An author’s guide to surviving and thriving in Children’s Book Week

by | Aug 12, 2023

Children’s Book Week is upon us! 

It’s more than just costumes, it’s a time of literacy connection, bringing books into a front row seat and inspiring young readers with writing, reading and author connections.

In August every year authors and illustrators across Australia hot the road and head into classrooms and libraries to celebrate books. It’s a whirlwind of a time and call for energy and organisation as Children’s Book Week often stretches across a whole school term. 

I’ve loved touring regional and urban communities with my books, and several folks have asked me how I keep up. While jelly snakes and strong cuppas might be the first words on my lips, I admit to being an organised kinda gal who loves a spreadsheet and a system.

So here are my top tips for surviving and thriving while visiting schools and libraries during the CBCA Children’s Book Week: 

  1. Keep a master spread sheet of each booking with contacts, times, logistics
  2. Download your maps early and pin your access and parking zones
  3. Contact school’s in advance with a check-in email for details, invoicing, and attachments
  4. Create a road trip snack pack with fruit, nuts, crackers, lozenges and jelly snakes
  5. Pack a wheelie suitcase with your props and books to save your shoulders
  6. Take your initial writers notebooks and early drafts to show writing progress
  7. Print talk outlines, activity sheets and signature cards
  8. Save your presentations on USB and Google drive as back-up
  9.  Display your book on a fold-out music stand if table space minimal
  10. Plan your outfit to colour / theme match your book for the fun of it
  11. Grab your own visitor lanyard and decorate it with book badges
  12. Take a book signing pen to sign school and library stock
  13. Share with teachers how to stay in touch, access more resources
  14. Check before sharing images of your visits – school policies and children’s safety trumps all
  15. Save the vocal cords and take a vow of silence between gigs
  16. Stay hydrated – take more than 1 bottle of water in the car
  17. Get some sleep – early to bed helps the stamina stay
  18. Outsource chores – call on friends & family to help on the home front
  19. Show and tell – blog and social media your daily events to bring your followers along
  20. Remember ‘Little You’ – visiting authors would have been your dream – make it theirs too!

And it goes with out saying, have fun and bring the joy of writing books and reading with you wherever you go. Happy Children’s Book Week!

Andrea. 

 

 

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