Testimonials
Thanks for what I'm hearing was an entertaining day spent with the Burr 2nd-graders today, Janice. Mine is going on and on...
Josh Elliott
CBS News Anchor
SCHA got into the Sukkot spirit with a visit from Ms. Janice Hechter, illustrator of The Little Esrog!
Ms. Hechter read her latest book to us, as she demonstrated and explained the exciting work of a children's illustrator. What an enriching morning!
Southern Connecticut Hebrew Academy
"Very interesting presentation. Children were engaged and listening. Loved the computer program
about making the artwork in a book."
Brenda Starr
Reading Support, Westchester Day School
Mamaroneck, NY
"Janice engaged the students with her reading of the book, and through her questions that made the students think about Avi's choice and their own choices. The kids loved noticing the changes from sketch to final product. Janice explained in detail how the illustrations emerge from an idea to a drawing. The kids were interested the entire 50 minute presentation."
Rabbi David Saltzman
Principal, Maimonides Elementary School
Brookline, MA
"It was fascinating to see Janice's illustration process. She led us through it all, so we really got a window into the world of a professional illustrator. I was impressed with how engaged and curious the students were.
We didn't have time to get to all their questions and comments because there were just so many!"
Eliza Weiss
Fourth Grade Teacher, MetroWest Jewish Day School
Framingham, MA
"I loved the illustrations and the presentation. The Google presentation was engaging and held the students' attention. They could see the before and after."
Holly Stengel
Learning Specialist, MetroWest Jewish Day School
Framingham, MA
"Miss Janice was an excellent presenter for our kindergarten through 4th grade students. She kept the students engaged, interested, and excited about illustrating and the process of an illustrator and her work! Thank you SO much Janice."
Rhiannon Van Bindsbergen
Art Education, Solomon Schechter Day School
West Hartford, CT
"The kids were engaged and interested to learn about your craft. They had thoughtful questions based on your presentation."
Zipora Portman
5th grade teacher, Maimonides Elementary School
Brookline, MA
"I really enjoyed Janice's presentation. She was informative and engaging. She brought the world of book illustration to life."
Judith Dennison
K-5 Librarian, Maimonides Elementary School
"Thanks for joining us yesterday - the program was a great success and I know the children loved hearing you read the stories and explain the process of illustration. You prepared some excellent questions for discussion. Nice work!
Gmar Hatimah Tovah."
Avinoam Patt, Professor of Modern Jewish History
University of Hartford, West Hartford, CT
"Hebrew Academy students greatly enjoyed hearing about the illustration process and listening to Janice Hechter's reading of Avi's Choice. The book is enhanced by Janice Hechter's beautiful illustrations.
Thank you for your time. Our students had a great experience yesterday."
Sharon Budkofsky, Assistant Head of School
Hebrew Academy of Greater Hartford, Bloomfield, CT
"I thought the presentation was very worthwhile. You provided the students with a tremendous amount of information regarding your process for illustrating and the publishing process. The students were highly engaged. I liked how you included several opportunities for participation."
Laura Foxx, Principal
Broad Brook School, Broad Brook, CT
"Janice Hechter was the star attraction at the Nayaug Elementary Literacy Night. She led a fascinating discussion on the different techniques and details she used in creating the illustrations for the book Great Elephant Escape. Her presentation captivated both young children and adults alike. By autographing their books and meeting them, she left the children honored to have met such a creative and talented illustrator. Thank you again. We look forward to reading our books!"
Liz Eisenhart
Nayaug School, Glastonbury, CT
"I thought Janice Hechter's presentation about her illustrations in The Great Elephant Escape was very informative for the fifth and sixth graders. Her knowledge in illustration and passion
shined through as she shared the different versions of each page. We loved the presentation!"
Brooke Hoydick, fifth grade teacher
Highcrest School, Wethersfield, CT
"The students really enjoyed the illustration presentation! The explanations and background of the character's appearance was very interesting. There is much more research in illustrating than I thought!
In particular, the students enjoyed you displaying all of the changes you made to your drawings, just like the changes they have to make when writing a story in class. That was a great connection for them to see,
that everyone needs to make changes and revise."
Ms. Poulos, 2nd grade teacher
Noah Wallace School, Farmington, CT
"I thoroughly enjoyed your presentation and felt very lucky to be in 1st grade today at Noah Wallace to be able to attend it with Ms. Jusseaume's class. Talking with the kids afterwards they enjoyed the pictures the most, and many of them liked the book. Also, they told me they liked your questions and that they learned a lot of things about elephants today. I thought that you explained very well how true and made up information were mixed up by going into detail about each of the facts. You also had organized it very well. For someone like myself who listened to an illustrator present - you gave us a tour of how you started and finished it by going through each of the stages. I also liked the part where you showed the different sketches you had drawn and explained how you changed them. It was funny how most of the students liked your original sketches the best."
Ahaug Zafari, Professional Development Teacher
Noah Wallace School, Farmington, CT
"Janice Hechter's reading of her latest book, The Great Elephant Escape was a delight for all ages. Supported by projected images of the book, the audience was transported to into the story. Following the reading, Janice gave the audience a behind the scenes look at her illustration process. Next she brought out giggles and participation from the viewers by talking about interesting elephant facts. Overall, Janice's reading and presentation was engaging, fun, and accessible to all who were present."
Reiann Liston
The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art
"Thank you so much for visiting our school last week!
The student's really enjoyed learning about what it's like to be an illustrator and the process that they go through to finalize their work. Your presentation was great because it combined a reading of one of your newly illustrated books along with a power point presentation of your beautifully illustrated work and an interactive discussion involving facts and information about the elephants you illustrated in the book. It was all very interesting!!!"
Alison Dougherty, Librarian
Edna Stevens School, Cromwell, CT.
"Janice Hechter did a wonderful program talking about her experience illustrating the book The Great Elephant Escape. "
Vida Lashgari, Children's Librarian
Farmington Libraries
"Thank you for coming in to be apart of our Once Upon an Author program. This was the first time we had an illustrator come in for this type of program and I feel that it went great. The children really got in to the book with you when trying to find the elephants on each page. I think telling the children and adults the true story about the book made it really come to life, and make it fun. Thank you again! I look forward to working with you again in the future."
Monica Fredriksen, Resource Center Explorer
Stepping Stones Museum for Children
"Thank you for visiting us at SMS today. Your presentation was informative and fun."
Virginia Gore, Grade 3 teacher
St. Mary's School, Simsbury, CT
"Janice's action filled and colorful illustrations capture our first graders' imaginations. She did a great job showing kids how she used photos as models for her illustrations with her PowerPoint presentation. Children were enthusiastic about asking questions about story. She did a great job demonstrating changes that had to be made to illustrations chosen in publication. Love learning about research that went into final pictures. It teaches students about work and practice. "
Linda Smith, 1st grade teacher
Whiting Lane School, West Hartford, CT
"Janice engaged the students in asking for their opinions regarding which illustration matches the text the best. The students were very interested in expanding their knowledge about elephants. The PowerPoint presentation was very clear and thought out. "
Shanon Pimentel, Library Media Specialist
Lyme School, Lyme, CT
"I was part of the kindergarten presentation. I enjoyed the presentation and learning how the illustrations came to be. The students were engaged the entire time. Job well done! "
Paula Powers, Kindergarten teacher
Lyme School, Lyme, CT
School Visits
I frequently visit schools (either virtually or in person) to deliver my Author/Illustrator presentations.
My standard presentation covers the following subject areas:
• What an Author/Illustrator does
• Author/Illustrator/Publisher relationship
• Creating a memorable character
• The importance of struggle in the story
• How to get ideas for a story
• Importance of varied settings
• Using illustrations to depict emotions
• Creating a Picture Book Dummy
• Reading of the book, Adventure Girl
• Show Don’t Tell
• How the source material was gathered for this book (models used etc.)
• The image revision process for this book
• Studio Tour
• Introduction to Corel Painter
• Drawing method used to create illustrations
• Questions and Answers
FAQ's
Q - What is the school visit composed of?
A - A 50 minute interactive presentation detailing how an Author/Illustrator works. Participation is wholeheartedly encouraged.
Q - What is the cost?
Q - How many children are there per presentation?
A - I usually find that 2 grades per presentation works best
Q - What type of room best accomodates the presentation?
A - If size permits, I typically prefer the Library over an auditorium to achieve maximum interaction and good acoustics
Q - What is the typical age range?
A - The presentation can be tailored to children in Grades K-6
Q - How far will you travel?
A - I will travel any distance to give a presentation. Note: Any distance over 40 miles from the Hartford metropolitan area may incur travel charges.
Q - What hours are you available?
A - I am typically available working hours and evenings weekdays and weekends.
Q - Do you present in other venues?
A - Yes I also present in museums, libraries, book festivals and literary groups. See testimonials below for more insight into what people are saying about my presentation.
