Green Bible Stories for Children
Green Bible Stories for Children brings the Bible alive by showing how it provides the blueprint for environmental protection. This unusual storybook illustrates the Bible's relevancy to today's green era by incorporating eight eco-related, Bible tales retold in a light, accessible tone. My presentation  incorporates a Power Point slide show with a bible ecology quiz, a reading (along with members of the audience) of two short stories from the book, and a  “Show & Tell” on the part of students who have followed instructions for two activities outlined in the book. This appearance requires equipment for the PowerPoint presentation. It also calls for easy-to-follow, advance planning and coordination with teachers/librarians.  It's a fun way to teach Bible and a great way to introduce the book to your class. After my presentation you can use the book as a full curriculum textbook. Each story has an introductory paragraph linking it to contemporary themes, and is followed by student-oriented projects. A concluding “Potpourri” section provides a host of other ecology-related lessons. In short, this presentation and book breathes new life into the Bible.
Ages: 7-9/10

Nathan Blows Out the Hanukkah Candles
Accepting the other in our midst is an important Jewish value. Nathan Blows out the Hanukkah Candles is a book that helps show us how to do it. This compelling story of an autistic child who mistakes Hanukkah candles for birthday candles is designed to be read out loud in the classroom or at home, and then used to open a conversation on how to love, respect and understand children that are different. My presentation does that and more. It begins with a short Power Point program showing how challenged people have always been part of our rich heritage. It is then followed by live demonstrations of how it feels to be different, using students to take part in this activity. I then introduce the book and read it out loud, followed by a “What Do You Think?” discussion.
Ages: 5-7/8

Zvuvi's Israel
Zvuvi's Israel is a unique book, giving kids a "Fly's-Eye-View" of Israel. A presentation on this book includes the game "Pin Zvuvi on to Israel." Taking turns, a blindfolded student pins a cut-out picture of Zvuvi on a map of Israel that I put on the board at the head of the class. For a blindfold, I will use a scarf that's blue and white and explain why these colors are important. Once each student "pins" Zvuvi on to the map I'll find the matching geographical "story" (double page spread) and read it along with the students. Since Zvuvi is playing "Hide ‘n Seek" on most of these double spreads, it is advisable that each student has a book to look at, or two students share a book, so that at the end of the "story" they can find Zvuvi. The first one to find Zvuvi will receive some sort of a prize. The type of prize will be determined together with the teacher - perhaps an extra star on a class chart. Depending on the tempo of the presentation, I will read 3-4 stories. Afterwards we will eat a Zvuvi Snack of Humus in pita along with Israeli salad. I will provide preparation directions.
Ages: 4-8

Hanukkah Around the World
Hanukkah Around the World gives added meaning to this festive, fun-loving holiday by transporting children and parents on a trip across the globe, introducing them to the different ways Hanukkah is celebrated in 8 countries. An appearance on this book includes an interactive Power Point presentation on Hanukkah, joint readings of three short stories from the book, our own Israeli-style torch relay race, followed by Israeli Hanukkah jelly doughnuts eaten by all.
Ages: 6-9/10

Passover Around the World
HONORABLE MENTION
• Jewish Book Council, Sydney Taylor Awards 2008
Passover Around the World transports children and parents on a trip across the globe in order to discover different customs for this year's Seder. While the story of Passover and the Haggadah texts are always the same, the variety of customs commemorating the exodus from Egypt transforms children into active Seder participants. An appearance on this book includes an interactive Power Point presentation on Passover, joint readings of two short stories from the books, along with children and parents trying out the matching customs of specific Haggadah sections. We end the session with our own post-Passover Moroccan Mimouna with purchased sweets served on trays and a chance to make the stuffed date recipe included in the book.
Ages: 6-9/10 

Jewish Heirloom Stories
Lotty's Lace Tablecloth and Mayer Aaron Levy and His Lemon Tree are the first two books in this unique Jewish children's book series that bonds children with their family and their heritage. Each book in the series uses an original folktale revolving around an unconventional family heirloom as the tool to connect with a specific Jewish value or concept. With Lotty's Lace Tablecloth children come to appreciate the beauty of Shabbat. In Mayer Aaron Levy and His Lemon Tree the importance of Tzedaka - charity - is brought home to the reader. Both stories refrain from the use of any "Mitzvah Talk", centering more on a way of life. At the end of each book the readers (children, parents and grandparents) are invited to take advantage of the "Added Value" section where they can write up their own story about a family heirloom relating to the specific topic. An appearance on this series includes a reading of at least one story, an interactive Power Point presentation tying in the cultural heirloom discussed in the book with our daily lives and an opportunity for children and parents/grandparents to tell their own stories. Participants are told ahead of time to bring their own family heirloom from home.
Ages: 7-10 along with parents/grandparents

Tasty Bible Stories
Tasty Bible Stories is a unique book incorporating a humorous retelling of 14 Bible stories (each with a food angle) and matching recipes for each tale. An appearance on this book incorporates a Power Point presentation including a bible food quiz, a reading (with members of the audience) of two short stories from the book, and a cooking session following each story using a matching recipe that is easy to make. This presentation requires equipment for the Power Point presentation plus assistance in purchasing and preparing the ingredients. It's lots of fun and gives parents an opportunity to do something enjoyable together with their children.
Ages: 6-9/10

Keeping The Promise
Recipient of:
• 2005 International Reading Association Teacher's Choice Award
• New York State Reading Association's Charlotte Award
Keeping The Promise is a touching, true story of a tiny Torah scroll smuggled into a concentration camp by a Dutch rabbi who gives it to a boy during his secret Bar Mitzvah. The tale of the Torah scroll was eventually revealed to the world when the late astronaut Ilan Ramon took it into outer space. An appearance on this book incorporates a reading of the story (with effects) followed by a discussion on the book through the use of a Power Point presentation. I point out that the story ties in with three aspects of Judaism: the world of Torah (giving background on the Torah, including how it is made); the world of Mitzvot (tying in Bar/Bat Mitzvah with the world of Torah); and our rich Jewish history (giving background on the Jews in Holland and the Holocaust). I make this an interactive presentation by asking the children questions throughout. This presentation requires equipment for the Power Point presentation.
Ages: 8-10
Schools Please Note: It is not appropriate to put different grades together for this presentation.

Writing Inspiration: The Story Behind the Stories
Inspiration comes in many forms, and every writer has her own sources. This presentation takes students and teachers on a behind-the-scenes journey to my personal forms of inspiration. Using Keeping The Promise, I illustrate the method behind my writing formula of Fact + Fiction = Faction. On the other side of the spectrum, a look at the 3-year process that led up to the writing of Mayer Aaron Levy and His Lemon Tree unleashes an examination of how imagination transforms life experiences. This hour long presentation is divided into two parts, each including a story reading followed by Q&A with the audience.
Ages: 10-13
Schools Please Note: Even though the age level of the books is for children 6-9, this presentation also works very well for middle school students interested in the writing process.

General Information

Presentation Time: One hour
Fee: $300 + domestic air/train travel costs + accommodations (if necessary; home hospitality is fine) + local transportation to and from presentations (if necessary). If I make presentations in more than one venue in your city, I ask the various hosts to work together by splitting my travel costs.
Teacher Workshops: Teacher workshops are available, with content to be discussed with me.
Fee for Multiple Presentations: Discounts will be offered depending on the number of presentations requested to be given within a reasonable time frame (usually 1-2 days).
Please Note: Any last minute cancellations are subject to a 50% kill-fee and refund of any pre-paid air or train travel fees that I have made.