Photo of Cara Bean talking to young readers about comics.
What can you expect in an Author Visit with Cara Bean?:
Schools can opt for an assembly, a workshop, or both!
In her presentations, Cara Bean speaks to a classroom or large assembly of students about her life as a cartoonist and her book. Students will experience a live reading and get introduced to basic neuroscience through the power of cartooning. They walk away with an awareness of their brains, coping skills, sleep hygiene, and who students can go to if they need help with social/emotional issues at their school.
In her workshops, Cara Bean actively guides students to focus on their minds while drawing together. She emphasizes the therapeutic benefits of drawing, helping participants to relax, focus, and express themselves through drawing and comics. She provides practical techniques and exercises to develop drawing skills and boost creativity. Cara Bean’s purpose is to reduce stress, tap into creativity, and attend to the ideas of all participants
Cara Bean also offers professional development sessions for educators with practical strategies for integrating visual thinking into everyday instruction. Through hands-on activities and accessible tools, teachers learn how to use drawing, sketching, and creative exploration to deepen student understanding, boost engagement, and support diverse learners. These trainings empower educators to foster a classroom culture where creativity, curiosity, and confidence can thrive across all subject areas.
Photos from Dartmouth Middle School in Massachusetts.
Curriculum Connections
Health & Wellness / Mental Health Education
The content covers mental-health topics: the brain, emotions, feelings, stigma, anxiety, depression, substance use, how to get help. It is also an opportunity to shine a light on wellness resources at the school.
Aligns with:
English Language Arts (storytelling, narrative structure)
Visual Arts (composition, illustration techniques)
Social-Emotional Learning (self-awareness, resilience)
21st Century Skills (creativity, communication)
What Makes This Unique:
Combines art + literacy + SEL in one experience
Highly interactive and student-centered
Accessible to all skill levels (no “good at art” required)
Led by a practicing author and experienced educator
Audience:
Ideal for:
Elementary and middle schools
Libraries and community programs
Art and literacy initiatives
Flexible formats for:
In-person visits
Virtual sessions
Interconnected Doodle from Normandin Middle School, New Bedford, MA
SPEAKING FEES:
Single session: $550* (Either a presentation or a doodle workshop.)
Half Day (2 events): $850*
Full Day (3-4 events): $1,600*
2 Day Visit to reach an entire grade: $2,500*
This visit begins with a presentation for all students in an auditorium followed by workshops for individual groups of 25-50 students in the library or a large classroom space.
Artist In Residence (a week-long intensive visit): $5,000*
This is a tailored experience for your school’s needs. This may include more collaboration with staff, curriculum support, smaller classes with repeat visits with selected students, emphasis on art installation/exhibition, potential after-school programming with clubs, or additional presentations for caretakers/community members.
Funding Assistance:
Schools in Massachusetts can apply for a Creative Experiences Grant from the Mass Cultural Council to cover two full days of events. Grants of $5,000 are available for school-based projects that foster creative learning experiences in the arts, sciences, and humanities for K-12 students. If you are interested in applying for funding for a school-based project in the 2026-2027 school year, that application will open in Spring 2026.
Learn more here: https://massculturalcouncil.org/organizations/creative-experiences/
*Travel/accommodation costs not included.
Let’s inspire the next generation of thinkers and creators!
TESTIMIONIALS:
Author, Cara Bean gave an outstanding presentation to our 6th and 7th grade students on her book, Here I Am, I Am Me: An Illustrated Guide to Mental Health. Our students appreciated hearing and learning from Cara as she taught about mental health through illustrative characters. Cara’s discussion on the varied aspects of mental health, enabled students to start considering what is happening with their feelings and emotions daily. By interacting with Cara, students were able to see that actual people create the books they read, and our staff trusts this connection has made literature more relatable and engaging, encouraging even reluctant readers to explore different genres. What was equally impressive was Cara's transparency in her responses to student inquiries, which clearly impacted some of the students’ aspirations. As one student shared while leaving the presentation, “I feel like my ideas are now worth sharing with my family, classmates and teachers.”
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André Morgan, Ph.D., Ed.L.D.
Chief Opportunity, Access and Equity Officer
Beverly Public Schools
We had the honor and privilege of collaborating with Cara Bean in several impactful ways, including an artist-in-residence program that emphasized creativity and Social-Emotional Learning (SEL) in relation to the brain, an after-school workshop for students eager to explore the connection between their creativity and brain function, and as the keynote speaker at our Dendrites Conference, which was attended by all students and staff.
Cara’s presentations are clear, meaningful, and engaging, making complex concepts about the brain and learning both valuable and actionable. Students quickly connected with Cara’s empathetic and approachable nature, feeling comfortable asking questions and actively participating in the learning process.
We’ve added copies of Here I Am, I Am Me to our school library, and they have become popular among students. Many have commented that the book is “just right” for them, appreciating how the images and complex ideas are presented in a way that is easy to understand. Students have noted that this is one of the first books that has helped them gain a better understanding of how their brains work.
We look forward to continuing our partnership with Cara Bean as we strive to support our learners in strengthening their metacognitive skills.
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Tobey Eugenio
Learning Experience Designer &
Art and STEAM Educator
Our Sisters’School
It was wonderful to have Cara speak with our students about the importance of seeking support for adolescent mental health. This is a topic that is critical particularly during this time and her book makes these topics accessible for students to learn about. The support team and I enjoyed partnering with Cara on preparing her presentation. She took our feedback and created a developmentally age-appropriate presentation. We enjoyed learning about her creative process and students loved having a chance to speak with her and get an autographed book. Every parent and educator should get the book. It's a must-read!
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Dr. Rochelle C. Reodica (she/her/siya)
Head of School
The Independent Day School
