Each author and illustrator participating in the Read Local Challenge has agreed to donate their time for ONE (1) FREE Read Local Party or Virtual Visit during the challenge year! These are informal events to celebrate a love of literature, and to introduce our readers to the fabulous local authors and illustrators in our region.

If you would like to host a FREE party at your school, library, or bookstore, please fill out this form, and we will get back to you soon to schedule your event. Please contact Read Local Coordinator Veronica Bartles (mddewv-ara@scbwi.org) with any questions.

*** NOTE: Because there are multiple sections to this request form to accommodate the various types of event requests, we cannot set the form to require answers to questions, but the questions in this section are required if you would like to schedule this type of event. Otherwise, we don't have enough information from you to schedule the event! ***

Who can host a Read Local Kick-off Party?
* schools
* libraries
* book stores
* any other organizations that want to promote reading

We will provide:
* ONE (1) Read Local author or illustrator, who will attend your event in-person or virtually, for an informal meet-and-greet with readers (Upon request, and subject to availability, we may send more than one author to your event.)
* full-color Read Local Challenge posters
* stickers
* prizes (including a signed book--while supplies last!)
* games & activities that you can download & print for your event
* author/illustrator photo and bio, as well as information about their book(s), for promotional purposes

You provide:
* a location
* guests (Put the information on your website. Talk it up with your students. Invite your whole community, if desired!)
* basic craft supplies (like crayons) for the activities you choose
* You agree to have book sales available at your event for the visiting author's books, either directly from the author or through a local bookseller.

We love to pair independent bookstores with our school/library events when we can - to promote even more community-building within our local areas. So if you are a school/library and want us to reach out to your local bookseller, please let us know! If you are a bookseller, please feel free to forward this opportunity to any schools/libraries you may have in your contact list - or let us know and we will reach out to them too!