Authors' Booking Service is pleased to announce that award-winning
children's author, Helaine Becker, is scheduling visits to Ontario schools
for the coming school year.

Helaine is available for visits to the Greater Toronto Area, North to Simcoe
County, West to Brantford and East to Oshawa.

Helaine would love to plan a visit to your school or library during this
period. Her rate is $350 plus GST for a single session, $600 for two
sessions, $850 for three and $1000 for four, plus travel from Toronto.

Helaine 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 off-set the
cost of her visit. For details, please contact us.

Helaine is the winner of the 2008 and 2006 Silver Birch Award, a 2008 Red
Cedar Award, and has had books chosen as among the Top Ten of the Year by
Book Sense, Indigo Books, and the Ontario Library Association.

Here's what Teacher Rosanne Stefani of Our Lady of Perpetual Help School in
Toronto has to say about this author:

Helaine Becker is an inspirational writer. My grade five students have
become very enthusiastic about writing since her visit. A ten-year-old boy
quietly said, "writing poetry is a cool thing to do!

And here's what Kelly Diiorio of Niagara DSB had to say about Helaine's Silver Birch keynote to 500 students in May 2010:

Helaine’s keynote address was exceptional – in fact, I would consider it one of the best we have experienced in our 5 years of organizing this conference. Her presentation was a mixture of hilarious stories, life lessons and advice to aspiring writers. She was able to ensnare the whole audience and keep
them riveted for the entire length of her talk. Students, parents and teachers all raved about it afterward, and on our feedback forms, Helaine consistently rated very highly.


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PUBLISHED WORKS: HELAINE BECKER

Children's Non-fiction:

Magic Up Your Sleeve 2010
What's the Big Idea? 2009
The Insecto-Files 2009
Science on the Loose 2008
Mother Goose Unplucked 2007
Secret Agent Y.O.U. 2006
Like A Pro! 2006
Funny Business 2005
Are You Psychic? 2005
Boredom Blasters 2004

Children's Fiction:

The Looney Bay All-Stars Series:
The Emperor Strikes Out
Egyptian Slam Dunk
Pirate Power Play
Attack by Knight
Vikings Have a Field Day
Explorers out of Bounds
Final Faceoff

Read with Chirp 2006
Mama Likes to Mambo 2001

Beginning Readers:

Reading Rods Reader - Superdude 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Twirly Girl 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Ben's Tent 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Peanut-Free! 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Sheep Dee 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Lost and Found 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Socks 2004
Reading Rods Reader - Rosa's Cold 2004

AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS

Boredom Blasters
- Indigo Non-Fiction Top 10 Children's Books, 2004
- BookSense Winter Pick 2004-2005
- WINNER - Silver Birch Book Award , 2006
- Shortlisted - Rocky Mountain Book Award, 2006
- Our Choice selection, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 2005

Secret Agent Y.O.U.
-Silver Birch Award Winner, 2008
-Red Cedar Award, 2009
-Best of the Year, Resource Links
-Top Ten Canadian Non-fiction Books for Children, OLA
-Our Choice Selection

Science on the Loose
- Best Books for Kids and Teens 2009
- OLA Best Bet 2009
- Canadian Toy Testing Council "Great Books for Kids"
- Nat't Assoc. of Parenting Publications Gold Award Winner

Mother Goose Unplucked
-Hackmatack Award Nominee, 2009
-Rocky Mountain Award Shortlist, 2009
-Best Books of 2007, Resource Links

Like a Pro
- Recommended by Canadian Toy Testing Council, 2007


Funny Business
- Red Cedar Nomination, 2007-08
- Recommended by Canadian Toy Testing Council, 2007

Are You Psychic?
- Red Cedar Nomination, 2007-08
- Information Book Award nomination 2006
- Ontario Library Association - Top Ten Canadian Children's Books, 2005

Mama Likes to Mambo: A Collection of Verse
- Our Choice Outstanding Merit Award, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 2001

- Ontario Elementary Teachers' Association, Recommended Summer Reading, 2001


HELAINE'S PRESENTATION DETAILS

Because of my strong background in education - I was in the 'school biz' for
over 10 years, writing supplemental materials for math, science and language
arts - I know what teachers and school librarians need from authors visiting
their schools. So when I do a reading or performance, I add as much
educational content as I can while still keeping the event light and fun.
When reading a poem, for example, we might listen for rhyme, or
alliteration, or the distinctive rhythm of a limerick. A look at the optical
illusions in Boredom Blasters turned into a science lesson on light for a
grade 9 class. And Funny Business is super for introducing lessons on how to
structure essays. I will organize my presentation to meet the needs of your
students based on their grade, the subjects currently being taught, and the
size of the group.

Grades I will present to: All

Maximum number of students per session:150

Is this flexible? Yes; I will adapt to suit small or large groups as needed

Workshops available? Yes, for Junior, middle and high school

Maximum participants for workshop:30

I also offer...

Professional Development Workshops

Grade 12 Writers' Craft Workshops

I am comfortable in a classroom, library, auditorium or gymnasium.

I require: black or white board for workshops

To access Helaine's School Library Assessment tool, go here.