Bookings

Please contact Rebecca Miller at Authors Unbound Agency  to book Jamilah for virtual and in-person author events:

rebecca@authorsunbound.com

Direct: (541) 665-8533

REPRESENTATIVE TALKS

Read Aloud in a Cape (or Khimar): Recommended for Toddlers – Grade 1

After an interactive read aloud of Mommy’s Khimar, participants will be able to dress up and act out portions of the book. Movement activities included. Optional: A craft activity in which Jamilah shows children how to make a paper doll with a khimar or cape can be added (event organizers are required to provide craft materials to participants if this is desired).
 

Read Aloud, Movement, and Q&A: Recommended for Grades K-4

This presentation includes engaging read alouds of one or two picture books of your choice and a brief Q&A at the end. Participants will be encouraged to sing along, chant, dance, and/or act out portions of books. Programs with two books include a dance or movement break in between.

The Author in You Writing Workshop: Recommended for Grades 1-6

This presentation includes a reading and discussion of Abdul’s Story, a picture book about a child who doesn’t believe he can be a writer, and a workshop in which students will learn and practice Jamilah’s secrets for coming up with story ideas. Bring pencils and paper!

Author Talk: Recommended for Grades 4-8

In this inspiring talk with Q&A, the author tells the story of her author journey and lessons she’s learned. If desired, this may also include a talk about the novel, Grounded  or her works in Once Upon an Eid.

Power to the Poets: Recommended for Grades 3-Adult

We’ll read Hold Them Close: A Love Letter to Black Children and/or “Eid Pictures” from Once Upon an Eid, then write our own poems about self-love, social justice, and liberation.

Sensory Storytime

Please note: This program does not count towards the total number of allotted programs for the day. It’s an add-on provided as a courtesy.

This supplemental 20-minute program is for up to 10 children who have challenges that may impact their ability to fully enjoy the large-group program. We’ll turn the lights down low (or not), bring our favorite fidgets and comfort items, and read together with modifications for these students. Please note: This storytime is NOT meant to exclude special needs students from the large-group assembly, but rather to provide them with an additional program. Students who participate in this session are expected, welcomed, and encouraged to join the other large-group session(s) provided to their peers.

Adult Programming

In addition to being an accomplished author, Jamilah Thompkins-Bigelow is an experienced ELA professional development provider and antiracist educator who loves to speak on these topics. She has an M.Ed in Educational Leadership from the University of Pennsylvania and a B.S.Ed in Secondary English from Temple University and is certified to teach secondary English and secondary social studies. As an educator, she taught middle and high school English for over ten years and then directed programs at a nonprofit writing center for children ages 2-17. Through her work as a nonprofit program director, she trained staff and volunteers in teaching writing to youth and developed a wide variety of writing units and workshops. She also worked as a lead instructional designer and fellow for Muslim Anti-Racist Collaborative, writing antiracist curriculum for all age groups in Muslim-centered spaces and creating foundational learning frameworks for use for future curricular design. Some representative adult programs she has done includes:
  • Discussing the social justice implications and uses of children’s books (with a focus on anti-racism)
  • Presenting principles for making writing workshop spaces inclusive for all children
  • Read aloud of her books as if the adults were young children (this has been requested a number of times!)
  • Teaching the craft and process of becoming a children’s book author
  • Discussing writing identity and representation as a children’s book author

Something Else?

Programs can be tailored to the needs of your community. Let us know what you’re thinking!

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References and Other Information!

 

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