Events/Resume/School Presentations
(2001-2011)
for Jenny Whitehead
Events/References:
CHILDREN’S BOOKS
Henry Holt Inc. New York, NY Published three children’s poetry books
(author and illustrator):
Lunch Box Mail (pub. 2001) available in hardback and paperback
(50 poems I wrote and illustrated about childhood mostly from a kid’s point of view)
Holiday Stew (pub. 2007)
(80 poems I wrote and illustrated about holidays and seasons)
Punctuation Celebration (out in 2009 written by Elsa Knight Bruno
I illustrated it. Each poem is about a different punctuation mark. It has sold over 18,000 in one year.
(Christy Ottaviano—senior editor at Henry Holt—part of MacMillan)
You’re A Crab is under contract with Henry Holt. I wrote and am now illustrating this picture book.
Freelance Illustration 1998—2010 I have illustrated numerous cards for both
Hallmark Cards and Sunrise Cards over the years. I also submit work to Oopsy Daisy. (see website:
www.jennywhitehead.com for visuals)
Reading Reptile (children’s book store in KC)
2002-2010 + I have been an author participant for their
annual writing contest (as a judge I create an illustration
for the winner), for their author breakfast event
(story-telling based on a particular subject)
and as an assistant in their DNA Author/Illustrator
book festival. I have also had several book signings
and conducted poem-related activities in their bookstore.
(Pete Cowdin—owner/reference—816-753-0441)
Art Smart and Class Auction Gift coordinator (St. Peter’s School—9 years)
2004-2008 I headed up the Art Smart program at the school,
coordinating 35 parents with teachers and students
to create presentations on artists
and art periods (i.e. modern art, post-Impressionism etc.)
and careers in art for the kids. Besides coordinating the program,
I’ve done 2-3 presentations a year in various grades since 2002.
I have also coordinated several class gifts for the school
auction over the years (bookcase, desk, mosaic door,
vases with hand-made flowers, treasure chest) each painted
and created by 60 kids. Bids have ranged $1500-$2500 for each.
(Mrs. Schmidt---art teacher extraordinaire/reference---
816-523-4899 x319)
Library Visits (Mid-continent and KC libraries)
2001-2009 I have put on 3-4 library presentations a year for
libraries all over the city from Platte City to Lee’s Summit,
from Antioch to the downtown and Plaza libraries.
February 14, 2009 I did a holiday-related
presentation for the downtown library.
Missouri Library Days (April 15-17, 2007) presenter
(Helma Hawkins---coordinator of all children’s
library events/reference—816-701-3540)
KC Reach Out and Read Program (Key-note Speaker Oct. 4th, 2007)
Besides being key-note speaker, I also designed the invitation
and wrote a poem for the event.
SCBWI (Member since 2006)
Robert’s Snow snowflakes for Cancer Cure (2004 and 2005) Two original
designs submitted for a charity auction and book
(see website for visuals).
Kansas City Literary Festival (June 2008) I did a presentation for the
kid’s area, where the kids sang and read
poems and wore poem-related hats.
Ronald McDonald House 2006 I coordinated a project by the St. Peter’s
kindergartners, creating a beautiful “tiled” wall piece of painted
hearts and flowers for the entranceway into
the KC Children’s Mercy Hospital Ronald McDonald House.
Children’s Center for the Visually Impaired (2001, 2002, 2006, 2007)
I designed four Christmas cards for CCVI, donating the artwork.
A packet of each design was sold as a fund-raiser for their foundation
Was an art director at Hallmark Cards, Inc in Kansas City from 1987-1994. I conducted many meetings and planned product with artists, writers, photographers and editors.
I graduated with a BFA from Miami University in Oxford Ohio in 1986 (see resume)
School Visits (from most recent...)
*Key Note Speaker event
2011
St Louis Wilson School (Jan 2)
Nevada Children’s Literary Festival (May 7)
Blue Springs Book Fair Speaker (March 22)
Lawson Elementary School Leavenworth, KS (April-grant pending)
2010
Lake Catholic High School---main speaker for career day Feb 3)
Cleveland Heights Elementary (Feb 4th)
Washington Elementary (Cleveland, OH Feb. 5th)
Maplewood Elementary (Feb. 17th)
Ottawa Children’s Literature Festival (March 10)
University Academy Parent Night (March 23)
Lees Summit Elementary (March 30)
Spring Hill Elementary (April 14)
Raytown Elementary Evening Talk (May 4)
Art Camp for Kids Program Leader (July 12-16)
Reading Reptile Craft Leader (July 26-30)
Art Retreat in New Mexico, participant (Sept. 15-20)
Harrisonville Elementary School
2009
Speaker at the main branch of KC library—Valentine’s Day theme (Feb. 14).
Judge for library bookmark contest (April 13)
Westport Library Poetry Reading (April 22)
University Academy (April 30)
Burke Elementary, day and evening for students/parents (May 5, 2009)
Nevada Library June 17, 2009
2008
Nativity of Mary MO (Feb. 7)
Franklin County Literature Festival Ottawa KS (March 11-12)
Stout Elem, McClure Elem, A.M. Randolph Elem, P.M. Whitson Elem,
Meadows Elem, all Topeka, KS (April 14-16)
Prairie View Elem. MO (April 18)
Chillicothe Field School MO (April 28-29)
Briarwood Book Fair featured author MO (Oct. 21)
Lee’s Summit School District MO (all 17 schools—fourth grade only. Nov. 12-18)
Gracemor School MO (Dec. 5)
2007
Franklin County Literature Festival Ottawa KS (March 14-15)
Stone Gate School MO (April 4)
Winnwood Elem MO (April 24)
St. Paul’s Book Fair MO speaker (Sept. 4)
*Reach Out and Read (Key-note speaker Oct. 4th)
St. Peter’s MO 7th grade (Nov. 5—talk about children’s book art)
Raytown Young Authors’ Day November 3
Londonderry High School (NH) (Nov 15)
2006
River Read Literature Festival Parkville MO (March 10)
Franklin County Literature Festival Ottawa KS (March 11,12)
Mid-Continent Library MO (3 visits)
Gale Elem Galesburg IN (April 3)
Steele Elem Galesburg IN (April 4)
Eastgate Middle School (April 18)
2005
Winwood Elem MO (Jan 7)
Franklin Children’s Literature Festival Ottawa KS (March 8,9)
River Read Literature Festival Parkville MO (March 10)
Mid-Continent Library visits
2004
Millcreek Elem MO (Feb 25)
River Read Literature Festival Parkville MO (March 14)
Westview Elem MO (March 24)
Raytown South—Young Writers Conference (April 17)
Visitation School OH (April 26)
North High School OH (April 30)
Mid-Continent Library visits
Winnwood Elem MO (Nov. 10)
2003
Crestview Elem MO (March 3,5)
Smithville Middle School MO (March 12)
Maplewood Elem Toledo OH (April 3-4---12 presentations and a family night)
St. Justin Martyr OH (April 6)
Discovery Homeschool Academy (MO)
Visitation MO (April 10---presentation to 8th graders)
Winwood Elem MO (April 24—evening presentation with craft)
Maplewood Elem MO (April 25)
Gracemor Elem MO (April 28)
Sunset Ridge Elem (May 13)
Ridgeview Elem summer program MO (June 30, July 1,8,9)
Barrywoods Barnes and Noble talk (Nov. 10
James School NE MO (Nov. 11)
Mid-Continent Library visits
2002
St. Peter’s Elem MO (March 3) Spoke to eighth graders about poetry
Warrensburg Children’s Literary Festival (March 10-13)
Wonderscope MO (March 22) “Lunch With Jenny” poem-related crafts
*Independence Young Writer’s Conference MO (April 13) Key note speaker
SCBWI Children’s Book Conference speaker at Rockhurst U. MO (June 15)
*Literacy for Life Conference (Aug 14) Key-note speaker
Topic: “Creative Thinking in the Writing Process”
Ridgeview Elem Summer Program (July 9)
Star Side Elem Read Night DeSoto KS (Oct. 17)
2001
Eastlake Public Library OH (July 31)
‘Friend of Rosie’s’ on Rosie’s Story time, a children’s public television reading show
*Northland Reading Council (NORCO) MO (Oct.2) Key note speaker
Discovery Homeschool Academy (Oct. 16)
Bryerwood Elem KS (Oct. 22)
St. Peter’s School MO (Oct. 23)
Hyman Brand Hebrew Academy (Nov. 7)
Martin City Elem MO (Nov 12, 13)