Bring Stories to Life with an Author Visit
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Available half-day, full-day or individual sessions of 45-60 min
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Grades k-9 as well as teachers, librarians and parents
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Contact me to discuss pricing
Where do authors get their ideas? How do they turn them into books? How do you get a book published? I love sharing my journey from story idea to publication with students of all ages and want to inspire them to write their own stories!
I love helping young readers discover where stories come from, how words and illustrations work together, and how a rough idea—with plenty of imagination and revision—can eventually become a published book.
My lively, visual visits combine storytelling, humour, behind-the-scenes material, student participation and plenty of opportunities for questions. Every visit can be adapted to the ages of your pupils and connected to your curriculum, current classroom themes or unit of inquiry.
Choose a Visit for Your Students
School visits are generally half day or full-days, and individual sessions are 45-60 minutes long and include a behind-the-scenes PPT presentation showing the editing, storyboarding and publication process. Depending on the age-range, I will provide a candid look inside the creative process from inspiration to draft, to revisions, rejections, and finally publication. Sessions can also include a hands-on story-generating activity where students create their own stories based on prompts and ideas we come up with together!
From Story Spark to Published Book
Recommended for Grades 1–6
Where do authors find their ideas? What happens after a first draft is written—and why might an author rewrite the same story dozens of times?
Using early drafts, storyboards, editorial notes and finished picture books, I take pupils behind the scenes of the publishing process. Together, we explore inspiration, character development, revision, rejection, collaboration and the journey from manuscript to finished book.
The session includes an interactive story-generating activity and time for questions.
It Started with a Book Ban
Recommended for Grades 1–5
Inspired by my newest picture book, It Started with a Book Ban, this age-appropriate presentation explores curiosity, imagination and the freedom to read.
Students discover the story behind the story, consider what happens when people begin deciding which ideas others are allowed to encounter, and discuss how books help us understand experiences beyond our own. The session can be adapted for Banned Books Week, a school Book Week or a wider unit about libraries, citizenship and creative expression.
Stories That Can Change the World
Recommended for Grades 2–7
Can a story inspire people to care—and perhaps even take action?
Drawing on Flipflopi, the true story of a boat built from discarded plastic flip-flops, and other books connected to global issues, this presentation explores how authors turn real-world subjects into engaging stories for children.
Themes can include environmental responsibility, global citizenship, research, hope and the power of small actions.
Where Words and Pictures Meet
Recommended for Grades 1–7
A picture book is created by more than one storyteller. In this highly visual session, pupils explore how authors and illustrators collaborate—often without ever meeting—to tell parts of the same story.
Using manuscripts, illustration notes, sketches and finished spreads, we examine what the words say, what the pictures add and what is deliberately left for readers to discover.
This session connects particularly well with English, art and visual-literacy learning.
Spark Your Own Story
Recommended for Grades 3–9
In this hands-on creative-writing workshop, pupils generate an original story idea and begin shaping it through character, setting, conflict and surprising “what if?” questions.
The workshop can focus on picture books, short fiction, character creation, revision or writing from visual prompts, depending on the age group and the school’s learning goals.
Visits for Younger Readers
For Early Years and younger primary groups, visits can include an expressive read-aloud, playful audience participation and a simple creative activity connected to one of my books.
Possible activities include exploring portraits and identity through Painting Pepette, separating babies from bears through Babies Are Not Bears, or inventing delightfully unexpected characters and settings together.
Tailored to Your Curriculum
Every school is different, so I’m happy to shape the visit around your pupils and learning goals.
Visits can connect with:
•English, literacy and creative writing
•Art and visual literacy
•Environmental studies and sustainability
•Global citizenship
•Migration, home and belonging
•Social-emotional learning
•Libraries, intellectual freedom and the freedom to read
•IB/PYP units of inquiry
Tell me what your pupils are studying, and we can create a visit that supports and enriches their learning.
Formats
•Individual presentations of approximately 45–60 minutes
•Half-day or full-day school visits
•Small-group creative-writing workshops
•Family literacy events
•Sessions for teachers, librarians or parents
•Virtual visits through Zoom, Microsoft Teams or your preferred platform
In-person visits are available throughout the Stockholm area.
Visits elsewhere in Sweden and internationally may also be arranged, with travel and accommodation added where required.
Planning Your Visit
Before the visit, I’ll work with you to determine the best programme, groupings and schedule for your pupils. I can also provide information to help teachers introduce my books in advance.
Schools may arrange book orders and a signing in connection with the visit. Please mention this in your enquiry so that we can discuss the best local arrangement.
Fees and Booking
Fees depend on the visit format, number of sessions and location. To request availability and a quotation, please include:
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Your school and location
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The grades or ages involved
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Approximate pupil numbers
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Your preferred dates
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The programme or themes that interest you
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Whether you are considering a single session, half-day, full-day or virtual visit
Contact: l.lodding@gmail.com
Hear what people are saying:
Thank you so much for your presence, professionalism, sense of humour, kindness and positivity. The students loved the author visit and it was all the grades that were excited, not only a specific age group. The EAL teacher shared the Flipflopi activities the day you came and the teachers have already used some of them. I'll share with you a folder with different pictures from reading week, author visit included.
Eleni, Stockholm International School
“Thank you again for a fantastic day, the kids, teachers and parents were raving about you!”
Nancy, School Librarian Futuraskolan International School of Stockholm
“Thank you so much for a wonderful author visit! I am going to let the European librarians know!”
Melissa, Librarian, American School of The Hague
