Events


Upcoming Events


An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Loudoun County Public Schools, Ashburn, VA, February 4, 2025 (closed online presentation)

Reading Picture Books with Children turns 10 years old in 2025, and I am delighted that Charlesbridge will publish a 10th anniversary edition. This is the first program I’ve booked for next year, and I hope many more will follow as I continue to share the Whole Book Approach with anyone who is passionate about reading picture books with children.


Past Appearances

Moderator of a panel featuring authors Tracey Baptiste, Hannah Moushabeck, and Maria Scrivenr at the 2024 Association for Rural & Small Libraries Conference, Springfield, Massachusetts, Saturday September 14, 2024

Podcast interview with Dianne Haulcy of Early Risers Podcast, Minnesota Public Radio, September 11, 2024

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Berlin-Peck Memorial Library, Berlin, CT, March 27, 2024

Whole Book Approach Storytime, Crocker Farm School kindergarten class, Amherst, MA March 14, 2024

Facilitator of an Adoption Journeys Book-Discussion Night for Parents, featuring Angela Tucker’s You Should Be Grateful: Stories of Race, Identity and Transracial Adoption, Monday November 13, 2023

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Rural Library Conference, hosted by the Children’s Literacy Foundation, November 3, 2023

Whole Book Approach Online Q/A, hosted by Simmons University, October 27, 2023

Book Bonding, Book Reading and Book Signing at the Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, Vermont, August 4, 2023

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, hosted by the Brockton Public Library, Brockton, MA, June 12, 2023

Panelist, This Is Our Family, part 3 of a 3-Part Workshop Series for Parents in Transracial Adoption or Guardianship, sponsored by Adoption Journeys, June 5, 2023

“Dans les Pas de Nos Ancêtres (In the Steps of Our Ancestors): A Father-Daughter Trip to France,”an online presentation hosted by the Franco American Centre at the University of Maine-Orono, June 8, 2023 

Book Bonding (with Brunch) at High Five Books, Florence, MA, Sunday June 4, 2023

A Book Bonding Conversation with Author Megan Dowd Lambert and Friends, webinar hosted by The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, with Melissa Giraud and Andrew Grant-Thomas of EmbraceRace, and Elissa Gershowitz of the Horn Book May 25, 2023

Virtual Author Talk on Book Bonding: Building Connections Through Family Reading, hosted by the Literacy Committee of the Daughters of the American Revolution (D.A.R.) April 18, 2023

Author Hour with Megan Dowd Lambert, featuring an introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Massasoit Community College, Brockton, MA, April 13, 2023

April & Mae Book Birthday Storytimes at Crocker Farm School, Amherst, MA, led storytimes with 2nd and 3rd graders to mark the publication day of my three newest April & Mae early reader titles, March 23, 2023

Guest Lecture, “An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach,” delivered online for the Harvard School of Education Children’s Literature Course, taught by Autumn A. Allen, Cambridge, MA February 13, 2023

What’s Your Story? Memoir Writing for Everyone, presentation with writing prompts hosted by Amherst Woman’s Club, February 6, 2023

World Read Aloud Day Virtual Storytime, Glickman Elementary School, Springfield, MA, February 1, 2023

What’s Your Story? Memoir Writing for Everyone, webinar hosted by Lexington Community Education, January 26, 2023

A Conversation about Book Bonding with Megan Dowd Lambert and Mia Saine, NEIBA Virtual Meeting, January 19, 2023

Guest Presentation, “The Whole Book Approach Meets Critical Literacy,” LGBTQ Literature Course at Amherst-Pelham Regional High School, Amherst, MA, January 9, 2023

Every Day with April & Mae series launch at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA October 23, 2022

Every Day with April & Mae publication day storytimes at Crocker Farm Elementary School with 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grade classes, October 18, 2022

#QueerKidLit Mentorship Program Mentor with mentee Mary E. Cronin, summer 2022

Featured Author in a Booklist Webinar, Early Readers and Picture Books, introducing the Every Day with April & Mae series, August 30, 2022

Bring Your Stories to Life!, co-presented with Breanna J. McDaniel, hosted by the Woodruff Arts Center Educator Conference, Atlanta, Georgia, Thursday June 2, 2022

The Whole Book Approach Meets Critical Literacy, online training hosted by The Bement School, Deerfield, MA, April 18, 2022

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, online training hosted by the Sturgis Public Library, Barnstable, Massachusetts, March 27, 2022

Online Whole Book Approach Storytime Program co-led with Nicole Tadgell and featuring Real Sisters Pretend, hosted by the Touchstone Community School, March 6, 2022

Whole Book Approach Storytime Reflections, Part II co-led with Sarah Hannah Gómez and hosted by the Arizona State Library, February 17, 2022

The Whole Book Approach Meets Critical Literacy, online training for the Chicago Public Library youth services librarians, January 20, 2022

Online Whole Book Approach Storytime Program featuring Real Sisters Pretend for Equal Justice Needham for Families, January 16, 2022

Guest Online Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration gateway course, Smith College, Northampton, MA, January 14, 2022

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Part I online training with the Arizona State Libraries, November 4, 2021

Guest Online Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, University of Arizona College of Education, October 4, 2021

Reading Picture Books with Children Through a Race-Conscious Lens, co-led with Sarah Hannah Gómez and hosted by Colorado Librarians for Early Literacy, August 5, 2021

Online Whole Book Approach storytime reading of A Kid of Their Own, Brookline Booksmith Picture Book Club, July 11, 2021

Online Storytime with the kindergarten classes at Crocker Farm School featuring A Kid of Their Own, June 16, 2021

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See, Children’s Librarians of New Hampshire virtual conference, May 20, 2021

Link Live Storytime Featuring Real Sisters Pretend  on Facebook Live, hosted by Link to Libraries,  April 29, 2021

Guest Online Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration gateway course, Smith College, Northampton, MA, April 19, 2021

Guest Online Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, University of Arizona College of Education, March 15, 2021

Online Whole Book Approach Storytime Program with Breanna J. McDaniel for Equal Justice Needham for Families, February 28, 2021

Online Whole Book Approach Storytime program with Breanna J. McDaniel, Crocker Farm School kindergarten classes, Amherst, MA, February 8, 2021

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Online Seminar based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See, Studio Institute, January 20, 2021

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Online Seminar based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See, PJ Library, January 18, 2021

Online visit with the Mock Caldecott Group at the Smith College Campus School, Northampton, MA, December 2, 2020

Online Storytime with Crocker Farm Elementary School kindergarten classes, Amherst, MA, November 18, 2020

Guest Online Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, University of Arizona College of Education, October 26, 2020

Parenting for Social Justice through Co-constructive, Race-Conscious Reading, a webinar with Megan Dowd Lambert and Autumn Allen, October 21, 2020

Parenting for Social Justice through Co-constructive, Race-Conscious Reading, a webinar with Megan Dowd Lambert and Autumn Allen for UpWork’s Parenting Network, July 14, 2020

hildren’s librarian Mia Cabana for the Jones Library Author Interview Series in June, 2020:

Jones Library Author Interview with Megan Dowd Lambert, hosted by children’s librarian Mia Cabana for the Jones Library Author Interview Series in June, 2020

Story Starters Virtual Kick-off Event with Breanna J. McDaniel, featuring a Whole Book Approach reading of her picture book debut Hands Up! June 6, 2020

The Jones Library Author Interview Series, on Facebook Live, June 4, 2020

Whole Book Approach webinar with Steps To Literacy May 21, 2020

Link Live Bedtime Stories Series, featuring A Crow of His Own and A Kid of Their Own, and hosted by Link to Libraries on Facebook Live, May 12 & 14, 2020

Whole Book Approach webinar with Steps To Literacy April 28, 2020

The Whole Book Approach for Picture Book Authors, 12×12 Picture Book Challenge Webinar, Tuesday April 14, 2020

A Book in Hand storytime visits with grades k–3 featuring A Kid of Their Own, Wildwood Elementary School, Amherst, MA, March 10, 2020

Guest Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See (via Skype) in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, taught by Sarah Hannah Gómez, University of Arizona College of Education March 2, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at the Brookline Booksmith, Brookline, MA, March 1, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at Blue Bunny Books, Dedham, MA, March 1, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at Belmont Books, Belmont, MA, February 29, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, February 21, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at Odyssey Bookshop, South Hadley, MA February 16, 2020

A Kid of Their Own #BookBirthday storytime at the Cushman Scott Children’s Center, Amherst, MA, February 11, 2020

A Kid of Their Own book launch storytime and signing at the Northshire Bookstore, Manchester, Ctr., VT, February 8, 2020

World Read Aloud Day Author Skype visits with 5th graders at Park Avenue School in Danbury, CT and a preschool class in Passaic, NJ, February 5, 2020

Guest Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See, in the Book Studies Concentration gateway courseSmith College, Northampton, MA, January 15, 2020.

Story Starters Kick-off Event with Nicole Tadgell, Newton, MA, Newton, MA, January 12, 2020

Webinar: An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, hosted by the Massachusetts Library Association, January 10, 2020

Radio interview on The Western Mass Business Show, WHMP, regarding Modern Memoirs, Inc., November 9, 2019

Whole Book Approach storytime at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, October 26 & 27, 2019

Storytimes with the Reading Race in Picture Books project of Embrace Race, in partnership with The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, at the Zanetti Montessori School, Springfield, MA October 21, 2019

Boston Book Fest “Picturing the World: Nonfiction Picture Books” panel moderator with authors Hayley Barrett, Karlin Gray, and Lesa Cline-Ransome, Gloria Respress-Churchwell, Boston, MA, October 19, 2019

Make Way for Critical Literacy, faculty seminar at the Simmons University Children’s Literature Institute, “Make Way” Boston, MA, July 26, 2019

Book Signings with Charlesbridge and Tilbury House/Publisher Spotlight, ALA Annual Conference, Washington, D.C. June 23, 2019

An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, Magination Press, APA Publishing, Washington, D.C. June 21, 2019

Whole Book Approach Model Storytime and Training, at the Eldredge Public Library, Chatham, MA, June 12, 2019

The Whole Book Approach and Critical Literacy break-out session at We the People: Stories of Strength and Struggle in Challenging Times at the JFK Presidential Library, Boston, MA, May 9, 2019

Panel Moderator “Telling Our Stories, Sharing Our History” with authors Joseph Bruchac, Lesa Cline Ransome, and Pam Muñoz Ryan at We the People: Stories of Strength and Struggle in Challenging Times at the JFK Presidential Library, Boston, MA, May 9, 2019

Whole Book Approach Zoom Session, University of Washington iSchool course, “Storytelling in a Digital Age,” taught by Prof. Breanna J. McDaniel, May 3, 2019

Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See, at the University of Maine, College of Education and Human Development, Orono, ME, April 30, 2019

A Whole Book Approach/Critical Literacy Storytime and Book-Signing, sponsored by Story Starters Boston, Newtonville Books, Newton, MA , April 28, 2019

The Whole Book Approach and Critical Literacy webinar (via Zoom) with the Central NY Library Resources Council, April 17, 2019

Trainer with the MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign “Developing Healthy Boys Training,” for the Pre-School Enrichment Team, Greenfield Community College, April 15, 2019.

The Whole Book Approach and Critical Literacy, a program for teachers, librarians, parents, and other caregivers, sponsored by Nonotuck Community School and the Collaborative for Educational Services, Easthampton, MA, April 11, 2019.

Whole Book Approach Storytimes with the MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign, The Madison Avenue Head Start Program, Springfield, MA, April 11, 2019

Speaker on the Whole Book Approach and Critical Literacy for the Week of the Young Child at Greenfield Community College, Sponsored by the Elms College School of Graduate and Professional Studies and its partnership with GCC, April 6, 2019.

Trainer with the MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign “Developing Healthy Boys Training,” at the MAAEYC conference in Mansfield/Foxboro, MA, March 29, 2019.

Panelist, with moderator Jeanette Bradley, Alli Harper of OurShelves, author Andrea Loney, and author and editor Christian Trimmer, “The State of the Bookshelf for LGBTQ-Positive Picture Books” at KidLitCon 2019, March 22, 2019.

Link to Libraries Family Fun Day Storytime featuring A Crow of His Own and Real Sisters Pretend, at Mill 180, Easthampton, MA, February 2, 2019

Webinar presentation “USING THE WHOLE BOOK APPROACH TO SUPPORT CHILDREN’S CRITICAL ENGAGEMENT WITH PICTURE BOOKS” sponsored by the Center for Education and Civil Rights, the Child Care Center at Hort Woods, and the Latinx Law Student Association at Penn State University, January 21, 2019

Whole Book Approach/Mock Caldecott classroom skype visit with fourth graders at Stoughton Elementary School, Stoughton, MA, January 14, 2019

Guest Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration Gateway Course at Smith College, Northampton, MA, January 11, 2019.

“Picture Books: Not Just For The Little Ones!” speech at the Educational Books and Media Annual Meeting, “VISUAL ENGAGEMENT: How Graphic Novels and Picture Books Are Growing Parts of Developing Literacy and Pleasure Reading for Today’s Children,” Austin, TX, January 9, 2019

We Are Human: Storytime & Family Read-in, Sunday December 16, 2018 at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art. A free family program that was part of the month-long We Stand Together Hanukkah Ally Action aimed at creating solidarity through pride and compassion. December 16, 2018

#KidsNeedMentors author outreach to a 2nd grade classroom at Houghton Elementary School, Houghton, MA, October 2018

Whole Book Approach presentation, via Skype, based on my book, Reading Picture Books with Children, for educators, coordinated through the Schlow Centre Region Library in central Pennsylvania on October 19, 2018

MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign trainings, Using the Whole Book Approach to Support Children’s Critical Engagement with Picture Books and Characterization, with Head Start teachers, Springfield, MA, October 5, 2018

Panelist on the “Secrets of Storytime” panel at the NEIBA annual conference in Providence, RI, September 28, 2018.

MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign trainings, Using the Whole Book Approach to Support Children’s Critical Engagement with Picture Books and Characterization, with Head Start teachers, Springfield, MA, August 29 and 31, 2018

KidLit College webinar “Studying Picture Book Success” with editor Julie Bliven of Charlesbridge Publishing, July 19, 2018

Summer Teachers’ Workshop at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: Diversity and Inclusion in Children’s Literature. Presentation on Using the Whole Book Approach to Support Children’s Critical Engagement with Picture Books and Characterization; panel moderation Artists and Authors in Conversation with Ekua Holmes, Leslea Newman, and Mike Curato. July 10, 2018

Introduction to the Whole Book Approach on the Jewish Children’s Literature panel at the Association of Jewish Libraries annual conference, Boston, MA on June 18, 2018

Introduction to the Whole Book Approach, training for teachers at the Cushman Scott Children’s Center, Amherst, MA, May 25, 2018

Using the Whole Book Approach to Support Children’s Critical Engagement with Picture Books and Characterization, three full-day programs for educators and libraries in Jamestown, Painted Post, and Canandaigua, NY on May 21, 22, and 23, 2018

With author/illustrator Javaka Steptoe, featured speaker on the Whole Book Approach at the 31st Annual Conference on Children’s Literature “Celebrating the Art of the Picture Book,” and the 16th Annual Ashley Bryan Art Show, Broward County Library, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, April 28, 2018.

Whole Book Approach presentation at the Connecticut Library Association Conference, Danbury, CT April 24, 2018

Family Literacy Night Dublin Consolidated School, Dublin, NH April 16, 2018

Easthampton BookFest 2018 Whole Book Approach Storytime, Easthampton, MA April 14, 2018

12th Annual Literacy Essentials Conference, “Language Arts Alive: Bringing Joy Into Teaching and Learning,” at Central Connecticut State University, New Britain, CT. Writers Talk Writing Panel, Whole Book Approach Techniques presentation, and Dessert with the Authors presentation, April 7, 2018.

Youngest Marchers for Our Lives storytime following the #KidLitMarchesforKids #MarchForOurLives action in Northampton, MA on March 24, 2018

Whole Book Approach presentation, via Skype, based on my book, Reading Picture Books with Children, for the District Children’s Librarian meeting coordinated through the Schlow Centre Region Library in central Pennsylvania on March 2, 2018

Whole Book Approach guest lecture (via Skype) in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, taught by Sarah Hannah Gómez, at the University of Arizona College of Education on February 12, 2018

Every Child Reads MA Legislative Briefing, the State House, Boston, MA, February 8, 2018.

#WholeBookApproach Twitter Chat (storified here) with W.H. Beck’s Children’s Literature class at Chippewa Valley Technical College, February 5, 2018.

Guest Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration Gateway Course, Smith College, Northampton, MA, January 11, 2018.

Reading Picture Books with Children through a Race Conscious Lens: An Embrace Race Community Conversation, webinar co-led with Hannah Gómez, December 19, 2017

Using the Whole Book Approach at Storytime, two presentations at Berkshire County Head Start, Pittsfield, MA on December 15, 2017

Using the Whole Book Approach to Foster Children’s Critical Engagement with Picture Books at the MERGE for Equality “Developing Healthy Men and Boys Training” in Springfield, MA, November 30, 2017

Whole Book Approach storytime and book-signing at Barnes and Noble, Holyoke, MA to benefit Link to Libraries, November 19, 2017

Whole Book Approach guest lecture (via Skype) in TLS480 Children’s Literature in the Classroom, taught by Sarah Hannah Gómez, at the University of Arizona College of Education on November 13, 2017.

Keynote address, “Read Alouds & the Whole Book Approach” at the The Connecticut Association for Reading Research fall meeting, September 19, 2017, University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT.

Co-facilitation of the Advisory Committee Round Table of the MERGE for Equality Children’s Book Campaign, at the Springfield City Library, Springfield, MA, September 17, 2017

Whole Book Approach workshop for art teachers from Chicopee Public Schools at the Springfield Museums, Springfield, MA, August 30, 2017

Whole Book Approach Educator Workshop, Falmouth Public Schools, August 15, 2017

Whole Book Approach storytime & book-signing, Eight Cousins Bookshop, Falmouth, MA, August 15, 2017

Summer 2017 Institute: (im)possible dreams at Simmons College July 27-30, 2017, including my seminar “Oh the Possibilities! A Whole Book Approach to Fostering Children’s Critical Engagement with Picturebooks” on Saturday July 29, 2017

Book signing at the Publishers’ Spotlight/Tilbury House booth at the ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017

Book signing at the Charlesbirdge Publishing booth at the ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017.

Words and Pictures: Picture Book Author/Illustrators Discuss the Whole Book, an Exhibitors’ Round Table panel that I moderated with author/illustrators David Hyde Costello, Duncan Tonatiuh, and Don Tate at the ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, June 24, 2017.

Simmons College Seminar: David Wiesner and The Art of Wordless Storytelling, co-taught with Jeannine Atkins and Cathryn M. Mercier at The ERic Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, June 17, 2017.

Storytime featuring Dr. Seuss’s Green Eggs and Ham at the opening day of The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in Springfield, MA, June 3, 2017.

Whole Book Approach presentation and author talk with scholars and students affiliated with the Picture Book Project: A Bates College Collection Portraying People of Color at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, May 23, 2017

Whole Book Approach Storytime May 23, 2017, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA

Whole Book Approach workshop sponsored by the South Berkshire Kids Program through a Coordinated Family and Community Engagement Grant, Great Barrington, MA, Thursday, May 18, 2017

Whole Book Approach model storytimes and teacher workshop at Pine Cobble School, Williamstown, MA, May 17, 2017

NESCBWI Faculty Book Signing, NESCBWI conference, Springfield, MA April 22, 2017

Picture Book Family Diversity presentation at NESCBWI conference, Springfield, MA April 22, 2017

Whole Book Approach workshop at NESCBWI conference, Springfield, MA April 21, 2017

Whole Book Approach workshop for teachers, librarians, parents, and other caregivers at the Concord Free Public Library, 129 Main Street, Concord, MA, March 9, 2017

Whole Book Approach workshop with teachers at Derby Academy, Hingham, MA, March 7, 2017.

Whole Book Approach workshop for parents and other caregivers at the Hingham Public Library, Hingham, MA, March 7, 2017.

Local Authors Book Fair fundraiser for  Reader to Reader at the Barnes and Noble Hadley store, Hadley, MA. Whole Book Approach presentation and book-signing, March 4, 2017.

Whole Book Approach Storytime & Book-signing at  Phoenix Books & Cafe, Essex, VT, Saturday January 21, 2017

Guest Lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration Gateway Course at Smith College, Northampton, MA, January 12, 2017.

Whole Book Approach model storytime and workshop with the Essex County Public Children’s Librarians Group, Maplewood Memorial Library, Maplewood, NJ, Monday, January 9, 2017.

Leading Whole Book Approach Storytimes consultation with Guest Services staff at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, January 4, 2017. 

Whole Book Approach Storytime and Book-Signing at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art December 30, 2016. Here’s a tweet thread about the books I read.

Skyped Author Visit on the Whole Book Approach with teachers at Brooks School Elementary, Fishers, IN, December 9, 2016

Special storytime and book-signing featuring Real Sisters Pretend with illustrator Nicole Tadgell at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art on National Adoption Day, November 19, 2016.

The Book Fest @ Bank Street, Bank Street College of Education, New York, NY, “Reading Picture books with Children: The Whole Book Approach” October 22, 2016. Go to the 2:05 mark at this KidLit TV link to see my interactive talk, and check out the other speakers and panels, too.

Educator Night at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, “Reading Christian Robinson’s Picture Books with Children” October 5, 2016.

The Horn Book at Simmons Colloquium breakout session, “Unpacking Names and Naming,” October 1, 2016.

Whole Book Approach Storytimes featuring picture books by illustrator Christian Robinson, Crocker Farm School, Amherst, MA, Friday September 23 & 29, 2016

Storytime, book sale and signing with illustrator David Hyde Costello at the Field Memorial Library, Conway, MA, August 13, 2016

Whole Book Approach storytime, talk, and book-signing in conjunction with “Get the Picture” illustration exhibit at the Brandywine River Museum of Art, Chadds Ford, PA, July 25, 2016

Book Signings with Charlesbridge Publishing and Tilbury House/Publisher’s Spotlight at the International Literacy Association conference, Boston, MA, July 11, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA, July 10, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA, July 9, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime and Book Signing at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Amherst, MA, July 8, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime Training via Skype based on Reading Picture Books with Children, Clermont County Public Libraries, OH, June 30, 2016

ALA Annual Conference, Orlando, FL Sunday, June 26, 2016: 

  • Panelist with Todd Kessler of Coral Stone Press: If Reading Is So Important, Why Are Children’s Books Getting Shorter?
  • Book-signing for Real Sisters Pretend at the Publisher’s Spotlight
  • Book-signing for A Crow of His Own and Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See at the Charlesbridge Publishing Booth.

Author visit for a reading of Real Sisters Pretend at Crocker Farm Elementary School, Amherst, MA, June 1, 2016 with 4th and 5th graders. (Closed to the public)

Book launch for Real Sisters Pretend with illustrator Nicole Tadgell at The Odyssey Bookshop in South Hadley, MA. May 28, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime Training based on Reading Picture Books with Children, The Academy at Charlemont, Charlemont, MA May 24, 2016. (Closed to the public)

#AskAMentor session at the New England SCBWI Conference: The POWER of (RE) INVENTION Springfield, Massachusetts April 28, 2016

Book talk and signing, Reading Picture Books with Children immediately preceding the 2016 BERL Lecture at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Saturday April 23, 2016.

Book-signing and moderation of illustrators’ panel with David Hyde Costello, Nicole Tadgell, Diane deGroat, and David Milgrim at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art for students in the Simmons College graduate course on the picturebook, April 10, 2016.

The Fay B. Kaigler Children’s Book Festival at the Thad Cochran Center on the University of Southern Mississippi campus in Hattiesburg, MS April 6-8, 2016, where I accepted the Ezra Jack Keats New Writer Honor Award on Thursday April 7 as a part of this amazing festival. New Writer Medalist Don Tate, New Illustrator Medalist Phoebe Wahl, fellow New Writer Honor winner Julia Sarcone-Roach, and New Illustrator Honor winners Ryan T. Higgins and Rowboat Watkins were also recognized.

Whole Book Approach Storytime at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art March 18, 19 & 20, 2016

School Library Journal Webinar on the Whole Book Approach with Megan Dowd Lambert, Charlesbridge Editor Yolanda Scott, and Eric Carle Museum Educator Emily Prabhaker, March 9, 2016.

Book signing and readings for Read Across America Day at the Newton School, Greenfield, MA Wednesday March 2, 2016 6:00-7:30

Guest lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See at Wellesley College, Wellesley, MA, Tuesday March 1, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime at Crocker Farm Elementary School, Amherst, MA, for World Read Aloud Day Wednesday February 24, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Friday January 29, 2016

Storytimes and Teacher Training, Frontier Regional and Union #38 School District,  January 22, 2016

Guest lecture based on Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See in the Book Studies Concentration Gateway Course at Smith College, Northampton, MA, Thursday January 14, 2016

Book signing for A Crow of His Own with illustrator David Hyde Costello at ALA Midwinter Meeting, Boston, MA Saturday January 9, 2016

Book signing for Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See at ALA Midwinter Meeting, Boston, MA Sunday January 10, 2016

Whole Book Approach Storytime and book signing Wednesday December 30, 2015 10:30 AM, The Jones Library, 43 Amity Street, Amherst, MA 01002

Book talk and signing of Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See Saturday December 12, 2015 12:00 PM The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, 125 West Bay Road, Amherst, MA 01002

Whole Book Approach Storytime, Friday December 11, 2015 10:30 AM The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
125 West Bay Road Amherst, MA 01002

Whole Book Approach Storytime at The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, Friday, November 27, 2015 10:30 AM

Book Signing for Reading Picture Books with Children: How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking about What They See
Saturday, November 14, 2015, Odyssey Books, South Hadley, MA

Wondermore “What’s New in Children’s Books?” Conference
November 2015

The Horn Book At Simmons Colloquium: Transformations
October 2015

New England Independent Booksellers Association Conference
October 2015

Children’s Literature Institute, Center for the Study of Children’s Literature
July 2015

Stone House Farm children’s summer program, Amherst, MA, July 9, 2015

Hubbub Fest, Boston Public Library
June 2015

New England Children’s Bookseller Advisory Council Annual Meeting, Amherst, MA June 17, 2015

Book Buzz American Library Association Annual Conference, San Francisco, CA
June 2015

Mrs. Dalloway’s Bookstore, Berkeley, CA, June 28, 2015

Storytime at Crocker Farm Elementary School, Amherst MA June 2015

Looking at the Whole Book: Exploring A Crow of His Own with Author Megan Dowd Lambert and Illustrator David Hyde Costello, The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
April 2015

Boston Book Fest Hubbub fundraiser
April 2015

Family and Friends’ Weekend at Hampshire College, with author Norton Juster October 24, 2014.

2013-2014 Lowell Lecture Series: Gateway to Reading at the Boston Public Library with author Norton Juster, April 2, 2014

Meet the Medalists: Boston Book Festival at the Old South Church, Boston, MA. October 18, 2013.

The Horn Book at Simmons Colloquium, Building Character October 2013

Conroe ISD Librarian Staff Development Day, “A Whole Book Approach to Reading with Children” Skyped presentation, August 20, 2013.

ALA Annual Conference, Chicago, IL, panelist with illustrators Beth Krommes, Eric Rohmann and Chris Raschka, “Calde-Tots: Using Caldecott Winning Books with Young Children” June 30, 2013.

Texas Library Association Annual Conference, Dallas, TX, “A Whole Book Approach to Story Time” April 24, 2013.

The Akron Museum of Art, Akron, OH. March 25, 2013.

Yale University Early Childhood Program, New Haven, CT, keynote speaker at, “A Celebration of Picture Books”, April 21, 2012.

The Horn Book at Simmons Colloquium, “Engaging the Ear, Delighting the Eye: The World of Mother Goose” October 2011.

Long Island Children’s and YA Literature Conference, Adelphi University keynote speaker on The Whole Book Approach, October 14, 2011.

Junior Library Guild national webinar book talk program addressing The Whole Book Approach: May 12, 2011.

National Association of Pediatric Nurse Practitioners annual conference, speaker on The Whole Book Approach, Baltimore, MD, sponsored by the Association’s Childhood Literacy Special Interest Group, March 24, 2011.

The Horn Book at Simmons Colloquium, “Reading with Children: Words, Pictures and Design in Co-constructive Storytimes” October 2, 2010.

ALSC pre-conference Drawn to Delight: How Picture Books Work (and Play) Today. Gutter Talk and More: Picture Book Paratexts, Design and Illustration at Storytime Washington, D.C., keynote speaker on picture books and visual literacy, June 2010.

The Fairfield Public Library, Fairfield, CT professional development day, keynote speaker “The Whole Book Approach,” June 22, 2010.

Connecticut Humanities Council annual conference keynote speaker on “The Whole Book Approach,” May 21, 2010.

New York Library Association annual conference keynote speaker on “The Whole Book Approach,” April 9, 2010.

Southern Adirondack Child Care Network, annual conference keynote speaker on The Whole Book Approach, Lake George, NY, November 13, 2009.

Vermont Association for the Education of Young Children, keynote speaker, “From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach” Killington, VT, October 23, 2009.

The Foundation for Children’s Books, Boston, MA with Mordicai Gerstein October 13, 2009

Washington D.C. Public Libraries Youth Services Division, “The Whole Book Approach” August 31, 2009

Lesley University Summer Literacy Institute, keynote speaker with two sessions on “The Whole Book Approach,” July 16, 2009.

Massachusetts Literacy Champions, The Massachusetts Literacy Foundation, Boston, MA June 1, 2009.

The Infant Toddler Council of Suffolk County, Long Island, New York, keynote speaker, “From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to The Whole Book Approach” May 16, 2009.

The Children’s Literature Council of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA., “I Can Read It By Myself—but Do I Want To? Inspiring Emergent Readers” March 28, 2009.

Literacy for All Conference ,The Lesley University Center for Reading Recovery and Literacy Collaborative, Providence, RI “Multicultural Criticism of Children’s and YA Literature,” November 18, 2008

Bennington County Child Care Conference, Bennington, VT, “The Whole Book Approach” and “A Book in Hand: Leading Multiple Copy Storytimes,” November 1, 2008.

MA Title I Conference, Hyannis, MA “A Novel Idea: Connecting Picture Books and Novels in Middle and High School Curriculum” October 20, 2008.

The Foundation for Children’s Books, Boston, MA with illustrator Diane deGroat for the FCB’s “Conversations with…” series, October 14, 2008.

The New England Reading Association, Springfield, MA, “A Book in Hand: Multiple Copy Storytimes and Students Learning English as a Second Language” with co-presenter Dr. Jane Lannak of Boston University, September 25, 2008.

The Connecticut Children’s Librarian Roundtable annual conference “The Whole Book Approach” September 17, 2008

Washington D.C. Public Libraries Youth Services Division, “The Whole Book Approach” and “A Book in Hand: Leading Multiple Copy Storytimes” June 4 & 5, 2008.

The Vermont Humanities Council Literacy Programs Annual Meeting, “The Whole Book Approach” June 12, 2008.

The Parent-Child Home Program Annual Conference, Uniondale, New York “From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to the Whole Book Approach” on May 5, 2008

The New England Association of Independent School Librarians, Deerfield Academy, Deerfield, MA, “A Novel Idea: Connecting Picture Books and Novels in Middle and High School Curriculum” April 11, 2008.

The Early Childhood Institute at Lesley University, Cambridge, MA, “Multicultural Criticism of Children’s Literature” January 12, 2008

The Vermont Department of Libraries Mock Caldecott program, “The Whole Book Approach: A Caldecott Survey” December 17, 2007.

The Foundation for Children’s Books, Boston, MA, with illustrator Tony DiTerlizzi for the FCB’s “Conversations with…” series April 24, 2007.

The Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH, “The Whole Book Approach” November 8, 2007.

ALA funded series, “Let’s Talk About It: Jewish Literature: Identity and Imagination” at The Jones Library, Amherst, MA, “Multicultural Criticism of Contemporary Jewish Children’s Literature” presentation September 11, 2007.

The Katonah Museum of Art, Katonah, NY, “From Cover to Cover: The Whole Book Approach to Evaluating and Using the Picture Book as an Art Form,” July 22, 2007.

MA Title I Dissemination Project, Hyannis, MA, “Multicultural Criticism of Children’s Literature,” May 11, 2007.

Skidmore College, Saratoga, Springs, NY, “Silly, Subversive, Serious Stuff: The Works of Dr. Seuss” presented at the Education Club annual meeting April 12, 2007.

The NW Corner Children’s Librarian Roundtable, Winstead, CT, “The Whole Book Approach” January 29, 2007

Integrated Arts Conference, Plymouth State University, Plymouth, NH, “Tale as Old as Time: Beauties and Beasts Through the Ages,” January 27, 2007

Bureau for Jewish Education, Brookline, MA. “A Book in; Hand: Leading Multiple Copy Storytimes” and “Evaluating Contemporary Jewish Picture Books: A Multicultural Critical Approach” November 27, 2006

International Conference of the Book, Emerson College,The Whole Book Approach” October 21, 2006

MA Title I Dissemination Project, Hyannis, MA, “A Book in Hand: Leading Multiple Copy Storytimes” May 11, 2006

Reggio Children, USA, Smith College and The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, conference “In the Spirit of the Studio: Learning from the Atelier of Reggio Emilia,” “A Book in Hand: Leading Multiple Copy Storytimes” May 7-8, 2006

Connecticut State Library Spring Meeting From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to The Whole Book Approach,May 25, 2006

Vermont Library Conference, Burlington, VT From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to The Whole Book Approach,May 17, 2006

Williams College Museum Associates Program annual meeting, Williamstown, MA From Cover to Cover with Brown BearOctober 25, 2006

Plymouth State University Integrated Arts Conference, Plymouth, NH “Silly, Subversive, Serious Stuff: The Works of Dr. Seuss”, January 2006

The Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH, “The Whole Book Approach,” November 12, 2005.

The Foundation for Children’s Books, Boston, MA, with author Norton Juster for the FCB’s “Conversations with…” series October 25, 2005

Simmons College Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Continuing Education Programs, “Sowing the Seeds of Visual Literacy” Workshop co-facilitator with Rosemary Agoglia fall 2004, spring 2005, fall 2005.

New Haven Area NAEYC, New Haven, CT, “The Whole Book Approach” April 13, 2005

The Berkshire Reading Council, Pittsfield, MA, “From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to The Whole Book Approach” January 22, 2004

Reggio Children/USA, The Eric Carle Museum, Smith College, UVM, Five Colleges, Inc., “Childhood Possibilities, Potentials, and Contexts: Voices from Pistoia, Reggio Emilia, and New England,” conference, “The Whole Book Approach” May 7-9, 2004.

The Foundation for Children’s Books, Boston, MA “From Cover to Cover with Brown Bear: An Introduction to The Whole Book Approach,” March 25, 2004.

Capitol Center for the Arts, Concord, NH, “Picture This: Visual Perception and the Work of Molly Bang” March 6, 2004

Fresno State University, Fresno, CA “Frances Hodgson Burnett Beyond the Secret Garden” panel presentation, “Just a Whisper: Connecting Burnett’s Secret Garden with other touchstone works of children’s literature in an undergraduate survey course” April 2003.