As a children’s book author, my objective for each session is to engage the students in the story, in a way that encourages participation. During the presentation, students interact with the author and participate in the story by answering questions, charter interaction, and giving feedback on the subject matter for each book. Students are asked to recall aspects of the story which helps students with comprehension. I also request that each presentation is projected on a large screen, so children can see the illustrations while I read the story. This is an especially important aid for the program. The ability for students to see the illustrations on the large screen allows students to focus on the illustrations and follow the story with an unobstructed vision of each page.

This method of instruction increases participation as well as keeping the attention of the student. By keeping the student’s attention, students have no issues with recalling the order of the story, identifying the characters as well, which improves the student’s comprehension. At the end of each presentation, students can ask questions. At the back of each book, pages are included in the book to encourage students to read and write their own stories and create their own illustrations. The end of each book could be considered as a short curriculum.

As a children’s book author, my objective for each session is to engage the students in the story, in a way that encourages participation. During the presentation, students interact with the author and participate in the story by answering questions, charter interaction, and giving feedback on the subject matter for each book. Students are asked to recall aspects of the story which helps students with comprehension. I also request that each presentation is projected on a large screen, so children can see the illustrations while I read the story. This is an especially important aid for the program. The ability for students to see the illustrations on the large screen allows students to focus on the illustrations and follow the story with an unobstructed vision of each page.

This method of instruction increases participation as well as keeping the attention of the student. By keeping the student’s attention, students have no issues with recalling the order of the story, identifying the characters as well, which improves the student’s comprehension. At the end of each presentation, students can ask questions. At the back of each book, pages are included in the book to encourage students to read and write their own stories and create their own illustrations. The end of each book could be considered as a short curriculum.

Maria Hoskins has served as a Community Outreach Specialist for the Federal Government for more than 21 years.  Off the clock, Maria has published seven children’s books through her independent publishing company C & V 4 Seasons Publishing Company.  In 2023 the newest release It’s My Birthday! is a must have for every child’s birthday.  Her books are focused for student’s pre-K – 5^th grade but enjoyed by the entire family. Maria’s first children’s book began with a vision of Christmas Eve at her grandmother’s farm, recalling memories from a moment in time, reflecting on the meaning of Christmas. It’s a touching story of a girl’s memories of her family’s holiday season in the mid-1960’s on a rural Arkansas farm.  “I am excited to share my books with students throughout Arkansas and around the world!  The motive for my books is to share a happy memory from a moment in time, and to encourage young readers and writers that there is a book in all of us.”