This is just a very simple idea I wanted to share about making author posters for your classroom. During the book study recently, some of us were talking about author studies. Author studies can be very, very simple, especially in Pre-K. I think some teachers feel intimidated when they think of doing an author study because they think it has to involve activities for every book the author wrote and activities related to the author’s life, and it has to be this big, elaborate thing (at least, that’s how I used to feel).
You can “study” authors in a very simple way in Pre-K by simply reading a collection of books by the same author. You can very briefly tell something interesting about that author’s life and show the children a photo of the author. It’s a great idea to print out multiple copies of an author’s photo to stick on the inside cover of all of the books that author wrote to help the children make the connection. (That is an idea shared in the book, Already Ready, by Katie Wood Ray and Matt Glover.)
Another way to help children make connections with the author and the books written by the author is to make author posters. I recommend making them with the children, rather making them in advance because it will be more meaningful. To make these, put the author’s name at the top and a very short biography of things prekinder children might find interesting about the author. (I used cardstock paper for my posters.) This can be handwritten or made using Word or PowerPoint or a similar program. I use PowerPoint because it allows me to move images around more easily. Then print out small images of the book covers. Pictures of authors and book covers can be found through Google Images. I’m not able to share my files with you, unfortunately, because all pictures of book covers are copyrighted.
As you read a book to the children, add that book to the author’s poster. The next book you read to the children, add that book to the poster. For some authors, you may need an extra piece of card stock to make more room. If you have plenty of space on your walls, you could leave these posters up all year. If space is limited, post one author on the wall at a time. When you take an author down, add that poster to a presentation book (a book with clear page protectors bound inside), and you will have an author book!
Author Study Suggestions for Pre-K:
- Mo Willems
- Eric Carle
- Denise Fleming
- Laura Numeroff
- Jan Brett
- Jez Alborough
- Jonathan London
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Hi Karen,
This a great idea thank you so much. i just found out that we will be doing author studies and I love Tjis idea.
Thanks, Theresa! Glad you like the idea!
Great post and good idea them to create a book about books when you’re done.
Thanks, Nichole!
Thank you very much, Karen. We are doing author studies this year for the first time. I was just trying to figure out how to make a poster for each author and my iPad “dinged” to notify me I had an email. Perfect timing!!!
Wow, that really is perfect timing! Have fun with your author studies this year!
This is an awesome post with perfect timing! I will starting planning very soon the author studies I will be doing with my ESL kiddos. The group I have in mind is 2nd grade, but many of these ideas can be applied to older children, too. Thanks for sharing!
This sounds wonderful. I’m going to do this in September when I go back. I think it can work for my pre- k students and it will tie into the Common Core Standards. Thanks so much Karen!
Yes, this idea will tie into the standards, Sherry.
I love this idea! Thanks for sharing!
That is a good idea. Thank you Karen.
Hi karen thank you I will be doing authors for the first time this year
Thanks Karen … this is such a simple and great idea! I will definitely be giving this a try. I think I will also apply the same format to doing a simple introduction and study to artists.
That’s a great idea to do this with artists, Dorothy! I had not thought of that. I could add their famous paintings instead of the book covers. Cool!
Author study simplified!! During a literacy college course, the only info that was suggested was to display several books by the same author and discuss that author. What a wonderful visual the author posters provide for children. Adding already studied author posters to a presentation book allows children to revisit this information and also make comparisons between authors and books. (Again) Super great idea!
Thanks, Faye!
Thanks for this fabulous idea Karen. I have done numerous author studies, but have never thought of the poster idea. I love the engaging little bios about the authors by their pictures ~ and I am definitely going to copy pictures of author to put in each book by them to help kids with author recognition. Genius idea!
Love this author study idea. I can use it to expand my literacy ideas . I also. Read books by the same author and we discussed what ideas were the same and different with each. Book. The children began to recognize the author by the front cover of the books and I even discovered they would look for books in the library by the author which they connected too I teach a full day Jk/sk kindergarten .
Thanks again I love your website. Great ideas.
I think the auther poster it’s a great idea.
Thanks Karen. What a wonderful idea and so simple for those of us teaching Pre-K.
This is a lovely idea. I will be sharing it with my teachers. I think it will also encourage the children to read more
Thank you for a wonderful idea to display the authors and information. I have done author studies but never like this. I look forward to sharing new things and ideas in my classroom this year. I have ESOL students and this will be wonderful for them.
Hi,
RE: The Read Aloud Handbook, Jim Trelease, 7th Ed
I am joining the summer reading late. I have the 5th ed. of Read -Aloud Handbook, J. Trelease from early childhood college reading resources. Can I follow without buying the 7th edition? I did not read the work in school. I have started on, “Why Read Aloud?” Chap 1. Please advise. Your site, feedback from fellow teachers has and is making me a more intentional teacher. Thank you and all the teachers who comment.
Often, you ask the same question that I have written in my journal. Blessings to all.
Ivorye, Chicago
Hi Ivorye, You are welcome to follow along with the 5th edition. There are some changes in the 7th edition, but I understand why you might not want to repurchase. Welcome!
Thanks for the great idea, just in time for school, since I will be having new children in my class.
Love the Author Poster idea! I especially like the suggestion to print multiple photos of the author to place on the inside of the books using google images. Would love to see other teacher’s photos of Author’s posters or “The Author’s Corner” or similiar posters. I like to have an area for Young Authors and post the children’s stories with photos too.
I am a Head Start teacher. One of our monthly curriculum units is “Author, Author”. The idea of the author posters is a great way for us to review what author we picked and learn a little something about that author, perfect for our age groups in our center. It was always challenging to keep the interest of the younger ones but this way is fun! I love your website. I have found so many fantastic ideas.Thank you!
I recently purchased The Read-Aloud Handbook by Jim Trelease. I’m trying to catch-up but, I also appreciate the fact that I can go back and read previous chapter reviews. Thank you for your wonderful suggestions on how to create author study lessons for pre-school children. Also, I love your ideas but, I haven’t received any emails for a while.
Thank you for the great idea! I started author studies last year in my Pre-K class, but never did the poster. I LOVE THAT!! So excited! Some other great authors that I like for Pre-K are TODD PARR, and LOIS EHLERT. 🙂