Member Profile

Laurel Dee Gugler

Photo: Edie Steiner 2002

Picture book author, children's novelist and storyteller, Laurel Dee Gugler is available for presentations for Grades JK-6. Owner of a company called Whimsical Words. Laurel delights in crafting playful word patterns. She brings multi-media presentations to schools, libraries, festivals, and other venues. Laurel's novel presentations have also been well-received by Intermediate Grades.

LET THOSE WORD BIRDS FLY (JK-3) This entertaining, interactive presentation may include storytelling, readings, chants and music. Word-crafting skills are demonstrated through rhyme, repetition, rhythm patterns, cumulative techniques, and other ways of creating word fun. Teacher follow-up hand out.

Laurel often does family literacy events.

JUNIOR-INTERMEDIATE PRESENTATION: Oral storytelling and readings from Laurel's Junior-Grade novels." Input about the writing process. Topics may include dialogue, character/plot development or topics requested by teacher. The presentation may start with personal stories, then demonstrate how these have been fictionalized in "Catching Forever," which draws on the author's memories of growing up in a rural Mennonite community. This novel speaks to universal themes of coping with bullies and a need for acceptance.

BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION: Laurel has worked as teacher, Education Coordinator of Hamilton Children's Museum, founder/coordinator of a multicultural storytelling group for Hamilton's SHAIR International Resource Centre, and as author/storyteller in the Artist-in-the-Classroom program, Hamilton-Wentworth Separate School Board. As well, she has volunteered as English Teacher in India, toured the U.S. with a traveling peace display, and taught Elderhostel courses on "Family Stories."

E-mail: lgugler@primus.ca
Phone number:
416-506-0190

Publications

There's a Billy Goat in the Garden. illus. Clare Beaton. Barefoot Books, 2003.
Facing the Day. illus. Deirdre Betteridge. Annick Press, 1999.
Monkey Tales. illus. Vlasta van Kampen. Annick Press, 1998.
Muddle Cuddle. illus. Vlasta van Kampen. Annick Press, 1997.
Little Wynne's Giggly Thing. illus. Russ Willms. Annick Press, 1995
Catching Forever. James Lorimer & Co. Ltd., 2007
Casey's Carousel. Black Moss Press, 1989
Mashed Potato Mountain. Black Moss Press, 1988
A Piece of Forever. James Lorimer & Co. Ltd., Fall, 2008.

Awards

Helen Sissons Children's Story Award for You and Me by the Olive Tree, 2002.
Hamilton and Region Arts Council Children's Best Book Award for Facing the Day, 2000.
Helen Sisson's Children's Story Award for Earth and Sea, You and Me, 2000.
Canadian Children's Book Centre for There's a Billy Goat in the Garden, Muddle Cuddle, Monkey Tales and Mashed Potato Mountain
International White Raven Book Selection for Little Wynne's Giggly Thing, 1996.
Links:
Website
http://www.canscaip.org/bios/guglerld.html
Eligible for National Public Readings Program :
Yes

WITS

Presentation Description

Let Those Words Fly: Highly interactive, multi-media presentations celebrate the joy of language. Word-crafting skills (rhyme, rhythm patterning, cumulative techniques, and more) are demonstrated through story telling, chants, music, and Laurel’s books. Owner of a company called “Whimsical Words” Laurel delights in crafting playful word patterns which are apparent in her books as well as in her oral storytelling. She has worked as a teacher, Children’s Museum programmer, founder/co-ordinator of a multicultural storytelling group, and frequent presenter in schools/libraries. She has also done conference speaking, professional activity days and Young Author conferences.

Presentation Length:
45-60 min.
Genre:
Children's Fiction, Novel & picture books
Grades:
jk-6
Audience size:
flexible
Northern OAC WITS:
Yes
One session:
$250
Two sessions:
$300
Three sessions:
$500
Four sessions:
$600
One session:
$150
Two sessions:
$200
Three sessions:
$350
Four sessions:
$450
GST:
GST not applicable