Author Visits: Diane Z. Shore
Bring Diane Z. Shore to Your School!
"And they thought they were just having fun!" is Diane’s theme as she shares her picture books, rhyming riddles, poetry, Highlights for Children magazine articles, early-reader fiction, and non-fiction with kids. Diane's ultra energetic, educational, and inspirational performances get children excited about reading and writing in a variety of genres, and will have your students laughing and learning all the way to the end. It's a celebration of literacy! www.dianezshore.com
Books
Bus-A-Saurus Bop (Bloomsbury Books), From our pint-sized hero, Norman, to the Tardee twins, to the wacky driver, Ms. Hopper, this cast of characters is almost as wild as the reptilian bus itself. Perfect for any day when the bus ride to school might need a little jazzing up! A crollicking, rhyming read-aloud. Accelerated Reader.
Rosa Loves to Read (Scholastic/Children's Press) -- Rosa sits down outside her front porch for a nice, peaceful afternoon of reading, only to discover the busy street and neighborhood kids are too noisy. A delightful, Level B, Rookie Reader introducing the concept of soft and loud sounds. Also available in Spanish.
Look Both Ways (Bloomsbury Books) -- Filbert, a high-octane squirrel with his eye on the prize of the moment has so much fun racing up telephone poles and dashing through leaves, he forgets to look both ways when he gets to the street. The perfect book for any child in need of a little reminder to look both ways. Accelerated Reader. Also available in German and French.
This is the Dream (HarperCollins) Through striking, powerful verse and gorgeous, detailed illustrations, This Is The Dreamcatalogs American events before, during, and after the civil rights movement. Accelerated Reader.
Forthcoming Titles: How to Drive Your Sister Crazy! (HarperCollins, 2008) This is the Feast (HarperCollins, 2008) ) This Is the Game (HarperCollins, 2009)
PRESENTATIONS
Diane offers several different programs that get kids excited about reading and writing, including these fun events:
A-Rockin’ and A-Read Aloud
(suggested for pre-K through 2nd grade)
Standing beside her orange, outlandish, almost life-size Bus-A-Saurus, Diane reads from her award-winning picture book, Bus-A-Saurus Bop; asks the kids "Who likes to make noise?" before choosing a "Rosa" from the audience to act out her Rookie Reader, Rosa Loves to Read (about soft and loud noises); and with the help of Filbert the squirrel puppet, recites her cautionary tale, Look Both Ways, in a combination of both English and German, or Germlish, as Diane calls it.
Diane also shares her humorous poems and riddle rhymes and will have your students a-laughin' and a-learnin' all the way through this interactive performance. It's an ultra energetic, educational, and inspirational performance that gets children excited about reading!
A-Rockin’ and A-Readin’
(suggested for 2nd through 4th grade)
Diane and her outlandish Bus-A-Saurus will have your students a-laughin' and a-learnin' as she reads from her award-winning picture book, Bus-A-Saurus Bop and shares her nonfiction articles (Did you know that George Washington's false teeth were not made of wood and that the first Ferris Wheel held over 2,000 people!), poems, and rhyming riddles. Diane shares how she started writing poetry by changing the words of nursery rhymes.
It's an ultra-energetic, educational, and inspirational performance that gets children excited about reading AND writing!
"We loved your poetry and your humor. All the librarians are eager to return to their schools and share the poems with their students."
— Stephen Schwartz, President, Society of School Librarians Int’l
Poetry Party!
(suggested for 4th through 6th grade)
"It's a belly bustin' blast 'til the very merry last!
Poetry has never been so much fun when Diane recites her award-winning poem, "Get Out of Bed!" and acts out poems from Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Dr. Seuss, and other favorite poets-all in a school setting. There's even a visit from "Mrs. Stein," the mean substitute!
Kids learn onomatopoeia, hyperbole, alliteration, metaphors, and more. It's an ultra-energetic, educational performance that will inspire even your reluctant students to read poetry and possibly write some of their own!
Faculty and Teacher Workshops
Write On!
Designed for teachers to help students enjoy learning the craft of writing, this workshop will have your students painting pictures with words and at the same time take the stress out of assess. With an emphasis on personal narrative, expository, and creative writing, these fun, interactive, hands-on activities will put your students on the “write track” for the statewide writing assessment.
Topics covered: Hooks/grabbers, show vs. tell, vivid verbs and colorful words, onomatopoeia, dialogue tags, sentence structure, sensory check, similes/metaphors, and wrap-up.
Lessons of the Civil Rights Movement
Using her award winning picture book, "This Is the Dream," Diane will share ideas on teaching tolerance, nonviolent change, and explore the concept of freedom and justice for all. This workshop incorporates lessons in non-violence and tolerance into the elementary curriculum and to explore the alternate ways that the Civil Rights Movement can be taught using literature and interactive activities. Diane will introduce picture books, exercises, and interactive, hands-on activities that can be used to teach non-violence and tolerance all in the context of the Civil Rights Movement. The workshop attendees will participate in interactive hands-on activities, will be shown demonstrations for classroom use, and will be familiarized with a variety of picture books and resources on the topic.
Handouts included.
1 hour
A Goldmine of Guinea Pigs
Do you have a story that's begging to be written; written and begging to be published? As a teacher or librarian, you know that a classroom is a goldmine of ideas and your students guinea pigs for your works- in -progress. Barbara Parks, Paula Danzinger, Louis Sachar, and Patricia Reilly Giff had the inside track and motivation to turn their own experience with kids into award winning books. If you, too dream of publishing a children's book, then join former teacher and award winning author, Diane Z. Shore, and learn how to develop your ideas into marketable manuscripts.
Handouts included.
1 hour
Poetry Party!
Poetry has never been "funner" when award winning author and poet, Diane Z. Shore, recites and acts out her own poems along with those of Shel Silverstein, Jack Prelutsky, Dr. Suess and other favorites. An added bonus is the special section introducing and writing "I Poetry." Learn how to use alliteration, hyperbole, end rhyme/internal rhyme, rhythm/meter, onomatopoeia, metaphors, similies, and more, to write poetry that wiggles the funny bone and tickles the ribs.
Handouts included.
1 hour
"Diane is a natural with children and inspires even the most reluctant readers to pick up a book and read."