Speaking

For more information or to book any speaking engagement, please contact my publicist:

Kirsten Cappy

School Visits

Since my first classroom visit in 1984, I’ve presented in hundreds of schools in New England and across the country. I’ve worked with kindergarten through high school, in groups from single classes to whole school assemblies, for single days, several days or week-long residencies.

My favorite sessions are highly interactive conversations with 20-40 students, with time for questions and answers.

I can do up to 3 1-hour sessions or 4 40-minute sessions per day.

Watching Annie O'Brien work with a group of schoolchildren is about as close as you'll come to seeing masterful teaching. Annie has the ability to keep kids of any age engaged as they learn the joy and art of creating. I have rarely had my students so energized about pursuing their own writing. Annie shares her gifts with unbounded enthusiasm.

- David Woods, 5th grade teacher

Justice & Magic: Creating The Legend of Hong Kil Dong

Grades 3-8

A digital slide show and interactive talk about adapting the 17th century Korean hero tale into an illustrated book for children, including

- research!

- the different considerations for making a picture book and a comic book;

- the revision process, working collaboratively with my editor and art director;

- creating illustrations using traditional Korean brush painting;

- information on Korean history and culture.

I can also do workshops based on my other books (see list) and art workshops such as:

Making Faces

K-2 - How to draw feelings

3-8 - How to draw proportions, features (including racial differences), and expressions

May include a demonstration drawing of a face using water soluble pastels

Author Margy Burns Knight and I have collaborated on five books and often do joint presentations and school projects.
See LearnAboutYourWorld.org

Annie O'Brien explores the concepts of racial and ethnic understanding through her art and her conversations with children. She helps children to take pride in who they are and to celebrate other's differences.

- Pamela A. Mason,Ed.D.
Former elementary principal
Director, Language and Literacy Program
Harvard Graduate School of Education

School Fees

Within Maine

within 60 miles of Portland — $600/day

more than 60 miles from Portland — $600/day plus travel and lodging

New England

outside of Maine — $800/day plus travel and lodging

Beyond New England

$1000/day plus travel and lodging

ALL FEES ARE NEGOTIABLE. I’m particularly interested in visiting schools in low-income, under-served areas. If your school has very limited funds, please do not let these prices deter you from contacting my publicist about a visit. We may be able to arrange other appearances in your area which will make it affordable to you.

Annie brings an enormous energy and eagerness to connect to her school and library visits. In a relaxed and genuine way, she communicates her passion for books, writing, and art as well as the world of ideas beyond the walls of the school. Her personal beliefs about the interconnectedness of all beings shine through as she shares her talents (for speaking AND for drawing) with kids in her presentations. Annie is a treasure!

- Toni Buzzeo, Library Media Specialist

Presentations for Adults

From the Heart: Illustrating Across Cultures

An examination of the challenges of authentically representing culture in illustrating children’s books.

"You had a tremendously positive impact on my class! You brought to life the process of creating, through illustration and writing, a children's book. One student even told me she is considering becoming an illustrator because of you! I can't thank you enough for inspiring these young people!"

Laura Woodruff
MATESOL, MSLS, EdD
Lecturer, University of Michigan
Instructor, ESL, St. Cyril and Methodius Seminary,
Orchard Lake, MI

Following Impulse: The Creative Process for writers, illustrators and other artists

A guided journey sharing all the tips I’ve learned about nurturing an artistic work from inspiration to form. Includes hands-on exercises.

A World of Difference: Exploring Multicultural Children’s Books

An introduction to the richness of contemporary U.S. children's literature dealing with diversity in culture, race, nationality, ethnicity and language, including criteria for evaluating, selecting, and using these books with children.

Using The Legend of Hong Kil Dong in the Classroom — for teachers & librarians

Ideas for engaging students in exploring the cultural, historical, thematic, and visual content of the book, from the Korean alphabet to comics, Robin Hood to TaeKwonDo.

What Is a Graphic Novel, Anyway?

An overview of the current trend of comic books and graphic novels in children’s book publishing, with definitions of terms, and guidelines for deciding what is good material for the form; plus an illustrated description of the experience of creating a picture book in graphic-novel form.

I also love to design new workshops, tailoring the material to particular audiences or events. Here are a few of the groups for which I have a particular affinity:

Korean American Community

I particularly enjoy the chance to connect with Korean-Americans, with whom I share a common cultural heritage, only in reverse. I am fluent in conversational Korean (a little rusty these days).

Adoptive Families

As the mother of a grown daughter adopted from Korea, I am passionate about adoption. The Legend of Hong Kil Dong, with its hero who cannot claim his birth father, has a special resonance for adopted children. (Many friends note the resemblance - unintentional - between the faces of Kil Dong and my daughter Yunhee!) I love to present at culture camps and adoption conferences.

Children’s Book Conferences

In addition to publishing 25 picture books, for the past five years I have written the column “The Illustrator’s Perspective” for the Bulletin of the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI). I have lots to say about the process and business of creating children’s books! Since my first speaking engagement at “Perspectives in Children’s Literature at UMass/Amherst in 1985 (title: “How I Became An Overnight Success in Only 7 Years: Survival Tips for the Not Yet Published”), I’ve spoken and presented workshops at numerous conferences and conventions.

Fees for presentations to adults vary according to the event.

Please contact Kirsten Cappy () for information.