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UNSOLICITED TESTIMONIALS
"What a creative experience for the children. The best author visit/enrichment performance I have ever seen," Ralph Nuzzo, Principal, Mary L. Tracy School, Orange CT Before: "I called Clintonville School and the office staff said your show was, and I quote, "A pep rally for reading!" I love that description! Please pencil me in for next year....I am so looking forward to working with you," Tara Jones, Reading Consultant, Webb School, Wethersfield CT After: "Joe, you rock! I have never met anyone (in my entire teaching career) who could capture the attention and imagination of the children like you. The pre-visit was beyond anything I ever expected. As for the actual performance - Wow! I loved it! Loved it!! LOVED IT!!! I designed a whole showcase with pictures from the performance. The children can't stop talking about the experience,"Tara Jones, Reading Consultant, Webb School, Wethersfield CT "When teachers asked the students how they enjoyed your performance, the response was an overwhelming "AWESOME". I especially appreciated how you emphasized how important it is to do LOTS OF READING to develop your imagination," Debbie Bares, Language Arts Consultant, Botelle School, Norfolk, CT "My daughter came home after the performance with her Huga Tuga books, she was so excited! She asked if the blue Sea Monster could come live with us with his stories. How could I say no to a kid who is so fired up about reading," Carolyn Leon, Parent, Lordship School - Stratford, CT "What a brilliant reading event. I never expected such a creative experience. You had the children (K-GRADE 4) on the edge of their seats every second of the way," Kate Tibbitts, LMS, Chaffee School, Newington CT "Joe, every teacher and educational performer in this country wishes they had your ability to capture the undivided attention and imagination of the children. It was truly remarkable to watch," Peter Furness, Teacher, Chaffee School, Newington CT "I loved the grade 3 & 4 performance. It was absolutely perfect," Rachel Weiss, Assistant Principal, Jeffrey School, Madison CT "What a performance! I'm so happy. I have been scheduling enrichment programs for years. Huga Tuga Reading Rocks Live was everything I ever hoped for but never thought I would ever find," Tracy DeCosta, PTO, Ryerson School, Madison, CT "The best performance we have EVER had at our school. The children were absolutely mesmerized! If reading is a priority at your school Huga Tuga Reading Rocks Live should be mandatory," Alison Dougherty, LMS, Stevens School, Cromwell, CT "To "kick-off" the week our PreK-2 students met with Joe Shandrowski who is a local author who has published the "Huga Tuga" books. Mr. Shandrowski spent time talking to the students on how he developed his books including the illustrations. His presentation was outstanding and included a display, lights and even dry ice fog to set the stage. Our students were enthralled!"Carole Schloss, Principal - Center School, Ellington CT "Your ability to capture the attention and spark the imagination of the K-3 students through your presentation was enjoyed by all. Their minds were racing to the moon and back! Your presentation to grades 4-8 on overcoming challenges and following dreams was inspiring. The feedback from the teacher's was very positive. This was a wonderful program that sparked the creative literacy skills for the students. I would highly recommend this to other schools,"Cindy Herr, Parent's Association, St. James School - Manchester, CT "The students were enthralled with your presentation. It was well planned and paced and age appropriate. As teachers, we were excited that you included the thinking skills of visualization, connection, predicting, and questioning. The kids loved the dancing breaks and sound and visual effects. Most importantly of all you delivered the message to help create literate students,"Priscilla Eller, Language Arts Specialist, Hayestown School - Danbury, CT "We have a town wide PTO meeting coming up. I want to make sure every school in town gets your information. I hve never seen our children so enthralled!" Erin Silverman, PTO, King Street School, Danbury, CT "Mr. Shandrowski was unlike any other author that has visited our school (including authors from Scholastic, Random House etc). Instead of merely talking about his craft lecture-style, he had a set with lights, music, and special effects to hold the students' interest. He adjusted his program for all students, thus both challenging and entertaining students from Kindergarten up to fifth grade. The students and teachers loved his program not only for his message to use your imagination, but also for the creativity and "magic" that he used to entertain and engage. I highly recommend the program to every school," Joanna Teodosio, Teacher/Cultural Arts Director, Calf Pen School - Milford CT "Joe, Thank you so much for your visit to Stratfield School. The Kindergarten and First grade classes really enjoyed your program. It's great to be able to have someone come in who gets the kids involved in the presentation. They really loved all of the visuals. The teachers commented on how much they enjoyed your telling of how your books were born," Patti Dyer, PTA Programming, Stratfield School - Fairfield, CT "Children gathered at Yale Children's Hospital to watch the Huga Tuga show, an educational and theatrical program that encourages children in kindergarten through third grade to explore the boundaries of their imaginations. The program did a great job of teaching children to be imaginative while making them more literate,"Yale Children's Hospital - New Haven, CT "The children absolutely loved your program. The teachers all had a wonderful time and thought the program was outstanding. Joe had a wonderful way of relating to all age groups,"PTA & Office Administration, Branchville School - Ridgefield, CT"I put the Huga Tuga plush toy you gave our school with your book and he gets checked out from the library and taken home almost nightly for students to read and snuggle with. They love the set. Thank you again for all you have done to enhance literacy at Middle Gate and Newtown!"Gail Huitt, Language Arts Director, Middle Gate School - Newtown CT "What a wonderful educational experience. The children loved your literary show!! My son came home so excited about it. I mentioned it at our PTA meeting last night to get feedback, and everyone said their children came home excited and said they loved it!"Sue Dow, PTA President, McKinley School - Fairfield, CT "What an amazing educational experience. Authors usually visit our school and simply read from their books but Joe's interactive program was absolutely enthralling. I have never seen the students so excited about reading. The teachers are still talking about it. We work with Putnam/Westchester Boces to help subsidize the cost of our programs and highly recommend Huga Tuga Literary Theater to all schools who place a high value on reading, writing and the arts," Diane Sinitsky (PTO Cultural Arts Coordinator) - Brewster, NY Elementary Schools "I have never seen the children so excited about reading. A pep rally indeed," Katie Adams, Teacher," Our Lady of Mt. Carmel School, Boonton, NJ "To sit and watch the eye opening reaction of the students and teachers as they experienced Huga Tuga Literary Theater was something I will never forget. If the goal of your enrichment committee is to bring in programs that will impact the lives of the students for years to come - Huga Tuga Literary Theater has to be at the very top of your list. I don't know if we realize how lucky we are here in Connecticut to have an educational program like this at out disposal," Mary Squicciarino, PTA Director, Wolf Pit School - Norwalk CT "Everyone in town who has experienced your program has absolutely raved about it. Thanks so much. It was truly a magical literary experience," Jen Ackerman, PTO, South School - Southington, CT"Two years in a row! I just wanted to let you know that they absolutely loved you!! Thanks so much," Cynthia Colbrook, PTA , Austin Road School - Mahopac NY "Joe, your program was something very special. We are so accustomed to author programs that are not age appropriate or authors who just visit to sell books. It was so refreshing to experience a program that not only showed children the world of an author but also how important reading is. The program directly related to each age group and was animated, fun and definitely an experience the children will remember for years to come. This is what enrichment programs should be all about."Teaching Staff, Daisy Ingraham School - Westbrook, CT "I talked to the teacher's about the effectiveness of the program and each one of them could not say enough positive things. The children absolutely loved the books you signed for them. It is definitely something the children will remember for a long time. Thank you so much!" Howard Landman, Principal, Sterling School - Plainfield, CT "The other principals in town raved about your performance and now I know why. It was truly a one of a kind reading experience," Pr. Nocera, Plantsville School - Southington CT "You were the HIT of our book fair! (8 other authors participated). It was a wonderful, lively and inspiring presentation. I have never seen the kids so excited about reading and the arts. You made their imaginations come alive. Our entire schools would like to thank you for a terrific experience that the teachers and children loved and will long remember," Allison Doucet, LMS & Cathy Lawlor, PTA, Farmingville School - Ridgefield, CT "It is people like you that make the beautiful State of Connecticut such a wonderful place to live. Your continuing concern for early childhood literacy education is important to our states future. Your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated," ***Governor M. Jodi Rell - State of Connecticut "You were the HIT of our book fair! (8 other authors participated). It was a wonderful, lively and inspiring presentation. I have never seen the kids so excited about reading and the arts. You made their imaginations come alive. Our entire schools would like to thank you for a terrific experience that the teachers and children loved and will long remember," Allison Doucet, LMS & Cathy Lawlor, PTA, Farmingville School - Ridgefield, CT Ellen Levesque, 2nd Grade Teacher, Center School - Ellington, CT "Hundred's of Wilcoxson School (Stratford) students were wowed as children's author Joe Shandrowski treated them to a light show, bubbles, and smoke to help them use their imaginations. "The object is to get children to realize the amazing things they can create through reading, writing and the use of their imaginations," WTNH Channel 8 Making The Grade - Educational Program "Hatton School was privileged to have Joe Shandrowski, author of Huga Tuga, a children's book, come to do a program for our K-5 students. Joe, not only shared how he got his ideas, he shared his process of writing and illustrating his books (through an amazing special effects experience). His program was extremely interactive and really kept the students' interest," Mrs. Roberta McAloon, Principal - Southington, CT "You were the HIT of our book fair! (8 other authors participated). It was a wonderful, lively and inspiring presentation. I have never seen the kids so excited about reading and the arts. You made their imaginations come alive. Our entire schools would like to thank you for a terrific experience that the teachers and children loved and will long remember," Allison Doucet, LMS & Cathy Lawlor, PTA, Farmingville School - Ridgefield, CT OVER 200 MORE... |
