Presentations & Speaking Engagements
Rachel is an engaging, knowledgeable, and passionate speaker on early literacy, library services for early childhood, writing for little ones, play for infants and toddlers, and books and materials for young children. Contact Rachel here to invite her to your event!
2024
Beyond Bilingual Making Storytime Friendly for English Language Learners with Jessica Ralli, Colorado Libraries for Early Literacy, Webinar (October 2024) and Allegheny County Library Association (March 2025).
Voter Registration Storytimes (recording of webinar) with Lisa Bernstein, Megan Cusick, and Dr. Betsy Diamant-Cohen, Brooklyn Public Library (August 29, 2024).
Get on Board! Evaluating and Honoring Excellent, Developmentally-Appropriate Board Books to Promote Early Literacy with Cynthia Weill, Lisa Dennis, and a board book author panel featuring Steve Light, Alisha Sevigny, Carole Boston Weatherford, & Anne Wynter, American Library Association Annual Conference (June 2024)
Museum Objects in Libraries as Catalysts for Family and Community Engagement with Sara Kocahasan, Kiani Kodama, Louisa Lebwohl, Alicia Pritchard, & Julie Zimmerman, American Library Association Annual Conference (June 2024)
2023
All A-Board! Selecting the Best Board Books, School Library Journal’s Picture Book Palooza, Virtual Event
(July 27, 2023)
StoryTeen: Training Teen Interns & Volunteers to Offer Storytime and Support Early Literacy with Karen Keys & Jessica Ralli, American Library Association Conference, Chicago, IL (June 2023)
Innovative Programming for Preschoolers with Pamela Hamlin & Laura Koenig, Library Journal & School Library Journal’s Public Library Youth Services Leadership Summit, Fort Lauderdale, FL (March 2023)
The Ones They Come Back To: What Makes a Best Board Book?, Author/Illustrator Panel Moderator featuring Steve Light, LeUyen Pham, Antoinette Portis, Carole Boston Weatherford, & Anne Wynter, Margaret Wise Brown Board Book Award and Educational Program, Bank Street Center for Children’s Literature & KidLit TV, Recorded Event (March 2023)
2022
Rising to the Moment: Library Partnerships with Healthcare Systems During COVID-19 with Kari Kurijaka, Samantha Terrazas, & Jessie Lizzio, Association for Library Service to Children Institute, Kansas City, MO (September 2022)
Ages, Stages, & Pages: Child Development for Picture Book Creators, Crash Course in Children's Publishing: Illustrators’ Edition, Highlights Foundation, On-demand (Recorded Spring 2022)
2020
Toxic Stress, Early Brain Development, and What Libraries Can Do to Support Young Children Experiencing Adverse Childhood Conditions with Dr. Tyson Barker, Maribel Nuñez, & Revere Joyce, American Library Association Midwinter Meeting & Exhibits, Philadelphia, PA (January 2020)
2019
Child Care is Everywhere: How Libraries Can Develop, Strengthen, and Support Child Care, Association for Library Service to Children, Webinar (November 2019)
Ready, Set, Kindergarten! School Readiness Storytimes for Preschoolers, Pioneer Library System, Canandaigua, NY (May 2019)
Collection Development in the First Five Years, Pioneer Library System, Canandaigua, NY (May 2019)
STEM Activities for Young Children in Storytime, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Jamestown, NY (May 2019)
Developmentally Appropriate Play Activities for Young Children 0-3 Years, Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Library System, Jamestown, NY (May 2019)
Ages, Stages, & Pages: Child Development for Picture Book Creators, Storymakers Conference, Brooklyn Public Library (March 2019)
2018
STEM for Babies and Toddlers: A Powerful Foundation for Language and Literacy with Jessica Ralli, Saroj Ghoting & Emily Dagg, American Library Association Conference, New Orleans, LA (June 23, 2018)
STEM for Babies and Toddlers Presentation with Jessica Ralli & Saroj Ghoting, Young Child Expo & Conference, New York, NY (2018)
Beyond Bilingual Making Storytime Friendly for English Language Learners with Eva Raison & Jessica Ralli, New York Library Association Youth Services Section, Webinar (May 2018)
Ages, Stages, & Pages: Child Development for Picture Book Creators, Storymakers Conference, Brooklyn Public Library (March 2018)
2017
Beyond Bilingual Making Storytime Friendly for English Language Learners with Eva Raison & Jessica Ralli, American Library Association Conference, Chicago, IL (June 2017)
Building Bridges: Using Research and Partnerships to Support Early Literacy in Diverse Communities with Dr. Tess Prendergast, Julie Iannacone, & Kendra Jones, American Library Association Conference, Chicago, IL (June 2017)
2016
Early Literacy Texting: How To Reach Parents and Caregivers Where They Are Using Free Text Messaging Services, with Jessica Ralli, Library Journal Digital Shift Conference, Webinar (October 2016)
The Big Playdate with Jessica Ralli, Urban Librarians Conference, Brooklyn, NY (2016)
2015
Multilingual & Multicultural Early Literacy, New York City Infant & Toddler Conference, New York, NY (July 2015)
The Community Playdate! Developmentally Appropriate Play Events for Babies & Toddlers with Jessica Ralli, New Jersey Library Association Conference, Long Branch, NJ (April 2015)
Babies are Bookin' it: Collection Development for Babies and Toddlers, New York Library Association Youth Service Section Conference, Islandia, NY (March 2015)
2014
Read, Play, Grow! Creating Play-Based Early Literacy Programs for Babies & Toddlers, Indianhead Federated Library System, Wisconsin, Webinar (September 2014)
Storytime Goes STEM: Integrating Math and Science into Early Literacy Programs with Lynn Cole & Saroj Ghoting, Public Library Association Conference, Indianapolis, IN (March 2014)
2013
Reading with Babies: Is There an App for That?, Early Childhood, School Age Conference, Rockland and Orange Counties, Suffern, NY (November 2013)
Reading with Babies, Toddlers and Twos: The Basics with Susan Straub, Reach Out and Read of Greater New York Annual Meeting, New York, NY (June 2013)
2012
It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader: Creating Grant-Worthy, Outcomes-Based Early Literacy Programs with Stephanie Brueckel, Jeanne McDermott, & Katya Schapiro, Public Library Association Conference, Philadelphia, PA (March 2012)
2011
Books on the Block: Early Literacy Resources in Your Community with Traci Lester, New York City Infant/Toddler Conference, CUNY, New York, NY (July 2011)
