Laura Gehl is the award-winning author of more than thirty picture books, board books, and early readers, including ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR (Charlotte Zolotow Highly Commended Title, International Literacy Association Honor Book, Booklist Books for Youth Editors’ Choice); the PEEP AND EGG series (Parents’ Choice Recommendation, Amazon Editors’ Pick, Children’s Choice Book Award Finalist); DONUT (Junior Library Guild gold standard selection, Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library selection); the BABY SCIENTIST series (Amazon Editors’ Pick, Northern Lights Book Award, Green Earth Book Award longlist, A Mighty Girl Best Books of the Year selection); and APPLE AND MAGNOLIA (Kirkus best picture books of the year selection, Cybils Award finalist, Charter Oak Children’s Book Award nominee, a White Ravens International Children’s and Youth Literature Selection). Laura lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland, with her husband and four children.
PRESENTATIONS
Presentations can be customized to the needs of your group. For preschool and elementary school students, Laura offers a presentation focused around her newest book, with games and brainstorming activities related to that particular book, in addition to the presentations listed below.
Presentations for elementary schools (any size audience):
How Ideas Grow Up to Be Picture Books
This presentation focuses on where the ideas came from for some of the author’s popular books and how those ideas changed and grew in the years between initial concept and published picture book.
It’s perfect! Now fix it!
This presentation focuses around the revision process. Laura even has an example of a book where only 1 word stayed the same in the entire book between the first draft and the published book.
When Writing Meets Math
With ONE BIG PAIR OF UNDERWEAR as a starting point, this presentation includes math activities, rhyming games, and brainstorming ideas for new math scenarios following the same pattern used in the book.
Studying Series
Using the PEEP AND EGG books as a jumping off point, this presentation focuses on what makes a successful series. Students will brainstorm additional PEEP AND EGG titles, then branch off into working together as a group to create a brand new series concept.
Why Pictures Matter in Picture Books
Using MY PILLOW KEEPS MOVING as a mentor text, students will learn how words and art work together in picture books and how the same text with different illustrations can tell three completely different stories.
Workshops for Elementary Schools (smaller groups/single classes) **Note: Workshops can be adapted for larger groups upon request:
How to Write a Boring Story (and how to avoid accidentally writing one)
Nobody wants to write a boring story! But the best way to avoid writing one is to start by figuring out what makes a story boring in the first place. In this workshop, young writers will explore techniques for creating characters, settings, and plots that stand out from the crowd.
Fairy Tales With a Twist
Students will learn five different ways to take a story they already know and give it their own unique spin. Each student will begin her or his
own fairy tale or fable during the workshop.
Thinking SERIOUSLY About Series
Students will learn how to get started with writing a series, and how writing a series is different from writing a standalone book. Each student will come away with at least one series idea that could be developed into short stories, picture books, graphic novels, or comics.
Engineering Excellence
Using I GOT A CHICKEN FOR MY BIRTHDAY as a starting point, students will brainstorm, draw, and create their own contraptions.
Factory Fun
Students will read DELIVERY BEAR then become the CEOs of their own cookie factories. What types of cookies will they produce? What prices will they set? What routes will their delivery employees use to get around town efficiently?
For Writers:
Picture Books: Leaving Room for Art
This presentation focuses on why it is important for a picture book author to leave room—physical and metaphorical—for the illustrator; gives examples from published picture books of text and art that are complementary rather than repetitive; includes tips on how to evaluate a picture book manuscript to make sure the illustrations will add additional layers; and more!
Forget About the Truth (at least a little bit)
Mark Twain cautioned that we should never let the truth get in the way of a good story. This presentation focuses on how the truth can get in the way of writing a good picture book—both in fiction and nonfiction—and how to move away from the literal truth when needed in order to achieve emotional truth and a satisfying story.
For Librarians/Educators:
Losing My Magic Wand
This presentation focuses on Laura’s nonfiction writing journey. Prior to becoming a children’s book author, Laura was a successful science writer, writing about scientific topics for both children and adults. When Laura moved to writing picture books, working on science books seemed like an easy transition. WRONG. This presentation details the many failures and obstacles Laura encountered before finally publishing her fist nonfiction picture book.
Why I Love Picture Books
This presentation talks about the author’s personal journey to writing picture books, what she loves about the genre as a reader, as a parent, as an educator, and as a writer, and why she thinks picture books can educate and inspire kids of all ages.
Growing Emotional Intelligence Through Picture Books
DELIVERY BEAR, about a bear delivering cookies, is actually about learning to stand out instead of fit in. I’M NOT HATCHING, about an egg refusing to hatch, is actually about overcoming fears. I GOT A CHICKEN FOR MY BIRTHDAY, about an unwanted chicken, is about how an unwelcome gift might turn out to be the perfect present after all. This presentation focuses on the ways in which picture books, even laugh
out loud picture books, can gently help children in their emotional growth.
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