Authors on Call, iNK Think Tank

a CILC Content Provider

The Common Core State Standards have focused attention on process and using nonfiction in the classroom. Our Authors on Call from iNK Think Tank embody the CCSS. This team uses their extraordinary breadth of knowledge to transform today's classrooms into vital centers of learning. These authors are experts in processing enormous amounts of information, sifting through it and synthesizing it into works with added value. So why not talk to these masters of 21st century skillsand let them unpack their process for your students? They are eager to share their knowledge with you and to help you inspire your students with books kids love to read about subjects you're required to teach. So far our authors include Jan Adkins, Vicki Cobb, Roxie Munro, Dorothy Hinshaw Patent,Carla Killough McClafferty, Kerrie Hollihan, Aline Alexander Newman, David M. Schwartz, Alexandra Siy, Peggy Thomas, Marissa Moss, Jan Adkins, and Andrea Warren. Keep coming back as we add more authors and new programs.

Give Them Reading that Gets Them Talking from Vicki Cobb on Vimeo.

2020-2021

2019-2020

2018-2019

Honorable Mention

2015-2016

Programs by Authors on Call, iNK Think Tank

100+ Years of National Parks and How They Almost Didn't Happen with Author Kerrie Hollihan

Award winning author Kerrie Hollihan shares the story behind the founding of America's National Parks. Using research from her book Theodore Roosevelt for Kids: His Life & Times , Kerrie spins a tale of how the wily Roosevelt, a man of many...

Alexander Hamilton: Find Out More From Primary Sources with NF Author Carla Killough McClafferty

Alexander Hamilton is famous--again! And there still more to learn in this interactive session with nonfiction author Carla Killough McClafferty. Let’s blow your students away as they discover how to conduct primary source research using...

Anteaters, Bats & Boas: The Animals of the Amazon Rainforest by Roxie Munro

Based on Munro's beautifully illustrated award-winning book, "Anteaters, Bats & Boas: The Amazon Rainforest from the Forest Floor to the Treetops" (School Library Journal and Booklist starred reviews; American Scientist STEM Best Book 2021...

Ape Escapes! by Aline Alexander Newman

Orangutans are smart. Their abilities resemble those of a second-grader. And publishing is tough. It takes persistence to succeed. Using her Nat Geo chapter book, APE ESCAPES, and an interactive, multi-media program, the author brings these...

Art & Artists: Masterpiece Mix by Roxie Munro (STEAM-aligned)

“Art & Artists: Masterpiece Mix” is a fascinating talk on great artists, their sometimes wild stories, and the art they’ve created, based upon masterpieces in the National Gallery of Art, by award-winning author/illustrator Roxie Munro...

Charles Dickens: One of History's Greatest Writers and Reformers--by Andrea Warren--CCSS Aligned

We all know Charles Dickens was a great novelist, but did you know that he was also one of history's greatest reformers? Andrea Warren takes students back to Victorian London, where a gifted author penned stories that would inspire the upper...

DIVE IN: Coral Reef Critters with Author/Illustrator Roxie Munro (STEM-Aligned)

Join award-winning author/illustrator Roxie Munro as we "dive in" to a lush beautiful coral reef, full of fascinating creatures. Program based upon Munro's new nonfiction picture book: "DIVE IN: Swim with Sea Creatures at...

Does your Pet Have a Story? by Aline Alexander Newman

Want to engage your students? Focus on their pets. Depending on grade level, this lively program includes a mix of reading, dancing, an animal quiz, enticing photos, surprising facts, and true anecdotes in support of humane values, ethology, and...

Dogs and People, a Perfect Partnership by Dorothy Hinshaw Patent

Doroththy Hinshaw Patent is iNK's award-winning Animal Ambassador. Children love dogs, and dogs can provide a window into important scientific information about the senses of animals, how brains work, and how the chemicals (hormones) in the blood...

Free! iNK's New Nonfiction to Excite Young Learners!

Award-winning authors of children's nonfiction have new books out.this fall! Meet six of us and learn more about our exciting titles that will appeal to learners with all kinds of interests!

FREE! Introducing the Nonfiction Minute-a lesson taped from the CILC PEC Fall Festival

The Nonfiction Minute is the most ienriching, original, multi-media, author-driven writing for el-hi students on the web created by 3 dozen award-winning nonfiction authors. Vicki Cobb-the Master Chef of Hands-On Science and Visual Thinker-author...

FREE- Exploring Dale Chihuly's World of Glass -an interview with iNK author Jan Greenberg.

As awe-inspiring as Dale Chihuly’s glass artwork is, his story of success is just as impressive. A terrible debilitating accident at the height of his career, the death of his father and brother and bipolar disorder are just some of the challenges...

GOING INTERSTELLAR WITH AUTHOR ALEXANDRA SIY

The interstellar age is NOW! Join Author Alexandra Siy on a journey out of our solar system onboard the twin Voyager Space Craft that have been exploring space for more than 40 years.

Historical Fiction by Author Marissa Moss

How do you write history? How do you do the research and figure out what matters and what doesn't? Who decides what is history and what isn't?

Hitler's War Against Children: How One Boy Survived the Death Camps--by Andrea Warren--CCSS Aligned

In a nongraphic presentation,Andrea Warren, author of Surviving Hitler: A Boy in the Nazi Death Camps, will introduce students to the story of one brave Jewish boy caught up in World War II and the Holocaust. She will discuss why the Holocaust...

How Much Is a Million?Place Value and Exponents Come to Life (CCSS and STEM-aligned)

The author of over 50 math and science books (including HOW MUCH IS A MILLION?) uses an abundance of props and personal stories to make essential concepts come alive, tying them to children’s lives and the books they read.

How to Find Amazing Primary Sources Online with Nonfiction Author Carla Killough McClafferty

The real thing! Every great teacher knows the value of using primary source documents in their classroom. Today, high quality images of millions of original documents and objects are at our fingertips. There are so many in fact that it can be...

HOW TO SNEEZE! by Alexandra Siy

HOW TO SNEEZE! is a virtual author visit based on Alexandra Siy's award-winning picture book SNEEZE! Illuminating a sneeze with amazing scientific art and the experiences of a multicultural cast of kids, the book reveals why we sneeze and shows...

In the Fields & the Trenches with Young Folks of World War I--Author Kerrie Hollihan

<p style="line-height:150%">Wars are fought by young people, and young people fighting wars make history—in ways great and small. This program, based on Hollihan's award-winning book. shares the stories of men and women who met World War I,...

InstaSTEM: A Short Course in Photo Research by Alexandra Siy

Alexandra Siy writes books rich in scientific imagery. She Knows how find, analyze, and use quality primary source scientific imagery and teaches this important research skill to students in grades 3-12. InstaSTEM Mini is an hour-long program that...

Isaac Newton’s Secret Science -- Author Kerrie Hollihan -- STEM/Common Core aligned

Isaac Newton looked to the sky and saw something no one else had figured out – how everything “up there” works in sync with everything "down here." He never told a soul, until Edmund Halley, a young man with big questions, knocked on his door.

LET'S READ, COUNT, AND SHOUT! Having Fun with the CCSS by Alexandra Siy

LET'S READ, COUNT, AND SHOUT! is an interactive program for preK through first grade that uses Alexandra Siy's book ONE TRACTOR: A COUNTING BOOK to introduce children to numbers, word opposites, and discovering content in images. In ONE TRACTOR a...

Magnify: Exploring the Microscopic World (STEM and CCSS aligned)

"MAGNIFY" is an interactive program for grades 1-8 based on the award-winning books by Alexandra Siy, which include UP CLOSE WITH INSECTS; UP CLOSE WITH SPIDERS; SNEEZE!; and MOSQUITO BITE.

Mars: Exploring the Red Planet by Alexandra Siy ( STEM and CCSS aligned)

Mars:Exploring the Red Planet is an interactive program for grades 1-8 based on the award-winning nonfiction book, CARS ON MARS. (STEM and CCSS aligned)

Mastering the Maze by Roxie Munro (STEM- and STEAM-aligned)

An overview of mazes and labyrinths throughout history and world cultures. Uses for mazes and labyrinths. Examples of real life contemporary mazes. How Roxie Munro's maze ideas developed, and a sampling of the editorial decisions and research, ...

MOVING HEAVY THINGS with Jan Adkins – STEM and CCSS Aligned

Moving big things has been a challenge forever, and the challenge has been met by clever people in thousands of surprising, creative ways. Author-Illustrator Jan Adkins will intrigue students with his knowledge of basic physics applied to human...

MUMMIES EXPOSED! The Scoop on Sleeping Beauties, Masked Men & Tattooed Tourists, Traders,& Tribesmen

Mummies Exposed! goes beyond Egypt’s mummies to uncover mummy secrets everywhere. New technologies expose new facts about old favorites, such as Ötzi the Ice Man. Doctors study Hungary’s Orlovits family, entombed in a forgotten crypt. Others...

MUSIC PRACTICE TIPS FROM THE PROS with AMY NATHAN

Amy Nathan, author of three music-advice books from Oxford University Press will share practical tips from professional musicians — and will encourage program participants to share their own practice problems—and tips.

NAME THAT BUG: Looking Closely at Insects and Spiders (STEM and CCSS aligned)

"NAME THAT BUG" is an interactive program for grades 1-8 based on the award-winning books by Alexandra Siy, which include BUG SHOTS: The Good, the Bad, and the Bugly; MOSQUITO BITE; and SPIDERMANIA: Friends on the Web.

RODENT RASCALS by author/illustrator ROXIE MUNRO (STEM-aligned)

Roxie Munro discusses and shows illustrations of the fascinating creatures in her new award-winning book, RODENT RASCALS: From Tiny to Tremendous - 21 Clever Creatures at their Actual Size. She also talks about the process of creating the book...

Snakes! Bugs! Rats and Raptors! with Roxie Munro (STEM- aligned)

“Snakes! Bugs! Rats and Raptors!” Fascinating fun facts and dynamic full-screen realistic visuals about birds, bugs, snakes, and rodents by award-winning author/illustrator Roxie Munro. Find out about creepy crawly (and sometimes flying...

The Courageous Chemistry of Dr. Percy Julian -- Author Kerrie Hollihan (STEM and NGSS aligned)

Percy Lavon Julian (1899-1975) wanted to study chemistry so badly he left home in segregated Alabama to go to college in the North. All his life, he fought racism, even as he conducted a brilliant career in plant chemistry. Dr. Julian was George...

The Lewis&Clark Expedition: Dorothy Patent Tells The Story of Hardship and Discovery (CCSS aligned)

The Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806 offers something for everyone—adventure, danger, wild animals, fascinating Indian cultures, and more. Follow award-winning author Dorothy Hinshaw Patent along on this amazing journey of discovery...

The Orphan Trains: Finding Families for Homeless Children--by Andrea Warren--CCSS Aligned

Author Andrea Warren takes students along for the journey to study the orphan trains and their impact on homeless children in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In a program both compelling and educational, she'll discuss what happened and why to...

The Skeleton Inside You: What X-rays Reveal with Author Carla Killough McClafferty

First through third grade students are familiar with skeletons they see around Halloween. This program is an introduction to the science behind X-rays. In this live interactive program Carla Killough McClafferty, Radiologic Technologist and...

Tips on Biographies and Nonfiction Features with Nonfiction Author Carla Killough McClafferty

What better way to reinforce what you’ve taught your students about nonfiction features and reading biographies, than having an author that writes nonfiction books in your classroom? In this live interactive program award-winning nonfiction...

Vietnam War Orphan: One Boy's Journey to America--by Andrea Warren--CCSS Aligned

This program, based on the author's book Escape From Saigon: How a Vietnam War Orphan Became an American Boy, introduces students to America's participation in the Vietnam War and to the story of one Amerasian orphan caught up in the war's...

Visual Thinking/Storytelling by Author Marissa Moss

Graphic novels made easy -- kids can start writing and drawing their own!

Was George Washington a Scientist? with Peggy Thomas

Peggy Thomas, author of the nonfiction book Farmer George Plants a Nation, will lead students in an hour of inquiry-based learning about the scientific method and what it means to be a scientist.

What Children Experienced in the Civil War: The Siege of Vicksburg by Andrea Warren

Author Andrea Warren shares the stories of children caught inside Vicksburg during the 47-day siege that helped determine the course of the war, and also follows Ulysses Grant's son, who was with him at Vicksburg. Based on the award-winning book...

What Would You Have Done?: Andrea Warren's Books About Brave Children--CCSS Aligned

Introduce students to the works of award-winning author Andrea Warren, who writes about ordinary children caught up in challenging historical events, calling upon them to find the extraordinary within themselves.

Wolves of Yellowsone:: Dorothy Patent Recounts the Wolf's Return to Yellowstone (STEM aligned)

Wonder why ecologists are happy when a top predator returns to its old haunts? Take a look at Yellowstone National Park, where these predators were killed off in the 1920s. Since then the ecology of the park became unbalanced. Learn how the...

Women War Reporters: How They Wrote World “Herstory” with Author Kerrie Holllihan

When US reporters crowded into battle zones 100 years ago, women were forbidden. Young Peggy Hull took a train to Washington to plea with a general to win her press pass, the first American “girl” to report from the trenches in World War I. But...

Type of Organization

Other

Contact

Vicki Cobb email@vickicobb.com
302 Pondside Drive
White Plains NY 10607
9149491104
United States

http://www.inkthinktank.org, www.nonfictionminute.org

Primary Disciplines

The programs of Authors on Call, iNK Think Tank cover:

Art
Language Arts/English
Literacy
Mathematics
Performing Arts
Problem Solving
Professional Development
Reading
Sciences
Social Studies/History
Writing

Awards, Quotes, Testimonials

Recently, six authors attended the Chappaqua Children's book fair. Here's what some teachers said about us:

- When I first clicked on the link for www.nonfictionminute.org, I felt
like I found gold. In our district we do the Lucy Calkin's writing program. In
this program there is a large unit of nonfiction. I often struggle with unit
because I struggle finding mentor texts! Listening to the nonfiction stories is genius! I listened to several of them, all with the different authors and voices. Really helpful. I love this link and will be browsing throughout the year.

- This is how I describe nonfiction to my kids- "not a fairytale, not fake."
This website will come in handy. Additionally, I was happy to explore the I.N.K website. First, the acronym is wonderful (INK-interesting nonfiction for kids) because it is true! It is imperative that students have access to nonfiction texts. I like how INK is getting educators and parents excited about nonfiction. Also, they have interesting books that teachers can use in their classrooms and they have writers who blog about up to date topics regarding Common Core State Standards and nonfiction texts.

- I liked explored the “Nonfiction Minutes” section. They had a variety of podcasts about different nonfiction concepts. I found one that was about a small jet fighter plane that wore a “costume” during World War II. This book would be great to reference when teaching students about World War II.