Author Visits

Rajani would love to visit your school or organization!

I speak to both children and adults on a variety of topics related to writing, the creative life, and my books.

I offer both in-person and virtual visits. All presentations are interactive and fun, and allow for Q & A! 

My school presentations cover topics for grades PreK – 8.

Presentations for Upper Elementary/Middle School:

Feeling Divided, Being Whole:
Rajani describes the inspiration for Red, White, and Whole and Mirror to Mirror and her path to writing these verse novels to inspire kids to tell their own stories, share their feelings, and know that we all belong. 
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
45-60 minutes, Ages 9 and up

Seeing Yourself in Stories: Writing Middle Grade Novels
Rajani explains how she went from doctor to doctor-author, and the inspiration and stories behind her middle grade novels.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
45-60 minutes, Ages 8 and up

Math and Magic 
Rajani talks about her fascination for math puzzles and how that led to writing Much Ado About Baseball, Seven Golden Rings, and other books, and how to embrace the wonder and joy of math in literature. 
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
45-60 minutes, Ages 7 and up

Collaborative Writing and The Secret of the Dragon Gems 
NEW! Virtual Only 
Rajani teams up with her friend and writing partner Chris Baron to talk about their collaboration on their middle grade epistolary novel, The Secret of the Dragon Gems. They recount the inspiration for the story and how they wrote it while living on opposite coasts! This fun, interactive virtual visit includes a letter writing activity for classrooms.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
45-60 minutes, Ages 8 and up

Fantasy, Magic, and the Real World
NEW! Available after March 5, 2024 
Rajani talks about the process of writing her middle grade fantasy novel, Sona and the Golden Beasts. Using examples from her book and other famous fantasies, Rajani shows how fantasy books can help us learn about our own world and inform how we treat each other.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
45-60 minutes, Ages 9 and up

Writing Workshops

Students explore the craft of writing in the following hands-on workshops

• The Secret to Vivid Writing
• The Spine of a Story
• Magical Revision
• Creating Characters that Shine

Audience Size: Classroom-size group

45-60 minutes, Ages 9 and up

Presentations for Lower Elementary:

Bracelets For Bina’s Brothers and Patterns
Rajani reads the book, and talks about recognizing patterns and making them, and how math is everywhere!
30 minutes, Ages 3-7

My Author Journey and Seven Golden Rings
Rajani talks about her love of puzzles and riddles from a young age and how it led to writing Seven Golden Rings. Includes a reading of the book.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
30-45 minutes, Ages 5-9

Family Journeys: Where Three Oceans Meet and Summer Is For Cousins
Rajani talks about writing Where Three Oceans Meet and Summer Is For Cousins and the family connections in both books. Includes readings of both.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
30-45 minutes, Ages 5 and up

Science in Picture Books: The Secret Code Inside You, A Vaccine Is Like a Memory, and Your One and Only Heart
Rajani talks about being a doctor and how her fascination with biology it led to writing nonfiction medical picture books Includes readings.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
30-45 minutes, Ages 5 and up

Grandparent Joy: I’ll Go and Come Back and Masala Chai, Fast and Slow
Rajani talks about her visits to relatives to India, the grandparent figures that inspired her picture books I’ll Go and Come Back and Masala Chai, Fast and Slow, and what we can all learn from older people. Includes readings of the books.
Audience Size: Assembly or classroom-size group
30-45 minutes, Ages 5 and up

Q&A Sessions

Q & A for groups who have read one or more of my books
Audience Size: Classroom-size group
20-30 minutes

Options

• I offer both virtual and in-person visits
• Full day visits, up to three presentations of one hour each plus author lunch
• Half-day visits, two presentations, up to one hour each
• Author lunch: schools can plan a casual lunch with a small group of students, such as a book group or writing club
• Travel expenses calculated for schools over 50 miles from Concord, MA.
• Please contact Allyson Hickey at Booked Authors for rates