Presenting to students during school author visits is a highlight of my job as a children’s author. There’s nothing better than sharing stories I’ve worked on for years with young readers and sparking their interest in literacy. Along the way, I’ve discovered a few do’s and don’ts to make visits great.
Do’s
Provide your school contact with book order forms – Arrange to have books ready to bring to the school from your local bookstore. That way you’ll be ready to autograph books after your presentation. Remember to bring your favorite pen for book signings.
Arrive at least thirty minutes early – Leave time for set-up or any snafus that may occur.
Request parking information – I was almost late to one presentation because I couldn’t find a parking spot. Find parking options ahead of time to stay on schedule.
Anticipate technology malfunctions – I’m not tech savvy, so on every school author visit meet the tech staff. Tech issues crop up unexpectedly. Have low-tech activities on hand in case the Internet goes down or there’s a hiccup with your presentation.
Learn the school’s “quiet” signal – I make the peace sign as a cue that the students need to quiet down if things get too rowdy.
Make your presentation interactive – Include call and response, time to move, Q&A, writing activities, etc. Being part of the show increases kids’ enjoyment and learning.
Bring water – All that talking and activity can lead to a parched mouth and dehydration.
Bring extra books – If possible, I bring a few extra books to sell. Invariably, attendees who didn’t preorder ask to buy a book after the presentation. Having books on hand at school author visits makes it easy to get the sale.
Ask for testimonials afterward – If the school enjoyed your visit, getting their seal of approval can help you book other jobs.
Don’ts
Identify students by gender – I wanted to disappear at one visit when the “boy” I called on from the back row said she was a girl. It’s best to identify children by their clothing or hair during Q&A then to call them out by gender.
Spend the entire time talking – Kids get antsy and bored during long lectures. Make your presentation interactive by frequently calling on students, doing demonstrations, or asking for volunteers.
Schedule more than four presentations in one day – It depends on your energy level, but doing more than four, 45 minute to hour-long presentations can be a lot. Ideally, I cap my talks to four per visit max to make sure I remain high-energy.
Ignore the back of the room – Engage students from all areas of the auditorium to maximize the experience for all. I walk up and down the rows in gym areas if the setup allows.
Forget to thank your hosts – I snail mail thank you notes, but emails are fine too. School visits are a great way to get your books in the hands of educators and readers, so make sure to show your appreciation to librarians, administrators, and teachers who invite you to their schools. If you’re lucky, they’ll recommend you to their friends at other schools, or ask you back!
Tonya Duncan Ellis
Tonya Duncan Ellis is author of the Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal starred reviewed picture book, THEY BUILT ME FOR FREEDOM: THE STORY OF JUNETEENTH AND HOUSTON’S EMANCIPATION PARK (HarperCollins 2024), COOKOUT CHEMISTRY (Charlesbridge 2027) and the SOPHIE WASHINGTON chapter book series. She is based in Houston, Texas.
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