Dare to Dream!
Inspiring kids to follow their dreams!
Written for children 8 – 12, UP IN THE AIR empowers students to overcome obstacles and realize their dreams. The book is an allegory that all children can relate to, and it encourages them to face their fears and surmount daily challenges. I relate this work of fiction to life experiences in order to enhance the language-arts curriculum with a focus on building self-esteem and inspiring kids to see possibilities.
Students can:
- Write essays
- Write poetry
- Come up with new chapters to go with the book or create their own stories
- Develop Art projects
- Brainstorm the meaning of passages and how it relates to them.
Here is an example of an essay on UP IN THE AIR written by a Grade 5 student as her school project.
Trailers are wonderful. They can tell you so much about a book (or movie). So you can imagine how I felt when I visited one school and found out that the class had produced six trailers on Up In the Air.
Here are two of the trailers
created by students.
MY FEES
Within a 50 mile radius of Toronto, Ontario*
Classroom visit (one 60 minute presentation) $250.00
School Visit (Two 60 minute presentations) $450.00
*outside Toronto, there may be additional fees.
If you’re looking for an author in the southeastern US, check out my friend Kim Norman at http://www.kimnormanbooks.com
I am available for school visits and presentations in person and via Skype
Topics I cover include:
- How to write Effective Dialogue
- The birth of Inspiration
- Character Development
- Plot Development
If there is a subject not mentioned here which you would like me to discuss, please let me know.
READINGS AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
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In the midst of the events leading up to the Black Power Movement in Trinidad in 1970, twelve-year old Alex Donaldson struggles to get comfortable in her own skin. She’d give anything to have a lighter, beautiful complexion like her mother and two siblings. One stormy night, she and Granddad discover that a Soucouyant is living down the road. Soucouyants suck people’s blood like vampires. With a kiss, they take control of a person.
It’s best to ignore them; chances are they’ll return the favor. Then her brother does the one thing she cannot resist. He dares her to get the Soucouyant skin.
Alex’s attempt to acquire the skin brings her to the attention of Mrs. Henry. To make things worse, Alex learns that Mrs. Henry used to be Granddad’s girlfriend. Mrs. Henry wastes no time in giving Granddad a peck on the cheek and worms her way back into his heart.
Though wary of Mrs. Henry, Alex finds her intriguing. Mrs. Henry is everything Alex dislikes about herself: dark complexioned, big breasted, plump. But that doesn’t bother her. She walks with pride and confidence. She is fun! She calls Alex beautiful. Alex starts to believe in herself. Is she wrong about Mrs. Henry?
Yet Mrs. Henry is hiding something. Many things she says don’t add up, and Granddad is acting like he is under some sort of spell. Alex has to uncover the truth about Mrs. Henry, or Granddad and her family might be the Soucouyant’s next victims.