Vicki Riske, Children's Author, Illustrator, Puppeteer, Puppet Workshops

Puppets need stories and so do kids.

Vicki has been interested in puppetry and storytelling for many years. She created puppets for theatre productions at NDSU in Fargo while she was a student. After graduation, Vicki created and produced a television show for Channel 4 in Fargo, ND, ”Owlwitness News with Olivia de Hoot and the Owlwitness News team.”

Currently Vicki has her own business, We Are Puppeteers. She writes and illustrates children's books, designs and builds custom puppets. Her first book, The Polka Dot Tea Party, published in 2019, is about finding shapes in nature and friendship. Local artist Laura Best illustrated Vicki's second book, Grandma Bibi, which tackles memory loss from the perspective of children. Vicki wrote and illustrated her third book, My Teeth Are Too Big. The book’s theme of self-confidence affects us all, no matter our age and is presented with fun thoughtful measure.

The most important thing the author wants readers to gain from her books:

My books are about relationships, kindness, love and fun. In The Polka Dot Tea Party, Jackie invites her friends to celebrate nature and have fun in the moment. We all share a wonderful planet that needs care and respect, Jackie wants her friends to stop and take a moment to enjoy our very large beautiful polka dot.

Grandma Bibi is a children's book about shared memories and love. It tackles memory loss as a family issue and opens a dialogue for families to discuss what is happening to grandma or grandpa. "What do I say when grandma doesn't remember me?" asked Jackie. "If grandma does not remember me, why should I go and visit her?" These are all important questions that need to be addressed. The book asks questions and then provides an example of how Jackie might relate to her grandmother's memory loss. Each one of us needs love and understanding no matter where our memory has gone.

My Teeth Are Too Big, is a book about self image. Teeth are important to personal appearance. Jackie Rabbit is teased and bullied by her school friends after her adult teeth grow into place. Her parents team up to provide active listening and emotional support. But it takes a magical encounter with Lydia Ladybug to reinforce a positive message. Lydia utilizes Jackie’s own imagination to demonstrate that her teeth are unique and beautiful.

Why the author is an authority on the subject of her books:

I am an expert on my book topics through observation and experience. Most young children that I know love tea parties, dancing, telling jokes and polka dots. When I read The Polka Dot Tea Party, my audience helps me tell the story, by acting it out with finger puppets and participating with the repetitive lines in the story. After hearing the story, kids are quick to point out all of the polka dots that they are now finding in their world.

Grandma Bibi is a very personal story that I wrote after visits with my own Mother, who had memory issues. She did not always recognize me, and the experience was hard to understand. How could someone I had known my whole life regress back in time until she no longer remembered me? It is important to be able to talk about this issue especially with grandchildren, who are wondering where their grandparent’s memories went and were they still loved.

My Teeth Are Too Big is based on my own issues with teeth, self confidence and being bullied when I was in grade school.

Website:

https://wearepuppeteers.com

Social Media:

Facebook

Instagram

Speaking Engagements, School Presentations & Virtual Visits:

My presentations center around puppetry and using puppetry as an aid to literacy. I read my book as an interactive activity, with the children acting out the book with finger puppets. Books and puppets spark the imagination of children.

My presentations are custom and responsive to the needs of the group. I offer workshops around these topics; writing puppet shows; designing and building puppets; directing children in puppet shows (shadow puppets, sock puppets and finger puppets); and production of puppet shows.

“The We are Puppeteers artist in residence proved to be an amazing experience for our students. We spent one week, creating, then learning a performance to present on Friday. This particular experience combined art, theatre and language arts and students were able to thrive depending on their strengths while learning new skills.”

—Karen Danesi Librarian SCIS Shanghai, China