Author Events: Yes! You Can Compete…
Cat Urbain at BI Historical Society
Author Partners with Non-Profit for Fun Family Event
A top priority for many parents, librarians and educators is putting more books into the hands of kids, more words into their heads, and more fuel sparking their imaginations. Libraries offer weekend book clubs, teachers give nightly reading assignments, and parents read aloud to their young children at bed time. But, as a child grows older, the lure of technology and television becomes stronger. Like the Turkish Delight offered by the White Witch in the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe- how can they resist?
One way to excite children about reading is to provide the opportunity to meet an author in person. Hearing an author read aloud, listening to them talk about how they chose their title or who was the inspiration for a character- can have a magical effect on a child. Yet many award winning authors present programs at a library or local Barnes and Noble and only two children show up, while down the street at the toy store, 20 kids stand in line, waiting to purchase the latest Webkins. What can we do to turn the tide- how do we line kids up for literacy?
Creative publicity is a must. A fun, interactive program with appeal to the entire family will help, and kid friendly food always works. I recently discovered that partnering with a local or national non-profit will also ensure good exposure and a good crowd, even if the weather chooses not to cooperate. Partnering with a non-profit will not only increase your chances of free publicity it will also increase sales.
Earlier this month, I participated in “Block Island Day”, a Saturday program for families to raise money for, and interest in, the local island Historical Society. Flyers were printed and passed out in every kid friendly location; a musician was hired; volunteers baked food, made lemonade, and a press release with a large photo of the book was printed in the local newspaper. The article promised an author reading, book signing, art projects, scavenger hunts, a fun “Catch the Lobster Game” and a creative writing project. Volunteers spread the word through local taxi drivers, supermarket workers and the local Chamber of Commerce.
As I woke to a brilliant sun rising over the ocean, I was psyched- this signing would bring in more crowds than the new “Where the Wild Things Are” film. What I neglected to realized was, this was the first brilliant sunshine that Block Island had seen all summer. By 11:00 the heat was stifling. By the start of the event at noon, almost every kid, parent, grandparent and Labrador retriever was not lined up at the Historical Society- they were at the beach.
There were however, a few book lovers left on the island and by 12:30 we had enough of a crowd to get started. Not only did everyone who came buy a book, they all said, “Please keep the change as a gift to the Historical Society.” Whether it was the exciting chapter reading, a love for history or perhaps because they admired our stamina, we all left happy and hopefully at least one kid fell asleep that night with an arm wrapped around a book.
Cat
August 31, 2009