How to Host an Excellent School Visit (Tips for Virtual and In-Person), a guest post by Kristin O’Donnell Tubb

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There is nothing – NOTHING! – that makes an author of children’s literature feel more like a rock star than visiting schools. Kids literally screaming and clapping, hands shooting into the air to ask the imperative questions (“Ms. Tubb: Team Edward or Team Jacob?”) (Yes, I still get asked this regularly.) But those high-energy school visits work for a reason: the preparation and care that went into organizing and promoting the event.

Because it IS an event! This is an opportunity for kids to get pumped up – not only about reading, but also WRITING! Let’s face it – schools provide a lot of opportunities to hype reading (as they should!), but is that same attention given to reading’s twin sibling, writing? This is that chance!

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I’ve visited hundreds of schools in my 20 years in publishing. What follows is a list of Do’s and Don’ts for hosting excellent school visits! (And if you have others, feel free to share them in the comments section!)

DO your research! Who do you want to invite and why? Who is a good fit for your school? Your budget? Who would your kids positively shriek over? Who is nearby that can show kids that “hometown” artists are valid and successful, too? (SCBWI keeps a list of speakers by region if you’d like to invite a local author or illustrator to your school; here is, for example, the list for my chapter , the Midsouth region.)

DON’T invite an author or illustrator, only to “uninvite” them later, if, say, the book is questioned by a parent. Whew – these are odd times, and librarians are under so much pressure. We all understand that, and we are on your side. But please read an author’s books before extending an invite. Please? (Asking for a friend. Truly – this very thing happened to a good friend.)

DO request or expect a written agreement detailing the terms of the visit: date, time, address of school, number of students, grades in each session, setting (auditorium/gym/library/classroom), technology needs. Knowing these things ahead of time is SO helpful in knowing how to structure the event.

DON’T wing it, please, even if the event is donated, or paid for by a grant from a third party. I’ve arrived at school visits to have the hosting librarian say, “Oh, is that today?” It’s disheartening, yes, but more importantly, it’s a missed opportunity for your students when there hasn’t been any build-up to the big day.

DO explore your options when it comes to paying for a visiting author or illustrator. Ask your PTO for assistance. Explore grant options from your state humanities office, or your state/local arts commission. Reduce your portion of the travel expenses by partnering with other schools in your school system, or with your public library, or with a local university. And perhaps most overlooked: if you can sell the creator’s books prior to and after the event, many can be flexible on their honorarium. The goal is always, always to match stories with readers.

DON’T assume you can’t afford a visiting author or illustrator – many local creators are very affordable! Plus there are so many options for budgeting an event like this, like those above. And there are of course virtual visits, which are usually far less expensive than in-person events that require travel.

DO promote the event. Include the event in newsletters and weekly classroom roundups. Share it on any social media you might maintain. Put the event on your school calendar/on your website/in any broadcasts your school might produce. Hang posters! Include specials classes like art and music and theater to make welcome signs/songs/reader’s theater excerpts. Invite ELA teachers to make one of the author’s books a read-aloud. Make it a whole-school effort!

DON’T forget to invite parents, admin, and all teachers! When kids see their entire school community getting involved, they know it’s important. Everyone is invited to celebrate stories!

DO encourage teachers to use the tips and techniques mentioned in the program whenever they can, following the event.

DON’T forget to add copies of the author’s books to your library/classroom shelves, especially if books aren’t being sold at/prior to the event. Kids will be clamoring to read books by an author they’ve met – feed that hunger!

DO touch base a few days before the event, swapping cell phone numbers and last-minute details.

And a few special tips for virtual visits:

DO keep them short. I’d recommend no more than 45 minutes. Screen burn-out is real.

DON’T forget that interaction and Q&A looks different in a virtual setting; I can often only see a third of the classroom through the camera. Assistance on managing Q&A isn’t just helpful, it’s truly necessary to make sure everyone is included.

DO try to host these in a classroom setting. I love interactivity, so my virtual visits usually need writing materials and a table/desk.

DON’T be hesitant to ask for a “trial run” if the technology is new to you or your school. I’ll often schedule a trial Zoom for about 10 minutes the afternoon before a virtual visit, just to ensure that all will run smoothly.

DO have a blast! Author visits are amazingly fun when the whole school community celebrates stories together!

Why am I so passionate about school visits and encouraging young writers? I like to call myself a “school visit success story.” When I was in 6 th grade, my fantastic school librarian, Shelia Rollins, set up a program where I got to interview my favorite author by telephone: MADELEINE L’ENGLE. When I told Ms. L’Engle that I wanted to be a writer, too, she said, “Good for you! Keep reading and you can do it.” That telephone call literally changed my life. I try my hardest to find the kid(s) at the schools I visit who need that same message: you can do it!

Meet the author

Photograph by Amanda McNeil

Kristin O’Donnell Tubb is the award-winning author of eleven middle grade novels, including Fowl Play, The Decomposition of Jack, Luna Howls at the Moon, Zeus Dog of Chaos, The Story Collector series , and A Dog Like Daisy . Kristin lives near Nashville, Tennessee with her bouncy-loud family. Just like her two dogs, she can be bribed with cheese.

Kristin can be found far too often on Facebook ( http://www.facebook.com/kristin.tubb) , Twitter ( https://twitter.com/#!/ktubb) , and Instagram ( https://www.instagram.com/kristintubb/) . Oh, and she has a website, too: www.kristintubb.com .

About Fowl Play

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Knives Out meets Finding Orion in this funny and heartwarming middle grade mystery by award-winning author Kristin O’Donnell Tubb about a girl investigating the recent death of her uncle only to find the healing power of family.

Chloe Alvarez has never been to the reading of a last will and testament before, but she hopes it is just like the movies. Lies! Intrigue! The reading of her Uncle Will’s will is standard, until he announces his gift for Chloe: his African grey parrot, Charlie.

Uncle Will was Chloe’s best friend. Without him, she’s left with only her memories of them together—which come to her in snapshots—and her new friend, Charlie. The parrot has a vast vocabulary, and soon Chloe hears her say something odd: It was murder , followed by homicide and cyanide . Chloe becomes convinced her uncle Will’s death was foul play. Why else wouldn’t he have told anyone in the family— especially Chloe—that he was sick?

With the help of her family, Chloe begins the investigation to uncover Uncle Will’s murderer. The suspects: His nosy neighbor. An ex-girlfriend. A rude landlord. A loan shark. But it all leads to more questions than answers. Did someone really kill Uncle Will? Or could this journey help reunite Chloe’s grieving family?