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Visit Testimonials

  • Teachers dressed as Red Riding Hood for Liesl's visit

    Pioneer Park Elementary

    “Writing and reading truly came alive during Liesl's visit to our school! The excitement was palpable before, during, and long after her time with us, with students still buzzing about the opportunity to meet a 'real-life author' in person. The impact of this experience has left a lasting impression, and we can't wait to continue building on this enthusiasm for writing in the future!”

    — Shelly Courtney, Pioneer Park Elementary

  • Liesl with a librarian dressed as Little Red Riding Hood

    UMS-Wright Preparatory School

    “We loved every bit of each of her presentations! Each one was perfect for the students attending and the writing workshop was great too. Her being willing to eat lunch and talk to the students in a small setting made a larger impact than she will ever know. I have had parents reach out to me and say their son said "it was the coolest day", and another said, "wow that was the best day of middle school so far". I am forever grateful for all she did to make yesterday a special event for our students and staff.”

    — Janna Corley, Library Media Specialist, UMS-Wright Preparatory School

  • Students writing at library tables during a visit with Liesl

    Jerling Junior

    "Liesl Shurtliff may be smaller than half our seventh graders but she masterfully won them over and kept their attention through the entire presentation. She was able to pique their imaginations, engage them with questions, and still bring them back to topic and make her points about the writing process and the power of fairytales. The book and the author were definitely worth a visit to our middle school!"

    — Jerling Junior High, Orland Park, IL

  • Liesl on stage with students dressed as fairy-tale characters

    Sarah Walz

    “Terrific presentation! The students were engaged and participated during the entire program. The kids loved being involved!”

    — Sarah Walz/Librarian, Kuentz Elementary, San Antonio, TX

  • Students raising their hands during Liesl's assembly

    Daniel Boone

    “Liesl was wonderful with the children. She spoke TO them, not AT them, which is key to getting them to listen and be engaged. The students are loving the book as a read-aloud. I am looking forward to more books from Liesl and will definitely welcome her back to our school!”

    — Daniel Boone Elementary, Chicago, IL

  • Students writing on the floor during a writing workshop

    Cathy Askeland

    "Our students loved RUMP, both the book and the character, and when they met Liesl the writer — WOW! — she was a force of encouragement and adventure to them as readers and writers!"

    — Cathy Askeland, Timber Ridge Middle School, Plainfield, IL

  • An excited student in front of a school-visit welcome banner

    Deanna O'Marah

    “Liesl Shurtliff's presentation on the book Rump was a hit! Students left the presentation energized about writing and even had the ideas to start a draft. We are looking forward to her next book and having her back for another author visit.”

    — Deanna O'Marah, Aue Elementary School, San Antonio, Texas

School Visits

Growing up, I wasn’t what you’d call a bookworm. In fact, for a lot of my childhood I struggled to read and didn’t always connect with the books and materials assigned to me. But then I found books that showed me just how amazing reading could be and I was hooked. I loved Roald Dahl, Judy Blume, Beverly Cleary, and Louis Sachar.

Today I am passionate not just about writing books kids will love, but helping kids grow passionate about reading and writing themselves. Read on to find out more about my school visits!

I’ve spoken in schools across the country, sharing my reading and writing journey, and leading the kids in creative writing workshops that reveal just how amazingly creative and intelligent they really are.

Liesl presenting to students
“An incredibly educational and engaging presentation that not only inspired my students, but got them excited about Rump and fairytales in general.” — Katie Lawrence, Librarian, Immaculate Conception St. Joseph School, Chicago, IL

School Visits

Start Here

Please read through all of the information before requesting a school visit.

To learn more about Liesl Shurtliff's author visits, please view the Visit Information packet. It contains a lot of helpful details, including presentation topics and fee structure. When you are ready to schedule, or simply want more information, click Book Now.

10 Tips for a Perfect Author's Visit

Want to make your day with Liesl as wonderful as possible? Then read this excellent post on the Nerdy Book Club blog about Ten Tips for a Perfect Author Visit by Michael Shoulders.

Liesl with a teacher holding a hand-painted “Get Tangled Up in a Good Book” RUMP banner
A student-made “Welcome Liesl Shurtliff! We love your books” poster
Liesl in a school library with students, some dressed as fairy-tale characters
A book signed by Liesl for a student