Like so many, I’ve been watching heartbreaking reports from the LA County wildfires, sending donations, and looking for more ways to help. Kids in some communities are going to be out of school for at least another week, so I’ve pulled together a collection of my virtual author visits and read-alouds and opened them up for free use this month. If you’re a teacher, librarian, or caregiver working with kids this week, please feel free to use whatever’s helpful to you and know that I’m holding your kids and your community in my heart.
~Kate
Virtual Poetry Workshop for Grades 4 and up- My novel The Trouble with Heroes is about Finn, an angry 7th grader who vandalizes a cemetery and finds himself sentenced to hike all 46 Adirondack High Peaks in a single summer. He’s also required to complete his 7th grade poetry project, and this 21-minute virtual poetry workshop invites student writers to explore their own lives through poetry, too.
This workshop invites kids to write “place poems” that share a snapshot of a place they love, and preserving those memories may be healing for those who have lost beloved places in their communities this past week.
The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class Virtual Author Visit & Writing Workshop with Kate Messner & Rajani LaRocca – Kate & Rajani share the story behind collaborating with a team of authors to create the new chapter book series The Kids in Mrs. Z’s Class, including planning, research, and revision. This virtual author visit for Grades 2-5 wraps up with a character development writing workshop for kids.
Ranger in Time Virtual Author Visit with Kate Messner – This virtual author visit for grades K-5 explores the research, planning, writing, and revision process behind her Ranger in Time historical adventures.
Over and Under Picture Books about Nature – Virtual Author Visit for Grades K-5 – This virtual author visit explore the story behind the beloved Over and Under nature picture books, including Over and Under the Snow and other titles in the series.
And here’s a read-aloud of Over and Under the Snow, illustrated by Christopher Silas Neal.
And here’s Over and Under the Rainforest.
Here’s a fun virtual read-aloud of The Scariest Kitten in the World, illustrated by MacKenzie Haley!
Here’s The Brilliant Deep: Rebuilding the World’s Coral Reefs, illustrated by Matt Forsythe.
And here’s a read-aloud of our elementary school reading workshop favorite, How to Read a Story illustrated by Mark Siegel.