I was thrilled to do a Skype author visit with 120 kindergartners! They were well prepared having read the story ahead of time. They also came up with questions that the Media Specialist had collected ahead of time.
For such a young group, the teachers asked for a 20-minute visit. The kids were great and were able to sit still and stay focused. I loved meeting them!
My Skype author visit portion is about 10 minutes with time for Q and A. During this time, I talked about my author journey as Sumo Joe was the very first picture book manuscript that I have ever written.
This is what I cover:
- How I got my idea
- How took my idea from notes on my phone to a picture book manuscript (revise)
- How I took a picture book writing class (revise with input from classmates and my teacher)
- How I entered a picture book competition (and I did NOT win)
- How I worked with editors from the picture book writing competition to revise about 10 more times
- How the illustrator drew the pictures separately from me.
I like to make it interactive, so I have the kids raise their hands as I read the different iterations of the manuscript when they recognize words from the Sumo Joe story.
–> I read my first rhymes when I got my idea. They all notice how my words do not make a story.
–> I read the book dummy of the manuscript that I entered into the picture book competition. It’s a little different from the final story.
–> I show them the PDF of the manuscript with illustrator drawings in blue pencil.
–> I show them the F&G (Folded and Gathered) book which is almost the final book but not bound.
I can cover all this in 10 minutes for a young crowd like preschool and kindergarten, and 15 minutes for kids who are slightly older and want more detail.
I would love to meet with your school! My Skype visits are free and I am sending stickers for every child plus Sumo Squish Balls for adults while supplies last.
Please email me at pragmaticmomblog@gmail.com if you would like to set something up!
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p.s. Related posts:
Sumo Joe makes Bank Street Best Children’s Books of the Year list!
SUMO JOE reviewed in BookList & Other Updates
Sumo Joe Reviewed in Publishers Weekly!
Wow! SUMO JOE got a Great Review from Kirkus!
SUMO JOE Illustrator Nat Iwata
Meeting My Editor for SUMO JOE
My First Picture Book Submission: Sumo Joe! #AmWriting
Taking a Children’s Book Writing Class
10 Unexpected Gifts from Blogging for the Last Decade
My First Book Festival: Chappaqua Children’s Book Festival
Japanese American Books for Kids
21 Wonderful Japanese Folk Tales
Japanese Internment Books for Kids
Learning About Japan Picture Books for Kids
For your young ninja, books to learn about Japan.
Connecting Science and Art: Hokusai’s The Great Wave
It’s amazing how a single piece of art can have a ripple effect, inspiring others all around the world and for many generations.
In Memory of Hiroshima Bombing Books and Crane Origami for Kids
Top 10: Japanese American Children’s Books (ages 2-16)
WWII Internment seems to dominate Japanese American books for kids. I agree that it is an important lesson in history — my own mother was forced to relocate but I also hunger for books that explore other facets of being Japanese American.
Kite flying is an important ritual in Asia and I’ve rounded up every great kite flying book thanks to a little help from my friends and readers.
Best BiLingual Japanese Books for Kids
This was my response to a reader request.
Japan: Books for Kids on Shogun, Family Crests, Block Prints
I explore my own Japanese history in this post.
Japanese American Post Internment Story: Journey Home (ages 8-12)
These older books explore the Japanese American internment experience during WWII, a shameful chapter in America’s history.
Pearl Harbor Day Books for Kids
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Multicultural Books for Kids on Pinterest.
Follow PragmaticMom’s board Children’s Book Activities on Pinterest.
My books:
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Food for the Future: Sustainable Farms Around the World
- Junior Library Guild Gold selection
- Selected as one of 100 Outstanding Picture Books of 2023 by dPICTUS and featured at the Bologna Children’s Book Fair
- Starred review from School Library Journal
- Chicago Library’s Best of the Best
- 2023 INDIES Book of the Year Awards Finalist
- Green Earth Book Award longlist
- Imagination Soup’s 35 Best Nonfiction Books of 2023 for Kids
Amazon / Barefoot Books / Signed or Inscribed by Me
Amazon / Scholastic / Signed or Inscribed by Me
How fun! It looks like it went well. Have you signed up for World Read Aloud Day? I’ve had fun doing it in years past, but decided to forego it this year. If not, you can sign up on Kate Messner’s website. I believe it’s on February 5th this year.