Karen’s favorite part of being an author is visiting students! She is available for classroom visits, field trips, animal rescue club, library visits & special programs. Karen’s age-appropriate humane-education program focuses on animal kindness, elephant education, responsible pet care, and the importance of choosing to adopt.

CLASSROOM VISITS: AUTHOR VISITS

Grades K – 4

Schedule Karen to visit your classroom with one of her rescue dogs! Whenever possible, Karen likes to bring one of her dogs to visit the kids, inspiring discussion about the joy of owning a pet, adoption stories and responsible pet care. Using her award-winning books for kids, topics of empathy, character and overcoming challenges are woven into the storytelling aspect of the presentation. Karen will share her love of reading and writing with the students, encouraging them to commit to their own reading betterment.

Roxie

Roxie is a small, gentle, sweet-natured Chihuahua. She was rescued from a shelter in Tampa and adopted by Karen. Roxie is a certified Canine Good Citizen, a member of the Reading Buddies Program at Grassy Waters Elementary, and has been visiting classrooms for 3+ years. She is stellar with kids, doesn’t bark and is insured. She will happily sit for a photo with each student.

Tucker

Tucker, a Rat Terrier, was saved from Broward Animal Control by Karen. He is sweet, well trained and loves kids. He is the newest member of The Little Blue Dog team. He has spent the past year and a half visiting classrooms and attending field trips and presentations, and he gets an A+ every time. He is wonderful with dogs, cats, and people of all ages, and he is insured. Tucker is a true gentleman!

CLASSROOM VISITS:
ELEPHANT EDUCATION

Grades K – 5

Karen is an official “EleAmbassador” for The Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee. Students will learn about elephants in an age-appropriate way covering topics from fun facts, to the challenges elephants face in the wild, to the complex needs of elephants in captivity. Karen can customize the presentations to meet the needs of the group, including crafts for younger students, and writing assignments for older students. The presentation can include storytime, fun quizzes, and information about the specific elephants at the sanctuary and how they came to live there. The visit covers themes of empathy, science and conservation, along with reading.

CLASSROOM VISITS:
READING BUDDIES

Grades Pre-K – 5

Roxie and Tucker, both certified Canine Good Citizens, participate in “Reading Buddies” programs at elementary schools. If you have a program at your school, contact Karen to schedule visits with your group. If you would like to learn more about starting a Reading Buddies program at your school, Karen can assist. Vast studies have proven that a child’s reading skills improve in the calming presence of dogs. Improved reading skills and confidence will have a positive impact on test scores. Karen has access to a network of certified therapy dogs perfect for student reading programs.

Video of Reading Buddies session
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CLASSROOM VISITS:
PEN PALS FOR POSITIVE CHANGE

Grades 4 – 5

Karen partners with an educational group in Kenya focused on connecting children with nature. She has opportunities for local students to write letters with the Kenyan students enabling them to make a connection across the globe to learn about conservation and environmental challenges, as well as what it is like to be a student in that area of the world. This program covers writing, science, and conservation, both locally and globally as well as character development. Contact Karen for details on how to organize this great program in your school.

Video of Pen Pal program: U.S. student
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FIELD TRIPS:  
ANIMAL SHELTER TOUR & PET CARE EDUCATION

Grades 3 – 5

Contact Karen about organizing a field trip to a shelter or rescue! Karen believes field trips out of the classroom can be the kids' most memorable experiences of their school year. Incorporating hands-on humane education in the setting of an animal shelter can have an amazing impact on a student’s ability to feel empathy. Karen’s field trips focus on positive community change, and creating a rewarding and memorable experience for attendees.
Learn about her most recent field trip here.

FIELD TRIPS:  
READING TO SHELTER CATS

Grades 2 – 5; Limit: Approximately 20 students per group

For smaller groups of well-behaved students, Karen will organize a visit to a shelter so students can spend time reading to cats. Students will learn about shelter-related topics, and have hands-on, unforgettable experiences that help build empathy and a connection to the importance of adoption. Following the reading session, students will spend time making cat toys to be donated to the shelter. For older students, a writing assignment can be incorporated, and for younger students, we can include story time. The kids feel good about visiting the cats, and the cats love the attention!

ANIMAL RESCUE CLUB:  
AFTER-SCHOOL ANIMAL RESCUE CLUB  

Grades 5 – 8

If your middle or high school has an after-school Animal Rescue Club, Karen would be happy to visit with her dogs to discuss more advanced humane-education topics. Karen presents information about puppy mills, bird breeding mills, tail docking and ear cropping, spay and neuter, and choosing cruelty-free products to students in middle and high school grades. Tucker and Roxie are available for Animal Rescue Club visits, as well.

LIBRARY VISITS & SPECIAL PROGRAMS:  
LIBRARY STORYTIME

Karen works with local Palm Beach County libraries primarily during Summer Reading Programs to help encourage reading during summer break. When allowed, Roxie loves to accompany Karen to the presentation. Contact Karen to align one of her many books for kids with the summer reading theme.

LIBRARY VISITS & SPECIAL PROGRAMS:  
SPECIAL PROGRAMS

Karen is available to participate in special educational programs like Career Day, Read Across America Day, Literacy Night, and After Care Programs. She would be happy to discuss ways to incorporate humane education and a love of reading into your event for kids.