For Parents & Teachers

The following information is for both authors and illustrators preparing for school visits as well as for teachers and other school personnel interested in coordinating author visits to their schools.

In S. M. Ford’s article, “Going Back to School: Domestic School Visits,” (found at the Society of Children’s Book Writers & Illustrators website--www.scbwi.org), Ms. Ford explains various ways for authors to contact schools and initiate a visit. She also offers pointers on preparation and presentations. Finally, she provides speakers with tips on analyzing their presentations and lists standard fees for school visits.
The SCBWI website also supplies a list of members’ websites. (http://www.scbwi.org/links/mem_links.htm) This would be a good starting point for teachers to locate an author’s website for information concerning a school visit.

The Institute of Children’s Literature offers great suggestions for school visits in this chat with Lisa Mullarkey, “Super Successful School Visits.”

Other web sources highlighting school visits include the following:

http://www.education-world.com/a_curr/curr374.shtml
http://eduscapes.com/tap/topic111.htm
http://www.cynthiacotten.com/visits.htm

The ultimate resource on school visits is Toni Buzzeo and Jane Kurtz’s book, Terrific Connections with Authors, Illustrators, and Storytellers. This book is valuable for both authors preparing for school visits and especially for parents, teachers, and librarians who may be planning for an author visit. Terrific Connections explains the entire process from envisioning a school visit, selecting an author, working the presentation into the curriculum, and even alternative connections with authors and illustrators.

Kids love connecting with authors. It sparks their creativity and encourages them to expand their worlds. Author presentations bring reading and writing to life.

Cynthia Reeg’s author presentations include such topics as
• Dissecting a Story
• So You Want To Be a Writer
• Fun with Poetry

Read testimonials here

If you would like your students to be this excited about reading and writing,
click here to contact Cynthia Reeg about a visit to your school.