Children's Book Author
Tammi Sauer, Children’s Book Author
"Our author visit with Tammi Sauer was pure joy! She had our 60 kindergarten students in the palm of her hand with her energetic and fun presentation geared just for their age level. Our kids loved meeting a real author, and Tammi is so personable and vivacious, it really was the perfect author visit experience for them. I can’t wait to share more of her books with our students." "Tammi's enthusiasm was contagious! My students were on the edge of their seats throughout the entire presentation. She is welcome back any day!!!" Beverly Boyer, Fifth Grade Teacher "Tammi inspired students and staff with her enthusiasm and work ethic, showing that excellence is attainable for all. Several students were heard to say that they want to be authors when they grow up! We’ve had many visiting authors and Tammi Sauer has been one of the best by far." Janice Hail, Library Media Specialist
(Source: Wichita Public Schools-TV, Media Productions)
http://www.usd259.com/news/streaming/Wichita+School+News.htm (November 9, 2009)
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE BEEN SAYING ABOUT TAMMI:
"Tammi Sauer is an outstanding author! If you are looking for someone to come and captivate, entertain and spark your students creativity she is the author for you. Our students enjoyed her presentation from beginning to end."
Dayna Hamilton, Principal
Raves and Reviews for COWBOY CAMP:
"Sauer's COWBOY CAMPis a simple, clever tale that promises to be a crowd-pleaser." - Booklist
"This book will be appreciated by any child who has shared Avery's concerns about not fitting in with a group." - School Library Journal
* 2006
* 2007 Premier Oklahoman Title at National Book Festival
* 2009 Book Choice for Read Across Oklahoma
* 2009/2010 Nominee for the Buckaroo Book Award
Raves and Reviews for CHICKEN DANCE:
"The zippy narrative features punchy dialogue and witty interactions; creative wordplay abounds ("Let's bawk and roll!"). Droll delivery soars high, advancing the story line to its playful conclusion. Santat's rich ink-and-acrylic designs provide a humorous context through animated expressions... Utilizing shadow and depth, warm colors provide the backgrounds for the energetic antics. Fly the coop to enjoy this hilarious adventure." - Kirkus Reviews
"With snappy banter...and tightly constructed storytelling, Sauer (Cowboy Camp) pulls off the neat trick of both embracing and spoofing the against-all-odds genre. Totally in sync with his collaborator, Santat's...sculptural, mixed media pictures exude an old-fashioned, theatrical drama that lifts the many jokes—visual and textual—into sublime silliness." – Publishers Weekly
* Accepted into the 2009 Original Art Show in New York
* 2009 NAPPA Gold Award
* 2010 Winner of the Oklahoma Book Award
* 2010 Chicago Public Library Best of the Best book
* 2010 Book Choice for Read Across Oklahoma
* 2009/2010 Book Choice for Oklahoma Celebration of Reading
* 2011 Nominee for the Grand Canyon Reader Award
* 2010/2011 Nominee for the Buckaroo Book Award
Raves and Reviews for MOSTLY MONSTERLY:
"Sauer's turnabout story of a square peg trying to fit into a round hole isn't particularly new, but her telling, with just the right amount of repetition and sophisticated vocabulary planted in simple sentences, is winning. Magoon's monster-hued cartoons pay a little homage to Sendak but also revel in such details as prep-school uniforms and a Monster Moves Class with yoga mats and monster-themed hydration bottles-- and Bernadette's a fanged, horned charmer." - Kirkus Reviews
"...just the sweetest l’il ole monster book ever to hike down the pike." - Fuse 8
"A fun and delightful read for all children who have both a monsterly and a kind side." - School Library Journal
AUTHOR OF THE FOLLOWING:
COWBOY CAMP (Sterling Publishing, 2005)
CHICKEN DANCE! (Sterling Publishing, 2009)
MOSTLY MONSTERLY (Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster, August 2010)
MR. DUCK MEANS BUSINESS (Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster, 2011)
ME WANT PET (Paula Wiseman/Simon & Schuster, 2012)
PRINCESS-IN-TRAINING (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, Forthcoming)
OH, NUTS! (Bloomsbury, Forthcoming)
BAWK AND ROLL (Sterling, Forthcoming)
PRESENTATIONS:
Tammi offers fun, engaging, and informative presentations for children and adults at schools, libraries, bookstores, book festivals, and conferences. To schedule a visit and/or signing, please email tksauer@aol.com.
FOR STUDENTS
Tammi's school presentations offer a balance of education and entertainment. Each one is geared specifically to a particular audience so that students will get the most of the experience. Tammi is able to present to groups of up to 150 students, but she prefers to keep the size down to allow for a more personal experience.
Title: Shazam! A Writer's "Magic"
Audience: grades prek-1
Length of Talk: 30 minutes
Tammi will celebrate reading and writing with these students by engaging them in some silly audience participation, sharing one of her books, and performing magic tricks to illustrate where she gets her ideas.
Title: Yeehaw! Behind-the-Scenes of a Writer
Audience: grades 2-4
Length of Talk: 50 minutes
Tammi will share a PowerPoint presentation that includes some weird and funny facts about herself as well as her books. She will also perform magic tricks to illustrate where she gets her ideas and how she shapes ideas into stories. In addition, she will take the students through an interactive, behind-the-scenes look at getting a story published which involves a quick trip to Tammi’s version of The Oprah Winfrey Show. A question and answer time will follow.
Title: Shhh! Tammi's Top Ten Writing Secrets
Audience: grades 4-5
Length of Talk: 50-60 minutes
In an entertaining and informative way, Tammi will share her top ten writing secrets, encourage audience participation, and lead students in a dramatic performance that will illustratate how these secrets have crept into MOSTLY MONSTERLY. A question and answer time will follow.
FOR ADULTS
Title: Writing Slice of Life Grandma Stories Picture Books that Sell!
Audience: beginning and intermediate writers
Length of Talk: one hour
Tammi Sauer will unveil her secrets for writing picture books that sell! Attendees will learn the key picture book components, ways to generate irresistible picture book ideas, and techniques for building the much-sought-after heart and humor into their manuscripts.
Title: Revision 911: Emergency Care for Your Picture Book Work-in-Progress
Audience: beginning and intermediate writers
Length of Talk: one hour
Tammi Sauer will point out the various Ailments in Fiction such as Perfection Infection, Dialogue Diarrhea, and Inflamation of the Mommy and offer remedies to help writers take their picture book manuscripts from First Draft to Yeah, Baby!
Title: Shh! Tammi's Top Ten Writing Secrets You Can Share with Your Students
Audience: elementary school teachers and library media specialists
Length of Talk: one hour
In a fun and engaging way, Tammi Sauer will share her Top Ten Writing Secrets that teachers and library media specialists can pass along to their students.
*Tammi is also willing to tailor a presentation to meet your specific needs.*
EQUIPMENT NEEDED:
- a table to set up books and props
- a cart for her laptop and projector
- a screen
- an overhead projector (for back up)
- an extension cord
- microphone (clip-on)
- CD player
- water
FEES:
One presentation: $300
Half-day fee (two presentations): $400
Full-day fee for Oklahoma schools (three or four presentations): $500
(plus travel expenses: $.50/mile for schools outside the Edmond area; possible hotel room)
Full-day fee for out-of-state schools (three or four presentations): $750
(plus travel expenses: airfare, hotel, cabfare, and meals)
TIPS FOR A SUCCESSFUL SCHOOL VISIT:
- Prepare students for the author visit by sharing COWBOY CAMP, CHICKEN DANCE, and MOSTLY MONSTERLY with them. Copies are available at Best of Books, Barnes & Noble, Full Circle Bookstore, and online.
- Consider making the author visit a COWBOY DAY or a BARNYARD DAY for the school. Encourage students, faculty, and staff to gussy up like cowpokes/farmers for the day (hats, bandanas, chaps, overalls, you-name-it). Bring in cowboy or farm adartifacts to display around the school (hay bales, horse shoes, saddles, posters, banners, etc.). Serve up cowboy grub at lunch. Anything goes! STRETCH your imagination! Make the event memorable for students!
- Encourage students to prepare questions ahead of time. Have each student bring a question to the place of the author visit.
- Consider doing a classroom activity that ties into one of the books. Examples include the following: illustrate a favorite scene, make a class collage, act out a scene, make a diorama, or create a Wanted Poster. Have the projects on display when the author visits.
- Allow at least fifteen minutes between presentations so that the author has time to regroup and set up her materials.
- Consider holding a school drawing or a guess-the-number of beans in a jar. Offer some cowboy-like prizes (can of beans, bandana, cowboy hat, copy of COWBOY CAMP).
- Send out the order forms provided by Tammi three weeks before the visit and send out reminder pre-order forms a couple of days before the order form due date. On the due date, contact Tammi and let her know how many books the school needs.
- Set aside an hour or more for the author to sign books (only books will be signed). She will need someone to collect order forms and money in advance and distribute the books to the correct classrooms.
- Make sure Tammi has a contact person at your school. The contact person should serve as the go-between, send out forms and keep track of orders, and arrange the author visit schedule.
- Please email Tammi if you have questions or comments at tksauer@aol.com.
