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When Reyna Grande comes to speak at your junior high school, high school, or college/university, students will be inspired to read, write, and learn more about the process of creating books. Plan in advance and consider recruiting help from teachers, students, parents, staff, and volunteers in order to turn this literary event in to a meaningful experience. Here are a few things to consider about getting organized for the event:

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

To have Reyna visit and present her work at your school, please contact her at bookreyna@gmail.com to discuss date, honorarium, schedule, location, and any equipment or materials the author will need. Also provide information about age group, number of sessions (maximum of three), number of students per session, and any special needs of your school.

BUDGET

The host is responsible for an honorarium due the day of the visit or shortly thereafter. If there is travel involved, the host is responsible for travel cost, lodging, and meals unless honorarium is all-inclusive. Please discuss arrangements and details with Reyna.

STUDENT PREPARATION

The most effective way to ensure a successful author visit is having students read her books in advance. Read and discuss the author work with the students and consider having them complete an individual or class project based on one of her books. Click here to download lesson plans for Across a Hundred Mountains. Click here to download lesson plans for Dancing with Butterflies. If this is not an option, considering sharing a chapter of her book, her biography, and articles written about her so that the students will have some information prior to her visit.

BOOKS SALES AND AUTOGRAPHING

Reyna Grande’s visits include a book-signing session. You can order from a bookstore, Simon & Schuster, or Reyna would be happy to bring copies of her books for sale. Please remember that books should be ordered two to three months in advance to secure copies and allow time for shipping.

PUBLICIZING THE EVENT

Ask faculty, teachers, PTA members and students to find creative ways to promote the event. Consider contacting your local media announcing the event and invite them to attend.

Building Enthusiasm for the Author Visit

One of the most effective ways to make an author visit a success is to build enthusiasm. Here are some ideas that you can use at your school:

Before the Visit

Start the buzz! Talk about the event, the author and her books to administrators, teachers, students, parents, volunteers, etc.

• Read and discus the author's books with the students. Encourage the staff to read them too!
• Ask your librarian to select and supply teachers and students with books that relate to the subject or themes of the author's books. If necessary, books can be borrowed from the public library or other schools.
• Encourage teachers to integrate the author's books with the curriculum and to work in the class.
• Display the author's books at the library or create a display of cover books in the hallway.
• Have students prepare questions for the Author on the day of the visit.
• Organize a contest and have the winners receive autographed books the day of the event.
• Have students make posters, banners or bookmarks related to the themes in the books.
• Organize a student art exhibit in response to the themes of the books.
• Coordinate students to interview the author for the school newsletter or newspaper.
• Have students write a review of one or more of the Author’s books.
• Invite parents join their children at the event.
• Select and prepare students to introduce the author in a creative and lively way. Research about the author would be required. Some places where to find more information are the inside flap of books and the web.
• To learn more about Reyna Grande's life and work visit www.reynagrande.com.
• Publicize the event through the school newsletter.

The Day of the Event

The celebration begins! Enjoy the visit.

After the Event

• Set opportunities and time for students to reflect, write, read, and create inspired by the event.
   
• Write a class letter and send it to the author. (Students can write to Reyna at reynagrande@gmail.com)
   
• Encourage your students to write a book review of one of Reyna's books and post it on Amazon.com.
   
• Organize students to read, nominate, and vote for the author's books for your state reading award. You can find a complete list of link to the state awards at http://www.carr.org/read/stateAwardbks.htm.
  
  *This information was provided by author Yuyi Morales.