Hello Wonderful Title I Educators!
Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr here—author/illustrator, husband/wife creators of picture books and illustrated middle grade novels.
We spent the 2022-2023 school year traveling the country in our tiny home school bus, visiting Title I schools in all 50 states on the Busload of Books Tour.
We wish we could have visited your school in person, and perhaps we will someday, but for now we’re offering the next-best thing—FREE ACCESS (for Title I educators) to videos of our Tour presentations, drawing demos, and supporting educational materials for all elementary ages.
The presentations are funny, high-energy, and supported by more than 100 illustrations, photos, and animations. We hope they might bring a bit of fun, laughter, and creative spark to your classrooms and community.
(or read on to learn more about our presentations)
(click HERE if you have already received your access password but have lost track of the link)
Presentation for Pre-K – 1st Grade
That Full Moon Feeling
Finding the Wonder and Telling Your Story
Supporting materials prompt students to create and share their own stories—and a drawing demo teaches them how to draw a bear!
Presentation for 2nd – 6th Grade
Bulldozers in the Fog
The Power of Creative Expression
Supporting activities challenge students to match proverbs with their meanings—and a drawing demo teaches them how to draw Dumbles the Dog!
To access this free content, fill out the form below, and confirm you work for a Title I-eligible school. Once you submit the form, you’ll receive an email with a password and a URL that will lead you to the content!
Note: These materials are for Title I educators only to share within their Title I communities. Like most creators, we can’t usually offer free access to our presentations, as school visits provide an essential source of income while giving students an invaluable opportunity to interact with us in person. But we’re aware that many schools – including most receiving Title I funding – are unable to afford author visits. For that reason, we’re extending the benefits of the Tour to more schools by providing this free content for Title I educators to share with their classrooms and communities. All others should click HERE to learn more about paid in-person or virtual visits or workshops.
The latest on Instagram:
The Daily Minute: 12.4.23
In which Matthew is returning to where things began as he comes upon a birch that is doing the same.
Good morning from the Berkshire Mountains, where I am up and writing with my coffee and dogs and Hermes the messenger god.
I fall into a strange cycle while on retreat, sleeping and waking in patterns that stem from whatever my brain feels like doing. I woke at 4am with an idea I knew I needed to write down then fell back asleep and woke again 7am with the foot of a dog on my face.
We went outside and saw the early morning, fog piled thick in the next valley over. I went in and made my coffee and noticed as light had turned buttery. We headed out again to greet the sun.
The dogs were helpful in framing the photos. They’re always willing, if constantly confused, as I ask them to sit as I seek the perfect shot.
Now I’m at my desk, processing the 4am idea, trying my hardest to turn off my thinking brain and listen to the greater one that often gets ignored. It’s less useful for opening envelopes driving to the grocery store. But for days like this, where my only occupation is exploring a world of monkeys and witches and magic, the greater brain is just what I need.
I’ll sit here and listen and write down the messages as Hermes delivers them from the deep into the accessible shallows. And otherwise try to stay out of the way.
The Daily Minute: 12.3.23
In which Matthew’s heart is open and full of joy, and the dogs are along for the ride.
The Daily Minute: 12.2.23
In which our attempts to be Dickensian are thwarted by bagpipes.
CHESTERTOWN FRIENDS
Robbi and I and our assistant Tiny Tim are selling and signing books today (from now until 5:30) at Dickens of a Christmas this morning. You can find us in front of Evergrain bakery at the corner of Cross Street and High.
Signed books make great holiday gifts! (Or just come see us and say hello.)