience of grandparents, parents, and students. Our students were especially excited to be able to talk to Patricia following her presentation, have her sign copies of her books, and have their pictures taken with her. Patricia even took the time to read the work of two of our students, something which they are still talking about. Patricia’s presence certainly insured that our first Standiford Literacy Night was a success.

    Lynda Griblin
    4th grade teacher, Standiford Elementary School, Modesto, CA
  • Our students loved hearing about Patricia Newman’s books and experiences as an author.  She tailored each assembly to the grade levels so the content was engaging and appropriate.  Our middle school students truly enjoyed their question and answer session with her which fueled their enthusiasm for writing.

    Sandra Hanson, Title 1 Academic Coach
    Lichen K-8
  • Thank you so much for taking the time to make a difference in the students’ lives at RSF School. I appreciate your dedication to writing nonfiction, especially about the plastic problem! Students are still talking about you and refer to the words you spoke. You are an amazing presenter! I appreciate you!

    Stacey Halboth
    Librarian, R. Roger Rowe Elementary, Rancho Santa Fe, CA
  • Lynn Baker
    Librarian, Cambridge Heights Elementary, Citrus Heights, CA
  • Thank you for your wonderful one-of-a-kind multimedia story time presentation at Northridge Elementary School on behalf of their fundraiser with us. Everyone–the principal, PTA, parents, and children raved about your dual story time, “how-to-write” approach, and of course your delightful book, Jingle the Brass. I look forward to promoting more story time visits with you to all the other schools I work with.

    Michael Troyan
    Barnes & Noble Booksellers, Citrus Heights, CA
  • Thank you for your lively, informative presentations.  The primary  kids loved being participants, while learning about trains and some of their history.   In keeping with science standards, the older kids enjoyed learning a lot about pollutants through your interactive presentation. It made the subject more concrete as wells as emphasizing the magnitude of the problem.

    Janda Rangle
    PTA volunteer, William Brooks Elementary, El Dorado Hills
  • “Patricia captivated all of our elementary students with the stories and the experiences that she shared. Students enjoyed participating during the assembly, writer’s workshop, and during the question and answer session. Our students have a lifelong memory of the time that they spent with this special author.”

    Lynne Mayer
    Principal, Arlene Hein Elementary
  • “Patricia Newman’s books and assemblies gave our students a global awareness that we had not experienced before. By participating in her “Authors for Earth Day” program, students were given the opportunity to vote for the research organization they wanted Patricia to donate part of her honorarium toward. We had reviewed her nonfiction books, watched her informative book trailers (she has an awesome website!) and talked about how she needed information from the different research organizations to write her books. Our students felt like they were making a difference for planet Earth! Thank you Patricia for your passion to make the world a better place and to empower the next generation that it’s possible!”

    Lynn Baker
    Librarian, Cambridge Heights Elementary
  • Our staff was very, very impressed.

    Cheryl King
    Teacher, Milton, VT
  • Thank you again for a wonderful visit! The kids are still talking about it and I’ve already received three books that my students have made and would like me to pass on to you.

    Andrea Korven
    Teacher, Elverta Elementary School
  • We look forward to more author visits with Patricia Newman! Her interactive presentations had students actively analyzing data, re-enacting food chains and oceanic pollution, and considering their roles as stewards of our planet. Days later, the kids are still talking about it!

    ~Becca Todd
    District Library Coordinator, Berkeley Unified School District
  • The pleasure was all ours!  You’re so talented.  Thanks so much for helping us learn how to use our STEM eyes! Your presentation has inspired [CCRA] to start connecting STEM concepts with quality fictional books!

    Contra Costa Reading Association
  • Not only did Patricia Newman teach our students a life lesson about the importance of being persistent and following their dreams, she also kept them thoroughly entertained and involved throughout her whole presentation! Thank you for showing our students that dreams really can come true!

    Claudia Curatolo
    PS 110Q Upper Grade Literacy Coach
  • A fun, enthusiastic, kid-friendly person, Patti gave two fantastic assemblies, specially designed for our different age levels. Her interactive presentations got the kids excited about her books and the writing process. She was a pleasure to work with, helpful, kind and friendly, and the kids loved her! Thank you, Patricia Newman, for making our Author Day a rousing success!

    Sharon Biegel
    parent volunteer, Carl Sundahl Elementary School, Folsom, CA
  • Genevieve Didion Elementary, Sacramento, CA
  • Just wanted to drop you a quick thank you for all the time you spent with our kids. It was such an enthusiastic presentation. What a great model for all South Burlington students! You have a gift for sure! Thanks for sharing it with us.

    Diane Farnham
    Teacher, South Burlington, VT
  • Patricia Newman presented a passionate, educational, and inspirational Author Day for our students in grades TK-6.  Through her innovative hands-on demonstration of the affect of population growth and accompanying pollutants on our ocean’s health, to her use of a microphone ball to encourage student participation, she taught us all about the importance of learning about our environment, how everything is inter-connected and how each person can make a positive change.  Her message of tenacity and always moving forward and believing in oneself was very inspiring.  We were very lucky to have been able to spend the day with her.

    Marisa Alcaly, Librarian
    Del Dayo Elementary
  • “Newman’s rapport and style puts kids at ease. They can see immediately this is an adult who sees a kid’s perspective.”

    Terry Minton
    Teacher, Carmichael, California
  • “Pioneer School had a wonderful author visit with Patricia Newman! Her assemblies were innovative, interacting, and fun for the students! Her small group lesson was informative and challenged the students to be creative in new ways! Thank you Patricia!”

    Danyel Dahlen, Special Education Teacher & Author Visit Coordinator
    Pioneer School
  • The staff and students had an incredible time last Friday, and I am so happy that I was able to meet you. The principal was impressed, and students were left with a sense of “never giving up” when it comes to writing. On Monday, I was also amazed at how much my class had remembered from the assembly.

    Nancy Beck
    Teacher, Citrus Heights, California
  • Ms. Newman’s visit to Lakeview Elementary was a real hit with students and teachers alike.  Her presentations were both captivating and informative.  She adapted to each group according to their ages and interests and engaged students with demonstrations, acting and Q & A.  I highly recommend her for any school author visit.

    Cynthia McKinney
    Library Media Coordinator, Lakeview Elementary School, El Dorado Hills, CA
  • Thank you for coming to our school Bridgeway Island. I loved your story Mrs. Newman it was funny and it was the best time of my life and thank you for telling me about trains.

    Eric in grade 2
    Bridgeway Island Elementary, West Sacramento, CA
  • I enjoyed listening to her interact with the students and seeing her excitement (and theirs!) about her books. I thought her presentation was fabulous…and so on target to our writing program such as adding detail, voice, revising…that I think the students were able to make meaningful connections to her, her books and her message.

    -Nancy Tavares
    Reading Specialist, South Burlington, Vermont
  • Wonderful books to use for teaching students literary devices. Also ideas for helping students’ expository writing.

    Nevada Reading Week participant
  • A great reminder to use some pizzazz in our information writing.

    Nevada Reading Week participant
  • Everyone at Desert Knolls really enjoyed your presentation and many of the students were encouraged to put their thoughts down on paper. Your writing workshop got their imaginations flowing.

    Cheryl Culbertson
    Teacher, Desert Knolls Elementary, Apple Valley, CA
  • “Patricia Newman connected warmly with my students. She. . .encouraged them to share her love of language and writing.”

    Sue Davis
    Teacher, Carmichael, California
  • Excellent list of nonfiction books to use to teach and make expository writing more interesting and engaging.

    Nevada Reading Week Participant
  • Kids are attracted to [Patricia Newman’s] warm likable manner; she makes it easy for others to latch on to her enthusiasm for reading.

    Jeanne Lazar
    Principal, Fair Oaks, CA
  • Thank you so much for your wonderful lesson with the class. You put a great deal of thought into your presentation. I know the class (including me) learned a LOT from your expert perspective. I already see the results in their writing—more feelings, more action, reworking the beginning of the story.

    Stella Prudhomme
    Teacher, Carmichael, California
  • During the planning for our author visit, we found Patricia to be everything we needed: professional, friendly, responsive, full of good ideas. And the event itself was even better. Since then I’ve heard nothing but positive comments from students, teachers and staff, and parents. Even yesterday, nearly a month afterward, I got reports that people are still talking about it at meetings. You can’t go wrong with this author. Great personality, wonderful website, fantastic books, and presentations that rock. Brava!

    Patricia Heinicke
    Parent Coordinator, Leonardo da Vinci Elementary, Sacramento, CA
  • “The children were totally engaged as you presented your wonderful book, Plastic, Ahoy! Saturday morning. The two hundred people who attended were mesmerized, and so were we!”

    Mary Weyand
    Ventura County Reading Association
  • We are so grateful to you for your flexibility and enthusiasm during yesterday’s school visit.  I’ve never seen someone make such a dramatic pivot between presentations–what a sensitive, accommodating read of your audience!

    With you chain of rejection letters, your writing workshop emphasized perseverance, and I loved your point that science is just as much a function of your failures as it is your successes.  Writing, editing, and research come into play across the curriculum, and we especially appreciated how you worked to connect the students’ creative musings to their current classroom work!

    You had the second two cohorts puzzling through college-level science concepts with smiles and laughter as they problem-solved an environmental mystery, complete with props that would’ve made a theatre department proud!  We appreciated the students’ thoughtful questions and engaged connection to your presentation, and that you made the information accessible to a range of learning styles by offering auditory and visual elements from elephant recordings to yankable zip-ties. This is not to mention the opportunity to stage a physical reenactment of trophic cascade by re-ordering their classmates as a food chain!

    We are so grateful to you for volunteering your time and sharing your knowledge, and for your support of local readers through An Open Book.  We know those readers will enjoy their copies of Sea Otter Heroes, and we hope last night’s Green Earth Award ceremony was a smashing success!

    An Open Book Foundation
  • Teachers were very grateful that Patricia Newman shared her engrossing books with eager learners. Through TeachingBooks. net they heard her voice introduce her science books, and they were intrigued by the ecological topics. Patricia knew her audience. The enthused third and fourth grade students of Washington asked intelligent questions and made plans for their future world, choosing animals over plastic.

    Suzy Mead
    Library Tech, Washington Elementary School
  • Patricia Newman was wonderful as our featured author for the Placer Area Reading Council’s Young Writers Celebration – 2015.  Her educational presentation taught students all about the process authors go through as they write a book.  She was diverse enough in her program to include something for everyone, from kindergarten to adults.  She even stayed after to autograph books for the students! We highly recommend her!

    Beth Furdek
    Reading Specialist, Excelsior Elementary
  • Dear Patricia Newman, Thank you for coming to Ottomon so we could learn about trains and you. I was glad to see you when I walked in the door. My favorite part of the book was when the guy was kicking hobos off the train. When you called people to be your helpers, I was one of them. I was a passenger train with my friend. I hope I can make a book just like you. Thank you once more for coming.

    Cameron in grade 4
    Ottomon School, Orangevale, California
  • We loved Patricia! She did a seminar for our K-2nd graders and a different seminar for our 3rd-5th graders. They were both very interesting and grade appropriate. She also taught several writing workshops and a writing Q & A session. The words teachers used to describe her workshops were, “phenomenal” and “fantastic.” We had a wonderful day and Patricia was delightful to work with. I would enthusiastically recommend her to any school searching to host an Author Day.

    Shauna Okusako
    D. H. White Elementary School
  • Patricia Newman’s presentations are engaging, interactive and highly informative. Kids are encouraged to ask questions and make connections as they think about their world and their impact on it. They will gain insight into both the career of a scientist and the career of a writer.

    Jessica Lee
    Teacher Librarian, Berkeley Unified School District
Empowering young readers to act

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    LitLinks: How to inspire nature poetry with predator-prey relationships
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    LitLinks: Design your new home — on Mars!

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© 2022 — Patricia Newman

  • Home
  • Books
    • A River’s Gifts: The Mighty Elwha River Reborn
    • Planet Ocean
    • Eavesdropping on Elephants
    • Neema’s Reason To Smile
    • Zoo Scientists to the Rescue
    • Sea Otter Heroes: The Predators That Saved an Ecosystem
    • Plastic, Ahoy! Investigating the Great Pacific Garbage Patch
    • Ebola: Fears and Facts
    • Jingle the Brass
    • Nugget on the Flight Deck
    • Surviving Animal Attacks
    • Elite Operations series
    • Energy Lab series
    • QuickReads Fluency Library
    • English language-learner books
    • Writers write all kinds of things
  • Author Visit Programs
    • FAQs
    • Calendar
  • Blog
  • Educator Resources
    • STEM + Literacy Activities
    • LitLinks
    • Teacher Guides
    • KidLit creators who make kids want to read
  • Writer Resources
    • Manuscript Critiques
  • About Me
  • Contact
    • Stay In Touch