Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich is the author of several children’s books, including Operation Sisterhood, It Doesn’t Take a Genius, a Kirkus Best Book of the Year, and Two Naomis, co-authored with Audrey Vernick, which was nominated for an NAACP Image Award. She also writes picture books, easy readers, and nonfiction books like Saving Earth: Climate Change and the Fight for Our Future, Someday Is Now: Clara Luper and the 1958 Oklahoma City Sit-Ins, and Mae Makes a Way: The True Story of Mae Reeves, Hat and History Maker. She is a member of the Brown Bookshelf and editor of the We Need Diverse Books anthology The Hero Next Door.

Olugbemisola has a Master of Arts in Education, and a professional development certificate in the Teaching of Writing, and has more than 15 years of experience as an instructor and teaching artist, engaging learners of all ages in a variety of dynamic programs and projects. She has contributed to education and family-oriented sites including PBS Parents, Read Brightly, and Heinemann Digital Campus, and is a frequent speaker at festivals and conferences including NCTE, ILA, and Nerdcamp.

Olugbemisola is a Jamaican Nigerian New Yorker who lives with her family in NYC where she writes, makes things, and needs to get more sleep.

Author Visits Assembly Style or Workshop

** 25 max students for workshops. No size limit for assemblies **

Noticed and Noted: (Autobiographical Presentation) – 45-60min

How growing up a shy kid who moved to a different school for every grade made Olugbemisola a better writer. Writing to ask questions, discover, explore. Includes 1-2 brief writing exercises.

Play On Words – Stand Alone Presentation – 45-60min

Writing games & autobiographical talk

The Remix Is Even Better: Revision and Getting to What You Really Want to Say – 45-60min

For all ages; the purpose of revision, developing a revision plan; specific revision strategies for any occasion.

So What? The Art of Personal Narrative and Memoir Writing – 45-60min (for elementary grades, units of study, also works for high school college essay prep)

How to get beyond “and then what happened” and write nonfiction pieces that capture memory + meaning.

Bring the Drama – 45-60min

Theatre-based games for character development, understanding basic story structure, writing with attention to details

Book Club Bonanza – 45-60min

Themes book discussion/writing groups, aligned to current classroom studies in any subject area. Participants discuss story themes and real world application, create zines/review journals and share.

Something to Say – 45-60min

Writing for real audiences and community-oriented purposes.

It’s Still A Story – 45-60min

Strategies to write nonfiction that comes alive.

Do You Hear What I Hear? 45-60min

Focus on writing dialogue; basics of audio and multimedia storytelling.

What’s So Funny? 45-60min

Basics of writing humor, some humor writing exercises.

For Families or Adults

Bring the Book Joy Home! – 60min

author presentation, facilitated conversation and activities on family literacy to support reading and writing connections in the home.

Is the Hero’s Journey All There Is? 60min

Exploring how our culturallocations inform our storytelling, an overview of different forms of storytelling around the world.

Mothering As A Creative Act – 60min

reading and writing to celebrate the ways that acts of ‘mothering’ can enhance our creativity rather than distract of take away from it.

Other adult presentations (60min): Curating a Culturally-Relevant Collection; Making the Case for a Diverse Library; What to Look for When Choosing “Diverse” Books and Why, Going Beyond Diversity 101.

** All presentations include some time for Q&A at the end **