I am the author of several books for children including THE SACRIFICE, a Jefferson Cup Noteworhty Book and an ALA Best Book Nominee and BRAVO ZULU, SAMANTHA! a Massachusetts Book Award Honor Book. My books have been on numerous state lists and have received starred reviews.
Selected Works:
THE STORY OF THE SAMSON, 2008, Charlesbridge
QUEST, 2008, Margaret K. McElderry
BRAVO ZULU, SAMANTHA!, 2007, Peachtree
HEARTS OF IRON, 2006, Margaret K. McElderrry
THE SACRIFICE, 2005, Margaret K. McElderry
PILOT MOM, 2003, Charlesbrige
BRIDGING BEYOND, 2002, Philomel
"Our 5th and 6th graders really enjoyed Ms. Duble's presentations - she connected with the students as she shared how she draws writing inspiration from her family experiences. Many students still remember her visit over a year later." Fran Mellin, Librarian, Pike School
"Kathleen Benner Duble is an extraordinary presenter. She conducted five individual classroom presentations on her novel, THE SACRIFICE, and the fourth and fifth students were captivated. Ms. Duble's fifth presentation of the day had the same energy level as her first." Elizabeth M. Greene Roos, Assistant Principal, West Elementary School
Program Info
Program Descriptions:
EVERY FAMILY HAS A STORY TO TELL - Using my books as examples, students learn how the best stories are really close to home and how most authors write about what they know. Questions are provided for them to ask their own family in order to elicit stories.
(1 hour)
WHAT A CHARACTER - Just what is an author's life like? Where do I get my ideas? I'll tell all my little secrets and then we'll play dress-up. Using Halloween costumes, together we'll create a character. Students will come to understand that no character is one-sided, that the most interesting ones are the ones with the most unusual traits and that an author knows more about her character than a reader will ever learn.
For younger audiences (40 minutes)
WHO WANTS TO BE A WRITER - A working presentation for the serious writer. We will use the four components of a book (plot, character, setting and dialogue) to write our own first story paragraphs. After sharing with others in the group, we'll see how much each aspiring writer knows about books. Stumped? Students can "ask the audience", "phone a friend" or get a 50/50 chance at the right answer! Who will go all the way? (75 minutes including writing time)
PEOPLE, PLACES AND THINGS - LET'S CREATE A BOOK - There's nothing like a good book to start a class out right. So that's how we'll begin. Following the reading, we'll create our own story using a storyboard. We'll discuss how a story needs three things: a setting, characters and a problem. (For young audiences -30 minutes)
BOOK-BASED PRESENTATIONS - For teachers who would like students to read one of my books before the visit, I have presentations based on THE SACRIFICE, QUEST AND BRAVO ZULU, SAMANTHA! In-depth discussions of research accompany these presentations. At the end, we will discuss moral questions from a smoking cauldron of thought-provoking stew or try beating some Guinness Book of World Records ourselves!
Program Pricing:
IN TOWN - 1 HOUR DRIVE OR LESS
$700 for standard presentations
$800 for tailored presentations
OUT OF TOWN BUT IN STATE
$850 plus travel expenses for standard
presentations
$950 plus travel expenses for tailored
presentations
OUT OF STATE
$850 plus travel expenses for standard
presentations
$950 plus travel expenses for tailored
presentations
All costs are per day with up to four one hour presentations a day
Special Features:
I like to include some kind of audience participation session in all my presentations. Whether it is a smoking cauldron with moral questions or dressing up in order to create characters together, I like my presentations to students to be interactive and full of fun.
Audience Levels:
Lower Elementary; Upper Elementary; Middle School
Contact Info
Contact Email:
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Home City:
Boxford
Home State:
Massachusetts
Contact Phone:
978-352-8846
Articles
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Kathleen Benner Duble