| Testimonials | Adult Programs | Children's Programs | Appearances |
Presentations
Do you need someone to speak to librarians, teachers, religious groups, college students, high school students, children as young as six, or the general public? Do you need someone to give a poetry reading, a story hour, a workshop, or a lecture? Are you looking for a poet, a children’s book author, a book reviewer, an art dealer, an illustrator’s agent, or all of the above? Please read the testimonials below and call or email for fees and scheduling.
Testimonials"Our participants
loved your talk...You made everyone feel special." "Richard
Michelson is not only a terrific writer but a wonderful storyteller.
As our keynote speaker he captivated the audience with intriguing
personal life stories that evoked serious reflection on current
and relevant social issues. Rich is a thoughtful inspiring speaker
with something to say!"
"The feedback,
based on your wonderful presentation would make you blush. Everyone
mentioned your humility, your manner, and the quality of your readings.
Thank you for giving us an evening we will not soon forget... Please
come again." "Thoughtfully
and beautifully conceived and presented... listening to your words
that evening, I could not help but feel their lyrical and literary
quality. Our audience was clearly captivated and everyone in attendance
let me know how much they enjoyed the experience." "There was
a keen interest from the audience for your enlightening and enjoyable
talk. It was a profitable experience in both senses of the word." "Your contribution
made our conference a fulfilling day for all who attended. Comments
on your presentation included the words inspiring, humorous, fantastic,
and informative. Thank you for so strongly enhancing our program." "Thoughtful, witty, genuine are just a few words of a long list to describe the extraordinary events we conducted with Mr. Michelson. He was wonderful with the children at University School of Nashville, easily keeping them captivated and giggling, and his lecture at our library brought up complex issues, proving very enlightening to our faculty and teacher education students." "Thanks so much for coming to the Clemson Literary Festival and Family Day ...I've been getting stopped all over town with parents telling me how much their children enjoyed the event."
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Too Young for Yiddish: How Language Affects Culture; Jewish Identity in the American Melting Pot
You Want to Do What?: Choosing the Career of a Poet and Children's Book Writer in Contemporary America.
Art and Literature of the Holocaust: The Morality of Using Tragedy to Create Works of Art
How Young Is Too Young?: Picture Books about the Holocaust
The Art of Collaboration: How Artists and Writers Work Together to Create Picture Books
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Too Young for Yiddish: Passing Down Culture from Generation to Generation
Ten Times Better and A Book of Flies: Real and Otherwise: How Math, Science and Poetry Can Work Together
Grandpa's
Gamble: The Immigrant Experience in America.
I focus on Jewish immigration at the turn of the century and what
the younger generation can learn from their grandparents. I also
talk about how we turn our life experiences into stories.
Animals
That Ought to Be: Art and Poetry
Some children draw imagined animals and others make up poems
about animals they would invent; then we switch and illustrate with
words or pictures, each other's work.
Did You Say Ghosts?: A traditional read aloud, with children playing the 'scary' parts. Perfect for Halloween.
R. Michelson Galleries represents numerous illustrators
and I also show original book illustrations with most of my visits.
For older students and adults I discuss the nuts and bolts of publishing
and my role as an artist's representative.
Clemson University - Richard J. Calhoun Distinguished Reader in American Literature for 2008.
Dover Reads 2008 - Tuttle’s Red Barn - A Community Wide Reading Project for both young and old.
What if everyone in Dover read the same book?
Associated Writers Program Conference, NYC:
- Poets in the Hood: Jews, Blacks, and Hispanics-with Martin Espada, and E. Ethelbert Miller
- Blood to Remember: American Poets on the Holocaust – with CK Williams
Simmons College -Center for the Study of Children's Literature - Lecturer
Boston College -Foundation for Children's Books - Keynote Speaker
Vanderbilt University -Peabody Library - Inaugural Book Festival Speaker
Association of Jewish Librarians, Guest Speaker
at Annual Convention.
Pskov Writers Association, Pskov, Russia, One week
residency. Poetry Readings and discussions.
University of Massachusetts, Poetry Reading with
former US Poet Laureate and Pulitzer Prize winning poet, Maxine
Kumin.
Jewish Family Services,Springfield, Massachusetts:
Keynote Speaker at Annual Convention.
Bratislava International Biennial, Bratislava,
Slovakia: Represented the United States at international literary
conference of 48 countries. Lectured and served as cultural emissary,
meeting with the Slovakian Minister of Culture, American Ambassador,
and numerous arts groups.
Society of Illustrators, New York City: Served
as judge for the 25th Anniversary of “THE ORIGINAL ART SHOW"
- This is the premier American exhibition celebrating the Fine Art
of Children's Book Illustrations.
American Embassy School, New Delhi, India: One-week
residency working with international students and their teachers.
State University of New York at Farmingdale: Featured
speaker.
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Mazza Museum of International Art, Findlay, Ohio
- The world's largest museum devoted to literacy and the art of
children's picture books: One-week residency lecturing to teachers
and librarians.
Western Mass. Society of Women Educators: Reading
and lecture.
Convent of the Sacred Heart, New York City: Visiting
Writer, grades 1st through 8th.
CAJE 29 – (Conference for Alternatives in Jewish Education),
Hofstra University: New Guest Lecture - How Young is Too Young:
Picture Books About the Holocaust.
Perspective in Children's Literature Conference,
University of Massachusetts: Guest Lecturer at Conference of Educators.
Greater Hartford Connecticut Jewish Book Festival:
Guest Lecturer.
Judaic Book Fair, Tucson, Arizona: Guest Lecturer
- One-week residency.
Book & Arts Fair, Houston, Texas: Guest Lecturer - One-week residency.
No
and I Can't Dance Either: Writing Across Racial Lines—What are the benefits and pitfalls of writing outside of your racial, and cultural experience, and the validity in crossing lines. Where do we draw the thin line between stereotype and truth.