Visiting schools is a joy. It is my favorite part of being a writer of children’s books.

As Dianne Johnson, English professor, I also enjoy conducting teacher workshops on multicultural and African American children’s literature.

For the children, I offer an engaging slide presentation of my books, interacting with the audience constantly. I communicate with them my love of the written and spoken word and give them ideas about generating and polishing their own writing. The students especially enjoy the opportunities during my presentation for them to participate as fellow wordworkers and to ask me any questions that might enter their busy minds.

My presentations can be tailored for any age group, for any size audience, and for any time frame. I work closely with teachers before visits so that I will be prepared to reinforce their particular emphases through my presentation or in the writing workshops that I offer as well.

My goal is to have everyone who attends my presentation feel the way a little girl named Portia felt after our sharing---“You had made my heart beat.”