Invite your students to think globally, and excite them about reading
and writing! Plan an author visit with Maryann Cusimano Love for your school,
library, literacy group, conference or event.
Dr. Maryann Cusimano Love is an award winning international educator and
author. A winner of Harvard University’s Pew Faculty Fellowship for
teaching, and Catholic University’s Teacher of the Year Award, Maryann
Cusimano Love is an effective presenter who favors participatory techniques.
Maryann has a proven track record as a writer, communicator, and expert,
giving addresses to institutions such as the United Nations UNICRI working
group on Human Trafficking, the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace,
the Brookings Institution, Notre Dame University Law School, Georgetown
University, the University of Milan, the University of Ireland at Galway,
the McCormick-Tribune Foundation- Cantigne Conference, and the Conferences
of Latin American, Canadian, and U.S. Bishops, as well as interviews to
CNN, CNN International, NPR affiliates, and other media outlets. Children’s
book author appearances include the National Institutes of Health Children’s
Inn, Georgetown’s Holy Trinity School, Kutztown University Children’s
Literature Conference, George Mason University’s Fall for Books Festival,
and the Audubon School in Williamsville, NY. She teaches groups as diverse
as grade school assemblies to military officers at the Pentagon. Maryann
is outgoing and down-to-earth, and can make international topics clear and
concrete to the novice. She has been working with children since she was
a teen–as a clown, story-teller, singer, puppeteer, and caregiver,
and those skills keep her presentations moving at an upbeat tempo.
Dr. Love offers programs for children of all ages and adults. Topics include:
Write Away and
Write
Now: Programs on the importance of writing and reading throughout
history, and how books are made, to get your classes excited about writing.
Around the World: Children’s books
are a global business. How might this change the world?
How to Write Children’s Books.
What does it take to write and publish your children’s book?
Terrorism 101. What is terrorism? Can
the war on terrorism be won, and if so how?
Globalization and Me. What is globalization?
Is it good or bad, and what does it mean for me?
Starving in the Land of Plenty. How can you live the simple
life in the land of plenty?
Reading Together: Strategies for adults and children to read
together and love it!
Writing Together: Tips and projects for encouraging writing
together.
For a full description of programs,
click here.
Honorarium and fees are negotiable based on the length of the appearance,
the distance, and the number of presentations given in a day. Organizations
without a designated events or author appearances budget often are able
to host such events via successful prior fund raising. Discounts are given
to Maryland schools and libraries, and to groups that arrange for advance
sales of Maryann’s books. Send an e-mail to Maryann to learn more
[link to send me an email].
Maryann lives in Maryland, and can access schools in the Washington, Baltimore,
and Annapolis metro areas easily. Travel is generally easy to Maryland,
Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and parts of New York. Travel
outside Washington, D.C. requires mileage and meal reimbursement; train
or airfare and hotel accommodations may also be needed. Low tech presentations
are possible to small groups. Larger assemblies require microphones, and
either PowerPoint projection (preferred) or overhead transparency projection
(can accommodate), with a designated tech person from your organization
to facilitate.
Preschool and Kindergarten programs are best at a half hour or less, with
smaller groups of children. They begin with story telling, show how a children’s
picture book is made, and end with a craft. Possible activities include
learning how to say “I Love You” in different languages, making
dandelion wishes, making Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Valentine
or Christmas cards, decorating paper bears, etc.
Elementary School Programs vary in length and size, from classroom to school
assembly, but all focus on the importance of writing and the process of
writing.
Write Away! Have you ever been busted for talking in class? Books begin
with that same basic urge to share something. Books start in the wings of
imagination, memories, dreams, experiences, and history. These are captured
in the amber of words and pictures, so stories can be preserved and shared.
Books give us the chance to eavesdrop on the fears, dreams, and stories
of people we have never met, from famous baseball players, to people in
far away countries or time periods, to characters that exist only in history
or imagination. Using examples from the demise of the dinosaurs, to e-books,
to the early drafts and proofs of my own books, we discuss the creative
process from idea to finished book. We also discuss reading and writing
as a revolutionary activity, with stories of people persecuted for reading
and writing. We may also focus on poetry (a natural for National Poetry
Month), discussing the use of simile and metaphor, with examples from my
books. Discussion, examples, and suggested follow on activities vary depending
on grade level. K-3: Favorite memories with family drawing and writing,
the importance of reading together with family. Poetry, simile and metaphor,
with my books as examples. 4-6: Make your own book, from memory, imagination,
history, or current events. Poetry, simile and metaphor, with my books as
examples. The importance of reading to younger brothers and sisters, or
to the elderly. 7-8: The importance of telling your story. Reading and writing
as rebellion. Reading and writing as memory. Published teen writers. Writing
contests available.
Around the World in 32 Pages. Children’s books are now a huge global
industry. What does it mean if young people around the world are all reading
the same books? How do the same books read differently in different countries
and cultures? What is lost in translation? Examples from Harry Potter to
Winnie the Pooh to graphic novels, to my own children’s books published
in six languages. At the lower grade levels we read passages from my books
in various languages, teaching children how to say “I Love You”
and other phrases in several languages. At the higher grade levels we discuss
global book piracy, global literacy rates, the dominance of the English
language in books, movies, and music, and debates over the globalization
of culture.
Adolescent and Adult Programs vary in length and size, from writing workshop
to school assembly.
Write Now! This workshop focuses on the power of writing. How do writers
get their ideas? How do they get started? Why do people write? Writers in
prison, writers in exile, homeless writers, comic writers, graffiti writers,
the power of writing, and teen writers are discussed. I share my experiences
as a teen writer, and working with teens in the Sursum Corda housing projects
of Washington, D.C.. Using examples from the earliest cave paintings, to
e-books, to the early drafts and proofs of my books, we discuss the creative
process from idea to finished work. Discussion, examples, and suggested
follow on activities vary depending on age level, for example: make your
own book, with themes tied in to course work; tell your own story; writing
as rebellion; writing as memory; homeless writers; teen writers; and writing
contests.
Around the World in 32 Pages. Books for young readers are now a huge global
industry. What does it mean if young people around the world are all reading
the same books? Is reading across borders an antidote to war? How do the
same books read differently in different countries and cultures? What is
lost in translation? Examples include Harry Potter, graphic novels, and
my own children’s books published in six languages. We discuss global
book piracy, global literacy rates, the dominance of the English language
in books, movies, and music, and debates over the globalization of culture.
For language classes we may read passages from my books in various languages,
teaching students how to say “I Love You” and other phrases
in several languages.
How to Write Children’s Books. What does it take to write and publish
your children’s book? What editors look for and what they abhor. Trends
in today’s market. Critique and feedback on students’ stories,
and writing exercises. The business of writing. Pros and cons of agents,
self-publishing, and e-publishing. Resources and recommendations.
Terrorism 101. What is terrorism? Is one person’s terrorist another’s
freedom fighter? Is fighting terrorism a job for law enforcement or for
the military? How is the war on terrorism going? How can we best protect
against terrorist attacks while retaining important freedoms? Can the war
on terrorism be won, and if so how? Ethics and fighting terrorism: if the
terrorists fight dirty, must we? A discussion of torture, detention, civilian
casualties, and just war tradition. Examples from my own work with the military,
diplomats, government, NGO and church leaders.
Globalization and Me. Globalization seems an intimidating and foreign topic,
but it’s as concrete and personal as our socks, underwear, and breakfast
food. What is globalization? Is it increasing or decreasing? Is it a good
trend, leading to peace, prosperity, the spread of democracy and open technologies?
Or does globalization put profits before people and the planet, run roughshod
over sovereign law, leading to a race to the bottom, the loss of local cultures
and ways of life, and the “Walmartization” of the world? What
is free trade versus fair trade? Examples from my own work with the military,
diplomats, government, NGO and church leaders.
Parent Programs vary in length and size, from small writing workshop to
large assembly, but all focus on the importance of reading and writing,
and the process of reading and writing.
Reading Together This workshop for parents and children focuses on the emotional
and educational value of reading together. Reading together costs nothing,
but is a priceless gift we can give each other. How can reading together
fit into a world dominated by films, television, computer and video games
with high tech graphics and special effects? Reading provides quality together
time, check-in time, and a quiet space where bonds to each other and to
learning can grow. The benefits go both ways. Children enjoy undivided parental
attention, learn, and improve reading, attention, and retention skills.
Parents enjoy some quiet time, learn about their children’s evolving
personalities, and get a chance to create memories which will last a lifetime.
The benefits of reading together, the obstacles to creating quality together
time, and strategies for reading together, including reading on the run,
are discussed. The workshop also stresses the importance of children reading
to parents. My recent books, You Are My I Love You and You Are My Miracle,
and other good read-together books are discussed. Reading is not just the
teacher’s job. We are all teachers. Reading is an opportunity for
enjoyment and enrichment for us all. Especially appropriate for literacy
programs.
Writing Together. This workshop for parents and children focuses on the
emotional and educational value of writing together. Writing family memories
from adult and child points of view. Writing and sharing family history
and the family tree. Writing through family problems and growing pains.
Joint diaries. Good writing together books and resources are discussed.
Starving in the Land of Plenty. How can you live the simple life in the
land of plenty? How can you plant and grow your family’s values in
a consumer culture that may conflict with your values? How can you raise
kids who appreciate the simple things and are not slaves to stuff? How can
your family appreciate the wealth of our country in a global context? What
is the simplicity movement? The slow food movement? Suggestions, resources,
and examples from my own service, NGO, international and church experiences.
