Build excitement about reading with successful author/illustrator visits and "virtual visit" celebrations!

Here's step-by-step help in organizing actual visits or "virtual" celebrations—including lively curricular activities. You'll find new models to help you gather community support, plus new ways to obtain funding and involve co-sponsors. All the necessary steps are covered: the choice of person, timing, place, equipment…getting the books, resource booklets, and videos…helping teachers publicize the event to students (including activities tied to various content areas)…and holding "proxy visits", events celebrating author/illustrator works, "Read-ins," or visits by e-mail. A number of reproducible forms help make any event flow smoothly—also aided by all the updated contact and related information in the resource section.

• Expanded with more ideas, guides, and updated resource information, including websites and new books
• Gives many examples of curriculum-related activities and ways to use the event to promote literacy
• Presents alternatives to on-site visits, author-focused celebrations, and virtual visits
• Promote enhanced literacy through an exciting celebration of books and the authors and illustrators who create them! You'll build a love of reading, show connections between books (developing higher order thinking skills), and promote reading comprehension as young readers grow in authentic response to their reading.