One of the most moving emails I’ve received as an author came from Summer, a grown woman whose school I visited almost 20 years ago. She drew my gecko character after the assembly and her teacher was so impressed, she made me a copy, which I admired. Grownup Summer wrote, “it’s incredible how memories like this can resurface, reminding you how small acts of encouragement can keep you going when you feel isolated and utterly alone.”
Never doubt that author visits have impact. Sometimes it’s immediately apparent; sometimes it surfaces years later. But the students who experience a visit don’t easily forget it.
The core case: What author visits actually do
Author visits turn “the person who wrote the book” from an abstract idea into a real person. This is a huge shift for kids, and its impact shows up in three areas.
Reading engagement
School library circulation spikes after a visit, particularly for the visiting author’s books, but for other books as well. Reluctant readers pick up books they wouldn’t otherwise try.
I think every one of your books has at least 5-10 students waiting for it!
Librarian at Del Rio Elementary in Bakersfield (after author visit)
Writing motivation
Hearing from an author about the messy, human process of writing a book — drafts, rejection, revision — demystifies writing. It makes the whole process seem much more achievable.
My students have been very interested in writing books. They choose it for break times and love to share their stories.
Teacher at Hollister Elementary in Santa Barbara
Hearing from a published author about his own process validated the work students are doing.
Literacy coordinator at TASIS-Lugano in Switzerland
Social-emotional connection
Just as in Summer’s case, visits create shared, memorable experiences. Kids feel “seen” when an author validates their questions or interests.
Our students felt inspired to chase their dreams and never give up,
Librarian at Battle Ground Elementary in Battleground, IN
What the research and surveys show
A National Literacy Trust 2019 survey found that twice as many students who had an author visit their school read above their expected grade level, as compared with their peers who didn’t have an author visit. The same survey also found substantially higher levels of reading and writing enjoyment among students who’d experienced a visit, a significant outcome in a time when fewer students are reading for fun. Ask any writing teacher; they’ll tell you how vital this is.
According to specialized educator surveys by SchooVisitExperts.com, 91 percent of hosts report that author visits motivate students to read more. Plus, 75 percent of surveyed educators said that visits inspire student creativity, and 70 percent note an increase in writing motivation.
Reluctant readers benefit as well. Over 200 responses in educator surveys conducted by SchoolVisitExperts.com express that author visits create a lasting impact on reluctant readers and special-needs students. For these kids in particular, it sparks an interest in checking out books they would otherwise ignore.
And the effect isn’t limited to just those students. Data from the National Literacy Trust survey shows that library circulation experiences a strong uptick after a visit. Kids who attend an author visit are significantly more likely to use both school and public libraries to access reading materials, at 71 percent, versus 58 percent for peers without that visit experience.
Bottom line: If a school wants their students to read and write more, and with greater enthusiasm, author visits provide results.
Convinced yet? Come see what a visit day actually looks like on my Author Visits page.
Long-term impact, not just a fun day
Author visits are not merely a way to entertain students. They justify their costs with long-lasting results. William, who began reading my Chet Gecko mysteries after I visited his school, wrote me years later as a high school student. He said, “I really owe it to you, Mr. Hale. Without your books sparking my interest in reading, I would never have finished the likes of To Kill A Mockingbird, The Merchant of Venice or Of Mice And Men.”
Author visits also reinforce curriculum goals. With nonfiction authors this is easy to spot, but fiction writers also provide value in this area. For example, my Clark the Shark books have been used for Social-Emotional Learning units, and my Chet Gecko Mysteries have been used to teach simile and metaphor. Plus, nearly any writer will talk about the challenges of the writing process, which ties directly into student work.
Want more classroom connections like these? Check out my Author Visit Resource Material, full of discussion guides and activities.
What makes a visit actually effective?
Of course, it helps if your author is a skilled presenter. Given the short attention spans of younger elementary students, presentations should offer plenty of interactivity. Getting kids up in front of the room to draw, participate in an experiment, or take part in Reader’s Theater are tried-and-true methods of engagement.
Strong visuals are important too, particularly in this screen-happy age. And allotting plenty of time for Q&A allows kids to satisfy their curiosity about the author and their books, while being recognized for their contribution to the event.
Personally, I draw on my experience in professional children’s theater, frequently changing up the presentation, using call-and-response techniques, and injecting plenty of laugh lines to keep kids engaged.
In the end, author visits offer a terrific return on investment. They’re a proven way to inspire reading, writing, and creativity, while giving kids an experience they’ll never forget. Bottom line: because reading is such a fundamental tool for success in life, investing in an author visit means investing in your students’ future success.
Ready to bring this to your school?
