THREE LEGENDS, THREE FRIENDS:

ASHLEY BRYAN, JAN SPIVEY GILCHRIST, ELOISE GREENFIELD

Ashley Bryan, Jan Spivey Gilchrist and Eloise Greenfield are legends in the children's book world. They are also great friends and together, this remarkable trio offers an unforgettable presentation to any and all age groups. Here is a general description of their program:

Content:

The content may vary, depending on the needs of the group, but the following is a general description. Each person will read from his or her work, usually poetry or some picture book excerpts. Ashley sometimes also reads from other poets' work (Langston Hughes, for example). Jan and Ashley will also discuss their art and, if the proper equipment is available, Jan will show some slides. Interspersed throughout the program, they'll offer comments about writing, children, how children develop confidence, how children develop their own talents, what adults can do to encourage these attributes in children. There is a great deal of audience participation.

While one is speaking, the other two are usually seated (either on the stage or in seats at the front of the audience).

At the end of the program, the three will read some poetry together, and then there's even more audience involvement as they offer a Q&A period.

As stated earlier, the content may vary, depending on the needs of the audience. Workshops are not offered with this program, but ask about any other details you would like to include.

Intended Audience:

This program is flexible, so the audience can be any age whatsoever -- from preschool to adult. The program can be geared to very young children, older children, or adults, and those adults can be parents, teachers, librarians or a mixture of all three.

Program Length and How Many They Can Do a Day:

Ashley, Jan, and Eloise work together in this hour-long program. For very young audiences (preschool and kindergarteners), it would be a little shorter to be appropriate for their attention spans.

Ashley, Jan, and Eloise can do the Thee Legends, Three Friends Program three times a day, plus all three would be available for autographing books. They prefer a 20-minute break between three presentations. Occasionally, they can do one program the evening before, and two programs the next morning.

Equipment Needed:

Three microphones, preferably standing microphones, equipment for a Powerpoint presentation, seats for all three of them, drinking water, and if possible, a table for copies of the books from which they will be reciting.

Honorarium and Expenses:

The honorarium is $6,000 for all three, plus expenses for each of them (travel, hotel, and meals). This may be negotiated down to $5,400 for all three, plus expenses. Keep in mind that the latter involves three hotel rooms, meals for all three of them, and roundtrip airfare for all three of them. To help you estimate airfare, here are the residences for each of them: Eloise lives in the Washington DC area, Jan lives in the Chicago area, and Ashley lives in Maine. Please note that, for health reasons, Jan Spivey Gilchrist will need a direct flights whenever possible.

The honorarium should be divided three ways, $2,000 being paid to Ashley Bryan, $2,000 to Jan Spivey Gilchrist, and $2,000 to Eloise Greenfield. If the honorarium is negotiated down to $5,400, then the checks should still be divided three ways: $1,800 payable to Ashley Bryan, $1,800 payable to Jan Spivey Gilchrist, and $1,800 payble to Eloise Greenfield. Please make the checks out to each of these three names. The honorarium is due following the last presentation or session on the last day.

Schools and organizations should also be prepared to pay airfare and hotel charges directly to the airline and hotel respectively. Please discuss travel arrangements with each of them, but do please pay for their travel and hotel in advance with the hosting organization's check or credit card.

For further information, especially about the expenses (travel, hotel, and meals), click the "Arrange An Appearance" button and see "General Information on the Cost of an Author Appearance" as well as the 'Honorariums' section near the bottom of "How to Plan an Author Appearance."

When to book this program:

Please book Three Legends, Three Friends at least a year in advance.