Gail Piernas-Davenport is the author of Shanté Keys and the New Year’s Peas, a book about New Year’s food traditions—the things people eat for good luck. African American Shanté goes to find black-eyed peas for New Year’s dinner and in the process discovers the customs and foods of the Chinese, Scottish, Mexican, and Hindu neighbors. The book is appropriate for many subject areas from art to social studies. An activity guide is available at the author’s web site.

Gail’s programs include:

• Shanté’s Holiday Theater
  Gail was so captivated with illustrator Marion Eldridge’s depiction of the multicultural characters that she recreated them as hand puppets. Gail performs the book and introduces different cultures to students in grades K-4.
  
• “Climbing the Brick Wall”
  Many beginners think writing will be a trip down the Yellow Brick Road on the way to fame and fortune. The reality most of the time, however, is that writing for publication involves hitting a brick wall and figuring out how to get over it. This presentation talks about developing an idea into a book and focuses on the revision process using the different versions of Shanté Keys as examples. Grades 3 and up & adult writing groups. 30-40 minute program for school groups; presentations for writing groups can be tailored to fit the time period.
  
• Author Reading
  Gail is available to read her book at bookstore events, family literacy programs, book fairs, and story hours.

Book sales and signings are optional for all programs.

In addition to her website, Gail maintains a blog, “Writing from the Lemonade Stand,” which can be accessed via a link on her web site. A graduate of the University of Illinois with a degree in urban planning, Gail also took graduate courses in historic preservation at the University of Illinois, Chicago. Her jobs have included community relations director for an elementary school district and marketing manager of a financial institution. Her family includes three generations of elementary school teachers.

Gail resides in Chicago’s southern suburbs with her family.
 

Contact Information:

Email: gail@gpdavenport.com
Website: http://www.gpdavenport.com