Inspiring Creativity, Confidence, and a Love of Reading

Invite award-winning children’s author JoAnn M. Dickinson to your school, library, classroom, homeschool group, or educational event for an engaging author visit filled with storytelling, creativity, and a behind-the-scenes look at how a book becomes a finished product.

JoAnn’s visits are designed to be age-appropriate, interactive, educational, and inspiring. Through her books and personal publishing journey, she encourages students to use their imagination, build confidence, ask questions, and see themselves as readers, writers, artists, and creators.

Each visit can be customized for the age group, grade level, classroom goals, and time available.

What Teachers Can Expect

JoAnn’s school visits give students a real look at the creative and publishing process — from the first spark of an idea to the finished book.

Depending on the age of the students, JoAnn may share:

• How story ideas begin
• Turning an idea into a manuscript
• The writing and revision process
• Why editing matters
• Working with an editor
• Choosing and working with an illustrator
• How storyboards help plan a book
• How rough sketches become full-color illustrations
• Book design and layout
• Print books, eBooks, and different publishing formats
• A simple introduction to self-publishing
• How books are uploaded and published through platforms such as Amazon KDP
• What it means to become an author and share your work with readers

Students will learn how writing, art, creativity, technology, and publishing all work together to create a book.

Visit Format

Each author visit may include:

• A short author introduction
• A behind-the-scenes look at the book creation process
• Age-appropriate discussion about writing, editing, illustration, and publishing
• A read-aloud from one of JoAnn’s books
• Interactive discussion or activity
• Student Q&A
• Encouragement for young readers, writers, artists, and dreamers

Visits may be presented as classroom visits, grade-level presentations, assemblies, library events, literacy nights, homeschool events, or writing workshops.

For Younger Students

For younger readers, JoAnn keeps the presentation fun, visual, and easy to understand. Students learn how a simple idea can grow into a story, how illustrations help bring words to life, and how authors and illustrators work together to create a book.

A younger student visit may include:

• A read-aloud
• A simple explanation of how books are made
• Discussion about characters, pictures, and imagination
• Student questions
• An interactive song or activity, when appropriate

For Older Students

For older elementary and middle-grade students, JoAnn provides a more detailed look at the writing and publishing process. Students can learn about story structure, character development, revision, editing, illustration planning, formatting, self-publishing, and what it takes to bring a book into the world.

An older student visit may include:

• How to develop story ideas
• Creating characters and settings
• Revising and improving a manuscript
• Working with editors and illustrators
• Understanding storyboards and book layout
• Self-publishing basics
• Print books, eBooks, and publishing platforms
• Q&A about writing, publishing, and becoming an author

Older students will also learn about staying committed to a creative project and seeing an idea through from beginning to end.

A Visit That Connects Reading, Writing, Art, and Creativity

JoAnn’s books often include themes of STEAM, social-emotional learning, kindness, friendship, courage, problem-solving, acceptance, and self-confidence.

Her author visits are designed to support literacy while encouraging students to believe their ideas matter. Students leave with a better understanding of how books are made — and the reminder that creativity, persistence, and imagination can turn an idea into something real.

Perfect For

• Elementary school visits
• Middle-grade classroom visits
• Library events
• Literacy nights
• Read Across America events
• Author days
• Homeschool groups
• Book clubs
• Writing workshops
• Career day presentations
• STEAM or SEL-focused events

Visit Options

1–2 Hour Visit

A focused and engaging session for one grade level, classroom group, or small assembly.

Includes:

• Book reading
• Introduction to the self-publishing process
• Discussion of writing, editing, storyboarding, illustration, printing, and book creation
• Student Q&A
• Interactive song or activity, when appropriate

$100 per hour
2-hour minimum

Half-Day Visit

A more in-depth visit that may include multiple grade levels, classroom visits, or 2–4 shorter assemblies.

Includes:

• Book reading
• Explanation of the self-publishing process
• Behind-the-scenes look at writing, editing, illustration, storyboards, printing, and publishing
• Student Q&A
• Interactive song or activity, when appropriate

$350
Up to 4 hours maximum

Full-Day Visit

An immersive author visit that may include multiple assemblies, classroom visits, grade-level presentations, and interactive activities.

Includes:

• Book reading
• Age-appropriate explanation of self-publishing
• Detailed look at writing, editing, illustration, book design, printing, and marketing
• Student Q&A
• Interactive song or activity, when appropriate
• Optional lunch with students or staff
• Art projects or educational extensions connected to the book being shared

$550
Up to 6 hours maximum

Ready to Schedule Your Author Visit?

Bring storytelling, creativity, and publishing inspiration to your students with an author visit from JoAnn M. Dickinson.

To learn more or request availability, please email:

joannmdickinsonauthor@gmail.com

Book your school visit today and inspire the next generation of readers, writers, artists, and creators.