Author
visits and workshops for schools, libraries and museums,
from Scottish illustrator and children's author Moira
Munro. Mainly around Glasgow, Scotland.
See
the menu for feedback
from children and teachers, and sessions for adults.
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Visits> Sessions for children
Visits and workshops for children
A variety of formats to inspire you
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I love doing author / illustrator visits, inspiring
others and being inspired in return.
I'm open to any of your suggestions for a visit, but
here are some formats that have worked well:
I can visit schools, festivals, community groups, libraries,
bookshops etc.
Get some ideas here, then go to "Booking
a visit" for practical information.
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Forthcoming public events
Aye
Write festival, Glasgow:
A Hamish Bear session (3 to 6 years approx) and a cartoon
workshop (9 to 13 years approx) on Saturday 15 March
2008. Also school sessions.
Aberdeen
Writers' Festival "Word 2008"
6-8 May 2008 (My Hamish and cartoon sessions might
only be open to schools)
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I thinked your illustration's
were fantastic.
When I get home I'm going to write a story about
a bear.' (Katie, P6)
Photo reproduced
by kind permission of East Renfrewshire Council
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Hamish bear
story-time: visits to schools, nurseries, libraries and bookshops
Age: 4 to 7 approximately (or pre-school to P3)
Duration: 1 hour (or closer to 40 mn for pre-school)
Numbers: Twenty children upwards. Two or three classes
works very well. I've also had a great time with over 300
excited children: if you want to pack the school hall that's
fine with me. Parents are welcome too. Just give me a mike,
Powerpoint equipment, and two paracetamols.
For pre-school, a sensible maximum is 30 four-year olds.
Theme
Bring
along your teddy bear and hear how Moira Munro wrote and illustrated
'Hamish the Bear Who Found His Child' and 'Hamish and the
Missing Teddy'. Why did it take her 153 goes to draw Hamish?
She'll tell you stories, draw pictures, sing songs. As she
makes a terrible mess of all these things, please, PLEASE
would you come and help her get them right?
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What the children get out of it
Depending on their age:
- Find out what it's like to be an author and illustrator,
the decisions and changes that were made as the book
project progressed, the role of the designer and publisher.
- See how I draw, develop a character, think of the
layout, look at the roughs and rejects, the originals,
the materials I use.
- During the story, reflect on the emotions the main
character goes through; notice how stories are structured
to create interest, and dream up some alternative
plots.
- Children and bears act out parts of the story and
join me and my guitar in songs and actions. How did
the children's own teddies choose them?
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My visits are lively - I make sure the children are totally
engaged and participating. My aim is to whip up their enthusiasm
for reading, writing, drawing, and being creative in general.
And to have fun. Tell me if you have additional aims you'd
like me to help you with.
I find Primary 1 to 3 ideal for presenting my 'Hamish' books:
they're young enough to enjoy the story, bring their teddies
etc, but old enough to enjoy finding out about an author/illustrator,
learning about the process of writing, planning a book, preparing
it for publication.
Sometimes schools invite parents. This helps reinforce the
"read together" message and everyone has fun. It's
also possible to combine a shortened session like this with
some time alone with the parents,
talking about how to make the most of story time with your
child.
Do get in touch if you'd like something along these lines. Practical
details are on "Booking a
visit"
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Stir and
sketch! Plot and illustrate a story
Age: 7 upwards (or P3 upwards)
Duration: 1 hour (or more)
Numbers: Twenty to thirty children. Parents welcome,
as always.
Theme
It's fun to imagine story
characters and heap terrible problems onto them. Together
we will stir our imaginations, act out our ideas, and serve
them up with lively illustrations.
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What the children get out of it
Together, we'll create a brilliant character for a
story. I am constantly working on stories for 6 to 12
years and will share every helpful tip I've learned
along the way.
As a result children are likely to read with more enjoyment,
some may develop their writing skills, others their
drawing, and all will have had an experience of using
many creative skills.
Everyone will get a chance to act out characters and
draw them. By the end of the session, children will
have the basis of a story they can write, if they wish.
This is similar to the cartoon workshop proposed for
P5 upwards, but with less empasis on drawing tips (I
find that younger kids are quite happy with the skills
they have), and more time spent on stories.
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(Photo courtesy of Joe Porter, West Dunbartonshire Council) |
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Cartoon
workshops for children
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Age: 9 upwards (or P5 upwards)
Duration: 1 hour is plenty. If you'd like children
to have lots of time to draw, or for me to cover writing
as well as drawing, 2 hours is better.
Numbers: Up to 50 children. Parents welcome,
as always.
Theme
Glasgow writer, illustrator
and cartoonist Moira Munro uses cartoon strips to poke
fun at the world. Wouldn't you love to make fun of the
adults in YOUR life? Have a go at turning wicked ideas
into cartoons and try out Moira's secret drawing tips.
It's even more exciting if you think you're rubbish
at drawing. Just bring some mischief, and get ready
to have fun!
Content
I show the children how I experiment to come up with
characters. I share my tips for giving them expression
and movement. In a longer workshop I can cover the storyline
and text in a cartoon strip, i.e. the writing as well
as the drawing. The workshop is hands-on all the way
through: volunteers help me at the flip-chart, and everyone
gets to draw for themselves.
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Before
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After
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By Adelle of Prestonfield
Primary School
"Draw a really
angry grown-up": At the beginning of the
session, and again at the end. It's normal to
stick to a few safe formulas for drawing, so
I'm very pleased if my intrepid audience has
tried something different and enjoyed surprising
themselves by the end of the session.
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What the children get out
of it
My aim is for children to enjoy doodling and experimenting
without fear of failure, because cartoons can look great
even if you're not skilled at realistic drawing. Those
who are already confident at drawing may learn new tips,
which they can apply to their prefered style of drawing.
Children who are reluctant to read or write may also
enjoy having a go at a cartoon strip.
As I give them quite a lot of quick tips to try out,
there may not be enough time to have a finished product,
a complete cartoon to display. But usually children
are keen to continue on their own later.
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Before
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After
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By
Anessa of Prestonfield Primary School
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Interested? Practical details are on "Booking
a visit"
Any questions? Do contact me!
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