School Visit Information
School Visit Information
AUTHOR AND ILLUSTRATOR PRESENTATIONS
Have Dawn Marie Hooks visit your school to speak to kids about the process of writing, illustrating, and publishing a book. Sessions are customized to meet the your needs. Dawn can focus on a variety of educational topics from her books (blindness, the five senses, etc.), writing topics (character development, word choice, story structure, etc.), or creating illustration. Dawn loves to interact with students in-person, but is also happy to present virtually.
Cost:
An author/illustrator classroom visit (virtual or in person) is $100 for a 30 to 40 minute presentation or $500 for the day. Travel fees may be additional, if applicable. Fee may be negotiated if school collects book orders prior to the event.
A one day visit includes:
Up to four, 30 to 40 minute age-specific assemblies covering:
• Book introduction and reading
• Presentation on a customized book topic
• Question-and-answer session with the audience
For preordered books, Dawn will bring the signed copies of the books to distribute to the students. For those students and staff purchasing books at the event, Dawn will gladly autograph them on the day of the visit.
SCHOOL PROVIDES
•Directions to school, presentation times and audience size, and any other pertinent information regarding presentation expectations.
•A small table for small group/classroom presentations. For large group presentations, a microphone, document camera with projector will be needed.
•A presentation schedule that allows at least 10 minutes between sessions.
IMPORTANT: Please familiarize the students with the author before the visit. Mrs. Hooks will provide the school with one copy of three of her books, a draft of a parent letter and order form, and a few posters to promote her visit.
•Make the kids aware of the upcoming author/illustrator appearance starting a month in advance. Put her books on display in the school library. Put a display of book covers up in the hallway.
•Send out a letter to the parents about the author/illustrator visit and a book order form at least two weeks in advance (draft provided by Mrs. Hooks).
•Collect order forms and send out a reminder in the school newsletter. Book orders need to be collected as they come in. Please contact author two weeks before the visit to let her know how many book orders were returned so she can bring the correct number of books.
Other Suggestions:
•Have an art class make posters, banners, and bookmarks welcoming the author/illustrator.
•Throw a contest and have the winners receive autographed books or eat lunch with the author/illustrator.
•Arrange for the students on the school paper to interview the author.
•Call the local newspapers, which may send a photographer to cover the event. If they don’t, take pictures yourself and submit them.
•Talk it up. The more excited you are, the more excited the kids will be. And when the kids are excited, any message the author gives them will really hit home.
Please contact Dawn to inquire.