Leyla Torres

School Visits

Leyla Torres is available to visit schools for presentations to children grades K-12.

School visits may be conducted in either English or Spanish.

Please send a message if you would like more information about arranging a presentation at your school.

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Page Contents:

• Program Description
• Program length
• Audience size
• Preparing for the Visit
• Equipment Needed
• Honorarium
• Book Signings
• To Order Books from the Publisher
• What people have said

Program Description

Through the use of written drafts, sketches, photographs and original illustrations from some of her books, Leyla describes the step-by-step process she follows in making a picture book.

Through this presentation children will

• visualize themselves as writers and illustrators.
• see where ideas come from.
• realize that stories and pictures do not come out perfectly on the first try.
• understand that struggle and frustration play an important role in the creative process.
• appreciate the importance of revising their work.
• learn that through patience and persistence they too can develop their own ideas and achieve satisfaction with their results.

As a bonus Leyla will

• share with the children some personal secrets that she has placed in her books, such as her imaginary pet.
• teach children how to use a few basic geometric shapes to draw leyla's imaginary pet.
• show children some of the limited-edition books she has made only for family and friends.

At the end of the presentation children are welcome to ask any questions they might have.

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Program Length

Up to three presentations per day, with each lasting approximately 50 minutes. For children in kindergarten, the presentations are 30 minutes in length. Allow at least fifteen minutes between presentations.

Audience size

The ideal group size is fifty students or less. This allows for the creation of an atmosphere where a majority of students may participate and receive a degree of personal attention.

Preparing for the visit

• Make sure Leyla's books are available in your library.
• Read and discuss the books with students before the presentation.
• Set up a display of Leyla's books in your library and post the date she will be visiting the school.
• Give students an opportunity to prepare questions they might want to ask.

Equipment needed

• A movable board or easel on which to vertically place illustrations.
• A table on with to place presentation materials.

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Honorarium

School visit rates vary according to number of presentations and distance traveled. Please contact Leyla directly to discuss your particular needs.

To have a book signing

• Order books from the publisher's marketing department. The telephone numbers are listed below.
• Send a note to the parents informing about the event, a list of Leyla's books and their prices.
• The day of Leyla's visit, set up a special time for the signing. Leyla will be happy to autograph books for students and teachers.
• Have students write their name clearly on a post-it note that can be attached to the first page of the book.

To order books directly from Farrar Straus & Giroux

Books are available at 40% discount. If you need information regarding titles and prices, or if you would like to place an order, please contact FSG c/o Holtzbrink Publishers, Sales Division Phone 1-800-221-7945

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What people have said:

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