What
is the length and content of my program?
40 to 60 minutes. This is how I structure my program: I make opening
remarks that last about 2 minutes. During
my slide presentation (20-30 min.) I discuss my introduction to the
field of children's books, the variety of projects I have illustrated,
the artistic influences on my work, where I work, how I do research,
and the different stages of the children's book process. I like to
take questions for 10-15 minutes and end with a drawing demonstration
that includes student participation.
The
program usually lasts about 40 minutes for grades 1-2 and 45-60 minutes
for grades 3-8. For kindergarten children I do not present slides.
Instead, I prefer to do a 10-15 minute question/answer session and
drawing demonstration for a small group.
To give my best to the students, three presentations a day is the limit.
Detailed schedule must be sent to me at least two weeks
prior to my visit. Please group students according to grade level for
presentations.
No taping
of any kind is permitted without my express, written consent.
Schools that are interested in having James and his wife Lesa (a children's book writer) should indicate that on the submission form.
I
now use Powerpoint for my presentations.
What do I need to have on hand the day
of the presentation?
- Projector for
a Windows Laptop
- Easel
- Ten 27x34 sheets
of paper per presentation (available from any office supply store
in the presentation section)
- Two (non-toxic)
colored magic markers of different colors
- Drinking water
- A room that
can be darkened for an effective slide presentation
Fun
things many schools have arranged during my visit.
- A pot-luck
lunch with staff allows everyone to get to meet me and get to ask
those questions they may have been too intimidated to ask on
during my presentation.
- Lunch with
students who have an interest in art. Some schools have
allowed art teachers to select individual students who are
interested in pursuing their art education to meet me in a more
relaxed setting. They can ask more questions and also share
their aspirations with me. The schools usually order some
"take-out" food that we all share.
- I also enjoy
touring the school to see artwork or writing projects that were
inspired by my books.
- It's great to
see the many young elementary students who wear their projects to
my presentation: "Aunt Flossie's Hats," "Red Dancing Shoes,"
animal masks or any other wearable art projects they've done with
inspiration from my books.
- I'm pleased to
be interviewed for the school newspaper.
- You'll have to
excuse me, but I enjoy being a card on the school's morning TV
news.
- Plays and
musical performances---it overwhelms me when I visit schools, and
someone has taken one of my books and created a short dramatic
performance or perhaps the music department has put together a
program based on music from the period of one of my books. I
love to be able to attend these events.
Airport
Preferences:
- First, Stewart Airport,
Newburgh, NY. Allow 2 hours for travel to the airport
- Albany
Airport, Albany, NY. (May be less expensive.) Allow 2 hours for travel to the airport
- LaGuardia Airport,
New York City, NY (Car with driver must be provided for transportation
to and from the airport. Allow 3 hours for travel to the airport)
Please Note: Sometimes it is less expensive and there are fewer connections when flying from La Guardia. Even including the cost of a driver is often less than the price of the plane ticket alone from Stewart Airport. The following limo service is reliable:
On Target Richie
Phone: 914-739-5208
Fax: 845-226-7743
Cell:516-413-0939
Pager: 914-442-1029
www.ontargetrichie.com
email: ontargetrichie@yahoo.com
Flight
preferences:
- Window seat,
non-smoking. Early morning flight (any time after 6:00 AM from
Albany or Stewart) or next to the last flight the evening before.
Ordering
books:
Click
here for the Recommended
List of Books.
To
order single books, go to the New Books or Titles pages and
order from Amazon.com. If you are ordering books in bulk,
you have two options. You can call each publisher and order
the specific book you want, or you can call a book seller and have
them do a complete order for you. Publishers will not want to
work with orders of less than 10, but they will give you a 40%
discount. It might be easier to work with one person at a
bookstore, but the discount will only be in the range of 20%. The
publisher is listed on the title page of each book.
To order books from the publisher, contact:
Simon
& Schuster
1230 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10020
Customer Service:
1-800-223-2336
Holiday House
425 Madison Avenue
New York, NY 10017
212-688-0085
(Ask for Marketing)
Henry
Holt
115 West 18th Street
New York, NY 10011
Amy Geduldig
212-886-1058
Clarion
Books
215 Park Avenue South
New York, NY 10003
Harper
Collins
1350 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY 10019
Call Customer Service 1-800-242-7737 and give them James' name as
the illustrator appearing at your school/library and they will
direct you to the correct person to order books.
Harcourt,
Inc.
525 B Street
San Diego, CA 92101
www.harcourt.com
Suggested book sellers:
Merritt Books
Scott Meyer, Owner
57 Front Street Box 918
Millbrook, NY 12545
845-677-5857
www.merrittbooks.com
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