Presentations

Imagine dancing with an octopus, looking into the jaws of a great white shark, accidentally annoying an aggressive Humboldt squid, or tracking Adelie penguins across the Antarctic landscape. My presentations are lively, interactive, and full of surprises! I use PowerPoint slides with amazing images by my underwater photographer collaborators, props, samples of my books in progress, and lots of stories. I present at schools, libraries, conferences, aquariums, and museums, sharing anecdotes about the subjects of my books and insights into my research process.

How To Build a Book           

It takes more than words to make a book. You need a writer, an artist, and a designer to put all the pieces together. First, you choose a topic that grabs your interest, a good excuse for seeking your own adventures to write about. Like, “Sorry, I have to go swim with sharks,” and “Bye! I’m going to study volcanoes in Hawaii.” I will describe my research and writing process—the fun and the frustration—plus the skills that involve other creative people to make a children’s book succeed. Using examples from my past books and new projects, I show how these pieces fit together: WORDS—how to grab your reader; ART—photos or illustrations or cartoons; DESIGN—assembling all the pieces like a puzzle.

NEW: Tiny Titans: How Plankton Are the Ocean’s Superheroes

Many of the ocean’s smallest creatures have some amazing traits that would match as those of Marvel Superheroes. These (mostly) tiny  plants and animals use powers like speed, invisibility, endurance, and shapeshifting, to transform light into energy, feed the ocean food web, help us to breathe, and cool the planet. But despite all the good they do, there are a few plankton supervillains!

Sharks At Your Service   

A visit to an aquarium helps a young girl imagine the important jobs that sharks do in the ocean. As she learns about great white sharks, whale sharks, manta rays, and more, she comes to understand that sharks perform some of the same services that humans do on land. Recognizing the things we have in common may make people want to work to protect sharks from their top predators: us!

Volcano, Where Fire and Water Meet   

As much as volcanoes destroy, they also create. Nowhere is that more evident than the islands of Hawaii, built by volcanic eruptions that are still happening today. Powerful forces from deep inside the earth constantly reshape the landscape and impact life within the ocean. Oceanic volcanoes build islands, anchor coral reefs, and fuel a deep-sea ecosystem that doesn’t depend on the energy of the sun.

Searching for Sea Monsters: Giant Squid, Giant Octopus, and Their Kin

A centuries-long quest for the giant squid weaves myths, whaling captains’ journals, and scientific expeditions. Meet more sea monsters: Humboldt squid, a rare colossal squid, and the aquarium favorite giant Pacific octopus.

City Fish, Country Fish

There are places in the ocean that have characteristics of the city and of the country. We compare the characteristics that help “city” fishes survive in coral reefs and “country” fishes thrive in cooler climates.

“Dear Dolphin”: Advice That Dolphins Could Give If We Would Only Listen            

Humans can learn some life lessons from dolphins and their communities, from Family first to Greet everyone with a smile. Through interviews with scientists and trainers, as well as personal encounters of my own, I share some amazing truths about dolphins and a few dark secrets.

“You were wonderful!  Not only what you present is great, but your enthusiasm just glows!”         – Librarian