Dave loves to share his passion for art and history with students (and adults) of all ages.
He often arrives in the classroom dressed in historic costume, with props and a stack of original paintings. The presentation includes a digital slide show that traces his early fascination with drawing and history and culminates in a step-by-step explanation of just how he illustrates a book. Dave always draws a picture for the class at the end of each presentation, and students are encouraged to draw along with him.
Joint author and illustrator visits
Occasionally, Pat is able to join Dave on school and library visits. They invite the audience to play with history as they present a costumed, interactive reading of "B is for Battle Cry" and then talk about their approaches to writing and illustrating. As always, Dave draws a picture for the students which is then given to the school as a memento of the visit. The cost for this visit is only slightly more than the illustrator visit, and is negotiable, depending upon Pat's availability and other factors.
How long is the presentation, and how many students can Dave visit?
Most presentations last between 35 and 55 minutes, and though he will meet with groups of any size, Dave prefers to speak with one or two class sections of less than 60 students. He feels it is easier to make a connection with the smaller classes.
For those schools that prefer a more involved student experience, Dave also gives presentations that include drawing and shading lessons, and he is more than happy to consider a week-long artist in residence program. Just ask him for details.
How much will it cost?
The cost for a single presentation starts at $300, with an additional $100 per extra presentation, up to a maximum of 5 presentations per day. For presentations outside the Twin Cities Metropolitan area, there may be an additional cost for travel and lodging.
In some cases, different schools within a district or geographic area will work together and share the cost of travel and lodging.
Can students buy Dave's books, and will Dave autograph them?
Absolutely! Dave can provide a pre-visit order form to teachers and books may be purchased from him or, in the case of large orders, either Sleeping Bear Press, Red Balloon Bookshop, or your local bookstore. Dave will sign every book, either before or after his visit.
How do we start?
You should contact Dave directly either by davidgeister@davidgeister.com, davegeister@comcast.net (The comcast address is a back-up in case the first address bounces or you get no response from Dave.) or phone to book a visit to your school. He is very flexible with scheduling and looks forward to creating a unique experience that meets your school's budget and classroom needs!
davidgeister@davidgeister.com
davegeister@comcast.net
5352 10th Ave. So.
Minneapolis, MN 55417
(612) 821-1443
Some very nice things folks have said about Dave' visits:
Bonnie S.
"Thank you so much for sharing your amazing new book with us! Your presentation was enjoyable and educational. It was the right length of time and your concept was perfect for fourth graders. I especially like the way you showed the process of getting your work published. Your original paintings are breathtaking!"
Shelley W.
"Fantastic presentation! I had no idea what the process was for painting illustrations for a book. I know that I learned a lot and so did my students."
Vicky L.
"Wow! The students were taken back in time and saw history as it should be, fun and entertaining and amazing. The process you explained for doing the illustrations was so informative. I now have proof when I tell the class that they need to plan and research their illustrations."
Kathy D.
"I was interested from the very beginning, and I'm sure the kids were, too. You had such a nice way of questioning and drawing the kids in."
Darcy J. Uppena, Royall Elementary Schools Principal
"Good Morning Dave,
I wanted to thank you. This has to be one of the best experiences for the children in the 6 years that I have been at Royall. You have an amazing natural rapport with students that allows you to be able to reach them. We are truly the fortunate ones. Thank you for all that you brought to our students . . ."
Dawn LeBrosse Washington County Library
"I received very positive feedback from library staff. Apparently one very enthusiastic boy exclaimed afterwards 'this was the best day of my life!'.
Kevin Scroggins St. Odilia Catholic School
"Dear Mr. Geister,
I want to thank you SO MUCH for your wonderful presentation . . . To say you inspired them would be an understatement. This morning as they came in before school I noticed the class was a bit more quiet than usual. Then I realized why...they had all taken their seats (when they could have been playing games and visiting with friends before school!) and they were ALL sketching in their notebooks!!! I really had to smile! You are incredibly interesting and entertaining and I was amazed to note that an hour had gone by! That is a VERY long time to hold a second grader's attention, but you certainly did and they were not ready to leave when the time came for us to do so!
Thank you for sharing your talent and your gift with all of us! I wish you continued success!
God bless you!"