About My School Visits by Neil Waldman         I visit schools regularly, presenting a wide variety of subjects to students from first grade to high school. I enjoy these presentations a great deal, and feel it is both a responsibility and a privilege to connect with the people I write and paint for. I'd like to share three letters I've received.   Dear Neil,         Thank you for spending four days with the students at our school. Your visit was a huge success. The feedback I got from teachers and students tell me that you are not only a talented artist and writer but a terrific teacher, mentor, and role model, I know that you will inspire others to write down their story too (if only for themselves). ........................................,...............Truly yours, ........................................,.............. Jerry Schnall ........................................,...............The John Steptoe School ........................................,...............Brooklyn, N.Y. Dear Neil,         Thank you so much for coming to Maugham School for an author visit. Your presentation was so inspirational to aspiring authors as well as young artists. Our audience of 300 students from grades 1-5 are our aspiring future writers and artists. You dramatically set the stage for their future. ........................................,............... Sincerely, ........................................,............... Linda Reiss ........................................,............... Library Media Specialist ........................................,............... Maugham School ........................................,............... Tenafly, N.J. Dear Mr. Waldman,         It was very interesting listening to you telling us about your life and how you became a painter. Your talk helps me to believe in myself more and shows me that I can be whatever I want to be if I work hard for it. Thank you for coming to my school and I hope you will come again. ........................................,............... Your student, ........................................,............... 3rd grader .........................................................P.S. 78 ........................................,............... Bronx, N.Y.   .......My presentations fall into many categories. I often begin with a large assembly in the school auditorium, where I speak about my life as an author/illustrator, or detail the history of a specific book or books, and tell the stories of how they were created. These presentations usually end wih a question/answer session. I then visit individual classrooms, sometimes reading and discussing my books, sometimes leading an art or creative writing lesson. The following are several topics I've covered: THE STARRY NIGHT; AND THE POWER OF CHILDHOOD FANTASIES THE CREATION OF A BOOK; FROM IDEA TO ACTUALITY THE IMPORTANCE OF JOURNALS HOW BOOKS CHANGED MY LIFE STORIES OF HOW CHILDREN HAVE SAVED MY BOOKS YOU CAN BECOME A WRITER OR AN ARTIST; OR WHATEVER YOU CHOOSE TO BE .......If you'd like to learn more about my school presentations, please give me a call, and I'll be happy to tailor a program for your school and answer any questions you may have.                                                                 Sincerely,                                                                Neil Waldman                                                                 (914) 949 5257

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