Specific session content will vary depending on audience age and attention span.

For instance, for preschool audiences I demonstrate a little bit of Parts 2 and 3
and then Part 4, showing my Ideas Journal, how to draw Ben-Ben from a lower
case e, and simple McDoodle words (they watch, without drawing along).

For grades 4 and 5, I present every part listed, and the students draw with me.
Give me an hour with them. I can do less than an hour, but will have to cut
something out.

** Please have students come into the room with pencil and paper in hand**

Part 1: My Path to Publication -- cartoon and journal images show
a glimpse of my childhood and what it's like to be an author (rejection,
revisions, finding your career path, etc).
I use your screen and my document camera, projector and paper.

Part 2: Character Workshop -- audience brainstorms what makes a good
character, and we develop one together.

Part 3: Story Creation Workshop -- where ideas originate, journals, the
writing process, revisions, distractions, editor/author relationship, deadlines.
Audience participates as we brainstorm a story arc, setting and tension,
and create most of a story on the spot (with super-quick illustrations).
Usually we get 6 - 12 book page spreads figured out.

Part 4: How to make McDoodle Words -- a way to enhance creativity.
Audience doodles words with me.

The school keeps the sketches generated during all presentations.
Some schools finish the stories and send me copies -- very cool.

Note--
For special sessions I can focus more on sketching (people, animals, characters) or
on the creative process in creating a book (including introducing Caldecott books).

I am happy to modify my presentations to incorporate your school's special rules/ideas/reminders.

I'm happy to work with you to make each presentation useful to your students.