Bob Studying Bob in Liberia

The goals of my author's presentations are always the same: to get students to open their minds to writing and reading and analyzing literature and art. I always begin with the story of how I first became a writer. When I was in Africa as a young man in Peace Corps, the mother of one of my students told me her true story, a story so rich and poignant and full of anguish and courage that I lay sleepless night after night until I began to write her story down, to share it with the rest of the world.

After that I just couldn't stop myself from continuing to write. I have now amassed a good number of novels and plays, many published and produced, and many others as yet unpublished and unproduced, most of them detailed in the links to the left. You'll find there the reviews and awards of which I am very proud.

My first care is to make my presentations entertaining, and in that I believe I have succeeded very well. The students never seem bored. Indeed they appear rapt because I always concentrate on my best storytelling, and a good story is what has kept people young and old engaged through the millennia. I invite you to look about through the links in the Reading Room for Younger Kids and Reading Room for Older Kids to see what students and educators have said about my presentations.

Teachers, librarians and principals who involve themselves in my presentations get rich pay-offs. If the students are prepped ahead of time with perhaps some chapters of my books read aloud in class, the students are so much more receptive. When I arrive—"a real live author"—it is as though a movie star has dropped in on them. The students are full of questions and the interaction is far more lively. Then afterwards if teachers invite the students to write to me during classtime, there are great rewards.

I have several presentations ready for various ages. Please take a look at the links below for details. And please be sure that I am able to adapt any of my proposed presentations according to input from teachers and librarians and administrators for the perceived good of their students.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
MIDDLE SCHOOL
HIGH SCHOOL and COLLEGE
Testimonial from Lisa Reynolds, Third Grade Teacher
Wow! The kids are thrilled thrilled thrilled to see their letters and pictures on your website (especially Ashley) - I love seeing their pictures up and I agree they are great kids. It's so fun to share them with someone who appreciates all their goodness, goofiness and laughter....

But now you. You were such a a huge success, more than I even imagined. It was the intro that surprised me the most - it was very engaging. The story from Africa was riveting and immediately captured their imaginations (and mine), as did of course "Suddenly the Cat". But what I loved were the things you said about writing, using ideas from life, talking to your grandparents. REWRITING. It all seemed so accessible. Hope I can capitalize on that while it's still fresh. I was a pretty good writer as a reporter but I find teaching it VERY hard and getting them to rewrite can be a challenge, so that was a good reality check for them.

You are awesome with kids and are welcome (and encouraged) to come and hang out - well we have to work - to come and read with us :) anytime. We had library Thursday and Ashley was beside herself because there was no Clayton Bess in our little book room.

Of course Suddenly is just delightful. Can't wait to get the book.