One of the most exciting opportunities for Canadian children’s writers, illustrators and storytellers is to be selected for the annual Children’s Book Week Tour, managed by the Canadian Children’s Book Centre and partly funded by the TD Bank and the Canada Council for the Arts.

I was lucky enough to participate a few years ago, touring schools and libraries in Saskatchewan.

It was a wonderful week meeting kids, teachers, librarians and other readers and writers.

This is the time of year when touring Canadian Children’s Book Week artists are packing and prepping, figuring out their presentations, planning props and working out just how many books they can take with them.

If there was one disappointment to my trip it was the number of school kids who had no idea why I was there, did not know it was Canadian Chidlren’s Book Week and had not been exposed to any displays of info about Canadian books prior to my arrival.

So if I have any advice for writers, illustrators and storytellers on the road this year, it is this:

• Check out who knows about Book Week – and if they don’t know much about them, pitch Canadian writers’, illustrators’ and storytellers’ works in your presentation and by discussing a few of the authors the kids do know… Robert Muncsh will be top of most lists!
• Challenge every child to ask their teacher of librarian for a list of great Canadian books to read… other than yours!
• Take snacks. Whether you are traveling by car or plane, alone or with a driver/host, you’ll find your schedule does not often allow for leisurely meal breaks… there were days when it felt as if I lived on wine gums and potato chips.
• Send thank you letters to the schools and libraries. The kids will love to hear from you, and it’s reinforcement of everything you shared with them.
• Have fun – and catch up on your sleep when you get home.
• Take a card or small box of chocolates into your local TD branch manager to thank them for supporting Book Week. Many staff in the branches know little about their employer’s support of literacy.

And to everyone else – check the list of this year’s presenters and ask at your local library or your kids’ school to find out if one of them is visiting your neighbourhood. Public Library sessions are open to the public, and many schools are happy for parents to attend.