School Visits

If you’d like to book me for a visit, please contact me for rates and availability. I can present in English and/or Spanish. Possible presentations include:

-For grades 1-3, I can discuss Not A Monster and the other books in the Not a…series or Still Dreaming. I can even bring my pet Axolotl (Chicago area only).

-For grades 4-6, I can discuss the movie novel for Spirit Untamed or my debut novel The Smell of Old Lady Perfume.

-For middle-schoolers, I can discuss Pig Park, my Young Adult novel for younger teens. 

-I can also discuss the numerous books I’ve written for the educational market.

Other speaking engagements: Below is a sample of previous keynotes and panels.

  • TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL- Featured Author- November 2023
  • DENVER FESTIVAL OF STORIES- Featured Creator- October 2023
  • SAN ANTONIO BOOK FESTIVAL- Featured Author – March 2023
  • Roosevelt University Dual Language Symposium- Keynote February 2019
  • SCBWI Regional Prairie Writer’s Day Panel – Speaker November 2018
  • SCBWI Regional Diversity Panels- Speaker January 2015
  • NCTE ALAN Workshop: In Conversation- Panel November 2015 
  • El Paso Community College Literary Fiesta- Puente Keynote November 2015
  •  VEGAS VALLEY BOOK FESTIVAL Panel- Speaker October 2015 
  • NCTE ALAN Workshop: Traversing the Boundary Between Insider and Outsider- Panel November 2011 
  • Northern Illinois University Dekalb Children’s Literature- Panel April 2011
  • Chicago Teacher-Librarian Association Meeting- Keynote October 2010
  • El Paso Community College Literary Fiesta- Speaker September 2010
  • CPS BATTLE OF THE BOOKS- Keynote April 2010 
  • GREAT SOUTHWEST BOOK FAIR- Speaker October 2009 
  • WISCONSIN BOOK FESTIVAL- Featured Presenter October 2009 
  • PRINTERS ROW BOOK FESTIVAL: Beyond Boys- Panel May 2009
  • NCTE ALAN Workshop: New Voices In YA Literature- Panel November 2008
  • TEXAS BOOK FESTIVAL: Adolescence: Is It Really That Bad, Hot Reads for Middle  Graders, Not for Required Reading- Panels October 2008 
  • REFORMA National Conference ¡YA!: Writing Our World Now- Panel September 2008
  • Claremont Colleges Hispanic Heritage Month- Keynote September 2008