Author visits are a great way to get kids charged up about reading and writing. Research has shown that such experiences do enrich and enhance children's learning. As caring and vigilant adults, we must all do what we can to make reading a book as irresistible to a child as picking up that GameBoy or turning on the TV. I can't tell you the number of times I've had kids confide to me that my presentation inspired them to write a story.

A young woman recently contacted me. I had spoken to her English class when she was a junior in high school. She told me she went home that very day and started writing a novel! Subsequently, she graduated from college with a degree in journalism, and wrote a screenplay that was previewed at the Austin Film Festival.

What makes a successful visit?

The Southern California Children's Booksellers Association offers this advice in their guidebook for author visits: "The success of your event will depend on your students' familiarity with your guest's books. It is necessary for you to assume the responsibility of making the books available to the youngsters and seeing to it that they are read and discussed."

Suggestions:

• After reading the author's books, share a bit about the author by looking her up in Something About the Author or scheduling a visit to her website during library time.
• Create a buzz by putting up bulletin boards, a fun fact a day about the author, making bookmarks, etc.
• Use the materials in the packet I send to guide book-related art and writing projects.
• Discuss possible questions for the author ahead of time. One author I know asks that all questions be written down on note cards. That way, if there isn't time to answer the all during the presentation, the note cards can be collected and the author can provide answers in writing following the visit.

Selling books

Most schools I visit do choose to sell books and I've noticed that creates one more connection for students. Second Grade Pig Pals can be ordered from Scholastic Book Clubs by calling 1-800-724-6527. Your local independent bookstore can order The Magic Kerchief for you; ordering directly from Holiday House will take 6-8 weeks. Hattie Big Sky (fall 2006) can also be ordered via bookstores or from Delacorte/Random House.