Other Services
I have led workshops at Central Carolina Community College, Duke’s Continuing Education program and many conferences including the American Association of School Librarians and International Reading Association.
Diversity, Equity & Social Justice: Creating Stories for All Kids
Why does kidlit diversity matter and how can it help transform our world? Join me as I explore the multicultural landscape of children’s books from past to present. You’ll learn about pioneering children’s book creators and publishers of color and the mission to give voices to children who are too often unheard.
Windows to the Past
Using slideshows of historical images, music, show-and-tell and book excerpts, I share how history inspires my work and ways to get kids plugged in. Participants leave with a list of children’s books that salute black history and tips on connecting kids with stories from the past. I’ve given versions of this presentation at conferences of the North Carolina School Library Association, South Carolina Association of School Librarians, North Carolina Reading Association and most recently, I presented a joint session on this topic with my friend, award-winning illustrator/author Don Tate, at the International Reading Association convention in Chicago. Click here and here to see the hand-outs Don and I shared.
So You Want to Write a Children’s Book
Have you always wanted to write a children’s book? Start the journey with me in a class designed to introduce you to the field. In this one-day workshop, you’ll get a basic understanding of children’s book genres, mine your life for story ideas, gain insight into the business of children’s book publishing and learn about resources and tools of the trade. By the end of the class, you’ll be steps closer to making your dream come true.
Marketing Your Book On a Budget
You don’t need to spend lots of money to promote your book. You just need to use some elbow grease and think creatively. Blog tours, trailers, targeted giveaways, e-blasts, launch parties. I’ve done them all. In this workshop, I’ll share free and low-cost ways to get your book on readers’ radars.
Parent Talk
Do you want to build a home library that includes African-American children’s books? Invite me to your meeting, library, church or school for a multimedia presentation that introduces you to some of the wonderful literature created by black authors and illustrators. I’ll read excerpts from the books, answer questions, give each attendee a book list full of great titles to consider adding to their collections and a guide to resources such as helpful web sites and books.
Children’s Book Club Consulting
For the past several years, I’ve facilitated children’s book clubs that celebrate literary treasures by black children’s book creators of today and the past. I continue that advocacy as a member of The Brown Bookshelf, a team of authors and illustrators dedicated to raising awareness of the many African-American voices creating books for young readers. Would you like to start a book club for kids that introduces them to children’s books by black authors and illustrators, but don’t know where to begin? I can help. We’ll discuss themes, reading level, mission and then I’ll create a year-long reading list for your club complete with fun extension activities and links to reviews, discussion guides (if available) and author and illustrator web sites.
Custom Workshops
I can customize presentations or workshops for your class, community group, book club or church. I enjoy exploring black history and family history and talking about how to write essays and picture book manuscripts.
2022-2023 Fees
Please contact me at email@kellystarlinglyons.com for information on scheduling and rates. For locations outside of the NC Triangle area, mileage and lodging, if necessary, apply.
Book Orders
If you’d like signed copies of my books, you can order them through Quail Ridge Books and Music – 919-828-1588. Let them know how many copies you want and how you’d like them personalized.
If you would like to order directly from the publisher for Sing a Song, Ellen’s Broom, Tea Cakes for Tosh, Hope’s Gift and the Jada Jones chapter book series, call Penguin’s Author Appearance Order Processing Department at 866-206-5865. Schools and libraries are eligible for a 40% discount and the books are returnable.
To order directly from the publisher for One Million Men and Me and NEATE: Eddie’s Ordeal, call or email Just Us Books Director of Sales, Willie Hudson at 973-672-7701 or willie_hudson@justusbooks.com.
You can also purchase copies of my books through online booksellers such as indiebound.org, Amazon.com and www.barnesandnoble.com.
Sign Up &
Download Now!
Subscribe to the Kelly Starling newsletter and receive a FREE downloadable poster, news, latest blogs, as well as updates on upcoming books.
Sign up and get downloading!