SANDRA MARKLE IS BRINGING SCIENCE MAGIC TO READING! IS SHE COMING TO YOUR SCHOOL IN 2026-2027?!

 An In-Person Visit with SANDRA MARKLE

I’m delighted to bring my enthusiasm for 

reading, writing, and science to children! 

I’ve titled my Visit SANDRA MARKLE’S BOOKS ARE REAL ADVENTURES! because there are No Power Points—just interactive, action-packed FUN! And, happily, my Visits have a track record for grabbing students at the start and holding their attention all the way to the end. 

 

GRADE LEVELS:

I personalize presentations for grade levels attending PreK through 6

 

Large Group Presentation:

I perform safe “WOW” science magic (I was Ms. Whiz on television in Atlanta, GA). I also share behind-my-book research adventures, including what I experienced sharing the NASA space shuttle training and mission activities, the adventures of my three trips to Antarctica reporting back to schools for the National Science Foundation when I camped out with 60,000 + Adelie penguins while they raised their chicks during the summer and my 9 month-long winter there when temperatures dropped to a record-setting -129F, my years living and exploring in New Zealand, my up-close experience with Mike, a baby Asian elephant, and more.  I also include pauses to answer questions from the children.

 

PLUS: A Visit with Sandra Markle includes your school receiving BEFORE SANDRA MARKLE VISITS activities and links to videos that can be used to help students and the entire school family get to know me before I Visit. 

On the day, A Visit with Sandra Markle includes up to two 40-minute-long, Large Group presentations and up to four Small Group times. During Small Group times, I share reading one of my books and answer more questions from students. I’m also happy to have lunch with a group of students.

 

IN-PERSON VISIT FEE: Available upon request.

Don't miss my newest!

and COMING SOON!

FEW REVIEWS:

Your visit was wonderful—the students loved it! Bradfield Elementary, Dallas, TX

 

Thanks for a WONDERFUL visit with our 2nd and 3rd graders this afternoon. They are already asking to read ALL of your books that I have in the library and requesting I buy the ones our library doesn't own. You made quite the impression! Quinton Elementary, Quinton, VA

 

Thank you so much!  The students LOVED you and the visit! Joe Walker Elementary, Washington, PA

 

The kids and teachers have been raving about you and all the interactive things you did. It was just super! We are looking forward to continuing to read your books and connect activities with them. Thank you again for a dynamic visit! North Elementary, Noblesville, IN

 

Thank you SO MUCH for your visits to both North Ridge and Green Valley. The students enjoyed your fun experiments and your stories! Your books are even more popular checkout options than they were before! North Ridge Elementary, North Ridgeland Hills, TX 

 

You did such a nice job keeping things moving that all of the kids (K-4) were interested and engaged throughout. The teachers all loved your visit as well.  Thank you for all you do to make science and reading exciting. Westminster Christian School, Elgin, IL

 

You were engaging, genuine, funny, and had a great flow! It was just great!

Heartland Charter School, Bakersfield, CA

 

Thank you so much—the students and teachers loved you! They talked about how engaging you were and how excited the students were to hear all about you and your books! Shongum School, Randolph, NJ

  

THANK YOU! Your presentation was AWESOME- the pacing was great, the kids were engaged the entire time, the science magic and stories were inspirational and exciting and full of passion.  You really delivered!!!!!  Seneca Falls Library, Seneca Falls, NY

We were absolutely thrilled to have you visit Walnut Grove. We truly enjoyed hearing about your experiences.Most of all, our students were inspired by your enthusiasm for reading, writing, and science. They're still talking about your visit! Walnut Grovew Elementary, Duluth, GA

 

I'M DOING IN-PERSON VISITS AGAIN!

 
INTERACTIVE?  

You Bet!

DISCOVERY FUN? 

Absolutely!

MEMORY MOMENTS?

Lots!

AND LOTS!

email to bring it ALL to your school!

sandramarkle@yahoo.com

SANDRA MARKLE'S VIRTUAL VISITS ARE FUN!

 

SANDRA MARKLE’S BOOKS 

ARE REAL ADVENTURES 

VIRTUAL VISITS 30 minutes or 45 minutes long 

Available via Zoom or Google Meet 

 

Sandra Markle shares fun science magic because she was Ms. Whiz on TV in Atlanta, GA and because everyone loves science magic! Markle tells behind-her-book stories, like camping out with 60,000+ Adelie penguins in Antarctica, meeting a 6-month-old baby elephant, and her unusual experience with Rosie the Boa Constrictor. Markle includes Q&A time with the children. Because she hosts from her home the Virtual Visit also includes a special extra children love--A trip to Sandra Markle’s Book Closet. This is a large closet packed full of the books she has published--over 200 titles to date plus some very special souvenirs collected while researching to write. 

 

Sandra Markle’s 45-minute Virtual Visit includes more science magic, more time to share her behind-her-book stories, her writing and research process, more time for Q&A--well, just more. 

 

Contact Sandra Markle at sandramarkle@yahoo.com for pricing and availability

SANDRA MARKLE'S YOUNG AUTHORS GUIDE TO WRITING 

VIRTUAL PRESENTATION 45 minutes long 

Available via Zoom or Google Meet

  

Sandra Markle shares her award-winning books and experience as an author while launching children into authoring their own researched, fun-to-write and read books.

 

Markle first engages young authors in looking at parts of her books to guide them in identifying and creating the all-important three parts of their books: 1. The grab your readers beginning 2. The page turning moments to lead readers through the middle, 3. The satisfying but wanting more ending.

 

As their adventure-in-writing guide, Markle next leads young authors on a safari to choose one or more favorite animal to star in their book. Then she’ll share her successful research tips to learn about an animal’s real-life adaptations for success. And she’ll show how—as in her WHAT IF YOU HAD!? books—young authors can use their imaginations to turn an animal’s real abilities into wildly fun possibilities for their stories. 

 

Then Markle will share weaving together real life with imagined events to create a book. She’ll share examples from her own faction stories. Those are ones that tell fictional stories but share real-life facts about the featured animals. Her examples include more of her popular and award-winning books, such as HUSH AND HIBERNATE!, THIRSTY, THRISTY ELEPHANTS and FINDING HOME (currently licensed for a possible film adaptation). 

 

As the perfect transition to illustrating their stories, Markle will take young authors to see the Book Closet. Children always love this peek at her over 200 published books, special souvenirs from her research, and a look at a large sheet of paper that is a production page from one of her books. Markle has illustrated a number of her own books and always works closely with illustrators and the publisher’s design team to have text and pictures merge perfectly. So, she’ll share tips for the young author-illustrators for having text and pictures work together perfectly. 

 

Contact Sandra Markle at sandramarkle@yahoo.com for pricing and availability

Few Reviews for Sandra Markle’s Visits

Thank you so much for your Young Author’s Presentation; it was wonderful! I will definitely be recommending your virtual visits to everyone!! Etowah Arts Commission, Etowah, TN 

 

Ever impressed and star struck by SANDRA MARKLE during our science presentation author visit today! Avery Gators ooohd and aaaahd! This was the best day ever being inspired by Sandra Markle. Avery Elementary, Hillard, OH.

 

Such an amazing Virtual Visit with Sandra Markle at Liberal Elementary! Never have I seen a group of 150+ kids sit and listen so intently to an author. She kept them engaged the entire time, highly recommended!!!! Liberal Elementary, Liberal, MO

 

I want you to know that many of the librarians and teachers expressed to me how wonderful your visit was. And all the students loved it! So many students are asking for your books that I have to order additional copies to keep our library well stocked!  Amy Imai Elementary School, Mountain View, CA

 

Thank you for an awesome visit. Teachers and students enjoyed your interactive presentation! The format was perfect. I look forward to continuing to showcase your books in our school library. Reed Elementary School, Cedar Park, TX

 

 

 

HANDS-ON/MINDS-ON STEM STARTERS Teacher Workshop

I'm excited to share the brand new workshop I'm offering for elementary teachers--HANDS-ON/MINDS-ON STEM STARTERS. You'll discover ready-to-go STEM activities with book connections.

This workshop features activities that inspire children to think creatively and learn by doing. The activities also just naturally stretch learning across the curriculum.

Activities focus on developing:
Observing
Communicating
Inferring 
Predicting 

Teachers each receive a workbook of original activities I've created especially for elementary school students. These are safe, easy-to-do activities using inexpensive materials usually found at home or  at the grocery store. 

Teachers will have an opportunity to perform these activities and be ready to put them into action with their students. Permission to reproduce the workbook activities is supplied to all those attending the workshop.

Some activities are for individuals. Some are just right for partners or teams. Others are whole class activities. 

There are also book tie-ins for several of my books, including

TOAD WEATHER (Peachtree Publishers)

BUILD, BEAVER, BUILD! (Lerner Publishing)

WHAT IF YOU HAD ANIMAL EARS!? (Scholastic)

Plus a recommended list of books by other authors that are just right for reading aloud and sparking kids to think creatively.

There are also opportunities to share performing science magic that will spark a child's natural curiosity. And just because it's fun!

Get To Know Sandra Markle--Sarasota Herald Tribune

Inspiration for writer Sandra Markle comes from her life experiences, current events and natural curiosity about science, nature and the world around us.

From kernels of ideas, she polishes her poetic prose, pitches her work to a stable of publishers and, in collaboration with artists and photographs, releases several books a year. She has about 200 children's book titles to her credit.

Sandra took her university's flag with her to the South Pole.

Her life has taken her to the South Pole, where she met her husband, Skip, and they were the third couple to marry there. She starred as “Ms. Whiz,” doing science projects on an Atlanta TV show, and has earned numerous national awards for her books.

Recognize the series “What if You Had Animal Teeth,” or hair or feet? That's Markle's work. She tells true stories about animal heroes, like the guide dog Roselle, who saved owner Michael Hingson in the World Trade Center terrorist attacks. “The Great Monkey Rescue” is about people who are trying to save the golden lion tamarin monkeys from extinction. A health series includes books on leukemia, hearts and eyes.

“I love telling those kinds of stories,” Markle said.

Markle calls her work “faction,” marrying scientific facts with a fictional story to engage young readers.

“Part of what I want to do with my books is to inspire people, especially young women, to discover science as a career,” she said.

The former junior high science teacher with an education degree from Bowling Green State University took a leap of faith years ago that she could succeed in a writing career. She still hones her craft as a member of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators-Florida critique group. They call themselves the Skyway Writers because some live in Sarasota and others are from St. Petersburg.

Member Rob Sanders, who also is a children's book author, teaches fourth grade at Mintz Elementary, a Title I school in Brandon. For the recent Great American Teach-In, he said he begged another author, Dianne Ochiltree, of Sarasota, and Markle to talk to the students, for free, and they agreed.

“All of the fourth-graders, about 150 of them, went to hear her speak in the media center,” Sanders said. “They were just in awe of the science things in particular. She calls it science magic.”

Markle relied on her experiences as Ms. Whiz, doing simple science experiments and recruiting a few of the students to assist her.

“I always blow things up,” she said, smiling.

They saw spores from ferns explode when tossed into a candle flame and a ping-pong ball suspended in air with the help of a blow dryer, just simple stuff, Markle said.

“She made it real for them,” Sanders said.

He said the experience gave the students a chance to see a nonfiction writer from a different perspective, and they learned how she uses research. Some of Markle's books were featured in the school's Scholastic Book Fair, and several of her titles already were on teachers' shelves.

“To me, it's stealth learning,” Markle said. “I sneak the information in there.”

After living in New Zealand for 14 years, Markle and her husband decided two and a half years ago to return to the United States, selecting the Sarasota area. The home they had built in Lakewood Ranch features her original paintings throughout. They have a blended family; each has an adult son and daughter, and there are three grandchildren.

From a favorite couch in her writing room, with her feet propped up on an ottoman, Markle fires up her laptop, using the mornings as her creative writing time and the afternoons to focus on revisions, interview book subjects and answer correspondence from collaborators, children and teachers. Maine coon cat Beau is often by her side.

Markle offers free learning activities that adults can use with children at sandra-markle.blogspot.com. She makes appearances at schools and also visits faraway places via Skype. Her books are available in a number of languages, including Chinese, Korean, German, Finnish and Afrikaans.

She has no intentions to quit anytime soon. There are too many ideas waiting to become stories. Six books are currently under contract and are in various stages of completion.

“I tell people that I get tired, but I don't want to be retired,” she said.

— Christi Womack covers Manatee County for the Herald-Tribune. 

Why Picture Books Are Important

Picture books are the perfect way for people to share time together. No other book is quite like it for reading aloud and for feeling like you’re in the story or real-life adventure. 

I remember sitting on my mother’s lap for a hug and a story as I turned the pages of a picture book and she read over my shoulder. You could say picture books are generational because I did that with my children too. I’ll never forget having the flu and my son Scott, bringing The Berenstain’s Bears in the Night to share and make me feel better. He was too young to really read but we’d poured over that book so many times he did a very good job reciting it to me, pointing out each picture. 

After my daughter Holly was born, we explored favorite picture books all over again. And now I’m getting to discover favorite picture books yet again reading with my grandchildren. It speaks volumes that lines from some picture books have become family sayings. For example, “For rabbits you see aren’t affected by fame, No matter what happens they’re always the same.” (Bill Peet’s Huge Harold).  (Bill Martin Jr.’s Brown Bear, Brown Bear What Do You See?) And “You don’t need words or warm or anything but hope.” (Jane Yolen’s Owl Moon).

As an author, there’s something truly special about writing picture books. For me, it’s telling stories to children just the way I did with my own family only from my mind to the pages they read. And, as I write, I read the text over and over out loud to hear and shape the text until it’s just right—a word picture. I want adults who’ll share my book with children to be able to bring the picture book to life as they read aloud. I always tell children when I visit schools and libraries, “When you read my books, I’ll be there with you. We’ll share the story together.” Picture books are that unique kind of communication that makes this promise true.