(The following is a sample list of questions that educators may wish to use for class discussions or writing assignments in conjunction with an author visit.)

Before the Author Visit:    

1. Who is the narrator of this story?  Why do you think the author chose this narrator?
2. Have you read any other books by this author?  If yes, how does this one compare?  If no, would you like to?  Why or why not?
3. Did you learn anything about the author of this book?  If yes, what?  If no, what would you like to know about the author?
4. What do you like about this author's writing?
5. Finish this sentence:  "I love the way the author . . . "
6. Do you think the author had a message in this book?  What was the message?
7. Who is the main character in this book?  How do you know?  (Note:  the main character is not always the same person as the narrator of the story.)
8. Who is your favorite character in this book?  Tell me about this character.  What do you feel you know about him/her?   Why is he/she your favorite?
9. How did the main character change? 
10. Is the main character believable?  What has the author done to make you believe in him/her?  Why does the character come alive, or seem like a real person?
11. How did you get to know the main character in the book?  Through what he said or did, or through descriptions? Explain how.
12. What is your favorite scene in the book? Tell me about it.
13. How did you feel at the end of the book?  Why?  Were you satisfied with the ending? Why or why not?  Would you have ended the book differently?  How?
14. After reading this book, make a list of questions you may want to ask the author.
15. Make a list of things the author may want to talk about.
16. Stop reading the book before the last chapter, then answer this question:  What do you think will happen next?

After the Author Visit:

1. How has the author influenced you as a writer?  Will you do anything differently now?
2. What did you learn today?
3. What questions did you have that were answered by the author?
4. What questions did you think of after the author left?
5. Tell about a discovery you made while reading this book.
6. Tell about one thing that really interested you and that you'd like to know more about.
7. Write and tell a classmate about what he/she missed.
8. Write a letter to a friend in another class telling about the author and what you learned listening to him/her.
9. Write a letter to the author telling him/her what you liked best about the book, and why.
10. After listening to the author, did you think of any stories that YOU would like to write? Tell me about them.