Salima Alikhan, illustrator of Rocky Mountain Night Before Christmas and Lawyer's Week Before Christmas and author-illustrator of The Pied Piper of Austin, is a former art teacher with experience at several Montessori schools. She grew up listening to wild and imaginative fairy tales and has always been drawn to write and illustrate stories of her own. Now a full-time illustrator, she is happy that her job still allows her to visit schools and spend time teaching and learning about kids. Salima Alikhan’s presentations focus on the life and work of an illustrator and she is happy to modify her presentations for grades 1-12. Rates: : In TX, $300 for 3 morning presentations, $400 for all day (5 presentations max.), plus the cost of gas if over 50 miles round-trip; $500/day out-of-state, plus travel expenses. She currently lives in Austin, TX. For more information, visit http://www.salimaalikhan.com.

Nancy Kelly Allen, author of Daniel Boone: Trailblazer and "Happy Birthday": The Story of the World's Most Popular Song, is a former primary school librarian and an avid book lover. She offers two presentation options: Kiss Your Brain, a humorous, engaging program for primary students, and The Write Stuff, a full-of-fun program for older students. Both presentations are interactive and discuss the process of creating a book. Rates: $700 per day and school visits are all day. School visits are available in either the Lexington or Louisville area. Visit http://www.nancykellyallen.com for more information.

Rick Anderson, illustrator of Racecar Driver’s Night Before Christmas, feels right at home in the classroom after 25 years spent teaching art to thousands of children. He is available for elementary school programs about the life of an artist and his work creating picture books, middle and high school studio sessions, high school illustration workshops, and teacher professional development programs. Rick is included in both the Mississippi Artist Roster and the Art Education Roster and is a member of the International Reading Association. He lives in Clinton, MS. Rates: $500/half-day, $900-1000/full day, plus travel and accommodations. For more information, visit http://www.rickandersonart.com."

Dr. H. J. Arrington, author of The Heart of a Friendship (recipient of an Honors Award in the 1997 national Parenting Publications Award) and Friends Again?, , is an accomplished storyteller and dramatic reader. She is also the author of the 1995 Heath Literacy reading series and currently consults with schools and organizations, both privately and through the National Faculty. Dr. Arrington currently resides in Hampton, VA. Rates: $500.00/day plus expenses.

Lesley Pratt Bannatyne, author of Witches' Night Before Halloween, A Halloween Reader: Poems, Stories, and Plays from Halloweens Past, A Halloween How-To: Costumes, Parties, Decorations, and Destinations, and Halloween: An American Holiday, An American History, is a leading authority on Halloween and has worked for 30 years as a freelance writer. Her presentations include "What does an author do?" and "Halloween history & trends" and can be modified to fit any age group. Rates: $100/presentation, $250/day (3 presentations), plus expenses, in the greater Boston area; $150/presentation, $400/day (3 presentations), plus expenses, elsewhere. The author currently resides in Somerville, Massachusetts. Visit http://www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~bannatyn for more information.

Carol Benioff is a talented artist and a native of San Francisco. Benioff was awarded the Communication Arts Award in 1995 for Excellence in Illustration. Her vivid and colorful artwork brings life to Steven Layne’s Preacher’s Night Before Christmas, a heart-warming story of the true meaning of Christmas. She is happy to adjust her presentations to fit all grade levels (k-12). Carol Benioff loves to share the process of creating a story with pictures, and likes to discuss her own inspirations in the hopes of getting children to discover theirs. Rates: $200/half day, $500/full day, plus expenses.

Deborah Blumenthal is an award-winning journalist and nutritionist as well as the author of Aunt Claire’s Yellow Beehive Hair. In her presentations, the author will discuss with students how she gets ideas, how she creates the characters and the plot, and how picture books have their own special language. She brings visuals to show how a picture book evolves from copy on paper to complete book. Blumenthal resides in New York City. For more information, visit http://www.deborahblumenthal.com. The author is available to visit state reading and library conferences as well as schools and hold readings and writing workshops. Fees and travel expenses should be arranged with the author.

Al Bohl, author of Guide to Cartooning and Guide to Cartooning: Teacher’s Guide, teaches cartooning classes through the Continuing Education Department of Louisiana State University, Shreveport. His numerous presentations instruct teachers as well as students and are held in classrooms as well as libraries. His programs illustrate various drawing techniques, discuss the history of cartooning, and answer questions about job and educational opportunities. His book has been adopted by the Arkansas and Oklahoma state Departments of education as a textbook for high-school-level art classes. Rates: $400-$500/day plus expenses. Mr. Bohl resides in Bossier City, LA.

Katy Bratun is an experienced author and the illustrator of 30 picture books, who has been visiting schools since 1993. She has also taught drawing and art classes at the Art Institute of Boston, Peabody Essex Museum, and Worcester Art Museum. Katy’s energetic school presentations are designed to show the magic that can happen when words and pictures paint a story. She has several programs to choose from and adapts them to grade level. Rates: $650/day for visits within driving distance; lodging and travel expenses are requested when necessary. Katy lives in Salem, MA. For more information, visit http://www.katybratun.com. "

A freelance editor and author, Tricia Brown has written more than a dozen books for children and adults, including Alaskan Night Before Christmas. Tricia is happy to adapt her programs to fit almost any age group. Presentation topics include a general author presentation, “Exploring Yourself, Exploring Your World,” “How a Book Is Born,” the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and Alaska’s Native peoples and their art. Though she now lives in Scappoose, Oregon, Tricia lived and worked in Alaska for more than two decades. Considered an authority on Alaskan history, Native cultures, and natural history, Tricia frequently travels to Alaska for research and speaking engagements. Rates: $250/half-day; $500/full day, plus expenses. For more information, visit http://www.triciabrownbooks.com.

Dori Butler is the author of F is for Firefighting and P is for Police. This award-winning author always dreamed of becoming a writer, and she made her dream come true! She has written a dozen titles for children, and is happy to visit schools and share her love of reading and writing with students and teachers. Dori is available for both group presentations and small group writing workshops. Rates: $750/day (plus expenses) within 75 miles of Coralville, Iowa or $1000/day (plus expenses) for distances greater than 75 miles. She gives a maximum of 4 presentations per day. To learn more about Dori, visit her website at http://www.kidswriter.com.

Mary Brooke Casad is the author of Bluebonnet at the Texas State Capitol, Bluebonnet at Johnson Space Center, Bluebonnet at Dinosaur Valley State Park, Bluebonnet at the East Texas Oil Museum, and Bluebonnet at the Marshall Train Depot. A native of Louisiana, she resides in Carrollton, Texas. Ms. Casad travels to schools and libraries explaining the ideas and processes used in writing a book. She uses a Bluebonnet puppet to help answer questions on armadillos and her books. Rates: $250/per talk with book sales, plus expenses.

Melanie Chrismer, children’s author and active SCBWI, Women Writing the West, and Texas State Reading Association member, is the author of Phoebe Clappsaddle and the Tumbleweed Gang, Phoebe Clappsaddle for Sheriff and Phoebe Clappsaddle has a Tumbleweed Christmas. Chrismer writes for ages 4-14. She has been published in curricula and magazines, and her stories emphasize imagination. Presentations include "Tall-Tale Talk" (featuring the Phoebe Clappsaddle picture book series) and "Pull a Story Out of Thin Air" (creating a story). Rates: $600/day plus expenses and $50 extra for a custom presentation. Melanie Chrismer lives near Austin, TX. Visit http://www.melaniechrismer.comfor more information.

Janet Clement and Albert Rodriguez are the writer-illustrator team behind Jewish Alphabet. Ms. Clement and Mr. Rodriguez have programs adaptable for Preschool-3rd grade as well as teacher workshops. They are happy to discuss how a book is created, lead holiday activities, or discuss a multi-cultural classroom environment with your teaching staff. They’ll happily tailor the program to meet your needs, and length will depend on the activities selected by the school. Rates are available upon request. Visit http://www.janet-and-al.com for more information. The author and the illustrator live in the Tampa, FL area.

Kathryn Cocquyt is the author of Little Freddie at the Kentucky Derby and Little Freddie’s Legacy. She has drawn on her experiences working at Santa Anita and Del Mar race tracks as a stable hand to create stories about making big dreams come true. In her presentation she uses the fictional horses in her books as well as real lives of great race horses to illustrate, “If you can dream it, you can do it. If you can imagine it, you can achieve it.” She also discusses the writing process and how either through words or deeds we write our unique story in the ledger of our daily lives. Rates are $250/half-day, plus expenses. This includes three (3) 45-minute presentations plus book signings. The author currently lives in Moorpark, CA.

Sheila Hébert-Collins, registered on the Louisiana State Artist Roster as an author and storyteller, is the author of Les Trois Cochons, Jolie Blonde and the Three Hébert: A Cajun Twist to an Old Tale, Cendrillon: A Cajun Cinderella, Petite Rouge: A Cajun Twist to an Old Tale, ‘T Pousette et ‘T Poulette: A Cajun Hansel and Gretel, Blanchette et les Sept Petits Cajuns: A Cajun Snow White, Jean Paul Hebert Was There, and her latest title, Jacques et la Canne a Sucré. In her presentations, she incorporates samples of children’s work, Cajun music, and a demonstration of the Cajun two-step. Sheila lives in Abbeville, LA.
Rates: $300/half-day (2 programs) plus expenses.

Alice Wilbert Couvillon and Elizabeth Butler Moore, authors of Mimi’s First Mardi Gras, Mimi and Jean Paul’s Cajun Mardi Gras, Louisiana Indian Tales, and Evangeline for Children, are both native Louisianians who experienced the thrill of their own first Mardi Gras years ago and later relived that excitement through the eyes of their children. Their presentations will entertain as well educate child about the customs and culture of Louisiana. Rates are available upon request.

An elementary-school teacher since 1992, Laura Crawford is eager to visit schools to teach children about writing and inspire them to create their own alphabet books! Laura, author of The Pilgrims’ Thanksgiving from A to Z and The American Revolution from A to Z, will speak to your students about the writing process and the life of an author. While discussing her writing and revision process, Laura emphasizes the message that the true path to success lies in perseverance. Rates: is $600/day (4 presentations) or $300/half-day (2 presentations) plus gas/mileage. Ms. Crawford lives in Geneva, Illinois.

Cecilia Casrill Dartez, author of the Jenny Giraffe Series, L is for Louisiana, The Louisiana Plantation Coloring Book, and A Marmac Guide to New Orleans, is a former elementary school teacher and a member of the prestigious international teachers’ organization, Delta Kappa Gamma. She is also the photographic illustrator for L Is For Louisiana. Ms. Dartez is listed on the Louisiana Artist Roster as a storyteller and author. Presentations are age and subject appropriate. Rates: $300/half–day and $600/whole day. Ms. Dartez resides in New Orleans, LA.

David Davis is an accomplished cartoonist, author, and presenter. He has authored many Pelican books: The Redneck Night Before Christmas, The Truckers’ Night Before Christmas, The Nurse’s Night Before Christmas, The Librarian’s Night Before Christmas, Ten Redneck Babies, Jazz Cats, Texas Zeke and the Longhorn, Rock 'N' Roll Dogs,Texas Mother Goose, and A Southern Child's Garden of Verses. Mr. Davis is available for two-for-one school visits and professional presentations, along with Pelican author Jan Peck. Their interactive, humorous presentations will get students fired up about reading and writing. Rates on request. Mr. Davis resides in Fort Worth, TX. Visit www.davidrdavis.com for more info.

Jan Day is the author of The Pirate, Pink, Pirate Pink and Treasures of the Reef, Kissimmee Pete, Cracker Cow Hunter, Kissimmee Pete and the Hurricane, and The World's Greatest Explorer. Ms. Day has a strong interest in literacy and she has participated in many children’s publishing panels. She has several school programs to choose from, and she presents on her own or in conjunction with her illustrator, Janeen Mason. Her programs cover the process of how a story becomes a finished picture book, geography lessons from her books, and brainstorming with students to produce a collaborative story in a fun island setting. She is sure to get your students excited about creating their own stories. Rates available on request. Ms. Day resides in Okeechobee, FL.

Dianne de Las Casas, author of The Cajun Cornbread Boy, Madame Poulet and Monsieur Roach, and Mama's Bayou, is an award-winning storyteller who is listed on the Louisiana State Artists’ Roster, the The Louisiana Touring Artists’ Directory, and the Mississippi Arts Education Demonstration Roster. Through the use of character voices, animated facial expressions and gestures, Dianne creates a world of enchantment that mesmerizes her young audiences. Performances are enhanced with colorful backdrops and a professional sound system. Dianne's delightful programs are perfect for school, library, and family venues. Dianne has many programs available for PK-8th grade as well as educator workshops. Rates available upon request. For more information, visit http://www.storyconnecttion.net.

Gene Del Vecchio has put his kid-marketing savvy into practice with his two novels for young adults entitled The Pearl of Anton and The Sword of Anton. Throughout his career, Del Vecchio has conducted hundreds of studies with children and has developed ideas for toys, food, cartoons, promotions, and screenplays. An award-winning competitor in the field of advertising, he has made great strides in his field and is embarking on this new adventure in YA fiction. Mr. Del Vecchio is available for your classroom enrichment. Rates available upon request. He has presentations on both his business and fiction books. He currently resides in Valencia, CA.

Jana Dillon, author and illustrator of Upsie Downsie, Are You Asleep?, Lucky O’Leprechaun, Lucky O’Leprechaun Comes to America,and Lucky O’Leprechaun in School as well as illustrator of Wanda Dionne’s Little Thumb, has moved to Virginia from New England where she was one of the most requested and respected children’s book creators. Her popular school program is inspirational and motivational. Jana, a former teacher, explains how a book is created from brainstorming to finished product and shows children how to improve their own writing. Her rate is $650 for a full day, $400 for a half day (until noon). For more information, visit http://www.janadillon.com.

Wanda Dionne is an award-winning author who has written professionally for newspapers and magazines for many years. Ms. Dionne lives in Texas and has written several books for middle readers. This is her first picture book. Little Thumb is the story of the adventures of a little thumb that enters a dark, damp mouth of a child. Fees for school presentations are $100-$200/half-day and $250-$300/full day. Presentations are appropriate for grades pre-K-1.