Have Swag Will Travel: Planning Library Visits, Webinars, and Other Outreach, by Kathy MacMillan

Hello readers! I am delighted to bring you today's interview with author Kathy MacMillan. Kathy and I have several interests in common including kidlit, libraries and American Sign Language. I first interviewed Kathy in 2014 and again in 2020, and she has featured my work on her information-rich blog multiple times (Lucy's Blooms here, my potty-humor books, here, and my Story Time with Signs and Rhymes series, here ). Fun Fact: Kathy and I will be publishing house siblings when my next book, MAMA'S HOME, comes out with Familius in 2026! 

by Kathy MacMillan and Ekaterina Ladatko

Kathy's latest book, NITA'S FOOD SIGNS, (the third title in her Little Hands Signing series), came out on February 4, 2025 (illustrated by Ekaterina Ladatko, Familius), but she has MANY books to her credit. I've long said that one of my favorite parts of being an author is connecting with young readers at school, library, and bookstore visits, and in my Birth Stories for Books series, I often ask authors for one piece of advice related to planning successful book-related events. Since Kathy and I already took a deep dive into her path to publication for NITA'S DAY, Kathy's first book in the Little Hands Signing series, we decided to use today's conversation to take a deeper dive into planning book-related events and promotions. So let's get to it! 

Dawn Prochovnic: Welcome back to the blog, Kathy! I'm so happy for you to be here. And congrats on your latest book! 

Kathy MacMillan: Hi Dawn!  Thanks for having me!

DP: You offer a wide variety of innovative, collaborative virtual and in-person events. You present regularly at public libraries, you offer a variety of webinars and eCourses, and I even recall a fun and informative Instagram Live event with fellow author, Tracy Gold, when your book SHE SPOKE first came out. I’d love to learn more about your experience planning/implementing one or more of these events.  Let's start with libraries: 

Reflecting on the (many!) library programs you have facilitated, both traditional, and virtual, are there any elements/activities that stand out that the young readers (and/or their parents/caregivers) seemed to enjoy the most? 

KM: Anything interactive! So many authors (and people in the general public) think that storytime is just holding up a book and reading it, but there is so, so much more to it! An effective storytime includes lots of opportunities to connect and interact with your audience. That can mean pausing to ask questions, singing songs together, using props, or inviting volunteers up to help act out a story – or all of the above! If there is nothing for the kids and families to do but sit there, I consider that a failed program.

I have been presenting storytime programs that teach American Sign Language at libraries and schools since the early 2000s, so all of my programs (even my workshops for adults and writing programs for teens) include some American Sign Language. It’s a great way to get kids moving while still being engaged with the content. 

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

When it comes to programming and presentations, my motto is “Connection over perfection.” It’s much more important to be engaged with your audience than it is to get through everything on your plan. You have to be tuned in to the group, and if they need a wiggle song where I planned a story, then they get a wiggle song!

DP: Such great advice. And I LOVE that motto! 

Do you have any fun anecdotes and/or pictures to share from your past events? 

KM: Here are some pictures of various programs and storytimes I have done. The problem with being very animated, and with using a lot of ASL in my programs, is that inevitably there are a lot of pictures of me making weird faces! 

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

DP: Love it! 

Do you have any event mishaps or cautionary tales that other storytime/book event planners might benefit from knowing about (or simply get a kick out of)?

KM: This story comes from a writing workshop for middle schoolers, but it’s a great example of leaning into participation and of being resourceful. In a writing workshop about plotting, I had planned to show a clip of the movie Cars to illustrate effective finales. We set everything up ahead of time and worked around the school’s firewall, and everything was working fine. But in the workshop itself, the video wouldn’t play. So I got a couple of volunteers to come up and act out the scene instead. It was hilarious and so much fun that I ended up doing that for all my future presentations, instead of playing the clip at all!  Sometimes last-minute inspiration to get around an obstacle can yield the best activities.

DP: What a great story! I can just imagine how much fun that part of the program is for the participants!

I noticed on a recent promotional piece for a library story time that "all attendees will receive a free book," funded by the Friends of the Library. How did that fantastic arrangement come to be?  

KM: This was a very cool initiative by the Friends of the Newark Free Library (DE). They had several authors presenting over the course of the year, and the Friends provided money to purchase copies of each author’s books to be distributed at the programs! 

I have also been able to do book giveaways at some of my programs which were funded through the Maryland State Arts Council’s Arts in Education program. This is a fabulous program, and many other states have something similar. Basically, the way it works is that the teaching artist has to apply to be a part of the roster (and it’s a pretty intense process, so if you are brand new to doing arts or literary programs in schools and libraries, you might want to wait to get some experience before you apply.) Once you are on the roster, schools, libraries, and nonprofits can access grant funding to cover teaching artist fees and program materials (including books to distribute.) The best part about the Maryland program is that the application process for the teachers and librarians is super easy, with the teaching artist handling most of it.

DP: Those are great tips! Thanks for sharing your approach here. 

You also offer a variety of webinars and eCourses. Are there any particular resources you rely on and/or recommend for others who might want to offer remote programming? 

KM: I have taught online courses through the American Library Association for many years, and I vastly expanded my webinar offerings during the pandemic, when library staff needed online professional development. I have had great success with offering online library and educator workshops, and far less success with offering online workshops for writers. I think the difference is that my offerings for library staff and educators are fairly niche; I focus on serving Deaf patrons in libraries, and on strategies for incorporating ASL into storytimes in an effective and respectful way. There are simply very few people offering these kind of trainings, while there are a LOT of people offering online writing workshops. 

So my advice is to figure out what you can offer that very few others can, and then market directly to your audience. I post about my webinars on my website and social media, of course, but most of my registrations come from my direct contacts with library staff and state library organizations.

DP: Super advice, Kathy!

You write in a wide variety of genres, from board books and picture books, to YA and instructional books for librarians and educators. What specific event planning advice do you have for folks like yourself with a wide range of work that is intended for vastly different audiences?

KM: When I first started offering specialty programs for libraries (long before I had books to promote!), I built my storytime programs around public library summer reading programs. That’s because many libraries only have money to pay for outside presenters during the summer. And summer programs are typically all-ages programs. (Even if they are advertised as for a particular age group, you never know who is going to show up!) So for every program I do, I think in options: What if only babies show up? What if it’s all older kids? What if it’s a mix? 

Speaking of summer reading: Many public libraries across the country now use the Collaborative Summer Library Program, which means that many libraries nationwide are now using the same theme. This is great for authors and teaching artists, as it means we can develop one program related to the theme, and market it everywhere! (Even better, the themes are announced several years in advance, giving us plenty of time to plan.) I have had great success sending out a postcard mailing to public libraries in my area and surrounding states with information about my programs in January, and offering a 15% off discount for anyone who books by February 1. Check out my 2025 offering here.

DP: Looks like your summer is going to be loads of fun! 

You also have an ABUNDANCE of book-related EXTRAS (learning extensions, activity ideas, and other educational resources, etc) for young readers and their grown-ups on your Storytime Stuff website. Since Women's History Month is observed in March, (and two of your books, SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO are particularly relevant to this topic), can you point us in the direction of some helpful extras on your website that you've developed in support of this observance?  

KM: You can find all the goodies for SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO at https://tinyurl.com/shespoke (We snagged that url when the first book was published, so we had something easy to put in the book itself. I just have to make sure to keep the link up to date!).  Our latest additions are SHE SPOKE and SHE SPOKE TOO word searches, made with the free worksheet generator at Education.com.

 She Spoke Word Search (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Word Search answer key (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Too Word Search (printable .pdf)

 She Spoke Too Word Search answer key (printable .pdf)

DP: Wow! That tinyurl is jam-packed with great resources and learning extensions!  

Do you have any new projects and/or special events coming up that you’d like to put on our radar? 

KM: I’m so excited to be celebrating Women’s History Month with SHE SPOKE TOO: 14 MORE WOMEN WHO RAISED THEIR VOICES AND CHANGED THE WORLD. You can find an interview with me and my co-author, Manuela Bernardi, where you can learn more about the book here.

by Kathy MacMillan and Manuela Bernardi

I also want to share my most recent book, NITA’S FOOD SIGNS, which came out in February. This is the third book in the Little Hands Signing board book series, which combines family stories with instruction in basic ASL vocabulary. Check out NITA’S FOOD SIGNS storytimes in ASL and English and learn more about the series here.

© Maryland State Arts Council 2023, MSAC.org

DP: I just received an early copy of NITA'S FOOD SIGNS and I love it! (The book design in that series is absolutely marvelous!) 

Is there something you wished I would have asked you that you haven’t had the opportunity to share? 

KM: As someone who spent years on the other side of the library desk booking programmers, my best advice for anyone who wants to perform in libraries is: make it easy on the people who are hiring you! Make sure your program titles and descriptions, rates and policies, and promotional materials are easy to find on your website. One of the best things I ever did was add an availability calendar to my website—I can update it from my phone and it shows my availability in real-time.

And here are a couple of other resources that authors and illustrators who want to connect with public libraries might find helpful:

Working with Public Libraries: A Guide for Authors, Part 1 by Kathy MacMillan (at PubCrawl)

Working with Public Libraries: A Guide for Authors, Part 2 by Kathy MacMillan (at PubCrawl)

Storytime Magic for Picture Book School and Library Visits (Webinar recording; 90 minutes)

DP: Wowza, Kathy. I cannot thank you enough for your willingness to share so many of your event and book promotion experiences and ideas with us. 

Dear readers, you've heard me say it before: the best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Follow them on social media. Subscribe to their newsletter. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others.  Let's give Kathy's books some love:

She Spoke Too purchase links:

Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore (autographed copies that support a great cause!)  

Bookshop.org   

Amazon.com   

BarnesAndNoble.com   

Familius.com

Nita’s Food Signs purchase links:

Autographed copies from the Deaf Camps, Inc. Online Bookstore

Bookshop.org 

Amazon.com  

BarnesAndNoble.com  

Familius.com 

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Image provided by Kathy MacMillan

Kathy MacMillan (she/her) is a writer, nationally certified American Sign Language interpreter, librarian, editor, and signing storyteller.  She writes picture books (including The Runaway Shirt and the Little Hands Signing series from Familius Press), children’s nonfiction (including the She Spoke series from Familius Press and Super Cities!: Baltimore from Arcadia Publishing), middle grade fantasy (the Chronicles of Cavallon series under the pen name Kim Forester), and young adult fantasy (Sword and Verse and Dagger and Coin, both HarperTeen). Her debut novel, Sword and Verse, was a finalist for the Compton Crook Award. She has also published eight resource books for educators, librarians, and parents, including 5 volumes in the bestselling Storytime Magic series from ALA Editions. Kathy lives in Baltimore, MD. Find her online at KathyMacMillan.com or on Twitter and Instagram at @kathys_quill.

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Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Have Swag Will Travel: Planning Events that Align with a Book's Theme, by Carol Gordon Ekster

Dear Readers, it's time to buckle up for another great Have Swag Will Travel guest post. 

Today's guest, Carol Gordon Ekster, is a retired educator with several books to her credit--AND she is one of my "agency sisters" at The Seymour Agency. She has visited the blog previously to share her path to publication stories for YOU KNOW WHAT? and SOME DADDIES. Today she's stopping by the blog to share her book event experience and planning tips with us. Take it away, Carol!  

Image Source: Carol Gordon Ekster

Have Swag Will Travel: Tips for Planning Book Events

by Carol Gordon Ekster

When you have a book coming out, you need to brainstorm: Who might be interested in your title? What type of event could you join that might tie into the theme of your book?  Of course, children's book festivals are great. People come to buy books! All of us would think of bookstores and libraries. One of my critique groups meets in my local library, so we reached out to see if they would plan a local author fair. And they did! That's perfect because people who come are interested in buying signed copies of books and want to meet you and chat with you. 

And what if you could enhance a library or bookstore visit by offering your visitors more? My book, TRUCKER KID, Capstone, 2023, illustrated by Russ Cox, was a perfect example of a picture book to connect with transportation events. A brilliant librarian, Amy Martin, invited me to the Peobody Institute Library in Danvers, MA, and she also connected with the Department of Public Works in their town, to send over a couple of trucks to accompany my reading. We first met inside and I shared the book, we sang the Trucker Kid song from my book trailer, and moved around the room like trucks. I had some activity sheets for kids to work on if we needed them while we waited for the trucks to roll into the parking lot. Soon they arrived honking their horns, inviting the kids to climb aboard and explore the town's trucks. If you can get a nice day and a bookstore involved, fantastic! Someone suggested I partner up with a Touch a Truck event and I've reached out to a few and will hopefully be able to connect at some point in the future. 

Image Source: Carol Gordon Ekster  

Not all books lend themselves to specific events. But sometimes there may be a type of store that isn't a bookstore, but would be happy to carry your books. I've reached out to a local store that carried baby outfits and they made a lovely display with my books in case people wanted to gift a book with a onesie. I offered to come in and sign books for anyone who asked. I did sell a few before the store closed. For Ruth the Sleuth and the Messy Room, Mazor Publishers, 2018, illustrated by Kimberly Soderberg, I reached out to a bakery, because the story's plot has to do with chocolate chip cookies. I sold a few there as well. How many people spotted the titles? How many people bought the book after their visit to the store or bakery? I don't know. But we need to do what we can to get our books seen and read. 

Some Daddies, Beaming Books, 2022, illustrated by Javiera Maclean Alvarez, is easier in that I can promote it each Father's Day. But what other family gatherings can I do a reading for? Almost every family has a daddy or daddy figure. Reaching interested buyers for your book is not necessarily easy, but shine some of your creativity onto your marketing endeavors and you can figure out some excellent possibilities for your title. And if you're in a critique group or have #kidlit friends, find a time for a planning session where you can brainstorm together the places to promote each creative's books. Team work makes the dream work! 

Authors Carol Gordon Ekster, Kirsti Call, and Carrie Finison

And if even only one family shows up to something you've planned, you never know where that can lead. Try not to be discouraged. Have faith and carry on. Share your books wherever and whenever you have the opportunity to do so. Good luck! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insights with us, Carol!  I am definitely inspired by your creative book promotion ideas. And I agree whole-heartedly with your encouragement to think outside the typical framework for book promotion. One of my favorite events last year involved a collaboration with a florist -- a fun match-up for Lucy's Blooms! 

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Carol's books, including her latest, TRUCKER KID, and SOME DADDIES are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore. 

Image Source: Carol Gordon Ekster

Carol Gordon Ekster was a passionate elementary school teacher for thirty-five years. Now retired, Carol is grateful that her writing allows her to continue communicating with children. She is the author of Before I Sleep: I Say Thank You which won 3rd place in the children’s category of the Catholic Press Association Book Awards and was also a finalist for the ACP Excellence in Publishing Awards 2016. Her picture book, You Know What?, came out first in Dutch (Mama, Wist Je Dat?), December 2016 with Clavis Books. The English version released September 2017 and was a CLEL Bell Picture Book Awards Nominee for Talk (2018) and a finalist for the SCBWI Crystal Kite Award in the New England region, 2018. The Korean language edition came out 2019 and Arabic and Chinese editions are in process.  Some Daddies, illustrated by Javiera Maclean Alvarez came out May 2022 with Beaming Books. Trucker Kid, illustrated by Russ Cox came out spring 2023 with Capstone. When Carol is not in a critique group or at her computer she might be doing yoga or biking. She lives in Andover, Massachusetts with her husband Mark. Find out more at www.carolgordonekster.com .

And connect with her here: https://linktr.ee/carolgordonekster 

Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency, by Tracy C. Gold

Dear Readers, I have a very special Have Swag Will Travel guest post for you today. 

Author, Tracy. C. Gold, just launched a beautiful, new picture book into the world: CALL YOUR MOTHER (Familius, 2024). As the author of multiple books, Tracy has participated in several unique book events. Today she shares her experience and tips for planning a yearlong author residency.  

by Tracy C. Gold and Vivian Mineker

Take it away, Tracy!

Have Swag Will Travel: Yearlong Author Residency

by Tracy C. Gold 

I have done quite a few events now that I’m on my fourth picture book, but since I debuted during the pandemic, school visits have been slow. So I was absolutely thrilled when school librarian Alicia Danyali reached out in summer 2023 about setting up an author residency for the next school year. 

She works at Krieger Schechter Day School which is local to me (so—have swag, will travel ten minutes down the road, in this case). She wanted to revive an author residency program the school had before Covid, the Silverman-Brown Residency. We had the opportunity to work together to shape a post-Covid version.

I jumped at the chance and had a really fun idea, if we could make it work. Ever since my book "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat" came out in 2021, I’ve been looking for a school that would install a bat box to go along with a school visit. Hint: do NOT write emails with the subject line “A bat in your ear,” even if you know the recipient well, as this does not go over well with those with a phobia of bats. Oops!

KSDS is a certified Maryland Green School, with a gorgeous community garden and a commitment to serving the environment, so they were up for the bat box! After trading lots of emails, talking on the phone, and meeting at the school’s beautiful campus, Alicia and I made a plan. 

We would do three visits, and on the last, the school would install bat boxes. Alicia involved the Art and Woodshop teacher Gigi Smith, who helped the fifth graders make bat boxes themselves. So cool! 

Here’s a quick recap of each visit, and then some tips for pulling something like this off: 

Visit One: October 2023

I met with first grade and kindergarten all together, with lots of help from teachers. I did a quick presentation about how I get my ideas, read "Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and then set the kids loose to color and cut out their own bats from an activity kit Sourcebooks made for the book. 

Then I met with second and third grade. I did the same talk about how to get my ideas, but with these more advanced learners, we embarked upon a yearlong project: making their own books about wildlife (well, this ended up being a book about anything they wanted, but a lot were about wildlife). For their activity, they looked through library books and made lists or mind maps full of ideas.  

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Mind Map

Then, teachers collected their brainstorming documents so we could save them for my next visit, which would focus on drafting. (Kudos to Alicia’s organizational scheme that kept track of all of these over the course of the year!)

Visit Two: January 2024          

We crammed a lot more into this visit! I met with fourth graders and talked with them about the drafting process and structure in picture books. Then I read "Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat,” and asked them to identify which structures I had used. We ended with a freewriting exercise.

I did a similar presentation for second and third grade, but instead of freewriting, we pulled out their ideas for books, and they started drafting a book. I pushed them to add some structure—maybe a plot with a beginning, middle, and end, or for a non-fiction book, perhaps they could chronicle a year in the life of an animal. 

I also did an interview with the school podcast, and talked a little bit about the ecology of bats with the fifth graders who were making the bat boxes. Whew! 

Visit Three: April 2024

The final visit! I had been in touch with Alicia throughout the year, and she confirmed that the bat boxes were well on their way. 

She also sent me a few pieces of student writing to review ahead of time before meeting with a few students in pairs or individually. This was so fun! KSDS has some wonderful budding authors and it was great to hear their excitement. One of them even gave me a book that she had written and self published with her grandfather. Then, I had a quick meetup with some fifth graders. I talked about how I get ideas and shared my newest book, "Call Your Mother.” 

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Meeting with Students

After that, I got to see the second and third graders for the third time! They were familiar faces by now, though I admit I didn’t remember names as much as I had hoped to. We talked about revision, and I shared some of the revisions I had done on "Call Your Mother.” Then, it was time for them to revise their wildlife books and start transferring them to cardstock to be stapled into actual books. As we expected, we didn’t have enough time for all of the students to finish. Alicia will be helping students finish during their time in the library.

Last, it was time to install the bat boxes! Facility and maintenance employee Ray helped hang them alongside the community garden. We celebrated the installation with the fifth graders who built the bat box. A photographer from a local paper even came! (To be determined if the photo will run in the news, but thanks to my publicist at Sourcebooks for reaching out to local media!)

Image Source: Tracy C. Gold, Student with Bat Box

Of course, expect the unexpected with school visits—a parent expressed concern that children might end up accidentally handling bats in that spot, so the bat boxes will be moved to a more remote location soon. I’ll keep this in mind for future schools interested in a bat box.

By the end of the residency, I had gotten to know students and staff and felt like part of the KSDS community. I would love to do a yearlong residency with other schools! This was a really special experience. 

If you’re thinking about doing this with a school, here are some tips and lessons learned:

· Alicia Danyali, the school librarian, put in a ton of work to make this happen and to arrange the schedule so that students from as many grades as possible could participate. (Without making my head explode.) She came up with a plan, involved several stakeholders within the school, and did a huge amount of work wrangling schedules. I don’t think this residency would have been possible without Alicia’s hard work. 

· I would probably only try this if you have more than one book published. I’m not sure three visits would have made sense with only one book. It was great to have a different book to share for each visit. 

· Don’t try to cram too much into a day. I was grateful that along the way Alicia sent me a proposed schedule. As excited as I was to meet all the students…I did have to push back and say “let’s spend more time on fewer things,” which, in hindsight was a good call. We ended up fitting most of the schedule into the mornings, because that worked best with everything else going on at the school. I honestly don’t know how teachers manage their fully scheduled days. Sure, it’s partly that I’m meeting all new people in an all new place and trying to bring my max energy, but whew! Respect to teachers! 

· Expect the unexpected. We had a few hiccups along the way but were always able to make the best of them. On my end, whenever I plan a school visit, I block out the whole day on my husband’s schedule so that he knows he’s on the hook for watching our daughter if she can’t go to school. Good thing I did that—for my April visit, my kid’s school was closed due to a water main break. That was a fun email to get in the morning. Because my husband knew I would be unavailable that day, he could take off work without major issues. Funny enough, in the past I’ve also had to reschedule a school visit due to a water main break on their end! What is with these pipes?

I think that’s it! I am happy to answer questions in the comments about the visit and share any advice! 

Thank you so much for sharing your experience and insights with us, Tracy! This sounds like such an excellent series of visits for all involved. And yes, props to the school librarian who was with you in this all the way! (And to ALL of the educators who give so much of themselves to young learners each and every day.)

And now, dear readers, you know what to do. The best way to thank an author whose insights have been helpful and/or inspiring to you is to support their work. Buy their books. Request them from your library. Read and share them with others. Tracy's books, including her latest, MAMA'S HOME, are available everywhere books are borrowed and sold, including your own local, indie bookstore. 

Photo Credit: Ruut DeMeo

Tracy C. Gold loves writing about families and nature. She is an author, freelance editor, and mom living in Baltimore, Maryland. Her published and forthcoming picture books include “Everyone’s Sleepy but the Baby,” “Call Your Mother,” “Trick or Treat, Bugs to Eat,” and “Hide and Seek, Nuts to Eat.” She also writes short stories, essays, novels, and poems. Her work has been published in several magazines and anthologies. Tracy earned her M.F.A. in Creative Writing and Publishing Arts at the University of Baltimore and earned her B.A. in English from Duke University. When she’s not writing or editing, she’s playing with her kid or hanging out with horses and dogs. You can find out more about Tracy at tracycgold.com, by following her on Threads, Bluesky, and Instagram at @tracycgold, or by liking her Facebook page. 

Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Have Swag Will Travel: UP AND ADAM, by Debbie Zapata

Dear readers, I'm pleased to bring you another post in my blog series, Have Swag, Will Travel: Tips for Planning Book Events.

Today's guest is author, Debbie Zapata, who shares her experiences planning inclusive book events and story times, featuring her debut picture book, UP AND ADAM, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang (Kids Can Press, May 2022). Debbie's insights and resources are helpful year round, but they are especially timely in October, which is Down syndrome awareness month. 

Take it away, Debbie!

by Debbie Zapata and Yong Ling Kang

Storytime for All: UP AND ADAM

by Debbie Zapata

Thanks so much for having me, Dawn, on your fab kidlit blog! I launched my debut picture book recently. I knew it would be a wild ride, so I cofounded Kidlit Caravan, a troupe of authors with debut picture books new in ‘22. A debut group is a great way to surround yourself with writers on the same journey who can cheer one another on and celebrate our book birthdays together.

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

Up and Adam, released in May 2022 (Kids Can Press, illustrated by Yong Ling Kang). Adam, a young boy with Down syndrome, and his dog, Up, help their community after a big storm. When the Mayor asks the community for help, Up and Adam spring into action and lend a hand wherever they can. But it turns out, Adam’s most important contribution is one he doesn’t even think about—his smile. Adam’s open-hearted and infectious smile lights the pages as he lifts spirits all over town.

As a child I loved to write stories. It wasn’t until my son was born with Down syndrome that the story concept for Up and Adam took shape. Seeing my work in print has been a tremendous joy because I believe in a world in which all children can see themselves in the pages of a book. Only about 3% of children’s picture books include a prominent character with a disability. Up and Adam features a protagonist with Down syndrome and focuses on the character’s abilities. I hope it inspires children to see how everyone can make a difference in their community.

The book, Up and Adam is designed for readers of all ages and abilities. It is an uplifting story that celebrates individuality, volunteerism, and community. The best part of it being out in the world, is that I get to meet readers at inclusive storytime events and school visits. 

Once an event is scheduled, I get to work on marketing. I let people know that all ages and abilities are welcome. I like to incorporate help from my son. 

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

I advertise that a range of craft choices will be available. I initially did this in order to address a range of abilities. However, at the first Up and Adam storytime event, I saw that all kids chose based on their mood or personal preference. I realize that not just kids, but all people make different choices based on what they need at any given time. It is by tuning in to what each person needs that we open up a world filled with compassion, empathy, and connection.

There is a fun scene in the story at Up and Adam’s neighborhood pizzeria. So, I offer a pizza decorating craft project that has a variety of choices including:

• Paper plate decorating with precut pizza toppings and variety of glue stick sizes

• Pizza decorating sheets printed on paper to color with different size markers

• Pizza decorating sheets laminated to decorate with playdoh toppings

• Laminated cheese pizza printout to decorate with Velcro pizza toppings

• Sticker pizza slices to decorate with toppings stickers

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

I bring along a number of visual schedules for anyone who may find it easier to participate if they know what is occurring during inclusive storytime.

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

I have endless ideas for activities for all ages and abilities. I often print out fun word searches and bring along a collection of writing instruments including adaptive pencils. 

I love meeting my son’s friends and teachers who recognize my son’s traits in the story. I also love making new friends, signing books, and hearing what it’s like for their family to see a character who has Down syndrome in a picture book that focuses on his abilities. An American Sign Language interpreter is at the book reading to interpret the story alongside the reader. I’ll ask a friend to hold up another copy of the book so everyone can see the pictures. When I read to a large group, I do a digital visual presentation of the book.

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

I appreciate that my local indie Book People chose to shelve Up and Adam in the section called ‘Being Me.’ Some people want my son to sign their copy of the book. I ordered stickers that act as his personalization (I hope this makes you smile) and he writes his name below.

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

It is an honor to visit schools that provide education to children of all abilities in an inclusive setting. Kids enjoy meeting Up and Adam and often find it hard to say goodbye. I like to leave a little something with the kids.

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

A little storytime swag goes a long way. I like to offer kids a choice between two stickers (i.e. happy face or flower) and then a choice between two different colors. They love picking a sticker just for them! Thanks to my wonderful publisher Kids Can Press, I can also share Up and Adam coloring and activity pages. 

Image Source: Debbie Zapata

I love seeing photos shared on social media of families reading Up and Adam together. It’s wonderful to receive messages from parents expressing how much it means to them and their family member with a disability to see a protagonist with Down syndrome in a picture book. And it was an honor to participate in School Library Journal Day of Dialog last May. I was on a panel called Out and About: Children, their families, and communities shine in these uplifting picture books. I was elated when I read the School Library Journal review for Up and Adam. Warm reception for a book featuring a character with a disability helps it reach readers.

I am already getting quite a few requests for library storytime events, school visits, and I’m part of the author lineup for the 2022 Texas Book Festival. It will be held in Austin the first weekend of November. Up and Adam will be featured in the Read Me a Story Tent on Congress Ave on Sunday November 6th at  3 p.m. It will be an inclusive storytime not to be missed! Follow me on social media (IG, Twitter) or check my website for other upcoming announcement regarding Up and Adam news and events.

Writing, marketing, and book promotion is challenging. But the moments of sharing your book with kids of all ages and abilities, is worth it.

This is such an excellent post, Debbie. Your enthusiasm for inclusion is contagious! I especially appreciate how any educator (e.g. a teacher, librarian, community educator, or a parent) could easily lead a lesson around your book just by following your detailed notes and tips in this post. For this reason, I will also add this post to the lesson plans featured in my Start to Finish Story Time series. 

Readers, UP AND ADAM is available everywhere books are sold, but by now you know I'm partial to supporting your local indie bookstore--you can do that online via Bookshop.org.  And if you can't add another book to your personal library, you can still support Debbie's work by requesting UP AND ADAM from your local library. 

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Image Credit: Joni Lorraine

Debbie Zapata grew up in a multicultural family in Austin, Texas. She enjoys helping others as a counselor and writing books for children that have heart and humor. Debbie loves creating stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things. She believes each of us has the ability to make the world a better place. Debbie lives in Austin with her family. Up and Adam (Kids Can Press, May 2022 illustrated by Yong Ling Kang) is her first picture book. 

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Have Swag Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms, Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.  

Have Swag Will Travel: COW SAYS MEOW and other titles by Kirsti Call

Hi friends. Today, I'm pleased to share an interview with author Kirsti Call, whose darling book, Cow Says Meow, (illustrated by Brandon James Scott, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) launches into the world on March 16, 2021. 

Kirsti was kind enough to answer some of my questions about her book event plans and experiences.  This is Kirsti's second book launch during the pandemic, and third launch overall, so she has lots of experiences to share with us. 

Let's get to it!

Dawn Prochovnic: Thank you for stopping by the blog to share some of your event-related experiences and ideas, Kirsti. 

If I understand correctly, your first book, The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall, (illustrated by Lisa M. Griffin, Mazo Publishers) came out prior to the pandemic and your second book, Mootilda’s Bad Mood, (co-authored with Corey Rosen Schwartz, illustrated by Claudia Ranucci (Little Bee) launched during the pandemic. 

This year you’ll be launching two new books: Cow Says Meow (illustrated by Brandon James Scott, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt) and Cold Turkey (Little Brown). Reflecting on the book events you have facilitated in the past and have planned for the future, both traditional, and remote, are there any elements/activities that stand out that the kids (and/or their teachers/ parents/caregivers) have enjoyed the most? 

Kirsti Call: My in person book launch for The Raindrop Who Couldn’t Fall was incredibly fun.  We sang songs, read the book, ate cake and I signed books! 

The kids loved the interactive STORY IN A BOX activity. 

But for Mootilda’s Bad Mood, we had a virtual book launch where we sang songs, read the book, and offered signed books with stickers! 

My 10 year old son played the part of Mootilda the puppet--and the puppet was a big hit. 

DP: That sounds like a marvelous time. I especially love the bookplates and stickers! 

KC: I’ve got more tricks up my sleeve for my Cow Says Meow book launch where illustrator, Brandon James Scott, is joining me, on Tuesday March 16, at 7pm EST at Unlikely Story. 

The wonderful  thing about virtual book launches is my ability to have the illustrator with me, although he lives in Canada.  It also broadens my audience. Instead of people who live in my area coming to the launch, a virtual book launch includes my family from across the country, and people from all over the world. 

DP: Yay for silver linings! 

Are there any resources you relied upon to plan your event(s) that might help others plan their own book launch events, particularly during these unique times? 

KC: COVID not only opens up who can attend a book event, but also who hosts them. You can host a virtual event from anywhere.  I’ve taken several classes from The Writing Barn, so my MOOTILDA book launch was hosted by them in Texas as I participated from my home in the Boston area. The possibilities for book events are endless! 

DP: Nice job thinking outside of the box (ahem, barn), and what a great photo. I love how you went all in on the cow theme! You've given me some great ideas for my own remote launch in April. 

Shifting gears a bit, you co-host a picture-book related podcast along with Kim Chaffee. What do you currently enjoy most about it? 

KC: We interview authors and illustrators and their editors. We sometimes have the privilege of talking to the book designer or art director also. Sometimes our zoom interview is the first time the author and illustrator has ever seen each other. Bringing the creative team together is a privilege--and I adore talking about how each book comes to life!

DP: That sounds as if it's as much fun to create and participate in as it is to listen to! 

In addition to your podcast, you are involved in MANY kidlit-related “extras,” including co-coordinating ReFoReMo, participating as a "12x12 elf," blogging for Writer’s Rumpus, and judging for the CYBILS award. How do you balance your time between your own creative work and these extra endeavors? 

KC: I’ve always loved being super involved and I truly believe I learned to juggle it all because I have five children. When I have an open 10 minutes here or there, I take advantage of it!  I’ve become super efficient with the time I do have to devote to writing and volunteer activities within the kidlit community.  And I always schedule time for writing, family,  and self care. Sticking to my schedule helps me balance my life in a way that works well for me.  

DP: What a beautiful family! (And folks, let Kirsti be an inspiration to us all as we balance our creative work alongside the other roles and responsibilities in our lives.)

I’ve noticed we share an interest in incorporating songs and music into our book-related activities. I’d love to hear more about how the song for Mootilda came to be, and if there are any songs in the works for Cow Says Meow and/or Cold Turkey? 

KC: My 15 year old daughter, Sydney, writes incredible music. I asked her to write me a song for MOOTILDA’S BAD MOOD and I loved it so much we’re doing a song for each of my books. The song for COW SAYS MEOW will debut at our book launch.  

DP: I look forward to it! 

Do you have any new projects coming up that you’d like to put on the radar? and/or is there something you wished I would have asked you that you haven’t had the opportunity to share? 

KC: My first board book is coming out in the summer of 2022!  And I just transitioned from being a marriage and family therapist, to coaching creatives!  I’m super excited about my GET YOURSELF UNSTUCK program! 

DP: That sounds like an exciting new venture, Kirsti. I wish you continued success. Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences with us. 

Friends, the best way to express your thanks to Kirsti is to add one or more of her books to your collection. They are available everywhere books are sold, but you know I'm partial to indies. 

And, if you'd like to win a copy of COW SAYS MEOW, follow both Dawn and Kirsti on Twitter (@DawnProchovnic and @KirstiCall) and reply to one of our tweets with the blog post, tagging a friend before 11:59 ET on March 22, 2021 (US Addresses only.)

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Kirsti Call co-hosts the PICTURE BOOK LOOK podcast and co-runs ReFoReMo. She's a critique ninja and elf for 12x12, a blogger for Writers' Rumpus, and a Rate Your Story judge. She's judged the CYBILS award for fiction picture books since 2015. Kirsti is a therapist trained life coach for creatives. Her picture book, MOOTILDA'S BAD MOOD (Little Bee) released last fall. COW SAYS MEOW (HMH) and COLD TURKEY (Little Brown) release in 2021. Kirsti is represented by Emma Sector at Prospect Agency. 

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Have Swag, Will Travel is an occasional feature of Dawn Babb Prochovnic's blog. Dawn is the author of multiple picture books including, Lucy's Blooms (Spring '21), Where Does a Cowgirl Go Potty?, Where Does a Pirate Go Potty?, and 16 books in the Story Time With Signs & Rhymes series. Dawn is a contributing author to the award-winning book, Oregon Reads Aloud, and a frequent presenter at schools, libraries, and educational conferences. Contact Dawn using the form at the left, or learn more at www.dawnprochovnic.com.