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Andrea Beck





Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that children’s author/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. She is also available on Monday or Tuesday mornings to schools in York Region. 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 6.  

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, $995.00 for four sessions, HST 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 4 sessions (due to driving times), which can be shared between two schools if necessary. Each school will receive a confirmation package featuring a book and activity sheets.

Andrea Beck’s charming characters, beloved by children, parents and librarians alike, inhabit a world of imagination and friendship. Her first book, Elliot’s Emergency became an overnight sensation and launched a 10 book series and television show. Andrea has created a new series, Pierre Le Poof. The third Pierre book, Pierre in the Air, arrives in Fall 2011 and dear Elliot Moose has returned in a tenth title, Elliot’s Fire Truck.  

Andrea is a seasoned presenter who is regularly invited back to visit schools. Her list of glowing testimonials is long. 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 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 in the Air, 2011 (fall),  Orca Book Publishers

Pierre’s Friends, 2010, Orca Book Publishers

Elliot’s Fire Truck, 2010, Orca Book Publishers

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

 

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 (written by Carolyn Beck)

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


Presentations

PRESENTATION 1:  Elliot Moose is on the Loose!        

50-60 minutes.

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

Maximum group size: 65 kids for grades 1-3, For Kindergartens, 40 kids. 

The session is a jam-packed hour of stories, art, role play and inspiration. The children start off by listening to tales of Andrea’s childhood and early years at school to help them identify with her and her childhood challenges and see themselves as creators too. She speaks of the importance of imagination and “playing pretend” and how grown up authors play pretend to make their characters come to life in stories.   

Andrea will read an Elliot Moose story, then using role play and props, she leads the children through each stage of production from first idea to a developed story. She will show the students how the art must tell a story too and share storyboards to final art, explaining the stages as she goes.  

To keep things super engaging, Andrea will start and finish each session at the easel by showing the children how she develops a character from shapes and she leaves the completed drawing at the school as a reminder of the visit.  She always brings original art, storyboards and manuscripts with her for the children to examine. 

To prepare: please familiarize the children with Andrea’s stories and art, and if you are looking for fun activities use the drawing sheets that she will send. She will read Elliot’s Emergency or Elliot’s Fire Truck.

PRESENTATION 2: Featuring Pierre Le Poof!

50-60 minutes

Age Range: Grades 1 – 8. This presentation can be adapted for older students. Group according to similar ages please, for instance, no Ks with Grade 3s since the presentation is adjusted according to age of group.

Maximum number: 65 children 

Students are introduced to the role of imagination in story making, and that, like actors, grown up authors get to “play pretend” when creating their characters. Andrea will show how writers have curious minds and ask questions and how the answers can develop into stories. She will share how she came upon the very first idea for Pierre Le Poof and, together, she and the students 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’s Friends, Andrea will enlist the aid of some helpers from the group to role play the imagination, the author, and the publisher etc. The group will develop a story of its own, and take the story kernel from an everyday scenario that Andrea will provide. The children are taken through the editing process, the illustration stages and on to the design phase. Andrea will explain each step along the way using original materials such as manuscripts, storyboards and final art.  She starts and finishes the session at an easel by showing the steps she goes through to draw Pierre. Sshe leaves 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 Andrea’s work as an author/illustrator, try having the students draw Elliot Moose and Pierre Le Poof , use the drawing sheets that Andrea will send. Children generally find the sheets simple to follow and feel good about their results. Andrea will read Pierre in the Air. 


Workshops 

Primary writing workshop:

Write with an Author! -- Simple Character, Setting and Plot Development. Andrea Beck will model a fun, non threatening approach to story making.

Age Range: Grade 1 - 2 Maximum number: One class. -- 60 minutes

This is a workshop designed to inspire primary level authors. Role play is part of the workshop to keep the children engaged. Andrea provides 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, Andrea begins with simple lists to help the children flesh out a character, his name, his looks, his likes, his problems, his friends, his foes, his favourite things, his family etc -- and they figure out what he wants and needs. Then they 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. Andrea explains to children that all of the elements that they’ve been taught at school are exactly the ones Andrea uses when she 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, Andrea will draw their character and send it back to the classroom with the children. 




Illustration workshop -- Creating and Drawing Your Own Character  

Age Range: Grades 4-6 Maximum number: 30 students.  80 Minutes

This workshop begins with a drawing demonstration that shows the scaffolding technique Andrea uses when drawing. She develops a character visually from shapes, using Elliot Moose or Pierre Le Poof as an example. As a group, they create a character then the students can choose to use their group’s character or work on one of their own as we progress through the workshop. Using the scaffolding technique each student draws their own version of the character, or if they prefer, a character from one of their own stories.   

Grades Andrea will present to: Grades JK to 6  

Is this flexible? Yes.   

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

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

Workshops available?  Yes   

Maximum participants for workshop: 30 or one class.  

Do you offer:  

Professional Development Workshops? Yes. Speak to me about your needs.   

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops? No.  

Venues you’re comfortable in:  Library.   

Is this flexible? Only if the library is unavailable! 

List any equipment or other requirements you have: two chairs, two long tables or equivalent. I do not use AV with primary students as it interferes with the personal connection. Sometimes I use AV for older students and will let you know if I need a projector and screen. A television is always good because sometimes I put the Elliot Moose show on while the kids are filing in.