Special Events

Book a Special Event with Maria Kostelas to Share Toula’s Mission With Kids Around the World

Looking for a fun, educational experience?

Book Maria Kostelas for your school or community event!

Author Maria Kostelas has visited children in schools, libraries and community centers around the world, sharing Toula’s message of staying safe, being brave, and having fun. By sharing stories, making music and art and laughing together, Toula and her friends even put on dazzling performances for others to enjoy.

Together, they make wonderful memories while learning important safety skills and lessons!

Event Combinations

The Mission of Toula the Toucan’s book is for children to always find their way back home. Maria’s performances and activities are designed to ensure we are successful in these efforts.

You may choose any combination of events for your school or community group.

Get in touch with any questions or special needs you or your group may have.

Author Talk

At a classroom assembly or group session, Maria gives a fun and engaging presentation to the children, combining educational safety lessons with creativity.

Art Lessons

Maria loves teaching kids through creativity! She can lead the kids through one of the following activities:

Map Making: including students’ landmarks
Toucan Tail: for “Pin the Tail on the Toucan”

Music Lessons

Let’s make music together! Maria helps the kids learn how to create beautiful music with flutes, percussion, and singing.

Music Performance

Music is a great way to get children engaged! Maria uses flutes, singing, and percussion to create a dynamic and memorable performance.

Hi, I’m Maria!

My mission is educate and  inspire families, children, educators, and community members. I want to provide them with the knowledge and tools to assist children in safely finding their way home.

I would love to come teach your kids about practicing safety, awareness, building confidence, and other valuable tools for finding their way home. I will provide highly interactive events combining author talks, art and music activities and performances. Kids learn to play musical instruments, sing Toula the Toucan's favorite songs and put on performances for the classroom, school, families and community. 

I travel throughout the US, Canada and Mexico, a few more additional countries too. Get in touch today and I can’t wait to meet everyone!

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  • “Maria’s ‘Flute Circle’ has been a wonderful addition to the Club program. Maria is a talented musician and instructor.  She works well with children to inspire them to participate and make music.”

    “We have seen growth in the children’s self-confidence, a direct result of the new skills they have learned. Through this exciting music project, our club members are experiencing the world beyond their neighborhoods.”

    Heidi Knowler
    Director of Development, Boys and Girls Clubs of America

  • “Your program fits in perfectly with our mission at Kidspace, because you provided interactive opportunities for all the children who were in attendance.”

    “The staff particularly enjoyed watching the children work together!”

    Hilary Bucs
    Public Programs Coordinator, Kidspace

  • “Maria Kostelas entrances children with her gifts. In large assemblies or small workshops the content of her music and illustrated books offers tools for Social Emotional Learning, while engaging students with rhythms, color, and curiosity. Child safety, a difficult topic for families, is explored at an appropriate level for young children, with excellent resources for parents and teachers to follow up with concrete steps.”

    Jennifer Colby, Ph.D, Professor Emeritus, Department of Liberal Studies
    California State University, Monterey Bay

Let’s Connect!

Do you want to be part of Toula the Toucan’s mission? We want to hear from you!

Click below to book Maria Kostelas for your school or special event, donate books to those in need, share your experience with “Toula the Toucan Finds Her Way Home,” or share any other amazing ideas you have for collaboration and support.