UPDATE: I’m now live streaming on Instagram and putting the video in my IG Story so you can view it for up to 24 hours afterwards.
Find me here:
Yesterday I had the most wonderful idea—if I can’t visit schools because everyone is at home, then everyone can visit me at my home—virtually! Wouldn’t it be great if authors collectively broadcast themselves reading books so kids everywhere could tune in?
Well, I wasn’t alone in this idea. Author Olivia Van Ledtje started a list of all the authors providing live readings, illustrators giving how-to-draw lessons, and other fun stuff from your favorite creators! See the list here:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MrM7Ypu3uoEEwbyLQ6sxkx8d-sePrP2J64WQrb6dNfI
I have decided to broadcast LIVE at NOON Eastern daily on my YouTube channel…starting today.
See you online!
You can search social media with the hashtag #kidlitquarantine for other authors and illustrators who are joining in!
UPDATE March 16: today I read THREE WAYS TO TRAP A LEPRECHAUN! Here are the how-to pages for building your own trap!
Writing for Kids (While Raising Them) 
33 comments
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March 15, 2020 at 11:40 am
kelbelroberts
Fabulous!!!
March 15, 2020 at 12:04 pm
michellelosardo
I love this and I’ll be sure to share this with my students’ families. Thank you!
March 15, 2020 at 12:14 pm
Lydia Lukidis
YES! I’m watching you right now, my daughter says you’re a celebrity. THANKS
March 15, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
She is!!😍🙌 Just like you 😉
March 15, 2020 at 12:17 pm
Dee Knabb
OMG – You were a smashing success! Thank you, Tara.
March 15, 2020 at 1:36 pm
Tara Lazar
That was much harder than I thought. When I do Skype visits, I have the book in PDF and just share my screen. Holding it up and turning the pages IS A SKILL!!!
March 15, 2020 at 12:26 pm
pjlyons2015
May I share the list on Facebook?
pj lyons constantly creating
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March 15, 2020 at 1:29 pm
Tara Lazar
Of course!
March 15, 2020 at 1:00 pm
Becky Ross Michael
Great plan!
March 15, 2020 at 1:10 pm
Jacquie Sewell
Great idea! Question: can an author only read his/her own books? Is it a copyright violation to read someone else’s book online??
March 15, 2020 at 1:32 pm
Tara Lazar
Yes, it is a copyright violation to read a book in its entirety, even your own, because the publisher holds the copyright. Brief excerpts are fair use, not the whole thing. I did not save today’s broadcast for replay and won’t until I touch base with my publishers about this and get special permission. (Whoops, the LIVE reading today did post! So I will reach out to publishers tomorrow!)
March 15, 2020 at 1:14 pm
fireurchin
SHARED on my facebook page, and will be sharing to some groups. How great is this? Super stupendously great! ~ * ~ bonnie fireUrchin
March 15, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Juliana Motzko
I love it!!!
March 15, 2020 at 1:31 pm
marty
Love this. Great idea!
March 15, 2020 at 2:12 pm
Kaitlyn Leann Sanchez
Tara, that was so much fun! I hope we can join you live tomorrow. Love how much fun you make everything!
March 15, 2020 at 2:28 pm
Deb Gruelle
Hi, Tara,
I love your desire to help kids during this tough time. I was thinking of reading books online, but I was told by my (big 5) publisher that reading a complete book online would violate their copyright laws. Have you heard anything about this?
Thanks for your help,
Deb Gruelle
Web: http://www.debgruelle.com/ Facebook: DebGruelleAuthor Instagram: DebGruelleAuthor Twitter: DebGruelleAuth
Sleepy Time Colors—available for pre-order from Zondervan May 13 and from Amazon now!
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March 15, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Tara Lazar
It typically is against copyright to share the entire book, but perhaps if you are live streaming and then not leaving the video up indefinitely, it could be considered fair use under these extraordinary circumstances. I am going to reach out tomorrow to my publishers and see what they say.
March 15, 2020 at 4:05 pm
Deb Gruelle
Oh, good! I hadn’t thought of not leaving up the recording. I’d be interested in what you find out. I’ll check with my publisher too!
March 15, 2020 at 2:42 pm
pathaap
Such a great idea, Tara!
March 15, 2020 at 3:40 pm
Rebecca E Guzinski
Tara, you and anyone else doing this for kids are all ROCK STARS!!!
March 15, 2020 at 3:43 pm
Kathy Doherty
Fun for all!
March 15, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Michelle O'Hara Levin
This is SUCH a good am generous idea.
March 15, 2020 at 4:21 pm
Angie
Great idea!
March 16, 2020 at 8:07 am
Matt Forrest Esenwine
Great idea! I had been wondering if this might be something worth considering, as my kids will begin remote learning soon, until at least April 3…so I’m glad someone has gotten the ball rolling!
March 16, 2020 at 9:21 am
Meredith Fraser
My family in Ponca City, Oklahoma posted the link on Facebook for all their friends to connect too!!! Thank you for doing this!!
Sent from my iPhone
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March 16, 2020 at 10:46 am
Eileen Mayo
This is such a fantastic idea! A little slice of normal in crazy times. Thanks to all the authors participating!!
March 16, 2020 at 11:21 am
Maria Barbella
Awesome idea! Thank you.
March 16, 2020 at 12:05 pm
Wendy Wahman
What a wonderful idea. Thanks for doing and posting this, Tara. I have a vid of me reading “Don’t Lick the Dog,” and “A Cat Like That,” I made for an animal shelter. They sit the kids down to watch before they take their new dog or cat home.
http://youtu.be/-aDPJHAZcEg (Meeting new dogs safely and cat etiquette)
March 16, 2020 at 1:50 pm
nicolesalterbraun
Awesome idea!
March 16, 2020 at 3:48 pm
Poupette Smith
Great idea!!! Can EU viewers tune in, too? If so, is your link (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1MrM7Ypu3uoEEwbyLQ6sxkx8d-sePrP2J64WQrb6dNfI) what they’ll need to watch, or just to view schedule?
March 16, 2020 at 6:10 pm
Lisa Riddiough
Just watched! Adorable. Thank you, Tara. You’re the best. Happy St. Patrick’s Day!!
March 17, 2020 at 2:59 pm
Sheri Radovich
This was so fun to watch. Thanks.
March 19, 2020 at 5:17 pm
SuZan Klassen
Thank you so much for this information. I hope to pass it on along with other suggestions in an upcoming blog post. https://suzanklassen.com/2020/03/15/we-will-get-through-this/