My Little Bookcase Challenge: Meet an Author

The August My Little Bookcase challenge is Meet and Author or Illustrator. In this challenge, families are encouraged to investigate ways to connect with their favorite authors. Suggestions for participation include attending library-hosted author events, writing letters to favorite authors,  or attending book fairs or book signings. The site offers many resources for events all around Australia, as well as links to several Year of the Reader events.

For those not in Australia, here are some additional ideas for participation in the Meet an Author event.

Summer Reading Programs

One of the best ways to keep kids involved with learning is a local summer reading program. Most libraries, schools and states offer some kind of summer reading program for kids to get involved in. The programs are similar, but they all involve asking children to read a certain number of books or for a certain number of minutes during their summer vacation. This varies, but there is also usually some kind of a reward or incentive built into the program, and often there is a "party" of some kind for successful participants. Some of these programs also offer opportunities to meet favorite authors, so be sure to check that out.

Paired with reading lists often provided by the schools, these programs can be a great way to keep your kids reading during the summer. To find a program is your area, begin with your child's school. Ask if they have a summer reading list, and if the school is participating in any kind of summer reading program. Next, check you local library. Most libraries do some kind of summer reading incentive, even if it is on an informal basis.

Virtual Author in Residence Programs

If you can't find an author program in your area, a simple search for "virtual author in residence" will yield many online opportunities. Penguin has a great archive of interviews with authors and author readings at their Penguin Storytime page.

Reading Rockets hosts 100 video interviews with children's authors that can be downloaded. While not a personal Q&A, this is a great way for children to get to know favorite authors.

Email a Favorite Author

Scholastic offers tips on ways children can meet and interact with authors online in their article Meet Favorite Kids' Authors Online. They suggest researching an author, visiting the author's website and emailing the author to start a dialog about a favorite book. Tips for how to contact an author and what to ask are included. Many children's authors websites include sections just for students and just for teachers with more ideas on how to incorporate an author study in the classroom or homeschool.

The Meet an Author or Illustrator challenge ends on August 31, but the contacts that may be made during this challenge will last far beyond.

Copyright 2012 Irene Taylor.All rights reserved.