Today I visited a Catholic
Infant School
I'm
lucky if that happens and the school is prepared to go to the bother of
notifying parents that there will be an author in school doing a signing, by sending out a note or a text on the day. I'm luckier still if
it’s an Independent school that simply puts any book purchases on the pupils’ end-of-term
bill.
Too often, when authors and illustrators ask for a book
signing, they are told the school is concerned about burdening hard-up parents
with yet another request for money, or there is already a Book Fair
in school.
But if, as today, the emphasis is on the visiting author/
illustrator and her books then a good situation arises;
children, inspired by a book they’ve been shown in a workshop and who have acted
out part of its story with puppets or seen original artwork and sketches
belonging to it, are able to take a signed copy home with them to pour over
and share with their parents. And the best moment of all is the purchase of a book by a parent who
doesn’t normally buy books. Then I see a child walk away with a book that I know will be treasured.
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