Andrea Beck

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that children’s author and illustrator Andrea Beck, is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.   

Andrea can be available for presentations or workshops on Thursdays and Fridays during the school year. If you are in York Region, she is also available on Monday or Tuesday mornings. Andrea will do up to four presentations in the same school in a day, or split a day between two schools. Andrea can visit with JK to 8.  

Andrea would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  Her rate is $575.00 for 2 sessions, $825.00 for 3 sessions, $1000.00 for four sessions, GST and travel from Markham, ON are applicable. Andrea will visit in the GTA, York Region, Durham Region, Peel and Halton. For schools beyond those regions she books a minimum of 3 sessions, which can be shared between two schools if necessary. Each school will receive a confirmation package featuring a book and activity sheets.

For a single evening event, Andrea charges $350 plus GST and travel.

Author/Illustrator Andrea Beck’s her first book, Elliot’s Emergency became an overnight sensation and became a children’s book series and TV show which still airs today. Her charming characters, beloved by children, parents and librarians alike, inhabit a world of imagination and friendship. Andrea has just launched a new series, Pierre Le Poof!, aimed at a slightly older audience, and dear Elliot Moose is returning in Elliot’s Fire Truck out in spring 2010.  

Andrea is a seasoned presenter who is regularly invited back to visit schools. Andrea is a member of the Writers' Union of Canada, and so schools wishing to invite her may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to offset the cost of her visit. Please contact us for details of this program.

____________________________________________________________________________________________________

Here's what Diana Abramovich of Fern Hill school in Oakville had to say about Andrea:

I finally have a minute to breath and wanted to thank you for your dynamic presentations and for the Elliot books....the feedback I've received from many teachers and students is that each of the four [sessions] were fantastic. Many parents emailed me saying that their children never talk about the book fair or the presentations, and that yesterday their kids came home and could not stop raving about the time they had with you. As you know, the role playing is such a hit and you really tap into the kids' imaginations on so many levels. I know many students will go to our library looking for Pierre Le Poof! and Elliot books.

I also want to thank you for the beautiful drawings of Pierre and Elliot. The Pierre drawing will be posted proudly at Fern Hill School, along with our Elliot drawing, and I know the children will enjoy seeing him as they walk through the school.

I wish you the best with your new releases!

 
Here’s what Teena Mueller, Librarian at St. Anne School had to say to Andrea: 

“ Well, as Buttercup might say... "I love a good author who travels to London, Ontario!"

You gave one of our most memorable presentations.  I put up a bulletin board outside the library with the drawings that you left for us plus the pictures that I took and I am constantly hearing chatter outside the library.

"There is me watching Andrea Beck" or "Oh, wow! There is Elliot Moose!"

Thank you for the wonderful comments about the librarians you met recently.  I agree, we are a great group of women... and there are a few men, too!” 

Here’s what Maria Vararikos, librarian, Lower Canada College in Montreal had to say:

“The students are still talking about Elliot! Your warm, friendly and vivacious manner kept their attention from beginning to end. Giving your Elliot a hug at the end was a highlight, the children loved this. Thank you as well for leaving us a memento of your visit – your drawing of Elliot is beautiful.” 

Here’s what Bonnie and Suzy, teachers from Loe Baeck Day School in Thornhill had to say after Andrea’s Visit: 

“We had a fantastic visit with Andrea Beck today.  The children were fascinated and amazed as she drew Elliot and made him come to life.  She praised them for all of the great artwork they do every day and made them feel so proud of themselves.  Andrea taught them all about how all books begin with an idea, someone to write the idea down (an author), a publisher and an illustrator.   She had the children dress up and act out these roles.  It was such a brilliant way of explaining it to young children… and really fun too!!!   We presented her with a class book that we made based on The Elliot Moose theme song and then invited her to share our very special Elliot chocolate cake!!!

It was a wonderful day!!!” 

Here’s what Teacher/Librarian Angela Bedard, of Rockford P.S has to say about “Feedback was extremely positive after your visit.  The children really connected, and the teachers loved it. Thanks again.”

Here’s what Teacher/Librarian Paula Geopfort of Fairwood P.S. had to say to Andrea: 

“You came to Fairwood P.S. several years ago and were a huge hit.  Our primary teachers would love to have you
back . . !”  

Here’s what Teacher/Librarian Melissa Murray of Hartman PS had to say to Andrea: 

"Two years ago, you came and visited us at Aurora Grove Public School and were a HUGE success.   We're interested in having our Literacy Evening begin with an exciting guest speaker to really set the tone for the night.  Of course, I thought of you. ;-))."

____________________________________________________________________________________________________
 

Published Works

• Pierre La Poof, 2009, Orca Book Publishers
• Buttercup`s Lovely Day, 2008, Orca Book Publishers
• The Waiting Dog, 2003, Kids Can Press
• Elliot’s Christmas Surprise, Kids Can Press 2003
• Elliot’s Great Big Lift the Flap Book, Kids Can Press 2003
• Elliot’s Noisy Night, Kids Can Press, 2002
• Elliot Gets Stuck, Kids Can Press, 2002
• Elliot Digs for Treasure, Kids Can Press, 2001
• Elliot’s Bath, Kids Can Press, 2000
• Elliot’s Shipwreck, Kids Can Press, 2000
• Elliot Bakes a Cake, Kids Can Press, 1999
• Elliot’s Emergency, Kids Can Press, 1998

Upcoming

• Elliot`s Fire Truck, Spring 2010,  Orca Book Publishers

Awards and Nominations

Short Listed for Amelia Frances Howard Gibbon Award for Illustration 2010 -- Pierre La Poof

Short Listed for Blue Spruce 2009 -- Buttercup’s Lovely Day

Short Listed for Shining Willow 2003-- Elliot’s Noisy Night

Presentations

PRESENTATION 1:  Elliot Moose is back on the Loose!        

50-60 minutes.

Age Range: Grades JK – Three. Group according to ages please, for instance, no Ks with Grade 3s. Presentation is dramatically adjusted according to age of group.

Maximum group size: 65 kids  (For Kindergartens, 40 kids.) 

My primary sessions are a jam-packed interactive hour of stories, art, role play and inspiration. I start children off with tales of my childhood and early years at school so they begin to identify with me and my childhood challenges and see themselves as creators too. I speak of the important world of imagination and “playing pretend” and how grown up authors play pretend to make their characters come to life in stories.   

Next, I read an Elliot Moose story then using role play and props, we follow the story through each stage of production from first idea to a developed story. I also show them how the art must tell a story too and share storyboards to final art, explaining the stages as I go.  

To keep things super engaging, I start and finish each session at the easel by showing the children how I develop a character from shapes and I leave the completed drawing at the school as a reminder of the visit.  I always bring original art, storyboards and manuscripts with me for the children to examine. 

To prepare: please familiarize the children with my writing and art, but leave Elliot’s Emergency or Elliot’s Noisy Night for me to read. Thanks! 

PRESENTATION 2: Featuring Pierre Le Poof!

50-60 minutes

Age Range: Grades 1 – 5 
Maximum number: 65 children 

This is similar to the first presentation, only aimed at slightly older students and with a little less time spent on stories of my childhood. 

Children are introduced to the role of imagination in story making, and the idea that grown up authors “play pretend” when creating their characters. I explain how writers have curious minds and ask questions and how the answers can develop into stories. I share how I came upon the very first idea for Pierre Le Poof and, together, we imagine what it must be like to be Pierre, where he lives, who he cares about and how that developed into the first story in the series. After a reading of Pierre Le Poof, I enlist the aid of some helpers from the group to role play the imagination, the author, and the publisher etc. We develop a story of our own, and take the story kernel from an everyday scenario I provide. The children are taken through the editing process, the illustration stages and on to the design phase. I explain each step along the way using original materials such as manuscripts, storyboards and final art.  Throughout the presentation I include personal anecdotes and stories from my childhood. I start and finish the session at the easel by showing the steps I go through to draw Pierre and I leave the drawing with the school -- as a reminder of the visit and as a lesson tool for teachers to use later. 

To prepare: Familiarize the children with my Elliot Moose work and please do not read Pierre Le Poof more than once! Thanks! 

PRESENTATION 3:  Inside the Writer’s Mind – or – Believe in Yourself and Dream Big.

50 minutes

Age Range: Grades 4 - 8 Tailored to fit the age of the group.

Maximum group size: 60 students, that smaller the group, the better the experience. This is an interactive session. 

This is a motivational session aimed at helping the students in your groups see the exciting world of possibilities open to them. I emphasize that creativity is important in science fields as well, but for the purpose of this session that I will focus on stories and ideas.  

I have a creative family. I am an author/illustrator, my husband was an inventor, my kids grew up to be film makers. I model for students how much FUN it is to live with a mind full of stories, images and ideas – and that if taken seriously, imagination leads us to wonderful accomplishments.  

Using the principles of  “go for your dreams”, “nothing ventured nothing gained”, and “believing in oneself”. I share with them the story of how I became a writer, including snippets of my isolated childhood, my attachment to toys, and how it led to a career of toy making, then writing and illustration. I share the story of what I, a rank beginner, did to land my first series, Elliot Moose, including details of the submission process, and how I crafted my submission package to get people’s attention, which it did. I show them that a writer’s imagination is always “on” since stories are their bread and butter. Random thoughts and questions can quickly become kernels for stories and using the examples of Pierre Le Poof and Elliot Moose I share how those characters and stories developed.   

I also explain how I encouraged my son to write down his ideas when he was in grade eight and how some of those ideas are being used in scripts today. I share how my kids’ first YouTube video landed almost three million hits and a big LA agent – and that they started it all by having fun making videos for school projects. 

To end on a high note, I finish the session by showing them how I develop a character visually, drawing Elliot Moose or Pierre le Poof, starting with shapes and ending with a finished drawing. I leave all drawings behind as a reminder of the visit.

Workshops 

Illustration workshop

80 Minutes

Age Range: Grades 7 & 8

Maximum number: 30 students. 

Creating and Drawing Your Own Character  

This workshop begins with a quick drawing demonstration followed by an explanation that I must know a character well before I can draw it. Interactively with the children, I model the way that process unfolds. As a group, we create our character then the students can choose to use the group’s character or develop one of their own as we progress through the workshop.  

Next I demonstrate how I develop a character visually from shapes, using Elliot Moose or Pierre Le Poof as an example. We then use those same scaffolding methods to draw the character that we created as a group.  Using this technique each student draws their own version of the character, or if they prefer, may draw a character from one of their own stories.   

• Students will need to bring a hard drawing surface, paper, pencil and eraser.

Primary writing workshop -- 60 minutes

Simple Character and Plot Development

Age Range: Grade 1 - 2

Maximum number: 22 students, or one class. 

• Children should bring pencils, paper and a hard surface to write on.

This is a workshop aimed at making story writing a friendly process for primary students. Role play is part of the workshop to keep the kids engaged. I provide the children with an everyday scenario that puts them in touch with the kernel of a story and character. Using role play and a few props to make it fun, we begin with simple lists to help us flesh out a character, his name, his looks, his likes, his problems, his friends, his enemies, his favourite things, his family etc -- and we figure out what he wants and needs. Then we develop a very simple story, following a classic formula and paying special attention to the obstacles our character may face in getting to his or her goal. I explain to kids that all of the elements that they’ve been taught at school are exactly the ones I use when I write an Elliot Moose or Pierre Le Poof story, and that revising is as important as writing. As a special treat at the end of the session, I draw their character and send it back to the classroom with the children. 
 

Grades I will present to: Grades JK to 8  

Is this flexible? Yes.   

Maximum number of students per session: 65, prefer 50.  Kindergartens should be in smaller groups. 

Is this flexible? This is pretty firm, but talk to me about your school needs.  

Workshops available?  Yes   

Maximum participants for workshop: 30.  

Do you offer.  

Professional Development Workshops? Speak to me about your needs.   

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops? No.  

Venues you’re comfortable in:  Library.   

Is this flexible? If no library is available.