Inspirational Primary School Visits & Illustrator Workshops with author-illustrator Jen Carney
Are you looking to boost reading for pleasure and spark creativity in your classrooms?
As an award-winning children’s author-illustrator, published by Puffin, I offer engaging, high-energy primary school visits designed to get children excited about books, and reading for pleasure.
Whether you are looking for an exciting in-person author visit in the North West, a special World Book Day assembly, or a virtual author visit accessible anywhere in the UK, please check out the details below and get in touch.
Jen Carney visited our Primary School and it was such a fantastic experience for children and staff alike! We found it hilarious, engaging and inspiring! Jen has a great stage presence, bold and funny and knows exactly the kind of jokes that make children laugh. We thoroughly enjoyed the session. Jen had a lovely, natural ability with the children and answered their questions and made them all feel special. We feel very lucky to have had such a wonderful experience and would have Jen back in school in a heartbeat!
Mrs Otham – Coleham Primary School
Interactive Author Illustrator IN PERSON school visits
School author visits in the North West
Most popular session:
Based around The Accidental Diary of B.U.G. series or The Day My… series (or a combination of both), my typical in-person author-illustrator school visits last for an hour.
They include: readings, book-related activities, audience interaction, a drawing activity and LOTS OF FUN!
Author illustrator school visit sessions can be delivered to individual KS2 classes, or to a larger group of KS2 pupils in the hall.
For in-person school visits, I’m keenest to travel to schools in the North West of England.
Author School Visits in Lancashire, Bolton, Wigan, Blackburn, Preston, Greater Manchester, Blackpool and surrounding areas.
Jen Carney came to visit our school and delivered an engaging reading and illustrating workshop for our UKS2 children. The workshop was extremely active and children were enthusiastic and giggling throughout and LOVED trying out the biscuit laws. Jen’s books are very modern and relate to all children and their family lives, we have even ordered the new book for our class novel.
Mrs Wiles – KS2 teacher, Blackrod Primary School
“Year 7 had a fantastic morning with author Jen Carney. They participated in a wonderful sensory writing workshop, inspired by Jen’s books.”
Unsworth Adademy
The children at Washacre loved listening to Jen’s story and getting the opportunity to create their own cartoon strips.
Mr Howarth, Head teacher, Washacre Primary
“Thank you so much! The children were so enthused by your visit.” – R Todd, deputy headteacher,
Kearsley West Academy
“Thank you for visiting – it really was one of our most interactive and favourite visits yet.“
Mrs Bowker – head teacher, Lytham Hall Park Primary School
We really enjoyed listening to you read your books to us. We also enjoyed enjoyed playing games and eating biscuits.
Rinta, St. Kentigern’s
‘Jen delivered workshops to our KS2 classes. The children have not stopped talking about it since. Jen was engaging, knowledgeable and thoroughly enjoyable.‘
Mrs S Jones – Assistant Head, Woodlands Community Primary School
Your activities were awesome!
Harley, Year 5
COSTS for IN PERSON school visits:
My current in-person fees are as follows:
MOST POPULAR SESSION:
£175 for a high impact, high energy, interactive 1 hour session with a large group (e.g. all of KS2), followed by a book-signing session. Plus return travel expenses charged at 55p per mile (from Chorley, Lancashire).
OTHER OPTIONS:
£120 for a high impact, high energy, interactive hour session with a single KS2 class. Plus return travel expenses charged at 55p per mile (from Chorley, Lancashire).
£300 for a high impact, high energy, interactive hour session with a large group (e.g. all of KS2) followed by a more intimate workshop (illustration or creative writing-based) with one class, followed by book-signing session. Plus return travel expenses charged at 55p per mile (from Chorley, Lancashire).
To note – For most school sessions, I work in conjunction with my local independent bookshop to give pupils the opportunity to buy a book. We operate a cashless system whereby we provide a link for schools to distribute to pupils’ parents/guardians who buy a book directly. I then collect all orders, bring them with me on the day, and offer the children the opportunity to get them signed and dedicated – a lovely experience.
INTERACTIVE Author Illustrator VIRTUAL school visits
School author visits anywhere in the world
International UK author visits
My virtual visits are available to all, but may be of particular interest to schools outside of the North West of England as they eliminate costly travel expenses.
Suitable for any/all of your KS2 classes, my virtual visits are fun, inclusive and interactive.
Jen ‘zoomed’ into the entire of our key stage 2 (12 classes!) and had every child hooked! Children who ‘didn’t like reading’ were transfixed as she read from B.U.G. 1 and had every class in stitches. Jen answered questions from our children with honesty, humility and hilarity, then held a draw-along to inspire the illustrators amongst us, too. Not only was the virtual visit fun and interesting, it was personalised and hugely inspiring.
Mrs Cryer, Oasis Academy, Henderson Avenue
We had a virtual visit with Jen Carney in Summer with Year 4 and the children and adults loved every minute of it. Would I recommend Jen doing a virtual zoom book visit – 100%. It felt intimate and the children did not stop talking about it for days.
Mrs Dar, Little Ealing Primary School
Thank you for a lovely morning. We really enjoyed having a giggle. You have inspired me to write my own book.
Year 5 pupil, Chudleigh Community Primary School
If you are reading one of my titles in class, I am also available for shorter virtual visits so children can ask questions.
Virtual Visit Cost:
£50 per half hour
Signed books
Whether in-person or virtual, children will be given the opportunity to purchase signed books which will be supplied by my local independent bookshop. This usually occurs via a weblink that you can provide to parents/guardians, eliminating the need for any cash handling or admin on your part.
Please use the contact form to express interest/enquire about author visits.
I really hope to see you soon! In the meantime, why not check out these resources that are free for you to use in your classrooms.
