Invite Howard Pearlstein to Your School!

Or library, conference, book festival, private island in Bora Bora…

Who is Howard?

Howard Pearlstein is an award-winning author of nine picture books that have been translated into five languages. In 2024 and 2025, his upcoming book releases include This Book Is Not For You, The Shy Book and The Bad Book for Good Kids. A California native, Howard now lives in Birmingham, Alabama. He has three daughters, Amanda, Jacquie and Emily, who live across the country, and one wife, Debi, who still lives at home.

Picture book author Howard Pearlstein sitting on front porch steps and looking into the camera.
“Howard Pearlstein is a new author that many schools need to schedule for an author visit. His Orange Porange books appeal greatly to kindergarten to 2nd graders. I appreciated how easy it was to plan for his visit. I read 3 of his books to my classes beforehand and he read 2 during his visit. The staff and students gained so much insight into the writing process. Howard has a great sense of humor, along with a calm disposition.”
— Raquel Sorkin, Librarian, Deer Valley Elementary School
A group of young students and an adult pose together in a classroom. The adult appears to be a guest speaker invited to the class. Behind them, a whiteboard displays a welcoming message and notes. The students are smiling and appear to be in elementary school, likely first graders, based on the text. Some students are holding up books. The classroom has a modern decor with a digital display screen on the wall.

School Visit Pics

Handmade welcome poster for Mr. Pearlstein featuring a cartoon character with a simple face, drawn on brown paper and taped to a whiteboard.
A man sitting at a table signing a book for three smiling children. One child is holding the book titled 'Sally Ann.' The setting appears to be indoors, possibly a classroom or event space. The children are wearing colorful clothing and appear happy.

Howard’s Books

Illustrated book cover titled 'The Old Man Eating Alone' featuring an elderly man with a cookie in hand and a concerned child sitting across from him at a table with a sandwich and coffee. Illustrated by Hilde Groven, written by Howard Pearlstein.
Book cover of 'The Invitation: An Orange Porange Story' featuring an orange character standing next to a gray mailbox. Title by Howard Pearlstein, illustrated by Rob Hardison.
Illustrated book cover titled "Tribeca" featuring a cat in a window, black and white drawing of buildings, authors Howard Pearlisten & Amanda Pearlisten, illustrated by Renate Potter.
Illustrated book cover for "Connor Crowe Can't Let Go" showing a child with red hair wearing headphones and holding a tablet, sitting in a chair. A girl in a princess dress and crown peeks from behind the chair. Toys and a dog are on the floor. Written by Howard Pearlstein, illustrated by Stefani Buijsman.
Cover of "Orange Porange" featuring an illustrated orange character with a sad face and stick legs, authored by Howard Pearlstein, illustrated by Rob Hardison.
Cover of the book 'The Magic Mirror' by Howard Pearlstein, illustrated by Rob Hardison, depicting two cartoon characters, one orange and one gray.
Children's book cover titled "Sally Ann McFidgetbottom," featuring three children in motion. A girl with curly red hair and a "PEACE" shirt is in the center, a boy in a green shirt on the left, and a blonde girl in a pink dress on the right. Objects like a book, ball, and cup are floating around them. Illustrated by Renate Vermeulen-Potter.
Cover of the children's book titled "The Missing Ball: An Orange Porange Story" by Howard Pearlstein, illustrated by Rob Hardison. Features an orange character with a sad expression standing next to a white ball.
Illustration of two people sitting in a large armchair, surrounded by books and debris, with a rhinoceros behind them. A car with an open trunk is in the background, with a fiery explosion near it. The book title 'The Liebrary' is at the top.

What will Howard do?

Howard’s presentation, Ideas Are Everywhere, is a fun, interactive and inspiring presentation that shows students how to transform the world around them into ideas for stories. The presentation can be in a classroom or assembly style.

Presentation Structure

  • Introduction

  • Read a book

  • Answer questions about the book

  • Interactive Ideas Are Everywhere discussion

  • Sign books / Meet students

Presentation Lengths / Books

  • Kindergarten: 35 minutes: Orange Porange

  • First: 40 minutes: Tribeca

  • Second: 45 minutes: Connor Crowe Can’t Let Go

  • Third-Sixth: 45-minutes: The Liebrary

If you’d prefer to read a different book, just let Howard know.

How does it work?

A few weeks prior to the visit, Howard will connect with your teacher/librarian to:

  • Confirm the date.

  • Learn a bit about the class(es).

  • Answer any questions.

  • Confirm that books have been purchased and will arrive in time for the presentation.

What Howard will bring.

  • Laptop

  • Sharpies for signing books

  • Extension cord

What school will provide.

  • Microphone

  • Table

  • Chair

  • Screen

  • Projector

  • Speakers

Obtaining Books

An author visit inspires kids to read, and most schools take advantage of this by ordering books from a local bookstore for students to buy and get autographed.

Cost

  • $400 for half-day: 2 presentations

  • $800 for full-day: 4 presentations

  • Travel: No charge within Birmingham metro area

Cancellation Policy

  • No charge for cancellations within 24 hours of presentation

  • Day-of cancellation: 50% of total fee due

Two people sitting on a couch holding children's books "Orange Porange" and "The Library" with a "Talk of Alabama" sign in the background.

Interested or have questions? Email Howard today.