“Wow! I can’t believe it! So amazing and such a fun opportunity. Your writing tips align so well with everything we teach. It was perfect for my students to see what what we do in class being applied to real life. WOW! I can’t thank you enough. ”
“There is nothing boring about Jodi Kendall! She has worked, written, and traveled extensively throughout her interesting career path. The most fun part of this connection for me is that Jodi’s debut middle grade novel is based on her experience of their family having a pig as a pet in Columbus, Ohio. I can attest to the story as I often ran through the neighborhood with Jodi and her younger sister and I can remember, firsthand, how the tiles of their kitchen floor were peeled off by that cute pig’s snout! I can genuinely say that my childhood memories with her family and all of their animal adventures are some of my fondest memories that will never be forgotten. Jodi truly is a beautiful person and mother and it would warm my heart – and I know the hearts of so many others – to have her visit schools. ”
“I liked how she put experiences from her real life and put some of them in her book.”
“I liked that Jodi showed us videos of work that she’s done!”
Author Visits
As a past educator, parent to two little ones, and passionate conservationist, I love visiting schools, bookstores, and libraries and inspiring kids to write, travel, and give back to their community. You can read my article about this very topic, "Conservation Conversations" in my article for Bare Essentials Magazine. If you are interested in scheduling a school visit, please fill out this contact form to learn about my current rates and availability for Virtual School Visits the 2020-2021 school year.
“My favorite part was when we talked about whale sharks, because they’re really big and really cool. ”
The FREE Curriculum Guide for The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, aligned with Common Core Grades 3-7, is now available!
Download here.
Writing from Experience Workshop
(Grades 3-7, 45-60 minutes, Worldwide)
Want to be a writer? Not sure how to start, what to write about, or if you have what it takes to succeed?
In this lesson, I share about my personal journey from a wannabe writer to a professional journalist for a diverse group of clients, including the National Geographic Channel, Nat Geo Wild, Pregnancy & Newborn Magazine, Bare Essentials Magazine, and more. Over the years my work has taken me across the globe – Some of my international adventures included tracking wild elephants through the rainforest, photographing orangutans in Malaysia, and researching whale sharks in the Gulf of Mexico – and I was on assignment as a paid writer on all of these adventures.
In addition to sharing about my personal experiences in this lesson, I offer tips to wannabe writers on how to find success as a journalist – how to think of ideas, find experts to interview, grow your writing skills, and build your portfolio. I’ll share behind-the-scenes footage of my wildlife adventures (such as tracking a herd of wild elephants in the downpouring rain through the rainforest of Malaysia), and we’ll discuss sensory details, the importance of observation and communication, and key conservation and animal welfare issues.
I’ll also talk about how to use childhood memories as a springboard for writing fiction. I share the story of when I was thirteen years old and my college-aged brother saved a runt piglet from a nearby farm, and how this experience inspired the story for my debut middle grade novel with HarperCollins Children’s Books, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, which is on shelves wherever books are sold in the USA and Canada. The sequel, Dog Days in the City, publishes on 10/2/18.
Of course, we’ll also schedule some time for a writer Q&A. Whether it’s the scariest thing I’ve ever done, coolest place I’ve ever visited, the easiest and hardest parts of being an author, my favorite animals, or daily life in the Big Apple, all questions are game!
My schedule fills up fast, so please contact me here for availability and rates. I look forward to meeting you and your students.
“I just wanted to thank you for your amazing presentation this morning. It fit perfectly with the nonfiction writing our 4th graders are currently doing. You showed them a side of writing that they do not know about and probably never considered – the opportunity to experience diverse activites and places. I think they were in awe and realized how they could apply their current writing skills to a real job that is fun! I can’t thank you enough!”
Virtual School Visits
I'm an Official Guest Speaker for Skype Classroom!
I currently offer two kinds of virtual author visits, using Skype videoconferencing software for schools, libraries, and book clubs.
Author Q&A (USA & Canada Only)
When your students have finished reading my debut middle grade novel with HarperCollins Children's Books, The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City, I would be happy to join your class via Skype for a short & free virtual Q&A session as my schedule allows.
Availability: *No available sessions remain at this time*
Writing from Experience Workshop (Worldwide)
This full-length presentation can be adapted for a virtual visit for businesses, education, and kids. It is an interactive presentation through Skype that includes visuals, behind-the-scenes wildlife expedition footage, a sensory writing workshop, book chat, and author Q&A.
Flexible: Contact me to request date/time. Limited availability.
Time: 45-60 minutes
Cost: Inquire
