Bring Justin to Your School!
WHY ME?
When you book a visit with me, you’re not just booking another author. You’re booking a professional actor with over a decade of experience. As a a trained performer, I will engage and entertain your audience, creating an exciting and unforgettable experience for students and staff, whether in person or virtual! My presentations are like being part of a real-life cartoon. They’re humorous, filled with over-the-top energy, and highly animated. Kids will be PUMPED up like they’ve just been sugared up on literacy!
SETTING UP YOUR VISIT IS AS EASY AS:
Interested in a visit and want to know more? Click the ‘Inquire Here!’ button to the right. Then, fill out the quick form and click submit. I’ll be in touch shortly!
We’ll chat logistics through email, and even phone and/or Zoom if you like. Once everything sounds good, I’ll send over a contract and invoice. No payment is due until the day of the visit.
Welcome Kit
Once you complete and return the contract, I’ll email you a welcome kit and educator guide.
- Author’s biographical info
- Ideas for generating enthusiasm
- Activity sheets for students
- Book sale order form
- Promotional author visit fliers
- Tentative schedule
- Equipment checklist
- Info to provide author
Complies with common core standards. Contains:
- Discussion questions
- Extension activities
- 25 activity sheets covering ELA, Math, Art, and Science
Educator Guide
Each presentation is 45 minutes long unless otherwise noted. I am happy to tailor presentations to the grade level, audience size, and needs of the organization.
Set Pieces
The school mystery of the morning will be, “What’s with all the ‘Do Not Feed the Ducks’ signs? And will there be live ducks?! That’s because fun set pieces and upbeat music will greet students and staff the moment they enter the presentation space.
An Animated Storytime
My slide deck features me as a child, fun facts about me, the touching story behind why I became an author, an animated storytime version of the book (filled with lots of sound effects), and visuals of how the story evolved from manuscript to finished book.
Audience Interaction
We’ll crank up the workout music and students will participate in a series of vocal and movement exercises. Then, they’ll shout sound effects from the book with enough volume to shake the school. Select students will come on stage and help me act out scenes, complete with cue cards, before taking a bow to a round of applause. I’ll ask questions throughout the presentation, and leave time for Q&A. There will also be prizes!
Autographs
I am happy to sign books, whether students purchase them through a book sale or bring their own copy from home. I’ve also autographed everything from potato chip bags to cardboard cafeteria trays and notebooks.
Your Welcome Kit will contain a book sale order form to purchase my books at a discounted rate. Should you wish to host a book sale, I will customize the form for the school to send home with students. The date and location of my visit, as well as the channel through which you purchase the books, will determine how far in advance you need to run the sale and place the order to ensure the books arrive in time for me to sign them. I’m happy to connect you with a local independent bookstore, my publishers, or even provide the books directly.
*Please see the ‘Discounts’ section above regarding book sales.
**For local (Long Island) schools, I am happy to sign the books in advance and bring them with me the day of my visit.
INCLUDES:
- Up to three presentations
-
‘Lunch with an Author
(approx. 15 students) -
Swag
(Bookmark + sticker for each student) - Optional Book Signing
- Printable educator guide
- Printable student activity sheets
-
Custom Pre-Visit Author
Hype Video for Students
PRICING:
Long Island
$1300
NYC
Includes all five boroughs
$1600
Upstate & Out of State
$1900
+Cost of Travel Expenses: Hotel, Airfare, Car Mileage/Rental
INCLUDES:
- Up to two presentations
- Optional Book Signing
- Printable educator guide
- Pintable student activity sheets
PRICING:
Long Island
$700
NYC
Includes all five boroughs
$850
Upstate & Out of State
$1000
+Cost of Travel Expenses: Hotel, Airfare, Car Mileage/Rental
INCLUDES:
-
Zoom session via Zoom
or Google Meet - Printable Educator Guide
- Printable student activity sheets
PRICING:
30 Minutes
$150
60 Minutes
$250
Full Day
$700
(Up to three sixty-minute sessions)
IN-PERSON VISITS
Discounts are applicable to both full-day and half-day visits and may be combined
MULTI-SCHOOL BOOKING
Long Island …………………………………………………………………………..$100 off total cost of visit per school
NYC (five boroughs) …………………………………………………………$150 off total cost of visit per school
UPSTATE NY & OUT-OF-STATE ……………………………………$200 off total cost of visit per school
HOST BOOK SALE OR PLACE BULK BOOK ORDER ……………………….$100 off total cost of visit
TITLE 1 STATUS …………………………………………………………………………………….$100 off total cost of visit
VIRTUAL VISITS
I am happy to offer $50 total off the cost of a virtual visit for Title 1 schools and schools that host a book sale or place a bulk book order. Discounts may not be combined, unless you purchase the ‘Full Day’ virtual visit package.
I was so impressed with this presentation. The way Mr. Colón interacted with the students was phenomenal. All the students were engaged the entire time. The way he reenacted his book was truly amazing. He had students playing certain roles from the book. I loved the way he explained the process of making a book. JFK was lucky to have Mr. Colón come and visit. Some students came up to me after the show and said that was the best assembly ever!
— Craig Amarando, Fourth Grade Teacher, JFK Elementary School
What age groups are your school programs appropriate for?
I have presented to grades pre-k through 5 and can tailor my presentation(s) accordingly. When presenting to a larger audience, it’s ideal to have an audience closer together in age/grade level. For instance, Kindergarten and first together, second and third together, and fourth and fifth together.
Does our school have to host a book sale for you to visit?
Your school is not obligated to host a book sale in order or me to visit. However, book sales can generate enthusiasm among students, especially since I personalize/autograph each book. This promotes a love of literary while supporting me, the author, and whichever small business the books are purchased through. I am happy to help you through the process, providing you with a custom book order form and highly discounted rate.
Can we take photos and/or record video during the visit?
The school may take photos during the presentation to sharing internally and post to social media. However, the school must obtain my prior written consent before using any photos, recordings, or materials for commercial purposes or media distribution.
Audio or video recording, broadcasting, and streaming of my presentation are not permitted.
Your school is responsible for securing media consent and release forms for any individuals shown in photos.
What is the length of your program(s)?
My programs run about 45 minutes long. However, I suggest a thirty minute presentation for kindergarteners. For older grade levels (4-5), I am open to extending the presentation to an hour.
What is your preferred audience size?
As a performer, I love the energy of presenting to and interacting with a larger audience. However, I am just as happy to present to smaller audiences, including individual classrooms.
For multi-school bookings, can you visit 2+ schools per day?
How soon or far in advance can we book a visit with you?
I have presented to schools in less than a week from their initial inquiry. And I have booked events over a year in advance.