Wow, Pam,... your puppet is AMAZING! I wish I could see it come to life!
I have lots of scheduled readings/signings coming up at B&N stores, so I am grateful for any tips I can get and offer one myself! I didn't want to do a boring reading... so instead, I am going to have kids act out the story of PENGUIN AND PINECONE with volunteers from the young audience to make the experience truly engaging and fun.
I'm making the costumes myself, (my mother knitted all the necessary orange scarves), and I just ordered a Penguin costume for the starring role. I'm making kid-sized tree costumes, and made additional props to include more children. (I'll need 7 kid-volunteers in total, 1 speaking role). I totally agree that spicing up a reading with props and such will captivate the audience more than a traditional reading with just a book or Powerpoint!
I have no idea how it'll go, since this isn't something I can rehearse! Each set of kids will make the play unique.... and keep it interesting for me as well if I continue to do this. Also, if you're shy like me, this is ideal since all eyes will be on the kid-actors. I will be the reader and narrator, so I'm practically invisible! :paperbag
Any other engaging and interactive ideas to share your book (at school, bookstore, library, or book festival event)?