One of Kristine's favorite things to do is visit elementary schools around the metroplex. If you would like to book Kristine for an event at your school, please contact Kristine through her contact form.

The following details will be helpful in planning your event:

Presentation Description

A half-day school visit typically includes 2 presentations of about 45 minutes each, plus a book signing. In this program children will learn about weather and severe weather safety. Kristine will read from her book Katie and the Magic Umbrella, then engage the children in a highly-interactive discussion about information in the book while sharing life-saving severe weather safety information. She will also leave plenty of time to answer the children’s most-often asked questions. This program is most suited for Pre K – 5th grade.

A helpful suggestion if you are interested in presenting to the whole school is to divide the school into two groups. First group being Pre K, Kindergarten, 1st, and 2nd from 9:00 – 9:45 then bring the older children in from 10:00-10:45, since they tend to have more questions than the younger group and if they run a little over they are not holding any one up.

Kristine asks that both programs be held in the same room to avoid moving equipment which can cause technical problems and delay the time spent sharing with the children

Pricing Description

For the Fall 2009- Spring 2010 school year please contact Kristine to inquire about Kristine’s standard honorarium:

Schools will be provided with an invoice and all district required paperwork in advance. Payment is due on the day of the visit.

Book Sales and Signing

There is no minimum number of books to sell but Kristine does ask that each host school or library:

  1. Hang Kristine’s posters up announcing her visit 2weeks prior to her visit in the office and library. (download poster)
  2. Promote her appearance with mention in newsletter that goes home with each student on the Friday 2 weeks before her visit.
  3. Have pre-order form and flyer sent out at least a week in advance with the Friday student newsletter and returned the day before her visit. (download order form | download flyer)
  4. Kristine will donate a copy of her book to the school/library and have it mailed a month in advance so the teachers and/or the librarian can read the book to the children a week before her visit to generate interest.
  5. Provide a LCD projector, Screen, Laptop, and Sound System (speakers). She will play a DVD animation of the book, which requires a good sound system and visual display
  6. Provide a host parent or teacher to assist Kristine’s assistant before the program with set up and after the program with sales.

Kristine will provide the books, Katie dolls and other products for sale the day of the event. Her assistant will arrive at the school 30 minutes before her presentation to help with set up and the testing of the equipment.

Autograph Session

Your school may choose whether or not to have the children present during the autograph session. Although it is more special for the children, it does take more time. In either case there are a few things that will need to be done in advance.

  1. A signing table and two chairs needs to be set up in the area Kristine will be doing her presentation or in the Library.
  2. Post-it notes need to be at the table.
  3. Pre-order forms and money needs to be given to Kristine’s assistant upon her arrival along with a copy of each order form to be placed in the autographed books.

Helpful tips for successful school/library visit

Before the Visit

  1. Introduce the children to the Katie and the Magic Umbrella Series. Have the book(s) read to the children in the classroom or during library time the week prior to Kristine’s visit
  2. Hold coloring contest. Best for grades K-3. Click on this web link (download coloring book) to download 1-5 coloring sheets the children can color and show off their artistic talent! Kristine will judge the sheets the day of her visit. There will be 5 winners. A grand prize winner will receive a copy of her book. The remaining 4 winners will receive a Katie and the Magic Umbrella Coloring and Activity book and a pencil.
  3. Weather discussions. Have the children observe the weather and temperature changes in the weeks prior to Kristine’s visit to help them think of questions that they may want to ask.
  4. Brainstorm questions. Have the children in each class write one question on a piece of paper. On the day of Kristine’s visit give them to Kristine’s assistant and maybe Kristine will read it out loud and answer it. Don’t forget to have the children put their name and their homeroom teacher’s name on their question sheet.

During the Visit

  1. Microphone with Stand. During the reading of her book Kristine will need a microphone and stand so she is hands free to hold the book and turn the pages. After the reading Kristine can then use the microphone to walk around to talk with the students.
  2. Bottle of Water. That is really all that Kristine will need during her visit.

After the Visit

Letters to the Author can be sent to:

Kristine Kahanek
PO Box 1743
Colleyville, TX 76034

If you would like to share any photos (with permission) of the event with Kristine, please contact Kristine for instructions on sending the photos so she can post them on her blog and website to promote the visit to your school or event.

Kristine loves to hear what you thought of her visit. Please let her know how you liked it and what you might like to see on another visit. Use our contact form to email her directly.