Patrick was very flexible, easy going, and accommodating during the planning phase of the 13 library tour. While traveling around to the branch libraries, all of the library staff raved about how kind and pleasant he was to work with. I had the pleasure of attending one of his performances and was impressed with his ability to capture the attention of audience members of all ages and mesmerize them with his kind voice, great stories, and discussion of his book’s illustrations.

Library staff heard many positive comments from preschoolers, school age children, parents, and grandparents. Patrick Mader truly offered worthwhile and enjoyable intergenerational programs for all.
Sincerely,

Liz Lynch
Liz Lynch, Lake Agassiz Regional Library

Patrick’s presentation to the students at Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet School was perfect for all age levels. He easily captures the hearts and the interest of the kindergartners as well as the 5th graders with his warmth and style, adjusting the level of his presentation to meet the needs of the students and the content to meet the requests of the teachers. With his large, colorful storyboards, slideshow and visual props, students, Patrick also guides students to discover some of the special features of his books and brings home the importance of family.

Jeanne Van Drasek
Rockford Elementary Arts Magnet School
Program Coordinator, Grade 3

Patrick Mader’s presentation at our library was fantastic. He speaks to a wide variety of ages during his presentation by incorporating factual and storytelling elements. His visual displays are well organized and help to make his story very real, even to young children. He covered a wide variety of topics including writing, publishing, family values and local history. I highly recommend Patrick as a speaker for libraries. Thank you, Patrick, for sharing your tale with us.

Karen Pundsack
Great River Regional Library

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your recent visit to second grade at Southview Elementary. Your rapport with the students was perfect for their developmental age. The storyboard along with the farm tools gave students a good glimpse into how an author makes connections to real life experiences in writing. The students were especially motivated by the comparison of real photographs with the illustrations in the books. Your questioning allowed students to dig deep into the meaning of your books. Our students learned about the importance of the collaborative effort between an author and illustrator. Your presentation promoted a great amount of enthusiasm with our budding writers. The theme of your books complemented our social studies curriculum focusing on rural communities.

Thank you for taking the time to sign and personalize books for our students and for also donating a set to our library for all of the students at Southview to enjoy. We would highly recommend your presentation to other professionals.

Southview Elementary Second Grade Teachers
Apple Valley, Minnesota 55124

Patrick’s visit to our school was a delightful experience for students and staff. His presentation on the writing and illustrating process and how a book is made really held our students’ attention. Patrick adds a personal touch to his talk by sharing family stories that students could relate to. His experience as a classroom teacher shines in his ability to capture and hold the audiences’ interest. The large story boards of the books’ illustrations were a wonderful bonus to his story reading. We thoroughly enjoyed his visit. I highly recommend him as a visiting author.

Renee Boraas, Media Specialist
Victoria Elementary
Chaska Public Schools

Thanks so much for coming to Windom and sharing your talent with our preschool and elementary students. Everyone enjoyed your visit a great deal. I have received many positive comments about your presentation and how well you related to the children. You are a very generous and gifted writer. You showed the kids how to follow a dream and how, through hard work, those dreams can come true.
Jean Johnson

Community Education Director/ECFE Coordinator
Windom, Minnesota