Caroline Arnold

Biography
Caroline Arnold has been writing for children since 1980 and is the author of more than 100 books. Recent titles include A Panda’s World, one of a series of four books illustrated with her own cut-paper art and two new fiction books, Wiggle and Waggle, an early reader about two hardworking worms, and a tall tale, The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers, winner of the Parents’ Choice Gold Award. Her books are inspired by her travels and love of the natural world. Caroline’s interest in animals and the out-of-doors began when she was a child growing up in Minneapolis, Minnesota. After majoring in art and literature at Grinnell College in Iowa, she received her M.A. in art from the University of Iowa. Caroline lives in Los Angeles and teaches part-time in the Writer’s Program at UCLA Extension. She frequently comes to the Bay Area to visit family and is happy to combine these trips with school visits.

Caroline Arnold was awarded The Washington Post Children's Book Guild Award for Nonfiction in 2005.

For a recent article about Caroline and her children’s books, see: http://www.childrensbookguild.org/arnold.html

Honorarium
$950 per full-day school visit (includes travel expenses)
$500 per half-day school visit (includes travel expenses)

Program description
My usual presentation features sharing objects related to my books--such as a fossilized mammoth tooth--and a power point slide show. Using high impact photos of animals and illustrations from my books, I talk about the process of getting ideas and doing research. I also briefly discuss the writing and illustrating process and how a book is made by showing the various steps from manuscript to printed book. I emphasize that the process of creating a book is similar to the process students go through when researching, writing, and illustrating school reports. I also discuss how I started writing and what it is like to be an author and illustrator. With younger children my program is more interactive and I often read a story. For school visits longer than one day, I am available to do classroom writing workshops.

Size and number of groups
I prefer groups of 100 children or less but will speak to groups of up to 200 children. I will give up to four presentations a day. I like to speak in an auditorium or library that can be darkened for my slides. For kindergarten children, I often prefer to do a shorter interactive program in their classroom.

Number and length of presentations
The entire program lasts about 45-50 minutes for upper grades and 35-40 minutes for primary grades. I will make up to four presentations during a full school day or two presentations in a half day. If time permits, I also enjoy meeting more informally with students and teachers. In preparation for my visit, I will send a packet of information about my books and a list of projects that children can do in conjunction with reading my books.

Age or grades of groups I prefer to work with
I am most comfortable speaking to children in grades K-8. I adapt my presentation so that it is appropriate for the age of the audience.

Equipment needs

• Screen and small table or cart for my projector (I bring my own digital projector)
• Microphone and a table in the front of the room where I can display my materials
• Room that can be made dark

What people say about Caroline Arnold
"Teachers were brimming over with enthusiasm for your presentation. The personal book signing added a special element to your visit as well…Along with adjectives such as 'Fabulous!' 'Great!' 'Super!' and 'Outstanding!' the teachers added that your presentation was very informative and grade- and age-appropriate. The teachers all said that the students liked your talk and that it was very inspirational for them because you made the writing process and the research sound interesting."
—PTA parent, Lobo Elementary School, San Clemente, California

"Everyone had a wonderful time listening to your ideas and seeing your drawings and slides. We appreciate your care in signing the children's books and paying special attention to each child. Each one of them went home with such a special treasure."
—Administrator, Kettler Elementary School, Huntington Beach, California

"I learned about animals like the California condor and other endangered animals from your books. But most importantly, I learned about YOU! I loved hearing about your life. I loved having you come to our classroom and talk about how it is to be an author. I loved hearing about your travels and excitements. I really liked hearing about your career and older books. I loved hearing about your childhood. But I really liked hearing about your love of reading. I love to read too!"
—Fourth-grade student, Lu Sutton School, Novato, California

"As a student at the Shipley Middle School, I would like to thank you so much for coming to Shipley and talking to us. For those of us who want to be writers this talk was really fun. I also believe that your talk sparked an interest in other students about becoming a writer. The slides were fun to watch. The process of writing a story is interesting to learn about and your visual aids were neat to look at."
—Sixth-grade student, Shipley Middle School, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania

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How to Order Books for a Visit
Order from this booklist 

Selected Titles

Giant Sea Reptiles of the Dinosaur Age (Houghton Mifflin, 2007)

Featuring eerily beautiful illustrations that bring fossil creatures to life, this thoroughly researched book gives insight into what Earth was like when prehistoric predators roamed the seas, and offers a fascinating look at the lifestyles of some lesser-known creatures.

Wiggle and Waggle
(Charlesbridge Publishing, 2007)

Follow Wiggle and Waggle, two wormy best friends, through five wormy chapters as they dig in the dirt, work hard, and have fun swimming and singing. Beginning readers will dig the simple science facts included at the end of this charming book.

Taj Mahal
by Caroline Arnold and Madeleine Comora
(Lerner Publishing, 2007)

This beautifully illustrated book recounts the love story behind the building of the Taj Mahal in India, discussing how it was constructed and providing information on Indian culture.

Super Swimmers: Whales, Dolphins, and Other Mammals of the Sea
(Charlesbridge Publishing, 2007)

Meet some of the ocean's best swimmers: they don't have gills or scales, and they breathe air just like you. They are marine mammals specially adapted to life in the water.

Caroline Arnold's Animals
(Picture Window Books, 2006)

Young readers are introduced to the world of some favorite animals in this series that follows each of four baby animals and its parents.

A Killer Whale's World
A Panda's World
A Penguin's World
A Zebra's World

Pterosaurs: Rulers of the Skies in the Dinosaur Age
(Clarion, 2004)

One hundred million years ago, the skies were filled with enormous flying reptiles. With wings spans up to nearly forty feet, pterosaurs were the dominant life form on earth. The relationship of these giants of the air to dinosaurs and to other reptiles, their varied appearance and lifestyles, their evolution and extinction, the fossil discoveries that scientists are continually making throughout the world--all are depicted in this beautifully illustrated, accessible book for young scientists and their parents and teachers. Once again, acclaimed science author Caroline Arnold and meticulous watercolorist Laurie Caple have teamed up to create an eye-opening look at an amazing group of prehistoric animals and what the world was like when these incredible creatures ruled the skies of earth.

Who Has More, Who Has Fewer?
(Charlesbridge, 2004)

Illustrated with colorful, cut-paper art, this accordion-style book compares numbers one through seven. On one side, different birds show their eggs, from one owl egg to seven swan eggs. On the other side, the newly hatched chicks count down from seven to one.

Who is Bigger, Who is Smaller?
(Charlesbridge, 2004)

Simple, child-friendly art uses familiar animals to introduce the concept of comparing in this accordion-style book. On one side of the book, the animals go from small (a mouse) to big (a horse), and from big to small on the other side.

Birds:
Nature's Magnificent Flying Machines
(Charlesbridge, 2003)

This beautifully illustrated book looks at how feathers, body structure, and wings vary from bird to bird. Readers will learn the mechanics of bird flight from takeoff to landing and discover how wing types meet the survival needs of each species.

Uluru, Australia's Aboriginal Heart
(Clarion, 2003)

Ayers Rock, known as Uluru by the Australian aboriginal people, is a sacred site that plays a central role in their traditional beliefs. This book discusses the geographical, natural, cultural, and historical significance of this mysterious giant monolith.

When Mammoths Walked the Earth
(Clarion, 2002)

Focusing on new discoveries of mammoth fossils, this book discusses the first and last mammoths, their relatives, and the value of mammoths to prehistoric people. Illustrated with watercolors by Laurie Caple.

The Geography Book: Activities for Exploring, Mapping and Enjoying Your World
(John Wiley, 2001)

From finding directions by the stars to mapping your neighborhood, this book shows you how to have fun learning about the world by doing projects such as making a giant compass rose, a balloon globe, a contour potato, and a tornado in a jar.

Did You Hear That? Animals with Super Hearing
(Charlesbridge, 2001)

From bats and rodents that can hear sounds above the range of human hearing to elephants and whales that can hear super-low sounds, this book explores the world of sound that animals can hear and humans cannot.

Easter Island: Giant Stone Statues Tell of a Rich and Tragic Past
(Clarion, 2000)

A look at this tiny island in the South Pacific and the many mysteries that surround it, with details of its early settlement, its people and resources, and the rise and fall of its rich and complex civilization.

• A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year

Australian Animals
(HarperCollins, 2000)

A look at kangaroos, koalas, emus, echidnas, and a host of other fascinating Australian animals. Illustrated with large, eye-catching photographs.

Giant Shark: Megalodon, Prehistoric Super Predator
(Clarion, 2000)

A close-up look at this giant prehistoric relative of the great white shark and what fossils tell us of its life millions of years ago. Illustrated with watercolors by Laurie Caple.

The Ancient Cliff Dwellers of Mesa Verde
(Clarion, 2000)

A look at the Anasazi people of the American Southwest and their life at Mesa Verde more than a thousand years ago. Starred review, School Library Journal.

Mealtime for Zoo Animals
(Carolrhoda, 1999)

Each double-page spread has one sentence and large animal photo. The book is designed for young children and early readers. One of a series of six books focusing on how zoo animals eat, drink, sleep, play, make noises, and take care of their babies.

Noisytime for Zoo Animals
(Carolrhoda, 1999)

Each double-page spread has one sentence and large animal photo. The book is designed for young children and early readers. One of a series of six books focusing on how zoo animals eat, drink, sleep, play, make noises, and take care of their babies.

Playtime for Zoo Animals
(Carolrhoda, 1999)

Each double-page spread has one sentence and large animal photo. The book is designed for young children and early readers. One of a series of six books focusing on how zoo animals eat, drink, sleep, play, make noises, and take care of their babies.

The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers
Illustrated by John Sandford
(Boyds Mills Press, 2006)

Traditional Northwoods characters populate this original story. The gentle giant Hodag has the head of an ox, feet of a bear, back of a dinosaur, and tail of an alligator, and Olee Swenson and his fellow lumberjacks must think of clever ways to save him from the animal catchers who have come to take him to the zoo.

The Terrible Hodag and the Animal Catchers
Illustrated by John Sandford
(Boyds Mills Press, 2006)

Traditional Northwoods characters populate this original story. The gentle giant Hodag has the head of an ox, feet of a bear, back of a dinosaur, and tail of an alligator, and Olee Swenson and his fellow lumberjacks must think of clever ways to save him from the animal catchers who have come to take him to the zoo.

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