In connection with the book I am presently working on I give shadow puppetry presentations and workshops for grade 3-6, which may be combined with interactive presentations for younger grades about writing picture books.

• "Shady tricks with Greek myths" (grade 3-6)
• Thinking pictures? (grade K-2)
• Preschool presentations
• Rates and restrictions

I live in Princeton, NJ. Travel restrictions may apply.

Contact me for information.
Visit my site about my children's books

"Shady tricks with Greek myths" (grade 3-6)

At present I am working on a book explaining and visualizing how to do shadow puppetry at home, using various Greek myths. During a 30 minute interactive presentations I tell the children one of the stories, while showing them how to make their own screen and puppets, an let them try out visual tricks.

This presentation can be expanded into a workshop in which students make and try out their own mythological characters, or act out a particular myth with their own puppets.

Thinking pictures? (K-2nd grade)

School visits for children from Kindergarten to Second grade are customized for each age group, and will take 20-30 minutes minutes for each class. Bringing in picture books at various stages of production, I will discuss the process of creating a book, including the role of the author, the illustrator, and the publisher. As part of the interactive presentation, we will read The Best Mom in the Universe, about a boy and an alien who take off into space to find out who of the two has the best mom. We will discuss the illustrations that Peter van Harmelen (who previously illustrated Will You Carry Me) is working on right now, and which I will project on a screen, while children will learn how to predict what will happen in each scene, and how to read alien.

Preschool presentations

• Flannel board presentations
• Follow the duck!

Preschool visits are customized to the age and attention span of the children. In addition to Will You Carry Me (above), I have a selection of three other picture books to choose from, which are either published or currently in production by my Dutch publisher (each book presentation will be 15-20 minutes).  

Children help put Master Pieces
together like a puzzle on a flannel board.

Good Morning, Master Pieces, about a little guy who puts himself together like a puzzle, is appropriate for children as young as 2-3, who help putting Master Pieces together on a flannel board.

The Best Mom in the Universe, about a boy and an alien who can't agree who has the best Mom, is most appropriate for 4-5 year olds. With the help of a flannel board or a projector I let the children predict what is going to happen next and teach them 'alien (= picture) language.'

Will You Carry Me (Kane/Miller, 2005, first published in Amsterdam, 2004) tells the story of a little boy who is too tired to walk home, and his Mom's solution to the problem (they jump, swim, fly and run!). This picture book, illustrated by Peter van Harmelen, was chosen in the Netherlands as one of the 'Ten Picture Books of the Year' in 2004.

For storytelling in libraries and bookstores I bring a flannel board and a puppet duck. We look for amusing details in the illustrations, and end up acting out the story (15-20 minutes for 2-5 year olds). Afterwards, there is opportunity for book signing and discussion.

A universal experience that will have both toddlers and parents grinning, turning the plea for "carry me" into playful fun. (Kirkus Reviews about Will You Carry Me, January 2005)

Rates and restrictions

My rates are $325.- for the first two hours, and $75.- for every next hour, with a maximum of four hours plus travel expenses of $0.80 a mile (round trip).

Shadow puppetry presentations require the use of an overhead projector and a screen, which I bring myself, and an air conditioned room which can be darkened. As my presentations are interactive, I can talk to no more than two classes (30-40 children) at the same time.