School
Visits
I love school visits!
For one shining hour I get to trade my hard-hat (I’m a senior electrical engineer by day) for a guitar strap and prove to kids that STEM and stories share the same power source: imagination. My goal is simple—keep their creative pilot-light lit while they chase straight-A’s, dodge-ball titles, or whatever dream is tugging at their sleeve.
Author in Action!
Presentations
What happens when I walk through your doors?
K–3 • 60 min
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Quick “engineer-by-day / author-by-night” intro
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Sing-along theme song (with shakers, tambourines, or ukuleles I bring)
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Interactive read-aloud of Jose the Reindeer
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Puppet cameo by Jose the Reindeer
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Q&A + on-the-spot drawing contest—winners take home prizes
Curricular tie-ins: phonics, prediction, rhythm, SEL -
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4–8 • 60 min
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From spark to shelf: how a picture book is engineered
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Live demo: story-boarding, plot-cards, research hacks, cover-design “math” (yes, there’s geometry in a book jacket)
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Real drafts—typos and all—so students see revision as iteration, not failure
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Optional workshop extension: students create a group mini-book in one class period
Curricular tie-ins: narrative structure, persuasive writing, media literacy, career pathways -
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Tech needs: projector & screen (I bring the rest: USB with PDF presentation, microphone, speaker, and laptop if necessary).
Audience size: single class or full gym—energy scales up.
Leave-behind: teacher guide, cross-curricular worksheets, coupon code for discounted books.
Bottom line: I don’t know what awesome characters will come from this generation’s imaginations—but I can’t wait to meet them.
Get the Most out of Your Author Visit
To ensure your students have an unforgettable experience, we recommend familiarizing them with Ernest’s books and sparking their enthusiasm. This will make the visit even more meaningful and engaging.
How to Prepare:
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Explore Ernest’s Books: Encourage students to read Ernest’s books available on his website: https://www.josethereindeer.com/ or
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other website: https://www.ernestolivarez.com/ . This will help them connect with the author and his stories.
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Order Books: We will provide a PDF flyer with detailed instructions for students to order books. These books will be shipped directly to the visit location.
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Personalized Signings: Ernest will be happy to sign copies of the books before or after the event, making each book a special keepsake.
Extra Excitement:
Given time, Ernest will create a site-specific video featuring the Jose puppet. This video will be shared with your students to build anticipation and excitement for the visit.