Alaska Author of Nature Books for Children
SCHOOL VISITS AND AUTHOR PROGRAMS:
Introduction Author/Illustrator Program
Author Program Teacher/Librarian/Parent Comments
Student Comments How to Order My Books
School Visit and Author Program Itinerary
Introduction: Journey to Alaska with your students!
I enjoy visiting schools all across the U.S. Usually I visit several schools in one community or school district, so that expenses are shared. I traditionally visit Chicago-area schools during the first two weeks of February. If your school is located in the Midwest, this would be an ideal time to schedule an author visit.
I will be visiting New England schools between mid-November and mid-March in 2007 through 2010. My daughter is playing basketball for Merrimack College in Andover, Massachusetts. I enjoy watching her play and visiting schools in the surrounding region. In recent months it was a pleasure to visit many schools in Massachusetts(see my recent Itinerary). I'm now scheduling visits for the 2007-2008 school year. Contact me at debbiesmiller@hotmail.com if you have questions or want to schedule a visit.
As a former teacher, I've taught primary, intermediate and junior high students, so I'm comfortable presenting to all age levels. I enjoy sharing the beauty and wonders of Alaska with students, and inspiring them to become writers themselves. I tailor my programs to meet the needs of students and teachers. I prefer smaller groups ranging from 50 to 100 students, but will speak to larger groups as well. Students, teachers and librarians should become familiar with my books prior to my visit.
I offer two types of programs for schools: an author program, or an author/illustrator program with Jon Van Zyle. Jon and I have collaborated on eight picture books. We enjoy visiting schools together, but do so on a very limited basis due to our work schedules.
As an author of children's and adult books, I can speak to all ages. I most frequently visit K-6 schools, giving a maximum of four programs each day. My program includes:
*a short slide show on Alaska and its wildlife with emphasis on the animals that are subjects of my books. This show takes viewers on a journey to Alaska, as they visit the areas where I have researched my books.
*hands-on materials for students such as clothing made from caribou hides by Alaska Natives; bones and antlers, artifacts, and animal puppets.
*discussion on how a nature writer works in Alaska, including the research, writing and editing process.
*discussion of the book making process with materials showing the different stages of book production.
*follow-up activities for teachers
*optional young authors lunch with 10-15 serious student writers
*I'm also available for library presentations, conferences, school district inservices, and teacher workshops.
Joint presentations with Alaska artist Jon Van Zyle include:
*discussion on how an artist and author collaborate together on a book project
*presentation of materials that show both the writing and art stages of book production
*Alaska wildlife slide show relating to book research and our lives in Alaska
Comments From Teachers, Librarians, and Parents:
"Ravenscroft Lower School recently hosted Debbie Miller. Mrs. Miller's presentation to our students in Grades 1-5 was both informative and entertaining. She shared her many adventures drawn from 24 years living in Alaksa and materials she has gathered over the years, such as clothing and boots, mittens, and hides from the caribou. Her presentations included a discussion of what it is like to live in Alaska and a slide show of the wildlife and natural scenery of the state. The children thoroughly enjoyed her enthusiasm for and knowledge of the caribou, polar bear, and plover! She explained journal writing, the writing and editing process, and research involved in publishing a book. In addition to presentations, Mrs. Miller worked with fourth graders who became authors of animal stories, and first graders who illustrated new text she has written and hopes to have published.
This author is a gift to the children's world of books. She is an exceptional presenter and does such a nice job of addressing each grade level appropriately. Every presentation was different in some way! She took our students on "a journey to Alaska" that they will never forget!"
-Sarah Adams, Librarian, Ravenscroft Lower School, Raleigh, North Carolina
"Our students found her presentations informative, interesting and fun! The slides were really great and helped students visualize the vastness of Alaska's wilderness. Her presentations have an excellent balance between talking, showing, and answering questions."
-Sheila Carey, Librarian, Ravenwood Elementary School
"Debbie Miller was wonderful. The children loved her presentation. They came back to class feeling they had been on a real journey."
-Chugiak Elementary School
"The audience of all ages thoroughly enjoyed her presentation. Everyone was fascinated by the articles that showed the many uses of the caribou by Alaska Natives."
-Robyn Martin, Librarian, Noel Wien Library
Dear Ms. Miller: Every year our family follows the Iditarod and I do a unit study on Alaska with my 3 children. As I read "Big Alaska" to the children today I felt compelled to write to say thank you for producing such fantastic books. Your books are truly "living books" and they bring Alaska right into our schoolroom (aka my kitchen table). We may never get to see the race first-hand (although every March 1st my husband threatens to sell everything we own and head up there!) but your books have helped us get a bit closer. Iditarod is a family affair for us - I suppose what the superbowl might be to other families. Your books make these 2 weeks a richer time for us. I've read "Disappearing Lake" and "Caribou Journey" year after year. This year, "Big Alaska" and "Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights" will be new. Thank you for all the hours you have put into creating a picture of America's greatest state for those of us in the lower 48. Now that I've discovered your website, we will add 'author study' to our lessons!
-a parent in Georgia
" I wanted to say thanks for such a great visit, but I think the following email from a parent says it all. Teachers and students alike LOVED your visit!"
-Tracy Elizabeth Bryant, Library Media Specialist, Happy Hollow School, Wayland, MA
Parent email to Ms. Bryant follows:
Hey, I needed to let "someone" know that my kids have been talking non-stop about the author visit today! They have been buzzing about Polar Bears, Alaskan culture and Ms. Miller's research/writing from the time they got home. We had to enforce taking turns telling us about it because they both had so much to share regarding what they heard and saw from Ms. Miller. I had to bring this to you because I am not sure who organized/sponsored this visit and was hoping you could pass along our gratitude for this learning opportunity. Many nights when they are asked about school, kids offer up what was for lunch, or if recess was in or out... Not today, instead I marveled at finding out that a Polar Bear is only 1 pound at birth and 800 pounds fully grown and that in Alaska recess is indoor when it is less than 20 degrees below zero! I never did hear what was for lunch today!!!! Many thanks.-a parent in Wayland, MA
"...I really enjoyed your presentation. It was just great. One day I would like to be a writer like you. What encouraged me to think about this career is that I noticed when you gave all of the information to us, you seemed to really enjoy writing yourself..."
- a fifth grader from Pleasanton, California
"...You are very lucky to live in such a beautiful state. There is such a large amount of caribou that you can go out into the wild and study their habits. Then you can put your research and notes together and write wonderful stories that tell about real life in Alaska. I hope you can continue writing about your wonderful Alaska adventures..."
- a third grader from Salem, Oregon
"...I love your stories and the paintings. The paintings make me feel like I'm in them. They really describe the words. The stories are really interesting. I really want to go to Alaska. I want to see Mr. Van Zyle's dogs and the Disappearing Lake..."
-a fourth grader from Northbrook, Illinois
"...I thought it was very spectacular the way you researched your books. I especially was fascinated when you told us 40,000 caribou were coming toward you! Also, you have experienced many things while researching like, falling flat on your face, getting your foot stuck in a crack on the sea ice, and seeing polar bear tracks around you..."
-a fifth grader from Seattle, Washington
School Visit and Author Program Itinerary(click here for my booksigning schedule):
School visits: As of September, 2007, I still have some openings for 07-08, and I'm also taking requests for the 08-09 school year. For the New England region, the best weeks for availability are during the first two weeks of December, and in March. If you are interested in hosting a school visit, please email me with your preferred weeks or dates. (debbiesmiller@hotmail.com)
March 2008: Ohio and New England/Massachusetts author tour
Mar. 4: Burbank and Butler Schools, Belmont, MA
Mar. 5: Boyden Elementary, Walpole, MA
Mar. 6: Haggerty School, Cambridge, MA
Mar. 7: South Elementary, Andover, MA (a.m.)
Mar. 10: Glover Elementary, Marblehead, MA
Mar. 11: West Elementary School, Andover, MA (p.m.)
Mar. 12: Woodland School, Weston, MA
Mar. 14: Malcom Bell Elementary School, Marblehead, MA
Mar. 17: Lincoln Eliot School, Newton, MA
Mar. 19: Clintonville Academy, Columbus, OH
February 2008: Chicago and New England/Massachusetts author tour
Feb. 1-7: Chicago area schools:
Feb. 1: Brentwood Elementary, DesPlaines, IL
Feb. 4: Central Elementary
Feb. 5: Harper Elementary, Wilmette, IL (a.m.)
Greeley Elementary, Winnetka, IL (p.m.)
Feb. 7: University Club of Chicago, Arctic Refuge: Songs from Around the World. 12:00 p.m.
Feb. 11: Memorial Elementary, Burlington, MA (a.m.)
Feb. 12: Sheehan Elementary, Westwood, MA
Feb. 13: Greenwood School, Wakefield, MA
Feb. 15: Fox Hill School, Burlington, MA
Feb. 21: Fairbanks Museum and Planetarium, St. Johnsbury, VT.
"Journey to Alaska" program and booksigning, 6:30 p.m.
Feb. 22: North Branch Nature Center, Montpelier, VT.
Naturalist Journeys Lecture Series: 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 25: Pine Glen Elementary, Burlington, MA
Feb. 26, 27, 28, 29: North Andover Schools, North Andover, MA
January 2008: New England/Massachusetts author tour
Jan. 3: Burgess Elementary, Sturbridge, MA
Jan. 7-8: Woodland Elementary, Milford, MA
Jan. 9: Country School, Weston, MA (a.m.)
Jan. 30: McKenzie Elementary, Wilmette, IL (p.m.)
Jan. 31: McKenzie Elementary, Wilmette, IL
December 2007: New England/Massachusetts author tour
Dec. 4: Burr Elementary Schoo, lNewton Public Schools Showcase presentations,
Newton, MA
Dec. 6: The Field School, Weston, MA
Dec. 14: Zervas Elementary, Waban, MA
Dec. 21: Angier Elementary, Waban, MA
November 2007: New England/Massachusetts author tour
Nov. 13-14: Conant School, Acton, MA
Nov. 15-16: Gates School, Acton , MA
Nov. 17: Greater Boston & South Shore Reading Councils, Quincy, MA. Author Lunch, 11:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
Nov. 28, 29, 30: Burlington, Vermont : Visits to six elementary schools
October 2007: Vermont author tour
Oct.11: Sterling College. Arctic Refuge: Songs from Around the World
Oct. 12: Craftsbury School, Craftsbury, VT
March-April 2007: Fairbanks and North Pole, Alaska author tour
Mar. 26 and 28: North Pole Middle School
Apr. 9: North Pole Middle School
Apr. 11: North Pole Middle School
Apr. 13: University Park Elementary School
Apr. 17: North Pole Middle School
February-March 2007: Massachusetts author tour
Feb. 28: Haggerty School, Cambridge, MA
Mar. 1: David Mindess School, Ashland, MA
Mar. 2: Thomson Elementary, Andover, MA
Mar. 5: Country School, Weston, MA
Mar. 6: Happy Hollow School, Wayland
Mar. 7: Loker School, Wayland, MA
Mar. 8: Woodland School, Weston, MA
February, 2007: Chicago author tour
Feb. 5: Central Elementary, Wilmette
Feb. 6: Romona Elementary A.M, McKenzie Elementary, P.M., Wilmette
Feb. 6: DePaul University: Arctic Refuge program, 7:00 p.m.
Feb. 7: McKenzie Elementary, Wilmette
Feb. 8: Harper Elementary A.M., Greeley Elementary P.M., Wilmette & Winnetka
Northwestern University: Arctic Refuge program, 7:00 p.m.
December, 2006: Massachusetts author tour
Dec. 3: Eric Carle Picture Book Museum: 2:00 p.m. Youth Program
Dec. 4: Lincoln Elementary, Springfield
Dec. 5: Bowles Elementary, Springfield
Dec. 8: The Field School, Weston
November 20, 2006: Chelsea Elementary, Manhattan, New York
February,
2006: Palmer and Wasilla, Alaska author tour
February 10: Goose Bay Elementary A.M. Midnight Sun Learning Center P.M.
February 12: Palmer Public Library, program and signing
February 13: Larsen Elementary
February 14: Tanania Elementary A..M. Wasilla Sports Complex P.M.
February, 2006: Chicago area author tour
February 2: Harper Elementary A.M. Greeley Elementary P.M
February 3: Central Elementary
February 7: Romona Elementary A.M. McKenzie Elementary P.M.
February 8: McKenzie Elementary
December, 2005: North Pole, Alaska author tour
December 19: North Pole Middle School
April, 2005: Columbus area author tour
April 25: Brookside Elementary
April 26: Worthington Hills
April, 2005: Chicago area author tour
April 19: Romona Elementary
April 20: Greeley Elementary
February-March, 2005: Valdez, Alaska author tour
February 28 & March 1: Valdez schools
February, 2005: Chicago area author tour
Feb. 7: Central Elementary
Feb. 8: Central Elementary a.m., McKenzie Elementary p.m
Feb. 9: McKenzie Elementary, Wilmette
Feb. 10: West School, Glencoe
Feb. 10: 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.: Booksigning at the Book Stall in Winnetka
Feb. 11: Norman Bridge Elementary School
February, 2005: Houston area author tour
Feb. 14: Fort Bend Baptist Academy
Feb. 15: River Oaks Baptist School
Feb. 16: St. Francis Episcopal(half-day)
Feb. 17-18: Kinkaid Elementary
February, 2004: Chicago area author tour
February 9-19: Wilmette, Winnetka, Glenview, and Northbrook schools
December,
2004: Fairbanks
Dec. 9: Noel Wien Library, 7:00 p.m.: Nature's Voice: Environmental writing through creative nonfiction
November, 2004: Juneau author tour
Nov. 4: Mendenhall River Elementary, a.m, Gastineau Elementary, p.m.
Nov. 5: Glacier Valley School, a.m., Auke Bay Elementary, p.m.
Nov. 5: Juneau Public Library: 7:00 p.m. Program on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge
Nov. 6: Juneau Public Library: 3:00 p.m.: Children's program
November, 2004: Atlanta area author tour
Nov. 8: Fernbank Nature Center, 7:00 p.m., presentation on the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land, with photographer Subhankar Banerjee. Slide show, photo exhibit, reading, and booksigning.
Nov. 10: Lovett School
Nov. 11: The Children's School
November, 2003: Kodiak Island, Alaska
Nov. 10-14: Kodiak schools
October, 2003: Wasilla, Alaska
October 23 and 24: Wasilla schools
February, 2003: Indiana and Chicago author tour
February 3-7: Indiana schools: Rensselaer Middle School, Lake Village Elementary, Wheatfield Elementary, and Van Rensselaer Elementary
February 10-18: Chicago area schools: McKenzie Elementary, Central Elementary, Harper Elementary, McKenzie Elementary, Greeley Elementary, Romona Elementary
December, 2002: Anchorage area author tour
Dec. 2: Chugach Optional and North Star
Dec. 3: Orion Elementary
Dec. 4: Fairview Elementary and Lake Hood
Dec. 5: Kenai schools(tentative)
May, 2002: San Francisco, Fairbanks
May 1-2: International Reading Association, San Francisco
May 17: Preschool Program, Noel Wien Library, Fairbanks
April, 2002: Fairbanks
April 17: Crawford Elementary
April 19: Ladd Elementary
February, 2002: Illinois author tour
February 11-19: Wilmette schools
February, 2002: Colorado author tour
February 4-7: Denver area schools
February 8-9: CCIRA Conference presenter, Denver
February, 2001: Illinois author tour
February 5-9: Wilmette schools
December, 2000: Atlanta author tour
December 4-8: Atlanta area schools
November, 2000: Anchorage area author tour
November 13-17: Anchorage area schools
April, 2000:
April 17-21: Denali Elementary, Fairbanks
March, 2000: Anchorage area author tour
March 20-23: Anchorage, Alaska, area schools
February, 2000: Illinois author tour
February 16: McKenzie Elementary, Wilmette
February 17: Central Elementary, Wilmette
February 18: Harper Elementary, Wilmette
February, 2000: Colorado author tour
February 4: Dutch Creek Elementary School, Littleton
February 7: Campus Middle School, Englewood
February 9: Loyola Elementary School, Denver
February 10: Kent School, Denver
February 11: Antelope Ridge Elementary and Timberline Elementary, Denver area
February 14: University Hill Elementary, Boulder
February 15: Bixby Elementary School, Boulder
November, l999: Anchorage author tour
November 30: O'Malley Elementary
October, l999: North Carolina author tour
October 4-5: Ravenscoft Elementary School, Raleigh.
October 7: Lynn Road /elementary School, Raleigh
October 8: Durham Academy, Durham
April, l999: Ohio author/illustrator tour with Jon Van Zyle
April 21: Titus Elementary; Huber Heights, Ohio
April 22: Valley Forge Elementary; Huber Heights, Ohio
April 23: Montgomery Elementary; Cincinnati, Ohio
April 26: Doherty Elementary; Cincinnati, Ohio
April 27: Lotspeich School; Cincinnati, Ohio
April 28-30: Piqua City Schools; Piqua, Ohio
February, 1999: Ohio author tour
Feb. 11-13: Speaker, Ohio State Literature Conference; Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 15: Medary Elementary; Columbus, Ohio
Feb. 16: Slate Hill Elementary; Worthington, Ohio
Feb. 17: Glenford Elementary; Glenford, Ohio
Feb. 18: Groveport Elementary; Groveport, Ohio
Feb. 19: Sedalia Elementary; Columbus Ohio
February, 1999: Illinois author/illustrator tour, with Jon Van Zyle
Feb. 1: North Shore Country Day, Crow Island Elementary; Winnetka, Illinois
Feb. 2: Hickory Point Elementary, Shabonee Elementary; Northbrook, Illinois
Feb. 3: Northbrook schools; Northbrook, Illinois
Feb. 4: Central Elementary; Wilmette, Illinois
Joseph Sears Elementary; Kennilworth, Illinois
Feb. 5: Harper Elementary; Wilmette, Illinois
Joseph Sears Elementary; Kennilworth, Illinois
Feb. 8: Central Elementary; Wilmette, Illinois
Feb. 9: McKenzie Elementary; Wilmette, Illinois
How to Order my Books for School Visits and Author Events
Most local bookstores and regional distributors either stock my books or can order them for you. Publishers will give you a 40% discount if you order multiple copies of books for a school visit or other author events. I'm happy to autograph books for any author visit.
For these six children's book titles: Big Alaska, The Great Serum Race, Arctic Lights, Arctic Nights, Are Trees Alive?, A Polar Bear Journey, and Disappearing Lake, contact Bloomsbury/Walker. Call Erin Henricks at 800-221-7945, ext. 5370.
For River of Life contact Clarion Books: 800-225-3362
For out-of-print copies of Flight of the Golden Plover and A Woolly Mammoth Journey contact me: debbiesmiller@hotmail.com.
Adult
books and essays:
For Midnight Wilderness: Journeys in Alaska's Arctic National
Wildlife Refuge contact: Alaska Northwest Books: 800-452-3032
For Arctic Wings: Birds of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, and Arctic Refuge: Seasons of Life and Land, contact: Mountaineers Books: 206-223-6303
There are many bookstores that partner with schools and non-profits. They can bring in books for an author event, usually giving a small percent of the proceeds to the hosting organization. Or they give an educational discount. Contact the local bookstores in your community for more information.
Debbie S. Miller
It's
in Fairbanks, Alaska