AUTHOR PRESENTATIONS

The author makes presentations at schools, libraries, bookstores, military communities, and professional and community organizations.

Boo Boo Bear travels with the author and both always enjoy making new friends!

School and library presentations are suitable for students in grades K-6 depending upon the format chosen. In addition to the popular presentation formats described below the author is always willing to discuss customizing an event that will meet your specific needs and interests. She also can make recommendations about what kind of presentation is most appropriate for a particular group of students.

School/library presentation formats include:

  1. An assembly for a large group or the entire school where the author reads "Boo Boo Bear's Mission" and the illustrations are projected onto a large screen. Time is allowed for questions and answers as well as book signing. Approximate time needed is 30-45 minutes.
  2. Individual classroom or grade level visits which allow for a more intimate setting for reading the book and more time for questions and answers. With this format the author offers Boo Boo Bear coloring sheets, word find puzzles, samples of the original art work, and photographs of Boo Boo Bear on his mission in Iraq. Approximate time needed is 30-45 minutes/classroom or grade level, including book signing.
  3. A focus on the writing process and bookmaking which emphasizes the author's personal writing experience and includes hands-on artifacts such as the author's drafts and examples of the steps in the physical construction of a book. Time is built in for reading of the book and questions and conversation as well as book signing. Approximate time needed is 45-60 minutes.
  • Books may be preordered so they will be available for the author to sign on the day of the event.
  • Each year the author donates visits or presentations to selected schools or community organizations.

For additional information about scheduling presentations to groups of adults, making arrangements for a school visit, author fees, or to find out how your school or organization may be eligible for a donated visit contact ML today!

Events

Upcoming Appearances 
 
Wednesday, February 8, 2012   
Elm Creek Elementary School, Maple Grove, Minnesota 

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 & Thursday, February 23, 2012
Boo Boo Bear is going to college! Mary Linda Sather and Boo Boo Bear will be special guests in two education classes at the University of Minnesota, Duluth. The author will read Boo Boo Bear's Mission and discuss with students how the book can be used by teachers to help young children cope with deployment of a family member.

Saturday, March 24, 2012
NG Youth Symposium, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 

Wednesday, April 4, 2012
Storytime during the "Baby and Me" class at Duluth ECFE, Duluth, MN 

Thursday, April 12, 2012
Northland Early Childhood Association, Duluth, Minnesota

Monday, April 16, 2012
Superior Community Preschool Staff Development Day, Superior, Wisconsin

Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Month of the Military Child event at Ft. Riley, Kansas 

 

Photo Galleries

Previous Events 

West Duluth Women's Club, Duluth, MN
Feb. 3, 2012, More than 20 members of the West Duluth Women's Club learned about Boo Boo Bear's Mission during a special presentation today.  

St. Michael School, Duluth, MN
Feb. 1, 2012, Boo Boo Bear and Mary Linda enjoyed meeting all the wide-eyed, giggling kids at St. Michael School in Duluth today. The kids sure were impressed by getting to meet the real bear that served in Iraq.   

Lake Superior Elementary, Superior, WI 
Nov. 29, 2011, Boo Boo Bear and Mary Linda shared their story with K-grade 5 students at Lake Superior Elementary in Superior, WI. When the author asked the children what they thought the message of the story was, a third grader volunteered, "If you love something, let it go."

Four Corners Elementary, Superior, WI 
Nov. 30, 2011,  Boo Boo Bear and Mary Lindar shared their story with Pre-K-grade 5 students at Four Corners Elementary in Superior, WI. As Sam stopped by to visit with Mary Linda he observed, "That book is for all ages. It's small [short] enough for little kids to read and it would make grownups happy."

Barnum Elementary School, Barnum, MN
Boo Boo Bear and Mary Linda had a wonderful time at Barnum Elementary on Friday, November 18, 2011. The kids were excited to meet Boo Boo Bear and asked insightful questions about his family and his adventures.

     

 

Storytime at the I-94 CAV, Duluth, MN
On Sunday, November 3, 2011, author Mary Linda Sather and Boo Boo Bear met with families from the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry Minnesota Army National Guard. The occasion was a Family Readiness Group (FRG) event. Sather shared her personal story, read her book and led a discussion about how families can stay connected.

 

The children of deployed soldiers enjoy a Boo Boo Bear coloring activity before storytime.  

 

St. Matthews Preschool in Esko, Minnesota

Children attending St. Matthews preschool in Esko, Minnesota, celebrated Veterans Day with a special story read by a special guest. Chief Master Sergeant Jeff Knepper from the Minnesota Air National Guard 148th Fighter Wing based in Duluth, Minnesota, read Boo Boo Bear's MIssion The True Story of a Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq to the class.

School assembly at Homecroft School in Duluth, Minn. 

On Veteran's Day, November 11, 2011,  author Mary Linda Sather and Boo Boo Bear visited Homecroft School in Duluth. They led an all-school assembly for about 450 students, school staff, and community members. Mary Linda discussed the meaning of Veterans Day, read the story, answered questions and shared a display of original artwork from the book along with photos of Boo Boo Bear in Iraq.

After the assembly they visited a kindergarten classroom with Brenda Leavelle, the graphic designer for the book, and presented a "medal of valor" to a little girl whose father will be deploying overseas next March.  Boo Boo Bear was happy to do his part to honor this special family.

Storytime at the Farmington Public Library in New Mexico 

Also on Veteran's Day, National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Glen Mortensen read Boo Boo Bear's Mission The True Story of a Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq to kids, and handed out mini teddy bears to young participants.

Babbitt, MN Public Library


Mary Linda Sather and Boo Boo Bear appeared at the Babbitt Public Library in Babbitt, Minnesota on Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2011. The author shared her story with attendees, answered questions about how families can stay connected during deployments and discussed how the story can help any child who is dealing with a separation.

Minnesota Military Radio Hour

Author Mary Linda Sather was interviewed on the Minnesota Military Hour on AM 1130 in the Twin Cities on September 18, 2011.

(Click on the radio station logo to listen.)

 

Boo Boo Bear gets a letter from the Office of the Vice President 

August 1, 2011 - Boo Boo Bear is very excited about the letter that arrived in his mailbox today. It is from Dr. Jill Biden, Vice President Joe Biden's wife.

Boo Boo Bear sent her a copy of his book for review in June. Dr. Biden and Mrs. Obama are heading up the Joining Forces initiative to help support our military families.  

Hopefully, Boo Boo Bear’s Mission: The True Story of a Teddy Bear’s Adventures in Iraq, will soon be a part of it.  



May 27, 2011, Connecting Hearts Workshop 
Cloquet Armory
Cloquet, Minnesota

As part of her mission to help military families stay connected, Mary Linda Sather, author of Boo Boo Bear's Mission The True Story of a Teddy Bear's Adventures in Iraq,  volunteered her time to lead two workshops in Cloquet, Minn., in May 2011 for families of soldiers deploying with the CRAZY troop of the 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry. They’re among the 2,400 Minnesota soldiers being deployed to Iraq and Kuwait for a year-long mission as part of Operation New Dawn. 

(Click here to read an article about how to arrange a Connecting Hearts workshop for your group.)

Caption: Mary Linda Sather shares her story with children whose parents are deploying during a special family event at the Cloquet Armory.

Thursday, May 19, 2011, Community Story Time and Signing  

Cloquet Public Library
Cloquet, Minnesota


Caption: John and his mom, Angie, visit with the author before they say goodbye to John's two older brothers who are soon deploying to Iraq.

 

A story about Boo Boo Bear's appearance at the Cloquet Library ran on WDIO News in Duluth, MN the evening of May 19, 2011.

Friday, April 29, 2011, Young Hero Ceremony

Winterquist Elementary School
Esko, Minnesota 

Boo Boo Bear's Mission in Colorado Springs 

Tuesday, April 26, 2011, "Connecting Hearts" All Day Event

Storytimes & workshops were held for military families throughout the day at the Ft. Carson U.S. Army Base in Fort Collins, Colorado.

            

Monday, April 25, 2011, TV Interview

KXMR/KXTU FOX affiliate Morning Show

Colorado Springs, Colorado

Monday, April 25, 2011, Storytime & Signing, Citadel Barnes & Noble, Colorado Springs, Colorado

 

• March 22, 2011, Young Author's Conference
   Session Presenter
   College of St. Scholastica
   Duluth, Minnesota 

• March 24, 2011, Women's Circle Salad Lunchen
   Author Presentation
   Lake Presbyterian Church
   Duluth, Minnesota 

• February 9, 2011, "I Love to Read" school visit Wrenshall Elementary School

   Wrenshall, Minnesota

• January 27, 2011. Program for Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority
   Lakeshore Club Room, Duluth, Minnesota

• December 7, 2010, "Get Great Stuff" local art and gift fair Reading and Signing
   Duluth Congregational Church, Duluth, Minnesota

• December 4, 2010, Moose Lake, Minnesota Historical Society 9th Annual Book
   Signing, Blacklock Gallery, Moose Lake, Minnesota 

• December 4, 2010, Duluth Friends of the Library Book Fair Reading
   Barnes & Noble, Duluth, Minnesota

• November 29, 2010, School Visit
   Sunset Hill Elementary School, Plymouth, Minnesota

• November 11, 2010, School Visit
   Northwestern Elementary School, Poplar, Wisconsin

• October 7, 2010, First Grade Storytime Event
   Northwestern Elementary School, Poplar, Wisconsin

• September 7, 2010, all day visit to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada

• September 4, 2010, Storytime and Signing
   Rainbow Borders,Las Vegas, Nevada

• September 3, 2010, live interview on FOX affiliate KVVU5
   Henderson, Nevada

• September 3, 2010, Storytime and Signing
   Barnes & Noble, Henderson, Nevada

• August 13, 2010, Noon Guest Speaker
   Skyline Rotary Club, Hermantown, MN

• July 30, 2010, Storytime and Signing
   Barnes & Noble HarMar Mall, Roseville, MN

• June 16, 2010, live interview on "Good Morning Northland"
   WDIO TV Duluth, Minnnesota/ WIRT TV, Hibbing, Minnesota

• May 21, 2010, Reading and Presentation for "During Deployment" Event
   for families of deployed service members, Ruttger's Sugar Lake Lodge, Cohasset,
   Minnesota

• May 8, 2010, Story Time and Signing
   The Red Balloon Bookshop, St. Paul, Minnesota 55105

• May 1, 2010, Story Time and Signing at Book Fair to benefit Friends of the Duluth
   Public Library, Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Duluth, Minnesota

• March 30, 2010, Presentations to first and fifth graders at Young Authors'
   Conference, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, Minnesota

• March 28, 2010, Reading and signing for MN ANG 148thFW Easter party
   Fitger's Bookstore, Duluth, Minnesota

• March 13, 2010, Reading and signing at Book Fair to benefit Stowe School, Duluth     
   Minnesota, Barnes and Noble Bookstore, Duluth, Minnesota

• March 4, 2010, Reading and presentation for grade K-5 students at YMCA School's     
   Out" program,Homecroft School, Duluth, Minnesota

• February 27, 2010, Exhibit and Signing Writers' Festival and Book Fair
   Bloomington Theater and Art Center, Bloomington, Minnesota

• February 12, 2010, Author Visit to Caribou Lake School, Proctor, Minnesota

• January 7, 2010, PBS Eight WDSE-TV/DT, Duluth, Minnesota
   Interview with Karen Sunderman on "Venture North"

• December 12, 2009, Display and Signing at MN ANG 148th FW Children's
   Christmas  party, Hermantown Community Church, Hermantown, Minnesota

• December 5, 2009, Signing at The Bookstore at Fitgers, Duluth, Minnesota

• November 22, 2009, Author Mania, Waukesha, Wisconsin at Martha Merrell's Books
   and Cafe

• November 12, 2009, All day school visit to Woodside School, Sussex, Wisconsin

• November 11, 2009   Hibbing, Minnesota Veterans Day Observance at VFW Post
   8510 - "Operation Boo Boo Bear" presentation of teddy bears and copies of Boo Boo Bear's
   Mission to honor the deployed members of the 114th Transportation Company and
   their families

• November 11, 2009, All day school visit to Maple Avenue School, Sussex, Wisconsin

• October 15, 2009, Book Exhibit & Sales, Education Minnesota Conference 
   River Centre  St. Paul, Minnesota

• October 3, 2009, Signing at Northern Lights Books and Gifts, Duluth, Minnesota

• August 29, 2009, KARE 11-TV Live interview with Belinda Jensen on "KARE 11
   Saturday,"Minneapolis, Minnesota 

• August 29, 2009,  Twin Cities launch featuring a reading, discussion, and signing
   The Bookcase of Wayzata, Wayzata, Minnesota

• August 1, 2009,  Dululth area launch event  Unitarian Universalist Congregation
   Social Hall - Duluth, Minnesota

• July 23, 2009, KDAL radio interview "Morning Show," Duluth, Minnesota  

• July 21, 2009, WDIO (ABC) television interview for five and six o'clock news,
   Duluth, Minnesota