Do you want to nurture and inspire children’s love for reading and stories in your school?
This tropical author will bring her books to life in your classroom!
What can I do for you?
I love visiting schools in person and virtually. I do author readings and run storytelling and workshops in libraries, festivals and exhibitions both in the UK and abroad, for children, families and students in higher education. I have experience running after school clubs and workshops on comics, theatre backdrop design, and art.
My main focus is on participants expressing and enjoying themselves through books, nurturing the love of their own stories and playing with a range of art materials and techniques as tools for visual narratives.
“Storytelling at its best! Many thanks to Elena for providing an inspirational, inclusive assembly for our school.“
— Aimee Durning MBE, Director of Inclusion and Community, UCPS”
Elena Arevalo Melville is a latin american award winning author and illustrator born in Guatemala, who came to children’s and illustrated publishing rather the long way, across the Atlantic, via architecture, fine art and parenthood. She is mostly in Cambridge, but like the manglar (mangrove) in the banks of her childhood, her roots and influences are everywhere.
Her internationally published work deals with themes of belonging, community, identity and resilience.
“Elena’s event for us as part of Fabula Festival in 2023 was fantastic. So en- gaging for kids and grown-ups alike, with a really interactive and playful feel. Elena has proven herself to be adaptable to a range of ages and their differ- ent needs, and we’d be delighted to have her back in the future.“
— Discover Children’s Story Centre
In-person and virtual School Visits
Elena can come to your school for inspiring and fun sessions around Umbrella for 1, 2 or 3 classes and assembly anywhere in the UK
We will have some Q+A following the reading of the book and an interactive, fun and creative activity!
Elena can do your event in English or Spanish or a combination of both if you wish.
International visits also possible.
“Elena gave a thoroughly entertaining presentation using her “Umbrella” book. She fully involved all her audience members with her approach to encouraging children to illustrate and write their own books. Children from ages 4-8 were kept busy for well over an hour. A really fun and informativesession.”
— Willingham Library 2023
What to Expect?
Your tailored combination of:
an short presentation about Elena’s pathway to becoming an author/illustrator and growing up in Guatemala (Slides)
An interactive storyltelling/reading of one of Elena’s books
A drawing demo, challenge or activity
A writing challenge considering the themes in the book and the alternative directions where your children could take ideas, characters, plots, settings and dialogues.
A show and tell about the process of illustrating a particular page or character
An activity sheet supplied as PDF
Q+A
Storytelling (EYFS-Reception)
A fun and engaging reading of a picturebook involving sound, repetition and movement.
Wishes Together workshop (KS1/2/Libraries/Festivals)
In her award winning picture book Umbrella, an ordinary looking yet magical umbrella grants those in the park what they need, in the spirit of empathy and community. But perhaps not everyone in that park has understood how it works...
Explore the world of Umbrella where the magic of sharing comes alive. Following a reading of the book, Elena will guide you through some steps to draw and write your empathy driven wishes onto card. Elena cannot make wishes come true, but in this magical workshop, she hopes to make your wishes come together.
How much is it?
£75 Virtual Visit for 60 minutes via zoom or teams (hosted by the school) Anywhere in the world.
In person events and visits:
£150 (+travel expenses) for one session within Cambridgeshire
£380 (+travel expenses) whole school day: 3 or 4 sessions including school, assembly anywhere in the UK
Sessions are 40 minutes for KS1 and under and 60 minutes for KS2 and over.
“We recently used the wonderful picture book Umbrella to launch our school Book Week. The children were instantly engaged by the eye-catching illustrations and the magical theme of the umbrella. It was the perfect way to introduce topics such as empathy, sharing and diversity through the magic ofstorytelling. We had a wonderful morning of Umbrella related activities; the book inspired drama, art, dance and creative writing. We loved sharing it. “
—Claire Witney, English Coordinator, Great Chesterford Primary Academy 2021
Bespoke Video Message
A great way for your class to engage with an author which you can deploy at a time that suits you!
I will record a 10 minute video message for your class, based on their questions, and time permitting I will also read the book!
An affordable and practical way to inspire children!