School Visits

CONTACT THE AUTHOR

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

Photo by Chris Fanning

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 costs, lodging, and meals unless the honorarium is all-inclusive. Please discuss arrangements and details with Reyna.

STUDENT PREPARATION

The most effective way to ensure a successful author visit is by having students read Reyna’s book(s) in advance. Read and discuss the author’s work with the students and consider having them complete an individual or class project based on one of her books. 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. Click here to download lesson plans or excerpts for Across a Hundred Mountains. Click here to download lesson plans or excerpts for The Distance Between Us.

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.

Special Sales Orders

Lori Ann Mocknick, Senior Customer Service Representative; Phone: +1 (856) 824-2067

Lori.Mocknick@simonandschuster.com

and/or

Lawrence Jefford, Senior Customer Service Representative; Phone: +1 (856) 824-2128

Lawrence.Jefford@simonandschuster.com

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. Use social media outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.

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:

a) BEFORE THE VISIT

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

• Read and discuss 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.
• Have students write their own stories inspired by the book and display them the day of the event. Click here for storytelling ideas.
• 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 to 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.
• Use social media! You can do Twitter chats and encourage students to post questions and thoughts about the book.

b) THE DAY OF THE EVENT

The celebration begins! Enjoy the visit.

c) 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 or Goodreads.
• Encourage students to create a “movie trailer” or “movie poster” of one of Reyna’s books.
• Organize students to read, nominate, and vote for Reyna’s books for your state reading award. You can find a complete list of links to the state awards at http://www.carr.org/read/stateAwardbks.htm.

PREVIOUS SCHOOL VISITS

2021

• John Carroll University, OH
• Mt. Hood Community College, OR
• Pioneer High School, CA
• University of Texas, El Paso (UTEP)
• University of Texas, Austin
• Sacramento City College, CA
• Northern Illinois University, IL
• Bloomberg University, PA
• San Fernando High School (LAUSD)
• George Washington High School, IN
• Russell Sage College, NY
• Antelope Valley College, CA
• Miracosta College, CA
• Concordia University, TX
• CSU Bakersfield, CA
• Palo Verde College, CA
• Garey High School, CA
• San Juan College, NM

2020

• Cabrillo College, Aptos, CA
• La Cumbre Junior High School, Santa Barbara, CA
• Duke University, Durham, NC
• Northwest Vista College, San Antonio, TX
• Florida International University, Miami, FL
• Miracosta College, CA
• Mt. San Jacinto College, CA
• SUNY Adirondack, NY
• Cypress College, CA
• Leyden High School, IL

2019

• The Rectory School, Pomfret, CT
• De Anza College, CA
• The College of St. Scholastica, Duluth, MN
• UC, Santa Cruz, CA
• Shafter High School, Shafter, CA
• Mira Monte High School, Bakersfield, CA
• Foothill High School, Bakersfield, CA
• CSUB, Bakersfield, CA
• Arvin High School, Arvin, CA
• Polytechnic School, Pasadena, CA
• Vail High School, Montebello, CA
• Denton High School, Denton, TX
• Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA
• Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
• University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR
• Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
• Pacific University, Forest Grove, OR
• Godinez Fundamental High School, Santa Ana, CA
• Bachrodt Elementary School, San Jose, CA
• Cal State University, East Bay, Hayward, CA
• Trinity University, San Antonio, TX
• Palo Alto College, San Antonio, TX
• Palo Verde College, Blythe, CA
• Riverside City College, Riverside, CA
• Claremont McKenna College, Claremont, CA
• Blackhawk Middle School, Bensenville, IL
• Fox Valley Technical College, Appleton, WI
• Appleton High School, Appleton, WI
• Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
• Mount San Antonio College, Walnut, CA
• Somersfield Academy, Bermuda

2018

• Nazareth College, Rochester, NY
• Santa Maria High School, CA
• Righetti High School, Santa Maria, CA
• Delta High School, Santa Maria, CA
• University School of Milwaukee, WI
• Fresno State University, CA
• Scripps College, Claremont, CA
• Ursinus College, PA
• Glen Allen High School, VA
• School of the Arts, Rochester, NY
• Finger Lakes Community College, NY
• East Aurora High School, IL
• Rochester Institute of Technology, NY
• Monroe Community College, NY
• Dos Pueblos High School, CA
• Portland Community College, OR
• Linfield College, McMinville, OR
• University of Münster, Germany
• Collin College, Frisco, TX

2017

• Red Bluff High School, Red Bluff, CA
• Sacramento State University, Sacramento, CA
• San Diego State University, San Diego, CA
• Santa Clara University, Santa Clara, CA
• Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, CA
• St. Thomas University, St. Paul, MN
• UT Austin, TX
• Woodland Community College, CA
• Oxnard College, CA
• USC, CA
• East Los Angeles College, CA
• Cal State University Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• Carlos Santana Academy, North Hills, CA
• University of Nevada, Reno
• Madera County College
• Mendocino Community College
• De Anza College
• Roosevelt High School, DC
• Columbia Heights Education Campus, DC
• Marist College, NY
• Augustana College
• Cal State University Monterey Bay, CA
• Avila University, MO
• Aims Community College, Greely CO
• Saint Martin’s University, Lacey, WA
• Elma Middle School, WA
• Shelton High School, WA
• South Bend High School, WA
• Northern Kentucky University, KY
• Cal Poly Pomona, CA
• Freedom High School, Oakley, CA
• Edna Hill Middle School, Brentwood, CA
• Antioch Middle School, Antioch, CA

2016

• West/ East Leyden High School, Northlake, ILL
• Santa Maria High School, Santa Maria, CA
• Riguetti High School, Santa Maria, CA
• Pionner Valley High School, Santa Maria, CA
• Alianza Charter School, Watsonville, CA
• Cabrillo College, Watsonville, CA
• University of Oregon, Eugene, OR
• Metropolitan Community College, Omaha, NE
• Huntington Park High School, Los Angeles, CA
• Fallbrook High School, Fallbrook, CA
• Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain
• Central European University, Budapest, Hungary
• Cerritos College, CA
• University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
• University of Nebraska, Omaha
• University of Nebraska, Lincoln
• University of Missouri, Kansas City
• Colorado Mountain College, CO
• Humboldt State University, CA
• San Diego City College, CA
• Chabot College, CA
• Hilliard Comstock Middle School, Santa Rosa, CA
• Holcomb Bridge Middle School, GA
• Sacramento City College, CA

2015

• Chico State University, Chico, CA
• Butte College, CA
• Long Beach City College, CA
• The Overlake School, Redmond, WA
• Anne Arundel Community College, MD
• UC Santa Cruz, CA
• Norco College, Norco, CA
• Wheaton High School, MD
• Saint Joseph’s High School, CA
• Villanova University, PA
• Southwestern College, Winfield, KS
• Washburn University, Topeka, KS
• Cerritos College, CA
• Topeka High School, KS
• St. Joseph’s High School, CA
• Cal State University Channel Islands, CA
• Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA
• Mount San Jacinto College, CA
• Washington & Lee University, VA
• UC, Santa Barbara, CA
• Santa Barbara City College, CA
• Los Angeles City College, CA
• Manhattanville College, NY
• Baylor University, TX
• Wenatchee Valley College, WA
• San Diego City College, CA
• Einstein High School, MD
• High Point High School, MD

2014

• University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
• University of Missouri, Kansas City, MO
• San Juan College, Farmington, NM
• University of Notre Dame, South Bend, IN
• Goshen College, Goshen, IN
• Southwestern College, Chula Vista, CA
• Rolling Meadows High School, Rolling Meadows IL
• Park City High School, Park City, UT
• Boonsboro High School, Boonsboro, MD
• University of Maryland Baltimore County, MD
• Worwic Community College, Salisbury, MD
• Montgomery College, Georgetown, MD
• University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA
• East Los Angeles College, Los Angeles, CA
• Port of L.A High School, San Pedro, CA
• California State University, Los Angeles, CA
• California State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• Grand Valley State University, Grand Rapids, MI
• Monroe County Community College, Monroe, MI
• University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
• Township High School, District 214, Arlington Heights, IL
• Morton East High School, Cicero, IL
• Merritt College, Oakland, CA
• De Anza College, San Jose, CA
• Gavilan College, Gilroy, CA
• Monte Vista High School, Watsonville, CA
• Ramona Convent Secondary School, Alhambra, CA
• UTSA, San Antonio, TX
• UC, Santa Cruz, CA
• Santa Rosa Community College, Santa Rosa, CA
• Tulsa Community College, Tulsa, OK
• Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA
• Miracosta College, Oceanside, CA
• UW-Tacoma, Tacoma, WA

2013

• Petaluma High School, Petaluma, CA
• Casa Grande High School, Petaluma, CA
• Adele Harrison Middle School, Sonoma, CA
• Port of L.A High School, San Pedro, CA
• Bakersfield College, Delano, Ca
• South Hills High School, Fort Worth, TX
• Palo Alto College, San Antonio, TX
• Owensboro Community College, Owensboro, KY
• Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• Cal State University, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
• Southern Methodist University, Dallas, TX
• Cal State University, Fullerton, Fullerton, CA
• UC, Riverside, Riverside, CA
• De Anza College, Cupertino, CA

2012

• Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• Port of Los Angeles High Schools, San Pedro, CA
• La Serna High School, Whittier, CA
• University of California, Irvine, Irvine, CA
• Palo Alto College, San Antonio, TX
• UTSA, San Antonio, TX
• UNAM, San Antonio, TX
• South Puget Sound Community College, Olympia, WA
• MCC-Penn Valley, Kansas City, MO
• Tarrant County Community College, Fort Worth, TX
• Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
• Miami Dade College, Miami, CA
• Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA

2011

• University of West Georgia, Carollton, GA
• Marymount University, Arlington, VA
• Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
• Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• University of Oregon-Eugene, OR
• Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR
• Redmond High School, OR
• Port of Los Angeles High School, San Pedro, CA

2010

• Renaissance High School, Watsonville, CA
• Pajaro Valley High School, Watsonville, CA
• Watsonville High School, Watsonville, CA
• Central Oregon Community College, Bend, OR
• Cal State University, Dominguez Hills, Carson, CA
• Oxnard Community College, Oxnard, CA
• Sacred Heart High School, Los Angeles, CA
• Taft College, Taft, CA
• Chaparral High School, Temecula, CA
• Alhambra High School, Alhambra, CA
• Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ
• Girls Middle School, Mountain View, CA

2009

• Mount San Antonio College, Pomona, CA
• Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA
• Schoolcraft College, Livonia, MI
• Rio Hondo College, Whittier, CA
• Compton High School, Compton CA
• Cuesta College, San Luis Obispo, CA

2008

• Lennox Middle School, Lennox, CA
• Jefferson Middle School, San Gabriel, CA
• Santa Monica High School, Santa Monica, CA
• Watsonville High School, Watsonville, CA
• Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz, CA
• Gabrielino High School, San Gabriel, CA
• MissionHigh School, San Fernando, CA
• Manteca High School, Manteca, CA
• Del Mar High School, San Gabriel, CA
• University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA
• Hartnell College, Salinas, CA
• TaftCollege, Taft, CA
• Miracosta College, Oceanside, CA
• Ferris State University, Big Rapids, MI
• Evergreen Valley College, San Jose, CA

2007

• Fremont High School, Los Angeles, CA
• New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM
• University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM
• Bakersfield College, Bakersfield, CA
• Santa Cruz High School, Santa Cruz, CA
• Pasadena City College, Pasadena, CA
• Santa Monica College, Santa Monica, CA
• National Hispanic University, San Jose, CA
• Norwich Free Academy, Norwich, CT
• Bolton High School, Bolton, CT
• Coast Guard Academy, New London, CT
• Glendale Community College, Glendale, CA

The school visit information was provided by author Yuyi Morales.