Children’s Author Visit Tips: How to Prepare and Wow a Young Audience
- Brittany Plumeri
- Sep 5, 2021
- 3 min read
Updated: Jul 21
You’ve published your children's book and marketed it—now comes your first school author visit.
Nerves? Totally normal.
But with a few simple, fun techniques, you can engage young readers, boost your confidence, and deliver a school author visit they'll remember.
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🔄 Bonus: What to Do Besides Reading Your Book
My Top 5 Tips to Prepare for Author Visits:
Tip 1 - Do NOT pretend everyone’s in their underwear
Please don’t do it. Seriously, it’s weird. No.
The true tip is to mentally divide the room into three visual “slices” and find three inanimate objects in each: in the middle of the classroom, to the right of the classroom, and to the left of the classroom. Make sure all three of these objects need to be in the MIDDLE of the kids in each section or ”slice.”
Choose a desk, pencil, paper, piece of snack that somehow made its way to the floor...anything inanimate. And this way as you’re “scanning” the room reading, you don’t need to make eye contact BUT you give the impression that you are.
Tip 2 - Visualize your hand held in front of your mouth
When you're practicing, place your hand about a good 5 inches from your face and use it as a physical goal. Push your voice level so that it projects around that barrier. Using this trick will prevent you from yelling, blowing out your voice, or being too quiet. You’ll end up with the perfect volume level every time.
💡 Need ideas for what to do besides reading your book during your visit? Don’t miss our post: 7 Fun Activities for Author Visits That Kids Will Love
Tip 3 - Read your book at least 5 times before the visit
Practice. Makes. Permanent.
Even though it's your book, chances are you haven't read it aloud often. Pretend you have an audience, project your voice, and find the opportunities to make it fun. Whatever you do, do NOT read monotone or you just sound like Charlie Brown’s teacher. (Wah wah woh wah wah…)
You need to give it emphasis. Change the way your voice sounds for different characters. Emphasize questions and statements. Rise and drop your voice. Make it interesting!
But make sure that you practice all these things so that even when your nerves kick in, your captivating performance comes second nature.
Tip 4 - Know your audience
Tailor your presentation and language to suit the age group you'll be in front of. Consider their interests, reading levels, and attention spans when crafting your content. By connecting with your young readers, you'll capture their attention and create a memorable experience.
So get back to their level! If you’re reading to 7 year olds, you get to be 7 again. Think about what YOU enjoyed at that age. What bored you? Let those thoughts guide and inspire you.
Tip 5 - Have fun!
You’re about to be in a room where those children filling the seats think you’re someone absolutely incredible, and who knows! You might inspire a new generation of authors all because you replied to that email “I’d love to.”
Author visits present a unique opportunity to engage and inspire young minds, sparking their love for reading and storytelling. By following these five tips you can make your author visits truly memorable.
Remember, as a children's book author, you have the power to ignite imaginations, foster a lifelong love for literature, and shape the future of young readers. Embrace the magic of author visits and embark on a journey of inspiration, creativity, and storytelling!
✅ Want to Go Beyond Just Reading Your Book?
You’ve got the confidence and the plan—but what exactly should you do during the visit?
It’s packed with creative, classroom-tested ideas that keep students engaged and help you shine as a visiting author!
Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links to products we enjoy using ourselves. Should you choose to use these links, At Home Author may earn affiliate commissions at no additional cost to you.
