nonfiction
2026-2027 Author Visits
Whether in-person or virtual, exploring fiction or nonfiction, Jody inspires! She loves talking with kids about reading, writing, and books! Just reach out, and she’ll make it happen. Scroll down for pictures and endorsements!
For kindergartners and first graders, Jody shares how books can bring joy, heal hurts, and become friends. For second and third graders, she focuses on taking a great idea, forming it into a story, and then sending it into the world to become a book. Jody explores the writing process with fourth and fifth graders, and gives students a sneak peek into the world of publishing, where students become agents and editors. For second through fifth graders, Jody shares how fun, exhilarating, and oh so cool nonfiction is! Q&A follows each fun, interactive presentation. Want Jody to focus on something else? No problem! Just ask! Printable page 2026-2027 Author Visits with Jody Jensen Shaffer
Looking to include Show Me Finalist Porcupine Had a Fuzzy Sweater in 2026-2027 visits? Let Jody know!
Options:
Title: SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE BOOKS!
Audience: K-1
Length: 30 minutes
Title: HOW A STORY BECOMES A BOOK
Audience: 2-5
Length: 45 minutes
Title: ROCK WHAT YOU WRITE
Audience: 4-5
Length: 45 minutes
Title: CREEP, LEAP, CRUNCH! NONFICTION IS COOL!
Audience: 2-5
Length: 45 minutes
Questions? Want to customize? Focus on a specific book or writing topic? Just ask!
Pricing for library or classroom visits
IN-PERSON FULL-DAY:
3-4 Sessions
$1,800. Up to four schools may share the day, as long as travel time allows.
IN-PERSON HALF-DAY:
2 Sessions (must both be AM or PM)
$1,000
IN-PERSON PUBLIC LIBRARY VISITS, LITERACY NIGHTS, WRITERS’ WORKSHOPS:
One hour $500
Two hours $750
Feel free to coordinate with another school or library in your town!
Travel fees apply to all visits (mileage, airfare, hotel, meals, etc)
VIRTUAL AUTHOR VISITS:
$450 for one 30-minute session
$1,000 for four sessions
NOTE: Jody will send a contract to confirm all details. Fees are payable the first day of her visit. For an assemby, Jody prefers a group size of no more than 175 students and charges the half-day rate. Questions? Email Jody at jodyjensenshaffer@gmail.com.
Think you can’t afford to bring an author to your school? Here are some creative ways others have done it! Successful Author Visits (And How to Pay for Them) and 35 Ways to Fund Author Visits
Endorsements:
“Our students and staff LOVED having Jody visit our building! Her interactive, thoughtful presentation helped expose students to the writing process and her kind, easy-going nature made her visit a breeze! She is welcome back any time!” – Megan Bright, Librarian, Lillian Schumacher Elementary, Liberty Public Schools
“Jody presents very engaging material, teaches them about the writing process, and students love her books!” – Liz Vannelli, Kellybrook Library Media Specialist, Liberty Public Schools
“The kids loved Jody’s visit. She was engaging and funny. Even a teacher came and told me that Jody was her hero!” Debbie B., Librarian, Rose Acres Elementary, Maryland Heights, MO
“Jody is friendly, approachable and she shares her experiences as an author in an encouraging way that inspires the students to write their own stories. The 3-5 group loved the interactive demonstration of how a book gets a publisher.”
“I loved her interaction with students during the publishing process skit. She was an all around amazing presenter…I wish we had had more time for her to keep talking about her books. The kids loved listening to her stories.”
“I loved how she interacted with students. They really liked her and she was very sweet with them. I loved when she brought students up with props to act out a scene. Very fun!”
“We enjoyed how personable Jody was and how she interacted with the students. We also enjoyed that she was local!! What a great experience for our kids!”
“I like the way she explained the publishing process by having students come up and play specific roles. Because they were part of it, they were very engaged!”
#KidsNeedMentors video in Maryland Heights, MO
https://drive.google.com/file/d/11DTufchzIF2myV_RY7Mh72OvLVzFafQa/view
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author visit, fiction, nonfiction, picture book, school visitChildren’s Author
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author visit, Children's Author, early reader, fiction, nonfiction, picture books, school visitYOU CAN TOO! : SUCCESS AFTER FAILURE
Time for Kids/Teacher Created Materials, October 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1425849900
What do the airplane, the escalator, the vacuum cleaner, and the Polaroid camera have in common? It took many, many attempts to perfect these inventions. But the people who invented them persevered and did not give up on their ideas. With TIME For Kids content, this nonfiction book will engage students in reading about inventions as they build their comprehension, vocabulary, and literacy skills. The Reader’s Guide and culminating activity direct students back to the text as they develop their higher-order thinking skills. Check It Out! provides resources for additional reading and learning. With text features such as a glossary, index, and table of contents, this book aligns with national and state standards and will keep students engaged in reading.
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nonfictionSITTING BULL: EAGLES CANNOT BE CROWS
Teacher Created Materials, Jan 30, 2017
ISBN: 9781493838004
The SITTING BULL: EAGLES CANNOT BE CROWS primary source reader builds literacy skills while offering engaging content across social studies subject areas. Primary source documents provide an intimate glimpse into what life was like during the 1800s. This nonfiction reader can be purposefully differentiated for various reading levels and learning styles. It contains text features to increase academic vocabulary and comprehension, from captions and bold print to index and glossary. The “Your Turn!” activity will continue to challenge students as they extend their learning. This text aligns to state standards as well as McREL, WIDA/TESOL, and the NCSS/C3 Framework.
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nonfictionBENJAMIN BANNEKER: SELF-MADE MAN
Teacher Created Materials, Aug 30, 2016
ISBN: 9781493830824
Explore the life of this self-educated mathematician, scientist, astronomer, and civil rights advocate with Benjamin Banneker: Self-Made Man. This informational text profiles the life of the man who worked hard to educate himself and became an almanac writer and land surveyor for the nation’s capital. Get your students excited as they explore this nonfiction reader filled with primary source material, offering a historical glimpse of what life was like back then. Build literacy and subject content knowledge with this nonfiction reader that explores US history, geography, and other social studies topics. Benjamin Banneker: Self-Made Man provides access to every type of learner with appropriately leveled content. This book contains text features such as captions, bold print, glossary, and index to increase understanding and build academic vocabulary.
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nonfictionTHE WAY THE COOKIE CRUMBLED
Illustrated by Kelly Kennedy
Simon Spotlight, July 5, 2016
ISBN: 978-1481461801
C is for cookie in this fact-tastic nonfiction Level 3 Ready-to-Read that explores the history of cookies, part of a series about the history of fun stuff!
Did you know that Queen Elizabeth I used to have gingerbread cookies molded into the shapes of her favorite advisers? Or that Girl Scouts used to bake the cookies they sold themselves? Or that if you stacked all the Oreos ever made, they would reach to the moon and back five times? Become a History of Fun Stuff Expert on the super-sweet history of cookies and amaze your friends with all you’ve learned in this fun, fact-filled Level 3 Ready-to-Read!
A special section at the back of the book includes Common Core–vetted extras on subjects like science, social studies, and math, and there’s even a fun quiz so readers can test themselves to see what they’ve learned! Learning history has never been so much fun!
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baking, chapter book, cookies, history, nonfictionWHAT’S YOUR STORY, SEQUOYAH?
Lerner, Jan 2016
ISBN: 978-1467796514
How did Sequoyah create a Cherokee alphabet? How did he improve the lives of the Cherokee? Cub Reporter interviews him to find out! Learn how Sequoyah overcame adversity in his childhood, and created the Cherokee alphabet, which helped thousands to become literate. Readers will see how to use interviewing skills and journalistic questions to reveal the story behind a famous American.
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nonfictionWHAT’S YOUR STORY, FREDERICK DOUGLASS?
Lerner, Jan 2016
ISBN: 978-1467796477
How did Frederick Douglas escape from slavery? How did he make a difference during the abolition movement? Cub Reporter interviews the civil rights activist to find out how Frederick, a freed slave, inspired others with his achievements as an author, activist, and speaker. Readers will see how to use interviewing skills and journalistic questions to reveal the story behind a famous American.
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nonfictionON THE HUNT WITH HYENAS
The Child’s World, Jan. 2016
ISBN-13: 9781634074537
Through narrative nonfiction text, readers discover how hyenas hunt, where they call home, and how they raise their young. Additional features to aid comprehension include a table of contents, fact-filled captions and callouts, stunning photographs, maps, a glossary, sources for further research, a selected bibliography, and an introduction to the author.
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nonfiction12 SUPER-DANGEROUS ANIMALS
The Child’s World, Jan 1, 2016
ISBN: 9781632351364
Features 12 super-dangerous animals found around the world. Each spread contains fascinating facts, life cycle and habitat information, and interesting traits that make each animal dangerous.