Jeremy Tankard

Jeremy Tankard would love to plan a visit to your school or library.  His rate is $375 for a single session; $700 for two; or $1000 for a full day (3 presentations). There is no travel charge within the GTA. For travel outside the GTA the standard kilometrage applies.

This author would prefer to schedule visits on Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. 

Jeremy is a member of The Writers' Union of Canada, and so schools wishing to invite him may be eligible for a travel and fee subsidy to offset the cost of his visit. Contact us for details of this program. 

Here is what Laura Lukasik, Communications and Community Development Officer for Hamilton Public Library has to say about this author's presentations:

"Jeremy Tankard was first invited to Hamilton in 2008 to participate in a week-long celebration of National Family Literacy Day sponsored by the Hamilton Public Library and Early Literacy Hamilton.  He was absolutely amazing.  Grumpy Bird was just as big a hit with the children as Jeremy was.  We were so thrilled with Jeremy we invited him back to Hamilton in April of that same year to participate in the Forest of Reading program hosted by the Hamilton Public Library and both school boards.  When planning for Hamilton Families Read 2009 started, the Early Literacy Hamilton group insisted that Jeremy be invited to participate again.

Jeremy is a natural – with the children as well as adults.  His stories and illustrations are entertaining and enjoyable.  Jeremy is patient and kind in answering questions – even when the same query is posed over and over.  The interactive nature of Jeremy’s sessions is very much appreciated by the audience.  At the session I attended in January 2009, Jeremy had children from the audience come to the front of the room and make a squiggle, any kind of squiggle, on a piece of chart paper.  Jeremy’s talent as an illustrator and an entertainer wowed the group as he turned squiggles into pictures.  At the end of the session, Jeremy drew a picture for each child in attendance.   

I have hosted many author sessions at the Hamilton Public Library and have never seen an author so generous with his time and talent."  

Here's what Beryl Tankard, Children's Librarian and the Author's mom, has to say: 

"He's a talented little oaf."

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Published Works:

Boo Hoo Bird  Scholastic Press  April 2009

Me Hungry! Candlewick Press  2008

Grumpy Bird  Scholastic Press  2007 

Awards and Nominations

• 2008 Blue Spruce Selection for Grumpy Bird

• 2008 Shining Willow Selection for Grumpy Bird

• Shortlisted for the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Children’s Book Award, 2008

• Shortlisted for the CBA Libris Award for Illustrator of the Year 2008

• Shortlisted for The Amelia Frances Howard-Gibbon Illustrator's Award, 2008

• Shortlisted for the Debbie Zimmerman Early Years Niagara Literary Award, 2007

• Shortlisted for a Founder’s Award 2007, Society of Illustrators, New York

• Selected for the Ontario Library Association’s Best Bets of 2007

• Toronto Public Library “First & Best” booklist, 2007

• CBC Sounds Like Canada children’s book panel selection, December 2007

• Named a Borders Original Voices Author, March 2007

• Selected for the L.A. Times Best of the Year List, December 2007

• Parents Magazine’s “5 books to promote good behavior”, March 2009 issue

• Selected for the L.A. Times Best of the Year List, December 2008, for Me Hungry! 

Jeremy’s Presentation Details:

I have always loved books. I didn't always enjoy reading them mind you. But I loved looking at them. I loved having them read to me. And I especially loved drawing pictures inspired by the stories I heard. 

As a former reluctant reader, I know that sometimes kids need to hear about different ways to discover the magic of books. For me, drawing pictures--and writing a few, often misspelled, words to link those pictures together--was one of the ways that I first got hooked on stories. In my presentations, I talk about this and even bring in samples of my early book attempts (from about age 7!) that usually make students laugh. 

Then I talk about the kinds of books I'm making now, particularly about how a picture book comes to be: from the first crazy idea jotted down in my notebook, to some early sketches and story ideas, to the final art that you see in the published book. 

Along the way, I also talk a little bit about the life of an author -- showing pictures of my family, my studio, and the people I work with. I'll share some drawing tricks and techniques with students and show them that really anyone can learn to do this. Any artwork that I create during the presentation is left for students and teachers to enjoy after my visit. Each presentation ends with a reading from one or more of my books, with time to answer questions from students and teachers. 

My school presentations are usually 45-60 minutes long, and I am comfortable speaking to students from kindergarten all the way up to post-secondary. I tailor presentations according to the age of the students (though I secretly think that most teenagers would really like my kindergarten presentation!).  

Grades I will present to: K to 12  

Is this flexible? Yes.   

Maximum number of students per session: <50 for kindergarten students (ideally); any number for older students 

Is this flexible? Although Jeremy prefers working with smaller groups of two or three classes at a time, he is aware that budgetary restrictions sometimes make large group presentations necessary. He has spoken to groups as large as 300 people, though he finds that students receive a greater benefit when the audience size does not exceed 100 students.  Kindergarten students and younger children benefit the most from small group sizes. 

Venues you’re comfortable in:  (classroom, library, auditorium, gymnasium)

I am comfortable in all settings.   

Equipment and other requirements:  

• Easel with paper (Jeremy will provide his own markers) for small group presentations (fewer than 80 students).

• A data or media projector (that can connect to a laptop) for large group presentations (more than 80 students).

• A sound system or microphone for large group presentations.

• I do insist that a librarian or teacher be present throughout the presentation.