AUTHOR-ILLUSTRATOR VISIT: KATIA WISH
Please consider contacting your child's teacher, school librarian or school PTO and invite this author-illustrator!

Program # 1: RACCOON’S PERFECT SNOWMAN 
Katia shares the process of writing and illustrating the book RACCOON’S PERFECT SNOWMAN (Sleeping Bear Press, 2020). This book is about friendship, forgiveness and redefining what perfect means.
Grade level: K, 1 and 2.
Duration: 40 minutes

What to expect:
An Artist Timeline - What the artist drew as a child and what she draws now.
Showing the Process - Katia explains the process of making a book: inspiration, idea generation, character design, research, initial sketches, manuscript, storyboard, dummy book, final sketches for the book, working with editor or art director, and final images for the book.
Reading the Book - Katia and students read together and have discussions about the book.
A Group Art Activity - DRAW-ALONG activity: students learn how to draw a character using simple shapes.

Program # 2:  DRAWING COMICS ABOUT EVERYDAY LIFE
Katia shares the process of drawing comics about everyday life. Her semi-autobiographical parenting comics are whimsical, inviting, and humorous. 
Grade level: 3, 4, and 5. 
Duration: 40 minutes

What to expect:
An Artist Timeline - How Katia started drawing comics, where she has been published and exhibited. 
Showing the Process - Katia explains the process of making comics: inspiration, idea generation, character design (how to make yourself or people in your life into characters), research, initial sketches, revisions, final sketches, painting final images for comics, and digitally arranging final comics together. 
An Art Activity - Creating a comic: Everyday Superhero. 

Book sales:
Please offer Katia’s books for sale to students. The author will provide an order form to be sent home to parents prior to visit. The author will autograph the books.

REVIEWS:

“We learned all about the book making process from local author/illustrator, Katia Wish! She came came into our classroom (virtually) and told us about how her book, Raccoon’s Perfect Snowman, went from the idea stage to the published and printed book we read in school. It seems like A LOT of hard work, but has inspired us to start a mini writer’s workshop!” Jillian, a kindergarten teacher

"Katia gave a wonderful presentation on Zoom to the first graders at our school. She was engaging, helping the children to understand the process of creating a picture book, reading the story to them, and answering their many questions. I definitely recommend that other primary grade teachers have her visit their classrooms!" Jonathan N., teacher at Lawrence School, Brookline, Massachusetts

“I personally enjoyed how interactive and engaging the drawing demonstration was. So refreshing to see the creativity fly! I think that the presentation was a good length for the audience as well. We had some comments during the presentation that people liked seeing Katia’s childhood drawings next to her grown-up drawings, and that the presentation was very kid-friendly. Overall, I thought job well done, and wonderful timing with the snow as well.” Tess O., Youth Education Coordinator, Emerald Necklace Conservancy

“The presentation was kid friendly, Katia spoke slowly and clearly, she made it very visual with all the images. She included many personal elements such as growing up in Belarus, having young kids and how they inspire her, etc. The talk was intimate and relatable.” Indhu, Brookline, MA parent