Contact Information
Phone: 612-281-6838
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: http://sarahwbooks.com
Book Category: Nonfiction, Picture Books
Age Group: 6-10
Books
Picture Books:
Beyoncé: Shine Your Light. Illustrator: Geneva Bowers; Houghton Mifflin, 2019.
Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers, Illustrator: Robert Casilla; Two Lions Children’s Books, 2012.
Short Stories:
Dragon Help, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
High Octane Princess, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Star Reporter, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Villain-tine’s Day, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
I Wish, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Spooky Call, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
The Better Babysitter, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Dog Park Rookie, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Horse Terror, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
World Domination, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Vampire Jerky, Amazon Rapids, a digital reading platform, 2017.
Anthologies:
Sky Blue Water: Great Stories for Young Readers, Contributor, U of M Press, 2016.
Highlights
Sarah is an early childhood educator who graduated from the Loft Literary Center’s Master Track apprenticeship program. She’s served young scholars at the YWCA, Head Start, and as a tutor for Minnesota Reading Corps. Her picture books include Beyoncé: Shine Your Light and A Spectacular Birdie. Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers was picked for the 2013 Amelia Bloomer Top Ten Book List and awarded a Jane Addams Peace Association Children’s Book Award honor that same year. Sarah’s family lives in Minneapolis with their dog, Bruce Valentine.
Awards
Included on the Amelia Bloomer Project Top 10 List
A Jane Addams Children’s Books Award Honoree
Presentations
EVERYDAY HEROES (Kindergarten-2nd grade):
Objectives:
· Explore qualities of superheroes
· Explore qualities of real heroes
· Practice leadership
Materials:
· Spiderman image
· “I am a leader” paper puppets
· Markers
· Music Player
· Hula hoops
· Book: Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant Workers
Introduction: Introduce the students to Superhero imagery and discuss: What kinds of powers do superheroes have? We make a list of what we know.
Instruction: Reinforce that Dolores is a real hero with real powers. We should listen carefully to her story and find out if we can have powers like Dolores. Read book. Review Dolores Huerta’s powers and identify our own.
Movement Activity: Reintroduce and define the word “organizer.” Use a hula-hoop group activity to act out organizing and working together to reach a common goal.
Music and Movement: Review Dolores Huerta’s leadership “powers” and add one more. Dolores is bi-lingual. She can speak English and Spanish. Who can speak English? Who can speak Spanish? Who can speak other languages? Being bilingual is a great strength! Dance to a song in Spanish.
Art Activity: What makes us good leaders? We list our leadership skills. Create “I am a leader” puppets. Play “Follow the Leader” and make the puppets dance, walk, run, fly, sleep, and more!
SHINE YOUR LIGHT (Kindergarten-2nd grade):
Objectives:
· Explore our talents and fascinations
· Identify the people and places that will help us thrive
· Discover ways we can share our enthusiasms with the world
Materials:
· Mouse puppet
· “I am a leader” paper puppets
· Markers
· Music Player
· Light up ball
· Book: Beyoncé: Shine Your Light
Introduction: Introduce the students to a puppet who is too shy to shine. What can we do to encourage others to feel good about sharing their talents?
Instruction: Reinforce that Beyoncé got lots of help from friends and family in order to shine bright.
Music and Movement Activity: Introduce and define the concept of “Shining Your Light.” Explore the fun ways Beyoncé shared her skills. Have a (short) dance party!
Movement Activity: Sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Encourage students to stand when they hear the teacher call out a vocation or activity they like to do.
Art Activity: How can we shine? Create “I Shine” puppets. Play “Follow the leader” and make the puppets dance, cook, exercise, sing, hug, etc.
SHINE YOUR LIGHT (3rd-5th grade/FAMILY EVENTS):
Objectives:
· Explore our talents and fascinations
· Identify the people and places that will help us thrive
· Discover ways we can share our enthusiasms with the world
Materials:
· Mouse puppet
· Mini Books
· Markers
· Music Player
· Book: Beyoncé: Shine Your Light
Introduction: Introduce the students to a puppet who is too shy to shine. What can we do to encourage others to feel good about sharing their talents?
Instruction: Reinforce that Beyoncé got lots of help from friends and family in order to shine bright.
Music and Movement Activity: Introduce and define the concept of “Shining Your Light.” Explore the fun ways Beyoncé shared her skills. Have a (short) dance party!
Movement Activity: Sing “This Little Light of Mine.” Encourage students to stand when they hear the teacher call out a vocation or activity they like to do.
Art Activity: Identify the diverse interests represented in the room. Highlight one activity where many might shine: writing. Describe story rules and create a group story. Give a story prompt for mini-books.
Middle School/High School:
The Power of Perspective
Learn how tapping into your one-of-a-kind perspective can bring your stories to life. Discover story telling techniques that will help readers see the world through your eyes. Transform your everyday experiences into images that make readers feel, relate, and pay attention. Come ready to move, write, and read!
Finding Your Mission
We will explore the usefulness of cultivating a sense of purpose as an artist. We will examine how our unique worldviews and perspectives can help us raise people’s awareness about things that they might not know, or might not want to know about.
Presentation includes activities, crafts, writing exercise, and more.
Adults:
Writing Biographies for Children
Learn how to craft compelling biographies with integrity and intention! We will explore the art of research, writing, and revision. We will review mentor texts and do some writing of our own. Discover how to create entertaining, accurate nonfiction that inspires intercultural exploration and wonder.
Fees
$75 per one hour session and reimbursement for lodging if necessary.