Official website for award-winning children's author in the USA, Renee Hand, devotes herself to writing; her goals in writing are to entertain and build a connection with her readers, especially young readers who are in elementary and middle school. The books are educational, unique and interactive mysteries. Start reading with your children today.

Welcome to my Author Visits page.

I’m an experienced, energetic speaker, happy to educate and entertain audiences of all ages.

Session content for each age depends on the audience.

The Books:

What Would You Do If You Were Left In The Zoo? (picture book for elementary students)

This is a delightful story about a child who visits the zoo and wants to become a zookeeper when they get older. With the great activities in the back of the book, children will love taking this book on their next zoo visit.

Do You Have Ants In Your Pants That Make You Dance?                                                                                           Grades Pre-K to 1st

This is a story about an energetic boy named Sheldon. Sheldon is curious about the world around him and often pretends he's someone else. His imagination takes him to places where there are no limitations. He's a pirate captain on a ship, leading his crew to buried treasure. Or a paleontologist riding a dinosaur in search of new species to discover. Though his imaginary adventures take him all over the world, he often finds himself in disaster. Children will like the humorous repetition and delight in Sheldon's adventures. Sheldon embodies the spirit and curiosity of all children, teaching them to delight in the beauty and wonder of the world, and to fill them with the hope that dreams can come true.

The Crypto-Capers Series Books 1-5

Genre: Interactive mysteries                                                                                                         4th grade and up into middle school:

The Crypto-Capers series is a unique series because the reader actually participates into the story by solving cryptograms and puzzles. The series works on various skills, including reading comprehension, critical thinking, deduction and reasoning, observation, spelling and vocabulary. Each book is filled with information that will get the student thinking about the story and involving them into the deduction process. The locations are based off real places and readers get to learn more about science and history, as well as math. There are lots of educational elements combined together to make a fun and entertaining series for all ages.

Program consists of learning about cryptograms, how to decode them, learning new writing tips and tricks, talking about the books and their covers, including factual historical information that relates to them, talk about being an author, answer questions. The discussion is interactive with the audience. Everyone is involved.

The Adventures of Joe-Joe Nut and Biscuit Bill Books 1-3)

Genre: Animal detective mystery series                                                                                                                           2nd , 3rd graders and up

My Joe-Joe Nut series is about animal detectives who solve a case. Not only do children learn about critical thinking, reasoning and deduction, but also about animal tracks in book 1, rocks and minerals in book 2, and art, weather and science in book 3. Children will learn about science related topics that they will, or are, learning about in school and can apply. With each book of the series the reader will be learning about something new in a fun and entertaining way. Great information is added such as terminology, the rock cycle, experiments and a “Did You Know” section.

Program consists of talking about some rocks and minerals introduced into the story. Samples will be provided for children to look at and touch. Samples of glowing rocks will be provided and a discussion about the process they go under. Focus is then put on Igneous rocks, with an experiment to try for the students to observe. A visual run through of what the story is about as interaction with the crowd occurs and discussion continues.

What to expect:

Academic, practical, fun, audience-targeted presentations, always. I take seriously what each age group wants or needs from my visit. Children will leave my sessions filled with creativity and excited about writing.

Presentations can be varied to coincide with what the teachers would like me to discuss. So the material can change if needed. I am filled with a plethora of information; just point me in the direction that would best help your students. Otherwise, I have a set program that children will benefit from and enjoy. Children will always learn a lot from my presentations and I involve them into my discussions so it keeps them paying attention.

What you should provide, please:

-Microphone-only if it is a large presentation, otherwise my voice carries.

-Teachers in attendance.

-A white board or pull down screen for the class to see the presentation. Will need to have a laptop or computer that can project to a screen and can run media player.

-Small table to put my things on.

-Lunch if I'm there all day.

-Have kids write down questions they might want to ask me ahead of time so they don’t forget.

-Introduction of my work before I arrive, so students know what I do and who I am.

-Book sales! I'm happy to personalize books.

Check out my website for the Joe-Joe Nut presentation and Crypto-Caper video to share with the teachers if you would like, so they can learn more about my books. www.reneeahand.com

Virtual School Visits:

Class visits via computer (Skype is preferred but can use Google Talk if that works for your class) and SMARTboards or Promethian Boards, whichever is being used in your class, with no video setup. Interaction between students and author via microphones and speakers so class can particpate in discussion, for asking questions or for the class to interact with me during the writing workshops.

Writer’s Workshop:

I also offer a 2 ½ - 3 hour writers workshop, or I can break it down into an hour. Many schools all over North America request for me to come and teach these workshops. I break down the elements of writing and explain them to the class. My workshop is proven to produce higher test scores. The cost is the same as my school visit fee. The workshop can be held during or after school. Let me know if this is something you wish to incorporate along with my visit or if it is something you wish to do separately. I work on various elements of writing. From how to gather ideas for your story to better word choices, developing your storyline, developing memorable characters, to write with meaning, how to have a good lead into your story, rising action, dialogue, and much more. I really do cover a tremendous amount of information that children can learn from. I guarantee they will walk away better writers. The workshop can also be modified to go for one hour intervals as well. I can also focus the workshop on writing mysteries, this is my favorite and most requested workshop.

Book Sales:

I will provide to you an order form to hand out to the students ahead of time. Kids can bring order forms in and I will fill their order the day of presentation. I will also be selling books that day and a week thereafter. Upon an agreed cutoff date, you will send me the money and the order forms of the late orders and I will then send you the books, signed just for the student. If I am close I will just drop them off.

For out of state visits: I will work with the local bookstores and do pre-orders before the event.

Scheduling: Best: 4 or 5 sessions per day, but can do more or less. Prefer a smaller setting but can go bigger. Will interact with the students and want their full attention. Can easily talk with hundreds of students in a day.

All programs run 60 minutes long (Exceptions can be made depending on schools schedule)

Best presentation room: The library (no bouncing sound) is the best room with everyone coming to me, but of course I am flexible and can accommodate each school with their particular needs and can present in any classroom though each room must have the same equipment needed.

Classes should be separated or combined by grade level.

My Rate:

Contact me for pricing!!!!

Will travel and do presentations anywhere! Pricing will change depending on location and expenses out of state. Please contact me so we can work out the details.

Please make every effort to promote my books throughout the schools and community by sending letters home to parents and informing the kids in school about my books, newspapers, etc... I currently have quite a few school districts who are ordering my books to use in their classrooms. If you require a large order, let me know and I will tell you where you can get the greatest discount.

Discounts: I never want to lose out on an opportunity because of cost. Contact me for options.

BRIEF BIOGRAPHY FOR RENEE HAND

Preferred bio:

Renee Hand is a multi award-winning author and requested speaker on the topic of using fun fiction to teach science, geography and history. Let her show librarians, educators, and parents how using her books can not only challenge readers and the way they think about problems in real life, but she creates high interest topics that suck the reader into her stories encouraging them into wanting to know more about the settings, science, history, culture and people. Skills like reading comprehension, reasoning, deduction and observation come together in a myriad of ways.

In her Crypto-Caper Series children get to solve puzzles and cryptograms that are woven strategically inside of the story for the reader to find and solve inside of the books. Each book provides the reader with what they will need to solve the case, providing them with the knowledge and new skills that will help them succeed.

In her Joe-Joe Nut Series, Renee expertly combines the love of a good mystery with science using the topics of animal tracks, rocks and minerals, as well as weathering, erosion, and art. These books can supplement a curriculum in any classroom. The books also contain extra information like experiments, terminology of the topic, charts, and much more. All books are interactive and fun.

Renee is a maverick in writing children's interactive mysteries, combining elements while teaching children to believe in themselves and providing confidence to handle life's challenges. Contact her today to participate in your event.

Author History:

Renee Hand is an educator, writer, tennis coach and many other things. She has a zoology degree with a minor in chemistry from Northern Michigan University. She has been writing for over twenty years and has been a published author for eight. She is an author of two award-winning romance novels, Magic Hearts and Seduction of the Lonely Heart, with Seduction of the Lonely Heart winning a National Literary Award for best romance. She also has eight books in her children’s detective series that are currently released. Many of her children books have won awards such as a Preferred Choice Awards and Seal of Excellence Awards in Storytelling. Renee writes for the Muse Our Children Newsletter, Stories for Children Magazine, a free lance writer, as well as writes reviews for various authors and publishers of children’s books on her blog, http://thecryptocapersseries.blogspot.com/ and for 21 Chronicle Newsletters. Renee also writes reviews for the New York Journal of Books. She has reviewed many works from various authors and organizations. National Geographic, Bindi Irwin, and Clive Cussler are just to name a few. Renee has recently had her reviews posted on books and in articles that are on the bestsellers list.

In her writing career Renee has been in over 100 newspapers, including The Flint Journal, Detroit Free Press and the Oakland Press and many others in and out of the state of Michigan. She has been interviewed on ABC channel 12 and on various Michigan and out of state radio and TV stations and on-line. She has been interviewed on The Best People We Know Show, several Blog Talk Radio shows for adults and children, and The Children's Author Show, She has participated in over two hundred events, which include book signings, libraries, book stores, charities, schools and festivals all over the United States. She’s also a member of the SCBWI (Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators) and the Michigan-SCBWI. She now is the host for the national radio show Stories From Unknown Authors, where she interviews authors about their books and gives reviews. It's a great show that helps promote the unknown author. For Renee Hand, it is all about her readers. For more information about Renee and the books she writes, check out her website at http://www.reneeahand.com/