Author and illustrator visits promote reading and books!

Where can I find an author or illustrator? CWILL is an organization of professional children’s writers and illustrators located in British Columbia. You can find the perfect member to visit your school, library, or institution through our speaker’s list.   What will a visit cost? Authors and illustrators set their own fees for classroom visits so be sure to clarify costs with the artist ahead of time. Fees typically average $250 to $350 per classroom visit (one-hour presentation). You can apply for funding through ArtStarts' Artists in the Classroom or Artists in Education programs. Why $250 to $350? Time spent presenting is time away from writing and illustrating. Authors and illustrators are generally less expensive than other school entertainers. More importantly, they promote what’s at the core of education: a love of books!

 

 

Things to consider before the visit

When booking an artist, consider the following:

• Age or grade level of the audience
• Your school's policy regarding visitors (for instance, is a criminal record check needed?); be sure to communicate legal requirements to the author or illustrator you're planning to invite, and please note that CWILL BC does not vet presenters
• Audience size
• Appropriate venue (classroom? gym?)
• Equipment required (projector? Internet access?)
• What is expected in terms of number of presentations and length?
• Accurate directions for getting to the school
• Contact names in case something comes up at the last minute

Once the artist is booked

On the day of the visit:

• Have someone available to greet the author/illustrator and to show him or her where to set up, the location of staff washrooms, and so on
• Have drinking water available during the presentation

• Remain on-hand to supervise your students during the classroom visit
• Have copies of the presenter’s books in the library on display, ready to be borrowed after the visit
• You may want to arrange book sales, either at the school through the author or through a local book store
• Invite parents, school board trustees, other officials, or local media
• Have the school camera on hand and take photos of the event!

“The positive impact of meeting and talking to an author is evident in the students’ enthusiasm for reading. The lessons learned, the enthusiasm generated and the increase in books borrowed indicates that an author visit is worthwhile for any school.”

— Nancy Gauthier, Mt. Slesse Middle School (Chilliwack)