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Kim
Norman will hold the audience's attention no matter what the age. She presented
with enthusiasm, humor and used a wide variety of learning styles to fit every
child's needs. Our students were thrilled to participate in reader's theater
directed by Kim and to sing along with her when she sang her original song, "The
Storytime Boogie."
Carolyn
Law, librarian, Claude Thompson Elementary, Marshall, Virginia
As
Ms. Law states above, I do try to make my presentations lively and interactive,
tailoring the presentation style to the age of my audience. (Anywhere from K
thru 8th grade.) From reader's theater to call-and-response to Q&A, I
encourage laughter and audience participation. On the other hand, while I love
knowing that students are having a good time, I try to walk that fine line
between entertainment and education. I want students to have "take-aways" from my talks: memorable insights that will follow them
to help with their next standardized test or the next paper they're assigned to
write.
My
"Evil Inner Editor" collection is a dozen humorously distorted images
I often share during my school visits. Students are happy because it's funny,
and they can relate to my insecurities as an author. Teachers are happy because
it addresses the frequent cry of "I can't wriiiiite!"
Kim's Books
JACK OF ALL TAILS, Dutton, 2007. Illustrated by David Clark. A picture book about a
human family that makes a living renting themselves out as pets. "This amusing and well-illustrated book weaves
important economics lessons into a unique story about using one's talents.
Teachers and parents seeking high-quality children's literature with useful
content will be pleased." -Yana V. Rodgers, Rutgers University Project on
Economics and Children
CROCODADDY, Sterling, 2009. Illustrated by David Walker.
A Children's Book of the Month Club Selection: Celebrates the imagination and
love between father and son in a fun, totally original picture book. "Walker's vibrant colors and expressive characters bounce along with the
percussive rhyming text..." -School Library Journal
TEN ON THE SLED, Sterling, 2010. A picture book about an
amazing race, featuring arctic animals. Illustrated by Liza Woodruff.
ALL KINDS OF KITTENS, Sterling, 2010, a colorful,
rhyming sticker book featuring kittens in various settings.
I KNOW A WEE PIGGY WHO WALLOWED IN BROWN, Dutton, 2012.
A color concept book that follows the wild antics of a pig at a county fair.
Illustrated by Henry Cole.
MY HISTORY:
My 3 decades of experience in comedic and musical
theater come in handy during myschool author visits. I have taught classes for nearly 10 years at a
local arts home school co-op, as well as teaching for several summers at the
Skipping Stones Creative Drama Camps. For about a dozen years, I have served on
the advisory council of the Christopher Newport University Writers' Conference,
and for three years was editor of the Mid-Atlantic Society of Children's Book
Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) newsletter.
A FEW
OF MY MOST POPULAR PRESENTATIONS
Digging
Great Dirt
Using props and humorous
visuals, we explore the process of
revision. While laughing at my "Evil
Inner Editors", students learn
that even "the pros" struggle with
revisions. Humor, audience
participation, and Q&A.
Turning
Great Readers into Great Writers
Designed for younger
students, (K-1), this workshop gets
kids excited about reading and writing
through music,
repetition and laughter.
Are
you a REAL writer?
This workshop teaches that
student and adult writers alike can
take pride in their writing
accomplishments. Follows the road to
publication, explaining how a book evolves
from an idea in a
writer's mind to a finished book for sale in a store.
The Poet's Toolkit
Students are introduced to
the tools poets and writers use, such
as alliteration, repetition &
metaphor, to make their writing really
"pop." By the end of the
session, students have memorized a
new poem to take home and recite for their
parents!
Occasional
workshop elements:
Readers'
Theater
Original
Music
"Call &
Response"
Poetry and
word-building activities
Hands-on interaction: popping "Verballoons" (a workshop about active
verbs) and creating wristband keepsakes
Discussions of poetic & literary devices, such as alliteration,
repetition, rhythm & rhyme, metaphor & simile, etc.
Kim Norman performing "The Storytime Boogie" for kindergartners:
Although I will travel to any
state, I live in Virginia, so all presentations are designed to support Virginia
SOLs (Standards of Learning) for English, Fine Arts and Social Science
(Economics).
2009-2010 FEES
$200 for a single presentation, day or evening, up to
one hour; book signing may extend beyond that hour at no additional charge.
$350 for half-day (2 presentations, up to an hour each.)
$600 for a full day, (4 presentations.)
(plus expenses over 50 miles for any of the above.)
Because of drive time, visits beyond 75 miles will be
considered full day, regardless of number of presentations that day.
Out-of-state: $950 per day. (4 presentations)
Exceptions: Some areas of North Carolina, Maryland and
D.C. may qualify for in-state fee, depending on distance.
I can present to as many students as you can
safely fit into a gathering area, but I do prefer not to
spread out the ages
too much. Preferably two grades
per group; definitely no more than 3 grades. I
have
different presentations for different ages.
Visit my website for more
details, including further testimonials:
