Authors’ Booking Service is pleased to announce that award winning children’s author Larry Verstraete, is now scheduling visits to Ontario schools for the coming school year.   

Larry would love to plan a visit to your school or library during this time. His rate is $250 per one-hour session, plus $50 for travel/accommodation per session.  Because Larry must travel from Winnipeg he needs a minimum of 6 sessions to make the trip feasible.  Depending on the locations of schools or libraries, he can do up to 4 sessions in a single day.  
  
Larry is a writer and educator, the author of eleven non-fiction books for young people and the recipient of various awards and honours, among them: the 2010 Silver Birch Award for At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times; 2004 McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award for Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery; and the 2004 Silver Birch Award and 2006 Red Cedar Award for Survivors: True Stories of Death-Defying Escapes.

Here’s what Teacher/Librarians have had to say about this author:   

"Larry Verstraete made a great impression on many students, and especially the budding authors in the crowd. The content is absolutely riveting, and that too will be remembered." Sybille Parry, Kew Beach Public School.   

"Our students, and teachers, thoroughly enjoyed the presentation. Larry is a very "down-to-earth" person. I would highly recommend him." Maxine Parchment, Emily Carr Public School  
  
“It is obvious that Larry is a natural with students as he calmly interacts with them.  ….Larry is an engaging presenter and author for both students and educators.” Vivianne Fogarty, Chancellor School

Students who have written to Larry have similar opinions:

“I thought your presentation was great, good…funtastic.” Lexi, grade 3 student, Winnipeg 

"Your presentation was amazing, fascinating and inspiring for me personally because now I really want to read all of the books that you have written in the past."Emma, grade 5 student, Scarborough 

"It was great learning about how to write books and how to find information on the subject of your books. It was also very cool seeing the process of books getting edited and published. I know that everybody loved that you came." Michael, grade 6 student, Mississauga

Larry 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. For details of this program, please contact us.

Published Works

Case Files: 40 Murders and Mysteries Solved by Science (2011) Scholastic Canada.

S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet (2010) Sleeping Bear Press. Illustrated by David Geister.

At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times (2009) Scholastic Canada Ltd. 

G is for Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet (2009) Sleeping Bear Press. Illustrated by Brian Lund. 

Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery (2006) Scholastic Canada Ltd. 

Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes (2003) Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Extreme Science (2000) Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite (1999) Scholastic Canada Ltd. 

Whose Bright Idea Was It? (1997) Scholastic Canada Ltd. 

Mysteries of Time (1992) Scholastic Canada Ltd.

Awards and Nominations

S is for Scientists: A Discovery Alphabet

Selected, 2011 Outstanding Science Trade Book for K-12, NSTA & Children’s Book Council

At the Edge: Daring Acts in Desperate Times

Nominated, Rocky Mountain Children’s Choice Award, 2012

WINNER, Silver Birch Award, 2010

Nominated, McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award, 2010

Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2010

G is for Golden Boy: A Manitoba Alphabet

Nominated, McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award, 2010

Lost Treasures: True Stories of Discovery   
WINNER, McNally Robinson Book for Young People Award, 2007   
Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2007   
Nominated, Hackmatack Children’s Choice Award, 2008   
Nominated, Rocky Mountain Children’s Choice Award, 2008 

Survivors: True Death-Defying Escapes:   
WINNER, Red Cedar Award (non-fiction), 2006  
Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2005   
WINNER, Silver Birch Award (non-fiction), 2004   
  
Extreme Science: Science in the Danger Zone 
ResourceLinks Magazine – Best of the Year 2000   
Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 2000.  

Accidental Discoveries: From Laughing Gas to Dynamite  
Finalist, Norma Fleck Award for Non-Fiction, 1999   
CBC Radio Recommended Reading List   
  
Whose Bright Idea Was It?   
Selected, Canadian Toy Testing Council, 25 Great Books, 2001   
Finalist, Silver Birch Awards (non?fiction), 1998   
Our Choice, Canadian Children's Book Centre, 1997-98   
Nominated, Red Cedar Book Award, 1999-2000   
Emergency Librarian: Top Outstanding Books for 1997   
  
Mysteries of Time:   
Our Choice, Canadian Children’s Book Centre, 1993

Presentation Details

My session is fast-paced - a blend of high-interest stories from my books together with activities or other forms of audience involvement, all carefully orchestrated to capture interest and show the range of topics and forms available to the non-fiction writer. I share my own personal story, too: how I became a writer, the habits I maintain, how I research and develop stories and ensure details are correct.  I use a media production to show the steps required to publish a non-fiction book, taking it from initial idea, through drafts and revisions, to final publication itself. Questions are encouraged. My overall message is simple - no matter your age, reading and writing non-fiction can be exciting and fun. 

Usually, I require an hour to cover the presentation described above.  With older audiences, I also take a brief look at narrative non-fiction, a story-writing form used in several of my books.  With younger groups, a shorter, condensed version works best, but I’d be happy to tailor my visit to whatever themes, schedules, formats or groupings are needed.  
 

Student workshops

In addition to author presentations for larger groups, I offer student workshops on non-fiction writing techniques such as research skills, interview methods, and narrative non-fiction story writing.   

Professional development:

Ten Stories in Science

Every invention and scientific breakthrough has a story to tell.  In this 60 minute session, learn about ten of science’s most unusual, kid-fascinating stories, and find out how to use them to capture your students’ interest and teach them what science and invention are all about. 

Teachers Who Write

Like me, many writers of material for children and the educational marketplace are, or were, teachers, librarians, or other school-related professionals.  In this 60 minute session, get an insider’s view of the teaching-writing connection. Find out how the two activities strengthen and complement each other, and learn how the publishing industry works, how to market your material, and how you can be successful at both. 

Marketplace Writing Strategies for the Classroom and Home

A 60 minute session for teachers, librarians and parents that explores the inner workings of the book publishing industry and, in particular, the relationship of editor to author which in many ways parallels that of educator to student writer. Discover practical ways adapted from the publishing world of enhancing the writing of youngsters in your charge.

Presentation notes:

I present to grades 2 – 8, but can adapt my presentation to other grades, too.  
  
Maximum audience size for general sessions: 85 

Maximum for student workshop sessions: 30

I am flexible on these figures and will consider larger groups depending on grades and room size.

I am comfortable in a library or classroom, but will consider other venues depending on sound system equipment and other factors.  
  
I require an LCD projector and screen.