There isn’t a parent or teacher alive who doesn’t want their children or students to love reading. Many adults know the power of reading and are aware of how childhood literacy leads to better outcomes later in life. But there is something missing in our attempts to inspire kids to read, and it’s pretty fundamental: We are not providing children with inspiring reading role models. Kids are inspired by cultural icons and leaders. That’s why so many children want to be basketball players like LeBron James or ballerinas like Misty Copeland. But they don’t often see authors portrayed as the literacy rock stars that they are. This is why school author visits matter! Author visits can….
… make reading fun! Author visits help create a culture of reading in schools and can inspire even the most reluctant readers to pick up a book. When reluctant readers meet an author who inspires them, it can open the world of books to them in a way they may not discover otherwise.
… educate and inspire! Author visits can create a great buzz around the school and inspire creativity that will last long after the actual visit. Authors can also educate students about the art of writing (sentence structure, plot development, storytelling, character development, etc.)
… interest kids in writing as a profession! Authors showcase a different, cool, and tangible occupation. One of the statements I hear from kids when I visit a school is, “Wow, you’re real!” Unlike their favorite pop stars, many authors aren’t visible on TV and social media. So, when a child sees an author, whether live or virtually, it makes the job feel more attainable and relatable.
… create lasting memories! Authors are rock stars! Imagine meeting the author of your favorite book. You would pass out! Authors are some of the coolest and most creative people in the world. A child who has the opportunity to meet their favorite author will cherish that memory for the rest of their life.
… lay the groundwork for continuing literacy fun! Having an author visit can segue into fun literacy events like dressing up as beloved characters, bringing favorite books to school, and putting on theatrical performances based on books. This is a great way to keep the positive reading culture alive.
If we want our children to love reading and writing, we need to give them the chance to connect with authors. You can do this by reading the “about the author” sections in your children’s books, or by watching interviews featuring their favorite authors. But the best way is to invite an author to your school and watch literacy magic ensue
Peace and love,
Ty
🎉 To schedule a supadupa awesome author visit with Ty, email Rachel Malley at [email protected]. You can also click the button below to check out the speaking page on our website and learn more. We can’t wait to hear from you! 🎉
Here is what two educators said about Ty’s author visits:
“What was most remarkable about Ty’s visit was the unprecedented level of excitement that students had about reading and meeting an author. While Ty walked through the halls of School 2, students could not wait to talk to him, hug him, shake his hand, and ask him to sign their books. Ty was so good with the kids, who saw him as a relatable role model. The students celebritizing an author was an important and positive consequence of Ty’s visit in that students were just as—if not more—enthusiastic about reading and writing as they usually are about less critical topics such as media and sports. This enthusiasm around reading and writing has endured well beyond Ty’s visit.”
Amanda L. Wickers, Literacy Specialist
School 2 Troy, NY
“I have had the distinct pleasure of introducing Ty Allan Jackson to my elementary school audience through a virtual hangout to which he delivered an outstanding yet personal experience for us to come together and celebrate reading! Ty is a larger than life character who captivated our audience through his personality and real-life experiences as a children’s book author. He brought a message of hope and inspiration to my young readers and writers, as well as to their families about the value of reading. The response of our families was overwhelmingly positive as they asked for more ways to support their children’s connection to literature.”
Julie D. Bowman, Principal, Hamilton Elementary
