Bring a Christian Children's Book Author to Your School
I'm Travis D. Peterson — award-winning children's book author, book designer, and self-publishing coach based in the Wilmington, NC area. I offer in-person and virtual author visits for Christian schools, homeschool co-ops, and public schools, with presentations designed for every grade level from PreK all the way through 12th grade.
Whether your students are just learning to love stories or they're ready to write and publish one of their own, I've got a visit for them.
A Great Fit for Christian Schools
My books are written from a biblical worldview — stories about using God-given strengths, serving others, and approaching life and creativity with purpose. For Christian schools and chapel programs, I can lean fully into the faith dimensions of each presentation.
As a Christian school graduate, I understand the culture of Christian education, and I want your students to leave encouraged — not just as readers, but as people who know their gifts matter.
NOTE FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS: I can adjust my presentation accordingly—faith elements can be presented in a more general character-development framing for public school settings. A standards-alignment guide is available upon request.
Choose the Right Visit for Your Grade Level
I offer three distinct presentation tracks. Each one is designed for a specific age group, and each one can be delivered in person or virtually.
PreK, Kindergarten, First, & 2nd Grades
Storytime with Travis
This is a focused, age-appropriate visit built around one of my books — your choice. You pick the book that fits your class best, let me know when you book, and I'll take it from there. The format is simple and easy to fit into a school day: a brief introduction to who I am and how I became an author, a read-aloud with plenty of room for the kids to interact, and Q&A at the end.
Depending on which book you choose, the discussion takes a different shape:
- Ada and the Helpers: We explore ASL, hidden strengths, and how we can help others. Ada's story is woven with the ASL alphabet, so students get a natural introduction to signing right inside the read-aloud.
- One of the Never Ever Build a... books: We talk about creativity, imagination, and the biblical/moral messages found in the books.
You'll receive printable extension activities and resource links tailored to the book you chose.
Session length: 30 minutes. Ideal for a single classroom of up to 25 students. Multiple back-to-back sessions available — see pricing below.
3rd, 4th, & 5th grades
Behind the Book
This visit goes further. We still do a read-aloud—again, you choose the book—but the second half pulls back the curtain on what it actually takes to make a children's book. As a professional book designer and author coach, I have a unique perspective on the writing and publishing process.
The visit covers:
- A read-aloud of your chosen book with time for audience interaction
- How to write stories using the six buckets of my PRIMER Formula
- How a picture book gets illustrated, designed, and printed with behind-the-scenes details
- What it takes to go from a finished file to a real book in someone's hands
Session length: 45 minutes. This visit pairs naturally with a creative writing or art unit.
Middle and High School Students
Self-Publishing Workshop
This is a different kind of author visit. Instead of a read-aloud, this workshop dives deep into what it actually takes to write, design, and publish a book, all based on my how-to book for self-publishing authors titled The Indie Author That Could.
With 20+ years of professional design experience and a track record of coaching first-time authors, I walk students through the full creative and publishing process in a way that's honest, practical, and genuinely encouraging.
Depending on your class, we can focus on:
- How to develop a story idea using my PRIMER Formula
- What the editing and revision process actually looks like
- How picture books are designed, including cover design, typography, and illustration
- The differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing
- Printing, distribution, and marketing basics
This workshop is adaptable for a single class period or multiple sessions.
Session length: 45-60 minutes. Multiple sessions could be scheduled as needed.
A Track Record You can Trust
While I may be new to school visits as an author, I'm not new to writing, publishing, or even teaching. As an award-winning author and designer, I've helped dozens of authors bring their book babies to life through my design services and author coaching.
Author Visit Fees:
Rates are per day and cannot be split across multiple days. Each session is approximately 45 minutes and accommodates up to 25 students.
- Full day (four sessions): $450 USD
- Three sessions: $375
- Two sessions: $275
- One session: $150
Travel costs are added for in-person visits more than 150 miles from Wilmington, NC. Contact me for a travel estimate before booking. You can also ask about virtual visit options.
What's Included with Every In-Person Visit
- Two free hardcover copies of the book of your choice (one for the classroom, one for the school library) — each includes the double-sided dust jacket with the over-two-foot ASL alphabet chart
- A student pre-order form with a 25% discount on books
- Any printable activities used during and after the visit
Inclusions vary slightly by presentation track. Contact me for specifics on Tracks 2 and 3.
Have budget concerns? Reach out—I'm happy to talk through what works for your school's situation.