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!! BOOKS!! BOOKS!! BUY SOME BOOKS !! |
Bitsy's books are out...if you'd like to buy them, click the graphics below. We've found Amazon's prices to be a little better than anyone else's, but feel free to look around (google the name "Bitsy Kemper" and you'll find lots of places to buy from, including sites with Japanese and German translations). If you'd like her to sign/autograph your books, mail 'em in a self-addressed, stamped envelope (SASE) and she'll return them asap. Email us for current mailing address.
So what’s in it for you? These four books are part of a series that take kids on "virtual field trips" to places they don't typically get to see. Parents and teachers can read these books when they are about to go on a real field trip to these locations—or perhaps even better—parents and teachers can read these books to kids instead of making the actual trip (think of the gas money you’ll save!).
In "Out and About at the Dentist," kids go on a guided tour of a dentist office to learn about X-rays, see where equipment is sterilized, and find out the best ways to avoid getting cavities. Do grown-ups have more teeth than kids? When do most kids start losing their "baby teeth"? Meet the office manager, both the dental assistant and dental hygienist, and Dr. Lucy Toothy (get it -- loose-y tooth-y? Ha ha). With the practical activity at the back of the book, kids will look forward to keeping their teeth healthy.
In "Out and About at the Greenhouse," you'll learn how greenhouses work, why some plants need warm air and some prefer wet air, and see what it takes to keep plants happy. You'll meet a horticulturist and find out what kind of schooling you need to become a plant expert (you may be surprised!). Experiment by making your own sample greenhouse with step-by-step instructions.
In "Out and About at the Theater," go backstage and see what happens before the show starts. Visit the costume shop, see catwalks and trapdoors, and find out if the "Green Room" is really green. What does a stage manager do? Who, besides a director, helps put on the show? How big is a real Broadway theater? Your guided tour will get you excited to see your next live performance, whether it's community theater in a small town or a professional show in a big city.
In "Out and About at the Baseball Stadium," your all-access pass gets you under the stands and into the clubhouse, training room and dugout. What's a "clubby" and what do they do? Are bat boys and bat girls important? Who takes care of the field? How many football fields can fit inside a typical stadium? With statistics on both minor league and major league teams, you'll be hungry for a hot dog by the time you reach page 24.
Order now by clicking the links above. Your kids will thank you (and so will we).
BOOK BITSY
If you’d like to book Bitsy as a speaker, for a school visit, to lead conference or school workshops, or do signings, lookee here. Her schedule is flexible and negotiable. Travel costs are only charged if more than 60 minutes away. If she’s already in N.Y., for example, then there’s no travel fee unless the location is more than an hour’s drive from where she’s staying. If you’d like her to fly out special then that’s another story.
Rates vary but here’s a guideline:
1. Conference workshop/presentation: $250-$500 per topic depending on size of audience and scope. Bitsy has several different workshops available for writer conferences, and is open to creating a custom presentation at no extra charge. Currently her topics are:
Author Websites: Breaking Thru the Noise – Using over 20 real author websites as examples, this workshop shows both novice and experienced writers how to make their website shine. Includes dos, don’ts ,and lots of ideas you won't find elsewhere.
Technology for Writers: Discusses technologies available today, from palm pilots to Internet, and putting them to use. Includes lists and detail on helpful websites, including chat rooms, e-newsletters, online dictionaries and agency resources.
Presentation Skills: Great writers aren’t necessarily great presenters. Find out what it takes to turn a good school visit (or presentation) into a fabulous one. Includes use of visual aids, using the five senses, ways to get and keep the attention of a crowd (even if it’s a crowd of nap-needing little people).
Media Interview Tips: You’ve polished your work to get published. You may have worked with your publisher on a PR and marketing plan to get some publicity. Are you ready to be interviewed by newspapers, magazines, or local TV stations? This workshop will tell you how to prepare, how to handle difficult questions, what to include in your press kit, and even what to wear. Great for the published author that has no where else to turn, or the pre-published author that wants to be ready when it happens.
Creating a PR Plan: No sense preparing to be interviewed if you haven’t even contacted the media yet. This workshop discusses the best way to go about getting media attention and booking interviews, from writing a timely news release to sending out effective press kits.
Writing for Hire: What’s the difference between getting hired to write a book that you came up with, versus writing a book someone else did? This workshop discusses the pros and cons of “writing for hire,” also called “writing for a flat fee.” Various publishers are discussed, resources are shared, and tips on not getting taken are offered.
2. School visits: $250 per four-hour half day for up three readings/presentations. $500 for full day including up to 6 presentations, plus lunch. Bitsy is a member of the “ArtsBank Catalog” program from the El Dorado Arts Council that will cover half the cost of a school visit in El Dorado County. For more info on that arts program visit http://www.eldoradoarts.com/. Here’s the scoop on Bitsy’s school visits:
Bitsy's books are "virtual field trips" for roughly K-3 that give backstage tours while teaching interesting facts about places and professions. As Bitsy reads her stories to classes and groups, she takes the "virtual field trip" one step further by explaining the book writing process. How long does it take to write a book? Who does the illustrations? What's the difference between a picture book and a chapter book? Kids (and teachers!) will learn not only what goes on in the dentist office, baseball stadium, greenhouse and theater, but they'll learn what it takes to become a good writer too.
For grades 4-5 and 6-7, kids will enjoy a quick game of "guess what it takes to become an author?" and walk away wondering why anyone ever decides to go to all that trouble (it really is harder than you think!). Brainstorming and logical thought processes are emphasized in this interactive presentation for grades four through seven. Participation is positively rewarded.
Regardless of student ages, Bitsy's sense of humor keeps everyone smiling, and she leaves behind a signed copy of whichever book she reads.
If a school has an idea specific to one of her books, she is open to creating a custom presentation just for them…for example, a class may want to talk about the history of the theater before heading out on a "real" field trip to see a play, or may want to talk about how to care for your teeth when she reads the Dentist book. [Note: Extra props and costumes might require additional fees.]
3. Book signings: Free if guaranteed number of book sales, free if follows a paid visit or presentation. Otherwise they include a presentation/reading for a likely $250 fee. See above for detail on readings/visits.
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