Author Visits to Schools

SCHOOL VISITS WITH AUTHORS

Bookworks partners with schools to support author visits in Albuquerque and nearby areas. We strive to reach every student with this unforgettable educational experience. The best schools understand how a memorable interaction with a professional and engaging children’s author or illustrator will inspire young minds and help drive literacy connections for years to come.

BOOKS SALES AND AUTOGRAPHING

In the absence of a stipend or honorarium paid to the author (which in some cases can be over $1,000), the school visits we coordinate must include book sales of the visiting author’s books using preorder forms. When planning author visits, we'll work closely with the schools to coordinate preorders and set deadlines for preordering books. A limited number of books can also be available for sale at the event, but preorders are the best and way to ensure that all students have their books in time for the event.

Although a successful school visit is not based solely on sales, an expected amount of books sold is at least 20+ copies. There are some high-demand authors where we will need to guarantee a minimum order of books. We will be sure to include this information in our outreach to you. If you’re not sure your school population will be able to do that, you might want to reach out to your school’s foundation, PTA, or perhaps a “school angel supporter” to supplement your resources.

PUBLICIZING THE EVENT
Ask faculty, teachers, PTA members and students to find creative ways to promote the event. Post fliers or posters around school. Send email to parents to invite them or remind them of visit and the deadline for book orders. Consider contacting your local media announcing the event and invite them to attend. Post about the upcoming event to social media both before and after the event.

BUILDING ENTHUSIASM FOR THE AUTHOR VISIT

One of the most effective ways to make an author visit a success is to build enthusiasm. Here are some ideas that you can use at your school.

BEFORE THE VISIT

Start the buzz! Talk about the event, the author and her books to administrators, teachers, students, parents, volunteers, etc.

  • Read and discuss the author’s books with the students. Encourage the staff to read them too!
  • Ask your librarian to select and supply teachers and students with books that relate to the subject or themes of the author’s books.
  • Encourage teachers to integrate the author’s books with the curriculum and to work in the class.
  • Display the author’s books at the library or create a display of cover books in the hallway.
  • Have students prepare questions for the author on the day of the visit.
  • Organize a contest and have the winners receive autographed books the day of the event.
  • Have students make posters, banners or bookmarks related to the themes in the books.
  • Organize a student art exhibit in response to the themes of the books.
  • Coordinate students to interview the author for the school newsletter or newspaper.
  • Have students write a review of one or more of the author’s books.
  • Invite parents to join their children at the event.
  • Select and prepare students to introduce the author in a creative and lively way. Research about the author would be required. Some places to find more information are the inside flap of books or visit the author’s website.
  • Publicize the event through the school newsletter.
  • Use social media! You can do Twitter chats and encourage students to post questions and thoughts about the book.

THE DAY OF THE EVENT

The celebration begins! Enjoy the visit.

AFTER THE EVENT

  • Set opportunities and time for students to reflect, write, read, and create inspired by the event.
  • Write a class letter and send it to the author.
  • Encourage your students to write a book review of one of the author’s books and send it to Bookworks (schools@bkwrks.com) so it can be shared.