Author programming

What's the Shape of Love?

Grade level: K–2 · Length: 30–40 min · Format: Read-aloud + drawing demo

Carren reads The Shape of Love aloud, then leads a conversation about the balikbayan boxes hiding in the story. She closes with a simple 3D drawing demo: how to turn a flat square into a box on paper, step by step, so kids leave with a drawing (and a new trick) in hand.

Standards tie-in: Supports RL.K–2.7 (relationship between illustrations and story) and early geometry standards (K.G, 1.G identifying and describing shapes). Does double duty across ELA and math.

Love is a Metaphor

Grade level: Grade 3–5 · Length: 45 min · Format: Read-aloud + guided writing activity

Carren reads from The Shape of Love and uses the book as a way into figurative language: how the balikbayan box itself is a metaphor for love that can't be said out loud. She shows a few more examples from favorite picture books, then leads students through writing their own metaphor or simile about something ordinary in their life (a lunchbox, a backpack, a phone call) that stands in for the concept of love.

Standards tie-in: L.4.5a / L.5.5a (interpreting figurative language, including similes and metaphors) and W.4.3 / W.5.3 (narrative writing using descriptive detail).

Boxes Full of Stories: Ideas from Histories

Grade level: Grade 6 through Adult · Length: 45–60 min · Format: Presentation + discussion, no read-aloud required

Carren traces how The Shape of Love grew out of a real history: Filipino labor migration to the U.S. (nurses especially), the diaspora economy that built businesses like LBC, and how the balikbayan box became a physical stand-in for love across an ocean. It's part social studies lesson, part author-origin story.

Standards tie-in: Supports RI.6–8.1–3 (analyzing how historical context shapes a text) and pairs naturally with a Grade 6–8 immigration, migration, or Asian American history unit.

From Newsroom to Picture Books

Grade level: Grade 5 through Adult · Length: 45–60 min · Format: Career-journey talk + Q&A

Carren walks through her path from Emmy-nominated journalist to content strategist to debut picture book author. What storytelling skills carried over (finding the human detail, structuring for emotional impact, revising under a deadline) and what had to be relearned (writing for a 40-page container, working with an illustrator instead of a photographer). Major takeaways from this talk include the importance of curiosity and cultivating a growth mindset.

Best for: writing-conference audiences, older students in journalism or media programs, and any “author as career” conversations.

Beautiful Beginnings

Grade level: Grade 5 through Adult · Length: 45 min · Format: Read-aloud + writing workshop

Carren reads the opening lines of The Shape of Love alongside a few other picture books, unpacking what makes an opening line do its job — hook, tone, promise. Then, students draft their own opening lines and (if the room's up for it) swap and continue each other's.

Standards tie-in: RL.5.5 / RL.6.5 (analyzing how a text's structure contributes to its meaning) plus W.5-6.3 narrative techniques.

Picture Book Anatomy Lesson

Grade level: Grade 3 through Adult · Length: 45–60 min, expandable to a 2-hour workshop · Format: Presentation + optional career-centric collaborative activity

With her background as an editor and writer, Carren walks participants through the jobs that touch The Shape of Love: writer, editor, illustrator, designer, marketer. Optional: students will try their hand at other parts of the publishing process (editing, illustrating, designing, and marketing).

Standards tie-in: RL.K-3.6 / RL.4-6.6 (understanding point of view and the roles of author/illustrator) plus collaborative discussion standards (SL.2-6.1) in the group workshop version.

Powerful Symbols

Grade level: Grade 5 through Adult · Length: 45–60 min · Format: Read-aloud + reflection/writing activity

Carren reads from The Shape of Love and talks about what led her to write a book centered on a specific cultural object — the balikbayan box. She discusses how she decided the box could be the central figure in a story, then opens the question to the room: what's an object or symbol from your own family or culture that you're proud of? Students write or sketch a short reflection on their own symbol.

Standards tie-in: Supports W.5-8.3 narrative techniques (using concrete, culturally-specific detail) and RL.5-8.4 (analyzing symbolism and word choice).

How To Fight Procrastination as a Creative

Grade level: Grade 5 through Adult · Length: 20–30 min · Format: Short talk, minimal activity

A tight, practical talk on time management specifically for creative work. How Carren structures deadlines for herself as a freelancer/author when no one else is enforcing them, what she does when a project stalls, and a few concrete habits that keep a manuscript moving.

Best for: Practical/career-skills talk, session at a writing conference, add-on to a longer school visit.

Custom Topic

Grade level: various · Length: 30–45 mins · Format: variable

Have something else in mind? Work with Carren to craft a presentation that suits your needs.