School Author Visits 2026-2027

As an educator and children's book author, I present engaging school visit programs tailored for students in Pre-K through 5th grade. Using my books and poems, my programs combine storytelling, interactive slideshow presentations, action rhymes, and hands-on extension activities. Students discover how authors develop story ideas and revise their work (over and over!) to make their stories the best they can be.

Each visit supports important literacy skills by building comprehension, vocabulary, speaking and listening skills, creativity, an understanding of story structure, and confidence as readers and writers. Students are excited to meet a real author! They leave inspired to read more books and create stories of their own. They realize that they can be authors, too!

My interactive presentations range from 30 to 60 minutes and are tailored for different age groups:

PROGRAM FOR PRE-K AND KINDERGARTEN:

'Meet-the-Author Story Time!'

Read-aloud of THE MOUSE BUFFET: A CHRISTMAS TREAT or HOW WILL I EVER SLEEP IN THIS BED? gives students opportunities for language enrichment and prediction skills.
We bring poetry to life with two interactive activities based on my original poems. First, a guessing game invites children to listen, imagine, and predict. Then we get stomping and roaring with an action rhyme about a dinosaur! These playful experiences build rhythm and rhyme while enhancing creativity, self-expression, and motor skills.

PROGRAM FOR GRADES 1 and 2:

'Sneak a Peek' Into the Story

Interactive presentation shows how a story evolves from the first crumb of an idea to published book.
Read-aloud of THE MOUSE BUFFET: A CHRISTMAS TREAT or STAR OF THE SHOW gives students a 'sneak peek' into the creative process with opportunities for language enrichment and turn-and-talk discussions.
Engaging extension activities deepen the students' connection to the story through sequencing tasks, social-emotional learning, and hands-on artistic expression.

PROGRAM FOR GRADES 2 - 3

'You're the Star of the Show!'

Interactive presentation shows how a story takes shape, from idea to a published book.
Read-aloud of STAR OF THE SHOW offers a behind-the-scenes look at the revision process, highlighting how authors make word choices, refine phrasing, and use story elements such as character, setting, problem, and resolution to craft a story.
Students learn specific techniques to add details and pizzazz to their own stories.
Fun dramatization, role-playing, and a social-emotional learning component help students connect more deeply to the story.

PROGRAM FOR GRADES 4-5

'Build-a Story Writing Workshop'
Students bring a story to life in this interactive, hands-on workshop.

Together, we create a character - a person, an animal, maybe even a robot? Then we ask the all-important question: What does your character want? Next, we brainstorm setting, problem, rising action, climax, resolution, and theme or author's message.
We analyze one of my published books to see these story elements in action and explore fun revision techniques for adding detail, creativity, and pizzazz.
It's time to write! Some students jump right in while others outline or further develop their characters. Each student’s creative process is their own!
Please note: Because this workshop is highly participatory, a minimum of 60 minutes is needed for this workshop. Teachers may wish to provide additional classroom time afterward so students can continue working on their stories.

EVENING PROGRAM:
'Meet the Author Pajama Party'

This is a fun evening program where children return to school - dressed in pajamas, of course!
Read-aloud of HOW WILL I EVER SLEEP IN THIS BED? and another children's book offers a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process and plenty of audience participation
Bedtime-themed activities and Q & A.
Ideal for ages 4-8 but all family members are welcome!

NOTE: This program can be presented during the school day and paired with more educational elements. (See the 'Sneak-a-Peek' program above.) Consider a 'Wear Pajamas to School Day!' to add to the fun!

FEES

2026-2027 school year

Full-Day In-Person Visit (4 presentations)

$550 (within 40 miles of Hyde Park, NY)

$650 plus expenses* (beyond 40 miles)

Half-day In-Person Visit (2 presentations)

$350 (within 40 miles of Hyde Park, NY)

$500 plus expenses* (beyond 40 miles)

Evening Program (Meet the Author Pajama Party)

$250 (within 30 miles of Hyde Park, NY)
$250 (when added to a full-day visit with an overnight stay)

Virtual Program

$100

*Expenses include mileage, food, and, if necessary, lodging if beyond 60 miles of Hyde Park, NY

For more information please fill out the form on the CONTACT PAGE or email:
drferreri (at) optonline.net
Please fill out with 'AUTHOR VISIT' in the subject line

I'd love to hear from you!

2026 Events (updated 7/26/26)

Sat Feb 7 Beekman Library Children's Literary Festival

Hopewell Junction, NY 11-2

Sat March 28 Poughkeepsie Book Festival -100+ authors/illustrators

Dutchess Community College, NY 10-3

Sun May 17 Gold Coast Book Fair, Oyster Bay, Long Island (2-day event)

My interactive reading of The Mouse Buffet takes place on the Storytime Stage, Sunday 2:30. Book signing to follow.

Sun October 11 Warwick Children's Book Festival

Warwick Valley Middle School, NY 11-4

Sat October 24 Marlboro Elementary School 1000 Book Festival

Marlboro Elementary School Gymnasium, 1380 US-9W, Marlboro, NY 10-3

2025 Events

Sat August 9 The Bookstore Plus Sidewalk Signing - Main Street,

Lake Placid, NY 1 - 3
Sun Oct 12 Warwick Children's Book Festival Warwick Valley Middle School, 225 West Street, Warwick, NY 11 - 4
Wed Nov 5 SCHOOL VISIT - Kindergarten
Sat Nov 8 Childrens Writers of the Hudson Valley conference
Wed Nov 12 NURSERY SCHOOL VISIT
Fri Nov 21 SCHOOL VISIT - PreK- Grade 6
Sat Nov 22 Carle Place Barnes & Noble (Long Island) Story Time + Book Signing - 91 Old Country Road, Carle Place, NY (Long Island) 11:00

Sun Nov 23 Noxon Road PTA Holiday Craft Fair at Arlington High School - LaGrangeville, NY 10 - 3

Mon Nov 24 Staatsburg Library - 6:30 Story Time + Activities

70 Old Post Road, Staatsburg, NY

Sat Nov 29 Poughkeepsie Barnes & Noble 11:00 Story Time + Book Signing
Mon Dec 1 SCHOOL VISIT - PreK
Wed Dec 3 Willow Bookshop & Lounge - 942 NY-376 Summerlin Plaza Wappingers Falls, NY 4:00 - 6:00 Story time, Crafts + Book Signing
Thurs Dec 4 SCHOOL VISIT - Grades 4 & 5 'Build-A-Story' Writing Workshop
Sat Dec 6 Books & Greetings Bookstore - 271 Livingston St. Northvale, NJ
12:00 Story Times + Signings with 4 holiday authors
Sun Dec 7 Split Rock Books - Main Street, Cold Spring, NY
10:30 Story Time + Book Signing
Mon Dec 8 Adriance Library- Story Time + Gingerbread House Decorating - pre-registration required Please note: THIS EVENT IS FULL
Poughkeepsie, NY 5:00-6:15
Thurs Dec 11 Hyde Park Library - 2 Main Street, Hyde Park, NY
Story time + Activity + Book Signing 6:30 pm

Sat Dec 13 FDR Library and Museum Holiday Open House
Holiday Book Fair, 4079 Albany Post Road Route 9, Hyde Park, NY 1:30 - 4:00
Sat Dec 20 Newburgh Barnes & Noble 11:30 Story Time + Book Signing

School Visit Testimonials

"We absolutely loved having you visit. Everything you planned and did was fantastic and age appropriate. I loved all the opportunities for 'turn and talk' with a partner or group - you know how they love to talk! They really enjoyed drawing the buffet. It was great to see so many trying to add other details that they remembered from the story. I had lots of great feedback from the kids and parents in the following days...It was awesome!"

- Kindergarten teacher, EJR Elementary, Pine Bush

"Thank you for doing a wonderful presentation. The teachers are raving about your interaction with the students, the visuals, the movement with poetry, etc..."

- Karen Fowler, Library Media Specialist, Vail Farm Elementary School

"Thank you so much for your wonderful presentation last week. I have heard nothing but good things from teachers and students alike. There is a waiting list for your book from the library."

- Pamela Woodward, Netherwood Elementary School

My writer friend, Karen Kaufman Orloff, and I have partnered together to offer writing classes for adults. Our 5-week program, 'The ABC's of Writing for Children' covers where authors get their ideas and how to turn these ideas into poems, short stories or picture books. We discuss how to structure your writing to include the elements of story and how to submit your work to publishers. We also present shorter, introductory workshops at local libraries. Contact me or Karen Orloff for more information. Visit Karen's website for a look at her terrific books.

link to the website of Karen Kaufman Orloff

If you're interested in learning more about writing children's books, check out our organization, Children's Writers of the Hudson Valley and consider attending one of our events in the Poughkeepsie, NY area. Click the button for more information about our upcoming conference:

link to Children's Writers of the Hudson Valley