Book resources

School Skype sessions

I offer skype/zoom sessions with schools. Pupils can see the Tribe and the Shed and who lives in there as well as me reading them a story and answering any questions they have. You can book me via authors aloud or email me here. There is a fee for this. I usually charge £75 for a session.

I can send signed and dedicated books to the children and send you a booking form template for book sales if you would like one. Happy to follow up the visit with a letter, or to read some stories etc.

Dates and times are subject to me being available.

Virtual school visits are a great way for me to read one of my books to school children and answer some of their questions without me having to spend any time travelling - and they have a lot less impact on my carbon footprint than a regular school trip! You need a good internet connection with a screen the children can see me on, sound system and a way I can see and hear them too.

TESTIMONIALS

We were lucky enough to have the opportunity to work with Karin as a prize for a writing competition we entered within our local authority. Prior to Karin's visit, she contacted me to find out as much as she could about the class and endeavoured to tailor her session to the needs and abilities of the children. (Year one and two mixed class) Karin's books are just perfect for children of this age. They reach out to the children in such a way that was a privilege to see. Before her visit, to get the children enthused, we read the story "Small finds a home." The children immediately identified with the messages of friendship and kindness and adored the characters in the book. The photos which accompany the stories bring the characters to life. The books also have the animals showing you how to make things from the story at the back.Karin arrived and the children were in awe. She introduced herself and the shed that she compiles her stories in. Then, the best part, the characters from the story! The children loved being able to meet the characters and ask questions about them. "Honey for tea" was the story we were treated to and the children were mesmerised from the off. After the story, we made alder cone honey bee's which delighted the children. We then all went outside with the simple instruction "to find things that your bees might like." The conversations and observations the children made were wonderful to observe. The delight as they found various flowers and colours that they had never noticed around the school grounds before, but we're now so obvious now they had their buzzy bee! The conversation from a group of boys about how bees make honey from the flowers and how we should plant more, all this from a simple yet such effective activity.After break, we planted seeds which the children took home. We completed the morning with Karin's third book "A paper boat for panda." The children were desperate to make the paper boats from the story so after Karin's visit, we followed the instructions from the back of the story and each made our own!I still have mine! :-) The children loved their morning with Karin, the children were engaged throughout and the messages through her stories cover so many important topics for children. The books have enthused my class and myself. We just can't wait for the next lot of books! Thank you!

Kirsty MacDougall-WilliamsClass teacher

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The children listened with rapt attention to the story reading – we take particular note of authors who are great at reading aloud their own work, as this is a skill quite different from being able to write! Karin reads aloud with great expression and sensitivity; she also involved one of the children in the reading, enlisting his help to turn the pages of a second copy as she read to ensure that all children could see the illustrations.

Both the activities involved paper-folding, all that was needed were simple things that could be found in most locations – A4 paper, scissors and pencils. She instructed the children clearly and with enormous patience, often folding and unfolding repeatedly so the children could see exactly how the shapes were changing. The emphasis was on them understanding the process well enough to be able to do it themselves; although help was always given to those who asked for it.

While the children were adding to their creations with little drawings that were important to them, Karin led a conversation about the content of the books: about how it makes someone feel when you do something kind for them; and about how everyone likes different books, but how all of those books, however different, will need a book mark.

The children in the sessions were visibly inspired and didn’t want to leave. Some stayed longer just to draw on paper left behind – which was also encouraged – and others had gained the confidence to try different ways of folding the paper, for example one boy found a way to add a fold that gave the animal fox ears.

We are already planning to invite Karin Celestine back to Warwickshire; where we’d like to arrange for her to do a longer session within a school environment. In the run up to this event Karin has been extremely helpful and interesting; supplying us with the information we need to be able to talk about the books and their underlying themes to the many teachers and parents who come in to the shop; in effect she has supplied us with very

valuable teaching notes

Tamsin Rosewell

For Kenilworth Books