Rick Walton's School Visits
New! A Checklist and Sample Schedules to help you plan your author visit
New! Team Visits. I and another author or illustrator of your choice
will visit your school.
Add breadth to your experience with a team consisting of
a picture book author (me) and a novelist, or
a picture book author (me) and an illustrator.
More presentations, more fun, more inspiration, at a bargain price.
- Who I am/What I Do PowerPoint Presentation::
- Introduces me, tells how I became a writer, why I became a writer, and what
my writing process is. A fast-paced, fun presentation full of corny humor
that helps the abundant serious writing information go down easy.
Accompanied by picture book readings and by question and answer time. 25
minutes to an hour, depending on need and time available. My other
presentations are more effective if students have first participated in this
assembly and been introduced to me and my work.
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- For this presentation I will need a laptop hooked up to a projector, a
microphone that reaches back to where the projector will be, and a room that
can be made as dark as possible.
I can do this presentation with slides if you prefer.
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- My Picture Books Show:
- I have all of my picture books on PowerPoint. Kids (and adults) of all ages enjoy experiencing my books on the big screen. I also encourage the kids to interact with many of my books during the show. 5-10 minutes per book.
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- Coming Up With Story Ideas Workshop:
- I have several easy techniques for coming up with story ideas. In this workshop I teach these techniques
to your students and we use these techniques to write a story as a group. I also tell where I got the ideas for several of my books.
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- For this presentation I will need a chalkboard and chalk, or a whiteboard
and markers.
- Riddle Writing Workshop:
- I've taught kids as young as kindergarten how to write riddles, but this workshop works best with third grade and up.. It's fun, and a great way to teach and reinforce a variety of language arts concepts. Half-hour workshops introduce one riddle-writing formula. Longer workshops can be more complex. Workshops can be as long and complex as you want, all the way to having each student write their own complete, original riddle book.
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- Panels:
- Do you have more than one author coming? Why not get them together to discuss their views on whatever aspect of
writing and/or publishing interests you.
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- Question and Answer:
- After I make a presentation, kids and adults alike usually have a number of questions. I'm glad to answer them.
Variable time.
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- Signings:
- It's thrilling to see kids get excited about owning their own books. I highly recommend arranging for kids to be able to buy my books and have them signed. See How to Have a Successful Book Signing. If you have any doubts about whether you should sell books, check out what Vicki Cobb says about booksales in her article About the Selling of Books at an Author's School Visit.
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- Family Presentations:
- Invite your students' families to an evening of me reading of my books as they're viewed on the screen. The kids love it, they're younger siblings love it, even the parents enjoy it. Serve refreshments. Make it a fun event. There is an extra fee ($200) for this event.
- 1. Make sure your library has plenty of my books.
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- 2. Have the school librarian and teachers read my books to the kids.
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- 3. Give kids some fun assignments that relate to the concepts illustrated by my books.
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- 4. Plan my visit for a time when writing is a major curriculum focus, for example, during a Young Authors fair,
or during preparations for a school writing contest.
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5. Arrange to have my books available for kids to buy and have signed. Use the book sales as a fundraiser for your
school. See
How to Have a Successful Book Signing
for more information.
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6. Read my article
How to Have a Successful Author Visit
How to Have a Successful Book Signing
- Prepare the kids several days in advance for my visit.
- Read them my books.
- Have them do writing assignments based on my books.
- Then a day or two before I come, send home a list of my books and their sale prices.
- Have kids bring money to the school the day I come.
- Allow them to buy books and get them signed during their lunch hour, after school, or set up a special time. I'll
gladly sign their books.
Ordering Books for a Signing
There are three ways to order books for one of Rick's visits:
- Go through a local bookstore. If you decide to do this, be sure to contact the bookstore manager to discuss the
store discount policy. Your book order should be placed at least ten weeks in advance. If you need to open an
account, allow time for that as well. You can also often find a bookstore willing to do all the ordering and selling for you. If you need a suggestion for a bookstore, let me know.
- Order your books through a wholesaler. You probably have one that your school or library orders from on a regular
basis (possibly your book fair provider). Your book order should be placed at least ten weeks in advance. Again,
keep in mind that if you need to open an account, you should allow additional time.
- Order your books directly through Rick's publishers. Many publishers offer a 40% discount for orders associated
with an author presentation. Keep in mind that publishers all have slightly different policies about ordering
books. Rick's publishers include:
If the children are prepared ahead of time and a book list/price list is sent home, some schools sell as many 350
books. Most schools sell out of at least one title.
Wasatch Front, Nephi to Ogden
- Assembly... $250
- Half day..... $500
- Full day...... $750
(A full day consists of a maximum of four presentations.
Each additional presentation is $200.)
Team Visit...$1000 (Four presentations each, for a total of eight.)
Special deal for Wasatch Front schools...
The Rest of Utah
- Full day...... $850 (A full day consists of a maximum of four presentations.
Each additional presentation is $250.)
Team Visit...$1200 (Four presentations each, for a total of eight.)
- Price includes transportation, room, and meals
Out of State
- $1200/day, plus transportation, room, meals.
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Picture Credits
Original bunny climbing rope picture by Paige Miglio (copyright 2000 ©) from One More Bunny authored by Rick Walton.
Original purple monster picture by Renee Williams-Andriani (copyright 1998 ©) from Really, Really Bad School Jokes authored by Rick Walton.
Original bullfrog seated picture by Chris McAllister (copyright 1999 ©) from Bullfrog Pops! authored by Rick Walton.
Electronic modifications by Ann Walton.
Last updated: February 4, 2007
Copyright 2001-2003 © Rick Walton. All rights reserved.
