"If I Were President" School/Library Presentation
Time: approximately 45 minutes
Ages: K - 6
Author Catherine Stier has brought her lively presentation, "If I Were President," to classrooms, scout events, book and department stores and young author celebrations. Based on her children’s picture books If I Were President and If I Ran For President (published by Albert Whitman & Co.), Stier uses props and audience volunteers to stage a mock election, outline the duties of the U.S. President, and illustrate ways Presidents have been honored through the years. In one segment, several students are invited to poke their faces through the cut-out in a giant dollar bill in a light-hearted depiction of how some Presidents’ faces appear on the country’s money.
The theme "With hard work, persistence and a plan, you can become just about anything" is stressed throughout the program, as it applies to becoming President as well as becoming a writer and author. The presentation includes a brief segment on Stier’s working life as a professional magazine writer, newspaper columnist and author, followed by a question and answer period.
If I Were President was named an Honor book by the Society of School Librarians International and an International Reading Association Los Angeles’ 100 Best Books. It was featured on the Bozo Show, and appeared in Woman’s Day magazine in their Kids’ Day article, "Great American Reads." Following a review by the White House Historical Association, it was featured in their gift shop, and is also featured at the Mount Rushmore gift shop.
If I Ran for President was offered as a Scholastic Lucky Book Club selection and, following the book’s publication, Stier was invited to a book signing at the Mount Rushmore bookstore during their Independence Day holiday celebration.
Stier is also the author of the picture book, Bugs in My Hair?! Her 'tween novel, The Terrible Secrets of the Tell-All Club, was published in 2009. She has served as columnist and feature writer for her hometown paper, and a contributor to local and national magazines. Her work has appeared in Woman’s Day, Woman’s World, The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Baby, Highlights for Children, My Friend, Child Life, Children’s Playmate and several teaching publications. She has facilitated a library sponsored Teen Writing Club and has taught writing classes for children and adults at Harper College in Palatine, IL. Stier is a former preschool teacher and lives with her husband and two children in Southwest Texas.
CONTACT INFORMATION: info@catherinestier.com
A Sampling of Past Appearances
In addition to numerous appearances at schools, libraries and book stores, Catherine Stier has participated in the following:
The Twig Book Shop
San Antonio, Texas
Guest children’s author, book signing event
Family Literacy Night
St. Gregory the Great Catholic School
San Antonio, Texas
Guest children’s author and presenter
The Smithsonian National Museum of American History
Washington D.C.
Guest children’s author, book signing event
American Library Association Conference
Washington D.C.
Book signing event, Albert Whitman & Company booth
Texas Library Association Conference
San Antonio, Texas
Book signing event, Albert Whitman & Company booth
Educators’ Event/SCBWI-Southwest Texas Event
“Successful School Visits with Author Catherine Stier”
Barnes & Noble
Northwest Loop 410, San Antonio
Guest presenter
Guest author at nine San Antonio, Texas schools in the month of October, 2008, and guest author at the Lamplighter School in Dallas in November.
Mount Rushmore Independence Day Celebration
Mount Rushmore History Association Book store, South Dakota
Guest children’s author, book signing event
Teen Writing Club Facilitator
Schaumburg Township District Library, Suburban Chicago
Children’s Literature Breakfast
Sponsored by Anderson Bookshops, IL
Guest children’s author
State of Illinois Young Authors Conference
Illinois State University, Normal, IL
Guest author and presenter
International Reading Association Annual Conference
Atlanta, GA
Guest author, Albert Whitman & Company Booth
Illinois Reading Council/SCBWI Author Luncheon & Autograph Session
Springfield, IL
Guest author
Inside Writing & Publishing Author Series
Presented by the North Suburban Library Systems, Illinois
Guest speaker on: Writing for Kids 101
“Publishing Your First Book” Panel Discussion
Sponsored by the Writing Studio at Harper College
Palatine, Illinois
Guest speaker
Art Institute of Chicago’s Festival of Children’s Books
Art Institute of Chicago
Guest children’s author
ALA Appearance
“Meet the Authors” event, Albert Whitman & Company booth
Chicago, IL
Read Across America
Target Department Store, Schaumburg, Illinois
Guest author
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