“Charles has everything I look for in an author visit. First, the students must enjoy the author’s books and and feel a connection to his/her work. This was easy with Charles’s books! They are fun and quick to read aloud and appeal to both boys and girls. Teachers love creating lessons around Charles’s books and they align with their poetry unit. Secondly, the author must be able to engage 250 students in an auditorium setting. With his multimedia presentation on our large screen, interspersed with rappy and rhythmic poetry readings, Charles captures the audience with fascinating stories about himself and famous athletes he’s photographed throughout his career. Students are naturally attentive and focused during this lively and fun assembly! I confidently recommend Charles for an author/artist visit in any school and know that students and teachers alike will be pleased with his work and his performance.” – Cathy Gelman, Library Media Specialist, Somers Middle School, Somers, NY
“Charles was absolutely the best author visitor we have ever had!!! Our students and teachers are all a-buzz today, after experiencing the poetry fest with him yesterday. His presentations kept everyone on the edge of their seats and begging for more!” – Canterbury School, Greensboro, NC
“I had the pleasure of hosting Charles R. Smith, Jr. at Northside Elementary School as part of the Susan Steinfirst Author-in-Residency program sponsored by the UNC School of Information Library Science. This week long residency allowed Mr. Smith to work with two cohorts of students each day to examine poetry and create their own with a focus on personal identity. Each day Mr. Smith used various writing exercises that allowed students to see how poetry exists all around them and is a part of their everyday lived experience. He shared important elements of his own identity and was both open and honest about the meaning behind the words. Simply put, he modeled for students how to craft writing that represents your most authentic self and the world around you and developed relationships with these students they still talk about to this day. Any school or community group choosing to host author and photographer Charles R. Smith, Jr. would be guaranteed a wonderful experience and one that would leave a lasting memory in the hearts and minds of many.” – Kathryn Cole, Librarian, Northside Elementary, Chapel Hill, NC
“I have never seen more students in tune and captured from a presentation. We were so impressed with your creativity, ‘spunk’ and high energy!” –Ms. Percic, 7th & 8th Grade Language Arts teacher, Marrington Middle School
“Thank you! I have received 6 e-mails so far from teachers and our principal letting me know how much they and their students enjoyed the presentations today!” – Joyce Lynch, Middle School of Plainville, Plainville, CT
“We like how you used metaphors in your poetry and expressed your ideas. We think you were the best presenter we ever had!” –Mrs. Opiela’s 4th Grade class, Birchwood School