School Visits with Dar Hosta
Thank you for your interest in scheduling me for a visit to your school! I will be happy to talk to you about your school's celebration of reading, writing and illustrating! Please contact me as soon as you are able so that you get the dates you would like.
Be sure to download the “Information Packet,” a PDF file in the sidebar, which includes complete program descriptions and visit fees, and will answer many of the questions you might have about my presentations.
Review the packet with your staff and, to discuss and schedule your visit, email me at darhosta@mac.com or click the CONTACT button in the navigation bar. Visit the "Kid's Stuff" section for word finds, animal trivia, coloring 
pages and bookmarks that come right from the pages of my books!
I will look forward to hearing from you!
~Dar
What Do I Do For a Presentation?
My School Visits are energetic, interactive, multi-media experiences for kids like no other author visit they have seen.
My large group presentation is a virtual studio tour, through a projected DVD of me working on a real book, showing step-by-step, the actual process involved in taking a picture book from idea to finished product. I follow this up with a slide show that lets kids get to know me, reinforces the ideas they just learned about and is presented in a way that is state-of-the-art, fun, educational, and appropriate for all elementary grade levels; kids and grown ups alike will leave with a smile on their faces!
I even offer FAMILY NIGHT AUTHOR VISITS that include a presentation as well as a fun, guided family art and writing workshop that will spark everyone’s creativity!
For a complete description, click my “Information Packet” button at the top-left of this page.
Your students will be talking about this school visit for weeks, both in the classroom and at home.
To see what other teachers are saying about my school presentations, click HERE.
Do I Do Art & Writing Workshops?
You bet I do! Working with a “real” illustrator or writer is a great opportunity for children to try out their own creativity in an exciting and meaningful way. Kids have a natural affinity for creativity and, when they are able to work with me in a workshop after seeing my presentation, they make unique connections about what they have learned.
I offer a variety of art and writing workshops and can tailor a hands-on experience for your grade level or classroom curriculum.
You can have a basic, single-session hands-on workshop or an experience that creates a project involving various steps, for art or writing or both. I even have an art and writing workshop for Kindergarteners!
I also do workshops and conferences for all sorts of educators!
Artist In Residence Programs
I offer fun and exciting opportunities for extended Artist-In-Residence and Publishing programs that integrate an author/illustrator experience with many areas of your curriculum during the course of a multi-day visit. These will be arranged and priced on an individual basis to meet the needs of your school or organization. Please inquire if you are interested in this type of visit and I will provide you with a customized day-by-day schedule and proposal that you can submit to a funding committee or grant board. Go to Artist In Residence Programs to learn more.