Speaking Event
ENDORSEMENTS
What a privilege and pleasure it was to have author and illustrator, Becky Gehrisch, visit our school as part of our Read Across America celebration! Becky masterfully tailored her three presentations to each of our different grade level groups. From kindergarten to fifth grade, Becky kept our students totally engaged and involved in her explanation of her writing and illustrating process. This amazing author/illustrator is blessed with the rare ability to maintain her child-like imagination and playful nature while applying the tremendous artistic skills she has gained over years of experience.
Becky is very approachable, and our students were immediately drawn to her creative spirit and enthusiasm for her craft. Her sidekick, Norman the Mouse, was a huge hit! The students delighted in finding him on each page of Escape to Play and even gave Becky suggestions of where he might hide in her next book. Becky took us on a journey through her writing, illustrating and publishing process and gave us a glimpse of the tremendous amount of work that is involved. The children will never look at a book in the same way again! Becky is truly an inspiration to young authors and artists — thinkers and learners!
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-Mary Townley
Assistant Preschool Teacher
Central College Christian School
Becky Gehrisch was awesome! Becky did three presentations at our school. She was extremely engaging with all of our students. She gave a beautiful presentation of her book. She held the students' attention the entire time!
The students in every grade level loved her puppet, Norman. They are so excited about her upcoming book, Escape to Town. They can't wait for it to be released. She had lunch with students from our Junior Right-to-Read committee. They were so thrilled to talk with her about the process of being an author and illustrator, that they all are considering this as a future career! Thank you Becky for being our very special guest!
-Susie Stennett
Secretary
Liberty-Benton Elementary School
We love Becky's visits! She is so engaging with children and families, and she is a natural storyteller. Becky makes everyone feel special.
Escape to Play is one of Cover to Cover's favorite picture books to recommend. With rhyming text, a seek-and-find component with the adorable Norman, and famous artwork woven into many of the spreads, it has been a crowd pleaser at storytimes while also making the perfect gift.​
-Bryan Loar
Owner
Cover to Cover Children's Books
Becky visited our preschool and presented an excellent program. She kept the attention of 65 preschoolers and that’s no easy task! Becky tailored the program to be very age-appropriate. The children were very engaged in her book talk and fun slides. They loved looking for Norman the Mouse! Highly recommend!
-Debbie Nofziger
Director
Ourday Preschool
Our kindergarten through second grade students loved seeing what kind of adventures three lovable, mischievous dogs got into in Becky Gehrisch's Escape to Play picture book. Finding Norman the mouse on every page and the famous artwork shown throughout the book added extra excitement and learning connections. Our students really enjoyed meeting Becky Gehrisch and learning about all the steps it takes to create a picture book.
- Megan Mott
Library Media Specialist
Bluffsview Elementary
Becky Gehrisch is an extraordinary author who effortlessly captivated our K-5 learners with her enchanting book, Escape to Play. Becky's playful and fun demeanor, coupled with her ingenious use of Norman the stuffed animal hidden within the pages, added an element of excitement and discovery for our young readers and writers.
Not only did she share her writing and painting process, but she also facilitated a dynamic writing workshop, inspiring students to consider page layout and descriptive language in their writing. Her recent visit to our local library, where she graciously signed books for families and students, further solidified her commitment to fostering a love for literature and creativity in our community.
Becky Gehrisch is truly a remarkable author and artist whose impact on young minds is boundless.
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-Carrie Higginbotham
Innovation & Discovery Specialist
Alton Darby Creek Campus/HCSD Preschool
I had the pleasure of having Becky with us for our 4th-6th grade writing camps where she worked with them on creating their own picture book proofs. The kids loved it! It was on the last day of camp and she was able to keep their attention and work with all levels of students. I highly recommend her for workshops or talks. She is so much fun and brings energy and passion to her activities. I can’t wait to have her back!
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-Meg Brown
Children's Education Director
Thurber House
Becky was a hit with our kindergarten and first grade students at Elgin. She was kind, patient, and engaging with all of our students. Not only did they LOVE searching for Norman on each page as she read her book, they enjoyed learning how they could become an author and illustrator just like Becky.
-Sara Casper
Educational Consultant
The Ohio Wesleyan University Early Childhood Center was honored to have author-illustrator Becky Gehrisch share her amazing book entitled, Escape to Play with our three, four, and five-year-old children as well as our OWU student aids and teaching staff. Everyone was delighted to listen to Mrs. Gehrisch read her book aloud as she also explained the process of writing and illustrating her book.
Escape to Play has many layers of fun for all readers including whimsical text, enchanting illustrations, and enduring characters. Children especially loved finding the hidden mouse named Norman throughout the book. Mrs. Gehrisch continued to thrill everyone when she introduced them to Norman the puppet that was designed by Mrs. Gehrisch herself. A visit from Mrs. Gehrisch is a must for all age groups who would like to dive deeper into outstanding children's literature.
-Melody Rotondo
Ohio Wesleyan University
Associate Director/Head Teacher
It is with great pleasure that I am recommending author Becky Gehrisch for an author visit. She is exceptionally talented and she can draw and share wholesome and fun stories on the spot! Becky’s joy and love of story will energize her audience, inform them, and leave them wanting more. We had the honor of having her read for a story time and the children and their parents loved her. We look forward to her next visit to Cover to Cover.
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-Melia Wolf
Bookstore Owner
Cover to Cover Books for Young Readers
Becky was an awesome addition to our literacy education program at ATC. She was engaging, entertaining, informational, and reached each age group at their developmental level. I would highly recommend Becky to present at your school!
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-Jill Kindall
Early Education Director
ATC
Becky Gehrisch is a literary dynamo, a maestro of the written word who recently orchestrated a remarkable event geared towards empowering young minds with the magic of storytelling. Hosting a marathon of sessions involving a staggering 1200 students in a single day, Gehrisch's dedication to nurturing the next generation of writers is nothing short of awe-inspiring.
At the heart of her endeavor were four captivating assemblies and two intimate workshops, each meticulously crafted to guide students on a journey toward mastering the art of storytelling. Through her guidance, budding writers were equipped with the tools and techniques needed to hone their craft, transforming their ideas into vivid narratives that leap off the page.
One of the highlights of Gehrisch's presentation was the introduction of Norman the Mouse, a beloved character from her picture book escapades. Norman not only served as a charming companion but also provided students with a firsthand glimpse into Gehrisch's imaginative world, sparking their creativity and igniting their passion for storytelling.
Gehrisch's picture book, Escape to Play stands as a testament to her creative prowess. Filled to the brim with famous artwork, the book weaves together a captivating tale that seamlessly blends the worlds of art and literature. Through its pages, readers are transported to a realm where imagination knows no bounds, where every stroke of the brush tells a story waiting to be discovered.
With Gehrisch at the helm, students embarked on a journey of self-discovery, unlocking their potential as storytellers and embracing the power of their own unique voices. Through her unwavering dedication and boundless creativity, Gehrisch has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape, inspiring generations of writers to dream big and reach for the stars.
-Whitney Weadock
Innovation & Discovery Specialist
Darby Creek Elementary School
It is an absolute delight to have Becky Gehrisch do a bookstore visit. She is so engaging with the kids. Becky offers a wonderful experience for families with puppets, coloring sheets, and more!
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-Jody Everett
Owner
Beanbag Books
We love having Becky at our libraries! She is great with all ages and so easy to work with! She is up for anything we throw at her! We look forward to working with her more in the future!
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-Kelly Chochran, MLIS
Youth Services/ Programming Director
Delaware County District Library
[In 2020] we were able to host a virtual author/illustrator visit with Becky Gehrisch. Becky captured the students attention with her awesome PowerPoint. She showed students the process of writing and illustrating Escape To Play. Becky also allowed for a student question and answer session. She offered us three sessions broken down into 2 grade levels each, and she tailored it to their specific levels. The students and staff enjoyed the visit and how she kept the kids engaged in her talk.
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-Beth Bennington
Elementary School Librarian