Michelle Worthington

Michelle Worthington

Queensland

Speaker type

  • Author
  • Motivational
  • Virtual visits
available for virtual visits

Michelle Worthington is an award-winning children's author and international guest speaker on the importance of reading and the power of storytelling. A full-time fiction and screenwriter based in Brisbane, Michelle credits her three sons for giving her an endless source of inspiration, as well as her wrinkles.

Two-time finalist of the CBCA Picture Book of the Year Award and two-time winner of the International Book Award and finalist in the USA Best Book Awards, she received a Gellett Burgess Award and a Silver Moonbeam award for her contribution to diversity in children's literature with stories that celebrate children of all abilities. She was awarded an AusMumpreneur Gold Award and Best Start up Business in the Redlands BaR awards for her work with aspiring creatives of all ages to share their story.

Michelle's latest book The Bushranger's Daughter was published in September 2022. It is described as 'An adventurous, fast moving middle grade historical fiction about survival, second chances and searching for your place in the world'. Visit her website for further details

Michelle fairy

Whether she’s a book fairy, a pirate or an elf, Michelle encourages all her readers to dream big. 

Large Group Presentation

What’s the Story with Michelle Worthington

This session is designed for medium to large groups and can be run in school halls, libraries or classrooms. The powerpoint presentation has been designed to introduce the student to Michelle Worthington and her books, what it’s like to be an author, how she comes up with her ideas, and even what her boys think about getting picked up from school when their mum is dressed up as a fairy!

Time: 30 to 60 minutes

Maximum Size: none

Technology required: A data projector and screen.

 

Storytelling

Tell me a Story with Michelle Worthington

This interactive storytelling session is designed for prep to Grade 2 author visits for students to find out about Michelle Worthington and her books, what it’s like to be an author, how she comes up with her ideas, and even what her boys think about getting picked up from school when their mum is dressed up as a fairy!

Time: 30 

Maximum Size: none

Technology required: none

author

Writing Workshops

Workshop 1: Dreaming with Eyes Open Book Week Workshop

Children will be transported on an exciting adventure and through the magic of storytelling, will meet a host of interesting book characters bought to life. Inspired by the chapter book series Sass and Traz Save the Library, students will create their own characters as part of this story structure writing workshop. Learn how to create a little storytelling magic! 

Curriculum Link: Narratives – Focus on storytelling and oral language development, as well as developing a character and structuring a simple narrative plot. 

Target Audience: Prep to Grade 6

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper



Workshop 2: Fairytale Fun Story Structure Strategies 

This writing workshop combines fairy tale themes and improvised storytelling with creative writing. Students will explore the elements of fairy tales and narratives, as they follow the prompts inspired by Trolls Tall Tales, Hootie The Cutie and Johnny’s Beard. Settings, good and bad characters, plots, problems and imaginative items will be woven into twisted fairy tales and fables. Through oral storytelling and creative writing, they will bring their story to life.

Curricumlum Link: Fairy Tales – Focus on generating original ideas and introducing the essential elements of narratives – setting/character/plot

Target Audience: Grade 3 to Grade 6

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

 

Workshop 3: It’s a Pirate Party

 What would happen if you found a chest of interesting objects and treasures? What clues might these things give you about the pirate who owns this bag? We read two different pirate stories, The Pink Pirate and The World’s Worst Pirate to help children create characters, describe settings, plot an exciting story and start making their very own book. 

Curriuculm Link – Essential elements of narrative writing – Focus on developing characters/plots through story mapping

Target Audience: Prep to Grade 2

Time: 30 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

 

Workshop 4: Sizzling Story Starters and Creating Cool Characters

Since the dawn of time, humans have told stories to each other – powerful stories about their life experiences and funny stories to entertain their friends and family. This workshop combines writing and performing arts to engage children in the art of story creation inspired and use picture books as springboards for developing original and interesting innovations. Because these stories have similar patterns and make use of repetition and rhyme, the student’s innovations will lend themselves easily to inspire children to tell a story that reveals something about themselves.

Curriculum link: NAPLAN Adventure/Fantasy/ Hero’s Journey – Focus on plotting/planning an adventure style story, developing main characters and creating interesting plots.

Time: 60 minutes

Maximum Size: Children will need to be seated with a pen and paper in the space available

Technology required: A data projector and screen

Drawing/Writing Materials Required: Pencils and paper

 tlak

Workshop 5: Creative Business Basics

Hear from international award-winning author and businesswoman Michelle Worthington as she shares her journey to starting her own successful creative business. Students will have the opportunity to interact and ask questions about what it takes to be an Australian entrepreneur and founder of a startup. Topics covered include idea generation, marketing and promotion, time management and resilience techniques.
Business Basics – setting up and running a small business – marketing and promotion – life skills
Target Audience: Grade 10 to Grade 12
Time: 60 minutes
Maximum Size: unlimited
Technology required: A data projector and screen

 

Testimonials

  • Michelle enthralled our P-1 students with her sparkly humour (and shoes!). They say along with actions to the stories and wanted to know was there a real 'pink' owl (Hootie the Cutie)? Our Year 2 students engaged with Michelle as she walked them through her writing process - and came away with the beginnings of their next big story! Fabulous day!

    The students of Years 3-6 had the pleasure of spending the day with Samantha Wheeler. Samantha spoke from the heart when she walked talked about her books, the topics, her research and the processes she follows. Our students went away enthused and very keen to borrow/buy her books! We would gladly welcome her back for future presentations and highly recommend her as a visiting author.


    St Joseph's Primary School - August 2022

    St Joseph's Primary School - August 2022
    Michelle Worthington
  • Our Prep – Year 2 Students really enjoyed participating in story time with award-winning author Michelle Worthington. They were engaged in singing songs, reading stories and finding out more about being an author.

    Thornlands State School - September 2021

    Thornlands State School - September 2021
    Michelle Worthington
  • Both Michelle and Pat were very well received at our school. They were organised and what they presented was engaging for the students. We had positive feedback from both staff and students. Thanks very much.

    Warrigal Road State School - September 2021

    Warrigal Road State School - September 2021
    Michelle Worthington
  • Our visit from Michelle was fantastic.

    Star of the Sea Primary School, Gladstone - February 2019

    Star of the Sea Primary School, Gladstone - February 2019
    Michelle Worthington
  • Thank you so much for the stories and for coming and taking the time to work with our students. I have heard many positive stories and comments from staff around the school and I look forward to continuing our journey next year."

    Narbethong State Special School - 2018

    Narbethong State Special School - 2018
    Michelle Worthington
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Michelle Worthington