A Mime in Times Square

Yesterday my eighteen-year-old son with autism was wiping off the kitchen counter. He stopped, blinked a few times and said, “Mother, am I normal?” I looked up from my laptop, surprised. He’d never asked me such a thing before. We made eye contact. I scanned my brain files for the correct response. “I mean, what does normal mean?” he asked. “Does it mean medium? Or good? Regular? Or average? Or ordinary?” One of his favorite things to do is to search for the meaning of words . He’ll frequently ask me for definitions, and is especially interested in classifying words with similar connotations. But this was a profound question he was asking. What DOES normal mean, anyway? “I suppose normal means regular or ordinary. Average ," I said. I thought about my son in his early childhood. He would scream in frustration at his inability to communicate his wants and feelings. In those days, I was an overwhelmed young mother with small children, trying to deal with what felt lik...

1. Email me at kristyncrowbooks@gmail.com. 2. Introduce yourself and let me know what you have in mind…a large group assembly, individual classroom visits, a literacy night, etc. 3. Request my detail sheet if you’d like references, price ranges, etc. I am willing to work within your school’s budget. 4. I’ll get back to you ASAP. A conversation has begun! We’ll set a date and time and go from there. 5. Why? Your students will be entertained with an animated PowerPoint and a lively discussion about what writers do, how picture books are made, and how rhythm works in language. I know how to work a crowd of kids--I’ve got a few tricks up my sleeve to make them laugh. An author visit is a HUGE boost of energy to your literacy program. I’ll read three of my books, and your students will play instruments along with the book refrain in a huge rhythm symphony. It’s learning and having fun at the same time. The students don’t just listen, they participate interactively. 6. Contact ...

Available March 1, 2011~ The Really GROOVY STORY of the Tortoise and the Hare ( Albert Whitman, Inc. , illustrated by Christina Forshay ) is the traditional tortoise and hare fable, snapped up with a groovy beat. It is new rhythm breathed into the old tale. As a writer, I can tell you it was grueling work—one of the pieces I worked longest on. It has sets of three rhymes per line, a hoppin’ beat with an anapest meter. I worked on it for over a year. Don’t misunderstand the intent of the book. The word “groovy” in the title is not a nod to the 1970s. (Although if it makes you smile, groovy.) This book is about movin’ and groovin’, hippin’ and hoppin. It’s about shaking your tortoise shell or your fuzzy cottontail as you hear the words of the story. It’s about little hands clappin’ and little feet stompin’. It’s about movement and rhythm and language with a beat. It’s about involving the reluctant or early reader interactively in the story. Word-play and humor. When I visit schools, I b...

1. Consider possible authors your students might enjoy having for a visit. Think about the books the students at your school love, current best sellers or reading trends, your literacy theme, etc. Has a school in your district had a successful author visit recently, and would they recommend that author? Do a little research. Most authors have websites you can find by doing an internet search for the name of the author or the title of their book series or character. Find the section on their website about “author visits” or “school visits.” Locate the contact information. To book Kristyn Crow, click here. 2. Make an inquiry. Email the author and request information on fees and what the presentation will entail, length of time, etc. Ask for references – unless the author is such a big celebrity it would be silly. In some cases you’ll need to arrange a school visit through the author’s agent or editor. This information should also be available on the author’s website. 3....

Readers and Writers….SAVE THE DATE! August 21, 2010 The Waterford School 1700 East 9550 South Sandy, UT 84093 The Children’s Literature Association of Utah (CLAU) and The ROCK CANYON CHILDRENS AUTHORS AND ILLUSTRATORS of UTAH PRESENT: A BOOK FOR EVERY CHILD CHARITY EVENT Help us put books in the hands of underprivileged kids in Utah! DAYTIME WRITING WORKSHOP: (Pre-register by August 15 $60/Walk-in $70) Love writing? Spend a fabulous day with award-winning Utah authors! Get hands-on writing advice and move your manuscript closer to publication! Author panel, critiques, and book signings. Lunch provided. (For adults and children 12 and older.) EVENING EXTRAVAGANZA: (Pre-register by Aug. 15- $10/Walk-in $15, Family price $25) Book-Lover but not a writer? Or, just looking for a fabulous night out? Come to an evening extravaganza with entertainment by singer Nancy Hanson, The Divine Comedy troupe, a celebrity author panel, and a raffle with prizes that will astound you! (Adults and childr...

Being an author can sometimes bring about strange adventures. For example, a week ago I found myself in Beryl, Utah. Yep. Beryl. I hadn’t heard of it either. But a school librarian contacted me several weeks prior and asked if I’d do a school visit there. Beryl? I looked it up. That’s FIVE hours away. Whoa. There were a million reasons to say no. Reasons like: I’ve got seven kids and mounting laundry, gas is expensive, and ten hours on the road would be horrendous. I told the school I’d need my travel expenses covered. Fine, they said. And, I’d have to charge them additional fees for the assemblies. Fine, they said. And…I’d need a screen, microphone, and a projector wired with sound….fine, fine, fine. I clicked on a map on my laptop and showed my husband. “Should I go to Beryl?” I asked. “Where?” “Beryl, Utah.” “Barrel like a barrel of monkeys?” “I’m not sure. But it’s five hours away, in the middle of nowhere.” He leaned over and squinted at the map. “Yeah, you should do it.” “I shoul...

I am so happy to be part of the Writing and Illustrating for Young Readers Workshop in June! If you sign up for my picture book class, here’s what you’ll get: Picture Book Extravaganza – We’ll spend some time each day reading and analyzing some of the most fabulous picture books out there. Instruction in topics ranging from writing a great read-aloud, to creating more action in your text, to finding an agent, to working with an editor, to making your manuscript irresistible. A souvenir binder with art from one of my picture books. Hand-outs that cover the most important aspects of picture book writing which you can refer to again and again. A few surprise guests from the picture book world. A thorough list of websites, agents, publishers that accept non-agented work, and other resources to help you in your publishing quest. An honest, careful critique of your picture book manuscript and suggestions to make it the best it can possibly be. Break-out sessions on all kinds of writing top...