Susan Stockdale
-
About the Artist:
Susan Stockdale is the author and illustrator of 11 picture books that celebrate nature including Fabulous Fishes, Stripes of All Types and Bird Show. Her books have won a variety of awards such as the ALSC Notable Picture Book, NCTE Notable Children's Book in the Language Arts, NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book for Students K-12, and the Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year. Her vibrant illustrations and engaging text elicits praise. The Washington Post wrote, “If the paintings are the feast, Stockdale’s words are the dessert.” Her next book, Don't Eat the Cleaners! Tiny Fish with a Big Job, will be published in February 2025.
Category:
Type of Programs Offered
-
-
Illustrating Picture Books that Celebrate Nature and Diversity
Description:
Critically-acclaimed author/illustrator Susan Stockdale demonstrates how she creates paintings for her picture books about animal and plant life.
Students discover how her initial sketches evolve into final book illustrations with bright colors and intricate patterns. Stockdale shows how she researches her scientific subjects to ensure that her images are accurate yet imaginative. Students enhance their visual literacy skills by comparing and contrasting Stockdale's sketches to the final images in her books and are inspired to create a book of their own.
Learn why schools exclaim that "few authors have generated such enthusiasm from the students and teachers."
Appropriate Grade Levels:
K-5Curriculum Connections
This program is offered as:
-
Writing Picture Books that Celebrate Nature
Description:
Award-winning author/illustrator Susan Stockdale demonstrates how she researches and writes her nonfiction picture books with themes ranging from how animals carry their young to how flower shapes attract certain pollinators.
Students learn how to conduct thorough research to gather accurate information and the importance of revising during the writing process. They discover how rhythmic rhyme and vivid verbs, synonyms and alliteration can make their words sparkle.
Find out why Stockdale received a "Notable Books in the Language Arts" award from the National Council of Teachers of English and why schools call her presentation "the best author program we ever had."
Appropriate Grade Levels:
K-5Curriculum Connections
This program is offered as:
-
How I Create My Science Picture Books
Description:
My nonfiction program demonstrates how I research, write and illustrate my picture books that celebrate nature. My presentations are tailored to the school's occasion and audience. Hosts select the book/s on which they would like me to focus that support their curriculum, such as Bring On the Birds and Bird Show for a unit on birds; Stripes of All Types and Line Up! Animals in Remarkable Rows for a unit on animal behavior and habitats; and Fantastic Flowers for a unit on plant life.
Using visual props and a PowerPoint format, I share:
• what inspires my book ideas;
• my source material, manuscript drafts, sketches, storyboards, dummies and final illustrations;
• fascinating scientific facts ranging from how animals carry their young to how flower shapes attract pollinators;
• the importance of conveying accurate information in nonfiction shown through errors I made before scientists corrected them;
• how to add sparkle to writing with strong verbs and adjectives, vivid synonyms and rich alliteration;
• how children can become "picture detectives" by discerning changes between my sketches and final images, enhancing their visual literacy skills;
• and how they can realize their dreams with patience and persistence, as I did to become an author and illustrator.A sample testimonial from a librarian: "The teachers thought your presentation was fun, highly engaging and perfectly aligned with
Appropriate Grade Levels:
what they are doing in their classrooms. The students loved hearing your stories ...and thought that your writing/illustrating process
was very interesting and helpful for their own work."
K-5Curriculum Connections
Science: animal behavior and habitats; description of a flower and the pollination process
Language arts: use of rhyme, synonyms, alliteration and other literary devises to add sparkle to writing
Visual arts: exploration of the seven elements of art such as line, shape and color
Math: counting; pattern recognition, the foundation of math
Geography: using a map to locate the featured animals' worldwide habitatsThis program is offered as:
-
Booking Details
Program Costs:
Two, 60-minute PowerPoint programs focusing on books of the school's choice and book signing: $1000
Please contact the artist for further information
-
Illustrating Picture Books that Celebrate Nature and Diversity
-
Artist's featured work:
Artist's videos:
-
Name or Art Agency:
Susan Stockdale
Email:
[email protected]
Phone:
(301) 646-8296
State / County:
Maryland
English 
Spanish