Member Profile

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."