| Kevin first started writing creative stories as a Kindergarten student. That particular tale was four sentences long and concluded with: "And they did." Feel free to use that!
The stories evolved and became bedtime stories he would use to entertain his own children based on observations around the house. When the kids were young, it was a challenge to get them to jump in the tub... and the adventure through a town where nobody bathed began. When the children were too full for dinner, but seemed to have plenty of room for dessert, a journey toward healthier eating was born, complete with a fun filled food fight.
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The stories originate through observational comedy, but the author
strives to deliver important messages in a compelling manner. In an
effort to ensure the stories are engaging to the audience, they are
battle tested in front of elementary school classes long before the
illustration process begins. This has proven to go a long way in
determining what works well and what should be left on the editing room
floor.
Kevin is a three time Emmy Award winning television meteorologist, who gives more than 100 school presentations annually.
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During the author assembly:
The goal is to have an interactive, fun and energetic presentation that inspires the kids to do more reading and writing.
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| He talks about how the ideas for the books originated.
Reads one of the adventures.
Talks about the importance of reading and has the kids try to come up with one job that doesn't require reading.
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The students are shown the entire book evolution process as he shows a
PowerPoint on how the book moves from concept outline through
writing/editing, test audiences, the illustration process from sketch to
what appears in the book, then tests the powers of observation the kids
have to see if they can identify what changed.
The students enjoy seeing how the illustrations evolved!
He displays the production process... including pieces of the book (cardboard, pages, covers) separately.
Finally…
for the intermediate students, show how much fun they can have
writing. He'll do a creative story exercise where the students create
their own "book" based on "untruthful stories" they've told their
parents.
This usually turns out to be a lot of fun.
The programs last 35-45 minutes and he's very flexible in order to meet the school's needs. Usually he does two assemblies, often back to back, one each for K-2 and then for 3-5. Time permitting, for the 3-5 assembly we can do that creative story writing exercise.
Fees:
Reasonable travel expenses, which can be split among participating schools.
There is no flat author fee. He has a minimum book order (20-30 depending on assemblies) per school and can provide a flyer to be distributed to the school's families to assist. All books can be delivered the day of the presentation.
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Books:
Deputy Dorkface; How Stinkville Got Cleaned Up
This is
about a town where nobody takes a bath. The town's Stink-O-Meter goes
out of control, and two young heroes take the law into their own lassos
before every man, woman, child, horse and hamster are cleaned up!
Deputy Dorkface; How Sugaropolis Got Their Dessert Back
What happens when the kids are too full for dinner but have plenty of room for dessert?
Dessert
is banned! The kids protest, a food fight breaks out, and the kids find
themselves forced to negotiate healthier eating!
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Website:
www.deputydorkface.com
YouTube Highlights of Presentation:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQ5hoGkNbNE
Feedback:
"Kevin, I wanted to write to thank you again for taking time out of your hectic schedule to come to read to the students at Crestwood. As budgets tighten and "extras" are trimmed out the need for quality, low cost assemblies increase. From my experience with researching and setting up assemblies, I know that the cost of the assemblies that you gave today would have been between $500 and $1,000. The fact that you do this for free for hundreds of schools around the valley is really remarkable and a testimony to your dedication to the youth in the Las Vegas Valley. You've really gone above and beyond the average guest reader. Your presentation incorporated several factors that are key for students to hear. It showed where authors get their ideas, in your case a bedtime story for your children. You emphasized that writing is a process and that you need to put a lot of effort into it in order to produce a quality product. Finally, you demonstrated for them a real passion for your craft and offered yourself as a role model that they would want to emulate. Once again, thank you for your time, resources and talent, all of which are priceless."
Emma Perkins
Title One Site Contact
Clark County School District
Crestwood Elementary
Las Vegas, NV
"Dear Mr. Janison,
Thank you for conducting the recent assemblies at Guy Elementary School. The students (and staff) very much enjoyed listening to the books, as well as hearing the "story behind the story" of the editing and printing processes. Your talent to captivate an audience of hundreds of children is admirable.We wish you the best in future endeavors as an author...we'd love to hear and read more from Deputy Dorkface!"
Diane Lewis, Principal
"Dear Kevin,
I want to thank you for presenting at Vail Pittman for our Literacy Night. You are so lively, entertaining and informative. Our students and their families truly enjoyed their evening.
We appreciate that you were able to take time out of your hectic schedule to come to Pittman. Your books are a favorite at our school and are ALWAYS checked out! Thank you for encouraging the kids in Las Vegas to read and write."
Valeri Fried
"Hi Kevin,
I wanted to thank you again for coming a visiting yesterday. The kids loved you...it has been all I have heard! Would you want to come back next school year after your third book comes out? I am just curious!
Thanks again!"
- Laura Kimberly
Librarian
Greenbrae Elementary
Sparks, NV
"Kevin,
Thanks so much for visiting our school. I have received such great feedback from teachers and students. They loved your presentation."
Doreen Penrose
Librarian
Huffaker Elementary
Reno, NV
"Hi Kevin,
Thank you so much for participating as a presenter at our first ever Literacy Night! Parents and teachers were very pleased with your presentation and with the presentations of our students around the school. We hope that you will be available next year to present at Wolff's Literacy Night again. Thank you, again, and good luck with your hectic schedule this year."
Kate Gilleran
Second Grade Teacher
Elise L. Wolff Elementary
Henderson, NV
"Kevin,
Thank you so much for coming out to our school today. The kids really enjoyed your presentations. The books are fabulous and we will enjoy reading them in the days to come."
Sandra Tomburo
Literacy Specialist
Eileen Conners Elementary
Las Vegas, NV
"Dear Kevin Janison,
Thank you for coming to our school. I really liked your book, it is very funny. It also makes me very hungry for some candy. My favorite character was Brownie the dog. I liked him because he always wanted pie. I like both of your books. My favorite book is How Stinkville Got Cleaned Up. Your ideas are great. I think that the writing is great. The pictures make me really want to write even more! I also like the horses and how they are made. Your writing makes my imagination run wild. Thanks again for coming to our school. I like both of your books."
Isai, Jara, Nathan, JJ, Chase, Richard, Elizabeth, George, Ulises, Kenny, Damaris, Analti, Noe, Ivy, Isabel, Christine, and Austin
Wasden Elementary School students
"Deputy Dorkface is bright and fun and promises to capture the imagination of more than a few youngsters who may have been reluctant to read in the past."
Young Voice Foundation
"Dear Kevin Janison,
Thank you for reading to us. I really like your new book, Deputy Dorkface: How Sugaropolis Got Dessert Back. It is funny and great. Plus I liked seeing myself on T.V. It was awesome. Once again thank you for reading to us."
Ivy, Elizabeth, Chase, Richard, Christine, Analti, Ulises, Kenny, George, Jara, Damaris, Starr, JJ, Nathan, Isabel, Isai, Austin, and Noe
Wasden Elementary School students
"Children eagerly join [author Kevin Janison] in yelling "PEE-UUUUU" at certain stench-laden junctures in the story."
Dave Clark
Summerlin News
"Dear Kevin Janison,
We think your books are really funny. You're really nice, you're also really cool. We liked it when you came. Deputy Dorkface books are really funny because it's about kids being kids – it's also about chocolate and you know kids love chocolate."
Kenny, Chase, Austin, Isabel, Nathan, JJ, Jara, Elizabeth, Isai, Ivy, Richard, Analti, George, Ulises, Damaris, and Christine
Wasden Elementary School students
"It taught a lesson like it was supposed to and had engaging characters and illustrations."
Sheila Scarborough
First Grade Teacher,
Lummis Elementary School, Las Vegas
"My kids love this book! The story is very funny (even better if done with the proper emphasis on the P-U's, etc.) and the illustrations make the story. A great way to get the kids to take a bath before they go to bed. I would highly recommend this book to anyone with kids under the age of 10."
Alaska Rodeo
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