- Can you come and visit our school during the 2011-2012 term?
I wish I could visit every school that invites me, but that's impossible. I have to balance my writing, family commitments, and free time. Having said that, there are two ways I can visit your school...
1. In person: $2,000
I do a limited number of school visits each term, almost all of them IN NORTHERN OR CENTRAL NEW JERSEY. Why there? Because that's where my mom lives. This way, I can visit her most weeks. And when I stay over her house the night before my school visit, I'll have a short drive to school the next morning.
2. By DVD & Skype: $500
For schools in other parts of the country, I can do a "virtual author visit." This includes one Skype session and a copy of my DVD, which has four main parts, each about fifteen minutes long...
- My talk for grades 1-3 (which focuses on the My Weird School series)
- My talk for grades 3-6 (which focuses on my baseball card adventure series)
- My slide show, A Day in the Life of an Author), which is appropriate for all grades.
- Me reading my picture book Casey Back At Bat, which is appropriate for grades K-1.
For a preview of my DVD, click here.
After your students have seen the DVD, I will do one 30-minute Q & A Skype session with your school. The cost for the DVD and the Skype session: $500.
Anticipating your questions...
- No, I will no longer be doing Skypes for free, starting in September 2011.
- Yes, you can use a purchase order, but I really prefer a check because P.O.s are a big hassle.
- No, I am NOT equipped to accept credit cards.
Other questions? Send me an email at dvd@dangutman.com.
- What children's books have you written?
Click on Dan's Books for a complete list and description of my books.
- What grade level are your books aimed at?
There are no firm rules, because not all kids read at the same level in one
grade. But here's a rough guideline...
- Beginning readers: Babe Ruth and the Ice Cream Mess, Jackie Robinson and the Big Game, They Came from Centerfield, My Weird
School (series), Casey Back at Bat.
- Middle readers: The Kid Who Ran For President, The Kid Who Became President, The Million Dollar Shot, Honus & Me (and the rest of the series), The Get Rich Quick
Club, The Homework Machine, The Christmas Genie.
- Advanced readers: Johnny Hangtime, Race for the Sky, Qwerty Stevens (series), Getting Air, Nightmare at the Book Fair, The Genius Files, The Talent Show, Recycle This Book.
- Will you do a half-day program for a reduced fee?
No, but if you team up with a nearby school, I will visit one in the morning
and the other in the afternoon. The fee for the day is the same, and I will
do a maximum of two programs at each school.
- Do you charge for your expenses?
If I have to drive an hour and a half or more from my home to get to your school, I may request that you put me up in an inexpensive motel the night before. I don't want morning traffic to spoil the day at your school.
- How long is your presentation? How do you structure it?
I talk for 45-50 minutes. For grades 1 and 2, I keep it a little shorter. The presentation is in three segments:
1. I show how a book is created from start to finish, using one of my books as
an example.
2. Slides. "A Day In the Life of an Author."
3. Questions and answers.
- How many presentations will you do in a day?
Preferably three, but I will do four if absolutely necessary.
- Do you read from your books?
Only to the Kindergarten classes.
- How many students do you like to speak to at once?
I've done 20 and I've done 400. The key is the room. I can do around 100 in
a library setting, more in an amphitheater. Gyms usually don't work very well
regardless of the number of kids, and the worst is a cafeteria with those big
tables in the way. I like the kids sitting on the floor, as close to me as
possible.
- Do you do small group workshops too?
Yes, I'll take 15-25 kids (or one class) and create a story with them in half an hour. If I
do four presentations, however, there usually isn't time for small group
workshops. I could do two large group presentations in the morning and three
or four workshops in the afternoon. Let's talk about that.
- Will you go into classrooms to chat informally with the kids?
Sure, if there is time. But there is question & answer time at the end of the assembly.
- Is your presentation appropriate for all grades?
To be honest, my strength is grades 3-5. I do a decent assembly for grades 1-2,
but they are my toughest audience. I can't seem to hold their attention very well
(who can, right?). I love to pop into a kindergarten class for fifteen minutes to
read them one of my picture books, but they don't have the attention span to sit
through an assembly unless you sing and dance, neither of which I do. A typical
K-6 school will have me do three assemblies (grades 1-2, 3-4, 5-6) plus one or two
kindergarten pop-ins. I do NOT do grade 7 or higher.
- Do you need any equipment?
Yes. A screen, extension cord, cart, microphone, long table, large easel with a sheet of blank paper on it, thick marker, and an LCD projector. I will bring my slides (PowerPoint) on a flash drive and my laptop computer.
- Do you have a teacher's guide?
Yes. Click on the blue words above to see it. I will also send one in advance of my visit.
- How do we arrange for students to purchase your books?
Two easy ways:
- Talk to your local bookstore, who can make all arrangements and handle the sales. Ask the store for their school event discount.
- Work directly with the publishers. I will send you information and a sample order form you can send home with the students four weeks in advance of my visit. You order the books you need directly from my publishers by phone, and have them shipped to you. My publishers offer a 40% discount to schools. Usually there is no minimum order, no shipping charge, and unsold books can be returned at no charge (except postage). Publishers discounts are higher on direct orders, as there is no middleman to handle the ordering, billing and returns.
In either case, I autograph the books on the day of my visit.
- Will you autograph things besides your books?
I would rather not, but if kids ask and there is time, I won't say no. I will send autographed bookmarks you can photocopy and
give away. Signing a bunch of scraps of paper takes up a lot of time
that could be going toward learning.
- What can we do to get the students excited about your visit?
Throw a sports day when I visit. Have the kids wear t-shirts with their favorite teams on them. Assign them to read sports books, write sports stories, make posters, banners, and prepare questions for me. Invite
5-10 kids to have "lunch with the author." I will send you more suggestions when you invite me to your school.
- How far in advance should we contact you?
Six months to a year, if possible. I usually book up the next school year
between January and May.
- If I'm too late, can I get on your waiting list for the next term?
I don't keep a waiting list. Contact me in January about the next term.
- How do I reach you?
The best way is by Email (also go to the About Dan section
or dangut@comcast.net).
- How do I pronounce your name?
"Gut" as in "cut;" not, "Goot" as in 'boot."
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