Susan B.
Picture Book & Middle Grade Author
Bilingual Speaker / Illustrator
Travels from: San Francisco, CA

“I loved her management of our classes. Her kind nature, her knowledge and games that she played with the students. Best assembly we have had by an author!” — Mrs. Norenberg, Teacher

Susan B. Katz, NBCT is an award-winning, bestselling, Spanish-bilingual author/illustrator with Scholastic, Simon & Schuster, Penguin Random House, Bala Kids (Shambhala), Barefoot Books, Callisto Media, Capstone, North South, Lerner (Sesame Street series), Little Bee, and Heinemann. She has over 80 published titles. Gaudí: Architect of Imagination (North South) earned a starred review from School Library Journal and Share Your Love (Shambhala) was given a National Parent Product Award. Her book, The Story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, hit #18 on Amazon’s overall Bestseller List as well as #9 in children’s books. Meditation Station, a picture book about trains and mindfulness, won the 2020 International Book Award for Best Mind/Body/Spirit Children’s Book and was selected as an Amazon Editors’ Pick for Best Non-Fiction Book for Kids. Ms. Katz also earned the 2012 Moonbeam Gold Award for Best Picture Book in celebration of My Mama Earth. For the past 30 years, Ms. Katz worked as a bilingual elementary educator, National Board Certified Teacher, and literacy specialist. She is a frequent keynote speaker and workshop presenter who many teachers have heralded as presenting “the best author assembly they’ve ever had.” Susan creates engaging and inspirational presentations using multimedia, songs, puppets, and props (grades K-2) and hands-on, minds-on writer’s workshops, standards-based assemblies, and critique groups for grades 3-8.

Susan B.'s Featured Titles

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STEAM Themes: Animal Look-Alikes/Rain Forests

Flutter, flutter What did you just see? Was it a butterfly or a moth? Butterflies and moths are similar, but they have some important differences. Find out how their colors, antennae, bodies, and behaviors can all help you tell these two animal look-alikes apart. Filled with stunning photos and playful text, early learners will be delighted as each page turns.

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How to Research and Write a Biography

Learn how to research and write a biography using chapter book biographies by Susan B. Katz as guides.

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Publishing Process: from seed to story

Learn how to publish your own stories from ideas through final publication.

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Elementary School-wide Events, Including Assemblies for K-5 Students by Grade Level, in either English or Spanish

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School Events in Full Costume and Character

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Mindfulness Education

All aboard for Meditation Station! It’s time to learn how to manage our busy minds, difficult feelings, and frustrations by staying with our breath and in our body.

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The Publishing Process: From Seed to Story Writer's Workshops

  • Grade Levels: Differentiated & Delivered K-2 Non-fiction animal books (30 minutes), 3-5 Important People Biographies (45 minutes), and 6-8 Personal Narratives (60 minutes)
  • Purpose: Learn from award-winning, Spanish-bilingual author and National Board Certified Teacher, Susan B. Katz, how to publish your own stories from idea through editing/revising to final publication.
  • Note: Middle school workshops include learning how to run critique groups, revise, and edit each other’s work.
  • Virtual visits include the following: A brief presentation by the author, time for students to share ideas with a partner, writing time, and time for the author to provide feedback. Finally, there will be some sort of presentation or author’s chair.
  • This can be done as an overview in one session or as an on-going, four-week series that goes more in-depth.

 Workshop Model & Timeline

Week 1:  Introduction to the Writing Process & Brainstorming Step
-Pre-writing / Brainstorming
-Dreams, memories, imagination, personal interests
-Name Acrostic
-Product: Students come away with their seed (idea) to start their story

Week 2:  Building First Drafts from Brainstorm: Author with Teacher Support in Small Groups
-Five Ws:—who, what, when, where, why
-Develop Your Voice.
-Include details to make your story come alive

Week 3:  Editing and Revising: Author with Teacher Support
-Use the Revision Checklist
-Have someone else read your story out loud
-Get feedback from peers *Note: this is where critique groups are covered in 6-8
-Check your grammar, spelling, and punctuation

Week 4:  Publishing & Illustration: Author with Volunteer /Parent /Teacher Support
-Illustrate and Publish—someone else can illustrate your story. You can swap
-Plan how to divide your text onto the pages of your book (paginate)
-Follow the guidelines from the publication and copyright page hand-outs
-Will you write your story neatly – or type it?
-Make simple drawings for the inside of your book
-Draw a great picture for the cover
-Cut-and-paste your words and pictures…
-Or carefully copy the story directly onto the pages

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Susan’s Portfolio

Susan’s Upcoming Events

Honors, Awards & Recognition

2024 National Parent Product Award for Share Your Love
School Library Journal starred review for Gaudí: Architect of Imagination
2020 International Book Award for Best Mind/Body/Spirit Children’s Book
Amazon Editor’s Pick for Best Non-Fiction for Kids
Amazon Overall Bestseller List
Moonbeam Gold for Best Picture Book
BA Environmental Science | University of Michigan

Media Kit

By clicking the link below you will be directed to a Google Docs Folder
where you can download author photos and cover images.

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