I love sharing my books with kids. As a former Google product designer, I talk about how to invent all sorts of things—including stories! Virtual or in-person, my presentations combine storytelling with hands-on activities, inspiring kids to imagine, create, and share. I am based in the SF Bay area, but am available for limited travel engagements.
To request a visit or more information, please contact allyson@bookedauthors.com | allyson@bookedauthors.com.
Interactive Presentations
STORY TIME WITH VICKY
25 minutes, best for pre-K-3rd grade
Author and illustrator Vicky Fang will read one of her books (or an excerpt if it’s a longer title), do a drawing demo, and answer participants’ questions. You may request the book of your choice.
INVENTING STORIES
45 minutes, best for K-6th grades
Vicky talks about her creative process as the author and illustrator of the Ava Lin chapter books. She’ll share how she generates ideas from her own experiences, how a book actually gets made, and what the illustration process looks like. As a former product designer, she’ll talk about how creating stories is much like inventing a product, and how she changed paths from one career to another. She’ll do a live drawing demo and invite kids to collaborate on a storytelling illustration exercise, with a custom-created drawing to leave behind with the school.
DESIGN THINKING WITH LAYLA AND THE BOTS
45 minutes, best for K-6th grades
Vicky talks about her journey as the author of the Layla and the Bots series, including her childhood interests and her time at Google as a product designer. She’ll discuss the invention process that Layla uses in the books and how that ties to writing books, including collaboration and iteration. She’ll share real examples from her work as a product designer and as an author-illustrator, both using the process she presents. Together, they’ll engage in a group design thinking activity that reinforces this creative problem solving approach that kids can apply in their own lives.
ROBOT ASSEMBLY
45 minutes, best for K-6th grades
Vicky talks about her path from a kids’ robot designer at Google to an author and illustrator. She’ll share some of her robot-inspired books with them (Layla and the Bots, Friendbots) and show some behind-the-scenes process of actual robot design and share how that process mirrors her writing process. She’ll then invite kids to imagine their own robots by mixing and matching flaps in her interactive AlphaBot book—followed by a robot story creation exercise. Last but not least, she’ll invite kids to interact in some hands-on demos—with actual robots!
Workshops
WRITING WORKSHOP WITH THE FRIENDBOTS
60-75 minutes
In this hands-on workshop, Vicky will read from her author-illustrated Friendbots series and discuss story basics, such as character, motivation, obstacles and arc. She’ll talk about writing approaches, with hands-on exercises. Students will have a chance to develop their own character into the beginning of a story. Participants will be encouraged to work in prose, comic panels, or a combination of both to tell their story. Vicky will engage with students throughout the process by providing feedback while they create.
Additional Options
I do customized full day visits, including lunch with teachers/students and up to three presentations a day. I also do teacher training STEM presentations, author panels, and adult writing workshops.
To request a visit or more information, please contact allyson@bookedauthors.com | allyson@bookedauthors.com.
Video & Testimonials
“Vicky provided a wonderful program for our library that brought in elements of literacy, creativity, design, and science. Her presentation and hands-on activity kept a Zoom of 50 kids engaged and excited for the entire hour. Kids loved the opportunity to meet an author and make their own project.”
– Renee Ting, Librarian at the Mountain View Public Library
“Our Daisy troop loved meeting Vicky. It was wonderful to hear not only about her books, but about her writing process and her inventive background. All the girls had questions that Vicky took the time to answer with excitement and generosity. Now they are all waiting for the next Layla and the Bots book! Vicky was such a dream to work with from initial contact to the logistics of the visit. I hope we can host her again in the future!”
– Alexis Larkin, Girl Scout Troop Leader
“Our classes, aged 6-12 absolutely loved reading the Layla and the Bots series. The kids really loved how Layla and her crew solved problems through fun inventions. The teachers loved seeing the kids so engrossed in reading, especially while learning about STEM topics. Vicky’s visit was a big success as our students were thrilled to actually meet a real life author, see what she was like as a kid, and learn all about how a book goes from an idea to a finished product!”
– Patrick Brooks, Windmill Montessori School
“Vicky Fang virtually visited our primary elementary school in New Jersey in February 2022. In advance of the visit, Vicky communicated promptly via email and shared background information, photos, flyers and attended a Zoom rehearsal to help work out any technical issues. On the day of the event, Vicky was well prepared and organized to meet our students. She presented with kindness and built a rapport with our young students. Vicky engaged children in a Design Thinking Activity with successful results, despite the virtual platform. I wholly recommend Vicky Fang for any visit to your school or library community.”
– Christina Cucci, School Library Media Specialist, Reynolds School