Joan Prestine author of twenty-four books for children and adults offers an array of in-service, staff development, child, and parent workshops that include slides and hands-on activities that draw teachers and parents into helping children express their feelings through writing. Each teacher, parent, and child receives idea sheets to reinforce Joan’s talk.
 Contacts
Email: JoanPrestine@JoanPrestine.com
Website: www.JoanPrestine.com
Books
Awards
- Parents’ Choice Parenting Shelf
- Early Childhood News Directors’ Award
- Carolyn Helman Lichtenberg Crest Career and Life Achievement Award
Reviews
SOMEONE SPECIAL DIED
What I found so remarkable about Someone Special Died is that it is so well suited to bringing out discussion in preschooler audiences. Without identifying who died, the child character discusses death and the feelings of permanent loss. I think that this book should be part of the prescribed preschool curriculum. Randy Kalpin, Baby Steps
SOMETIMES I FEEL AWFUL
Focuses on a child’s rough day, with a first-person presentation exploring how a positive day turns negative. The focus is on emotions and how they develop, and how communications become scrambled. Sometimes I Feel Awful will prove the perfect title for an introduction to kids on emotions and feelings. Midwest Book Review, Oregon, WI
MOM AND DAD BREAK UP
This book is for children who remember their parents breaking up. Beautiful illustrations and descriptions of how kids feel. Kids’ Turn
Other Publications & Media EASY ACTIVITIES FOR EVERY KID at home or at school
On a lighter note, Joan also wrote activity books that appeal to children of all ages.
Paperback ISBN 0-7682-0654-5
HOW TO WRITE CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS FOR FUN AND PROFIT
A concisely organized, and simply sytled book on picture book writing.
Paperback ISBN 0-917497-02-3
REVIEWS
EASY ACTIVITIES FOR EVERY KID at home or at school
Contains dozens of developmentally appropriate activities that are easy to use. Redleaf Institute
HOW TO WRITE CHILDREN’S PICTURE BOOKS FOR FUN AND PROFIT
At last a practical handbook that concisely covers every detail of picture book writing. Jim Young, President of National Writers Club Presentations Presentations include slides, audience interaction, exercises, and handouts for everyone. Joan has taught more than 18,750 adults and children through 325 writing and publishing classes offered at elementary schools, colleges, and through national organizations.
Slide into Reading, Writing, and Publishing takes children through an interactive slide presentation of the entire book writing process from thoughtful writing creation, to computing, to the publishing house, to the editor and illustrator, to the book manufacturer, off to the bookstores and into the hands of children to read.
Writing Made Easy gives teachers additional writing skills and renewed confidence. They will also be able to help students identify their feelings and choose positive responses while incorporating the five paragraph rules of writing.
Parents and Children Writing Together gives parents writing assurance to help their children write about what’s going on in their lives. Writing together often opens a new dimension of communication and brings closeness between parents and children.
Children Learn to Love Writing when they write about themselves. While learning basic writing skills they also learn how to solve some of their minor dilemmas.
What People Say
I was and continue to be very impressed. Your seminar was one of the best presentations I have ever attended. You are knowledgeable, very interesting, with a great attitude and excellent handouts. I came with few expectations and brought home tremendous information and motivation.
- Phyllis K, teacher
I shouldn’t tell you this, but today started out awful and I couldn’t really afford your seminar, but I came anyway. This turned out to be one of my best days and certainly the best seminar I ever attended. Now I can go home and write with my children. I would have paid twice as much to come. - Anne F., parent
I would never have gotten this far with writing, if you had not been the first speaker to inspire me. As a repeat attendee to your workshops, I recommended you as a speaker at national convention for The National Federation of the Blind. - Donna R.
I attended Stanford’s Professional Publishing course and can tell you your concise, meaty, practical presentations would have been a valuable addition. You provide a clear useful overview, resource options, and timesaving tips from experience. Thank you. - Don W., author
My teacher makes us write stories. I don’t like to write. But you made it easy. I’m going be an author when I grow up. Just like you.
- Justin, 7 years old
I always like to write stories. But I don’t like it when people ask me how I feel about something. Now I know how to write about how I feel. I feel better already. Thank you. - Heather, 8 years old
Fun Facts
- Joan’s favorite food is sushi . . . that’s raw fish.
- Her unfavorite food is liver.
- Joan likes tall trees, mountain roads, and quiet seas.
- She doesn’t like dry deserts and barren plains.
- Her favorite things in school were writing papers and talking with friends.
- Her favorite book was Red Shoes for Nancy by Dale Evans.
- She and her husband Doug live in Southern California.
- They have 3 married children, 5 grandgirlies, 1 grandson, and 3 parrots.
- She would rather play with her family and parrots than anyone else.
- Her Grandpa was a cowboy and rode in Buffalo Bill Cody’s Wild West Show.
- She’s a thrill seeker. She likes fast cars, little planes, and boats.
- Her earliest memory is of a sitter falling down the stairs while holding a vacuum and 7-month-old Joan.
- She’s scared of heights.
- She does her best writing when she’s boating, motorcycling, riding, walking, or swimming.
- She relates better to young children than to most adults.
Just For You
Kids Have Feelings Too  |
Joan Singleton Prestine
