Jenn Bailey has her MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults from the Vermont College of Fine Arts. Her work received the American Library Association’s Schneider Family Honor Award in January, 2020, along with the Kansas Author’s Book Award in 2019. She has received the Candlewick Picture Book Scholarship and the Beyond Words award.
Jenn is a frequent guest lecturer and workshop leader for SCBWI, Heartland Writers for Kids and Teens, and the One Year Adventure Novel workshops. Jenn is published by Chronicle Books and is represented by Rosemary Stimola.
Jenn’s Debut Book
Making friends is daunting for Henry. His best efforts are often misunderstood, but after an art project mix-up, and a Circle Time setback, Henry finds a way to build a friendship.
“With sensitivity and thoughtfulness, Bailey explores Henry’s literal-minded, analytical personality and the way it clashes with some of the other children’s dispositions.”
Publishers Weekly
Writing A Book For Kids With Autism Helped A Leawood Author See A ‘Quiet Hero’ In Her Son…
National Public Radio
“This is a story that puts them [readers] in Henry’s shoes and lets them think his thoughts, see things from his eyes, and feel what he does.”
Kirkus Reviews
“A simple, upbeat story that might inspire readers to seek out friendship.”
School Library Journal
“A Friend for Henry offers a sensitive portrayal of a boy who sees things differently — and often quite literally. For children with autism, the book is a mirror; for their peers, a window.”
Houston Chronicle
Jenn Bailey’s warmly empathetic story — animated by the simple, bold lines and gentle colors of Mika Song’s illustrations — will remind even very young listeners that everyone makes friends in their own way.
Houston Chronicle
School Visit Options
I love talking to students and other writers about my books and the writing process. If you have questions, don’t hesitate to contact me at jenn @ jennbailey.com.
Grades K – 2
Story reading
Q&A
Duration: 40 – 50 min
Grades 3 through 4
Story reading
How to be a writer
Q&A
Duration: 40 – 50 min.
Grades 5 through 6
Story reading
How to be a writer / Sharing writing
Q&A
Duration: 40 – 50 min
Writing Workshops
Workshops are ideal for grades 4-6 and last ~60-minutes. They require smaller groups of ~50 students who each bring paper and a pencil. We will look deeper at the chosen topic, I will model examples, then the students will do their own writing.
- Expanding moments into scenes
- Adding voice to writing
- Expository or narrative nonfiction
- Writing a biography
- From ideas to story
- Custom workshop: Are your students needing help with a specific writing-related topic? Let me know and I’ll build a hands-on writing workshop specifically for your school.
Costs
Combining visits to two or more schools within a district or regional area allows each school to share the travel expenses. Travel expenses include airfare or mileage; rental car or ground transportation; two meals per day and one night’s lodging per school per day.
- Full day visit: $1250 plus travel. Up to four presentations to groups of any size.
- Half-day visit: $800 plus travel. Half-day visits are the most economical within driving distance of my home in the Kansas City area.
- Multi-day, same school or multiple schools in the same district: $1000 per day plus travel.
- Evening presentations – literacy nights, library talks, etc. Fee: $350.
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