Author Visits Kindergarten

Some comments I made on a writing forum that I thought were worth saving. The topic was about authors making presentations at schools. For the kindergarten kids, I turned my presentation into a game. I would ask for a volunteer. The kids already knew they got a trading card if they participated so lots of hands went up. I’d ask their name and then make up a “silly” story using them as a character and something the kids would pick out of the room as a challenge. Example: Sue & Pencil sharpener. “Sue walked to the pencil sharpener. She could hear it calling to her. She put her ear close to the …..” Improvising as I went. Something unexpected would happen, then I’d stop and ask for another volunteer and have the class pick another item.


After enough of that, we talked “briefly” about beginnings middles and ends. We talked about how exciting writing could be. The idea- You can make up fantastic adventures in your imagination and tell them to a couple friends. When you can write them down, you can share with thousands of people. We’d talk about the same concept with reading –being able to share stories.

Each small piece was short, interactive and we used silly hats, as props. I did talk about my book, but focused on a creature I have in the story, a hippograff (not a hippogriff.) A hippograff is a pigmy hippo with dragonfly wings. They have seven stomachs and eat broccoli. The broccoli ferments in their stomach and makes gas to give them lift so you can fly on them. Landings are stinky because they need to get rid of the gas. The kids love that. Sometimes we make up some creatures of our own, again a way to get them involved.

From a marketing perspective, the talks can be fun and entertaining. They can fit wit some of what the teachers are teaching, but the kindergarten kids are a little young for my book. It is a good story for parents who read to their kids, but better for a first or second grade listener.

A final thought for you teachers out there. I always visit with the teachers to learn what they are teaching about reading and writing and what they would like me to try to reinforce in my presentation. My first standing ovation was from the middle school grammar teachers. [grin].