An interview with Dr. Karen Huff and Loren Long about the importance of author visits, presented by The Children’s Book Review.
This June marks a remarkable milestone in the world of children’s literature: the 40th Annual Shenandoah Children’s Literature Conference. For four decades, this beloved gathering has brought together the people who create children’s books and the educators, librarians, and literacy advocates who place those books into young hands. It’s a place where the story behind the story comes to life—where teachers reconnect with the joy of reading and leave with renewed inspiration to share that joy with their students.
To celebrate this milestone, we’re delighted to share a conversation between Dr. Karen Huff, the conference’s longtime director, and award-winning author-illustrator Loren Long. Together, they reflect on the lasting magic of author visits, the spark that ignites when children meet the creators behind their favorite books, and why bringing storytellers and young readers together matters now more than ever.
Learn more about the 40th Annual Shenandoah Children’s Literature Conference and how to attend here.
Karen, you’ve spent decades connecting children’s book creators with young readers. What happens to children’s interest in reading when they get the chance to meet an author or illustrator?
Karen Huff (KH): Meeting an author can truly change how a child perceives reading. When a student realizes that the author is a real person, it sparks a level of engagement that is hard to replicate.
A perfect example occurred a few weeks ago when we hosted Lucky Diaz. (The Paletero Man) at a local Title I school. The teachers were as energized as the children. They had ensured every student was familiar with Lucky’s books and music, and you could feel that excitement vibrating through the building. Lucky spent the day sharing his writing process and performing for each grade level, and fielding some of the most insightful questions I’ve ever heard.
The impact didn’t stop at the final bell. That evening, over 500 children and parents returned for the Title I Family Night. The atmosphere was electric. Families sang and danced to Paletero Man, shared tacos, and enjoyed paletas. Parents learned strategies for sharing bilingual books at home, families waited in long lines to have their books autographed and to share a moment with Lucky.
The most poignant moment, however, happened the following morning. A little boy walked up to me, looked me in the eye, and said, “I want to thank you for bringing Lucky to life.”
That is the magic of these visits. These shared experiences forge a true community of readers. We aren’t just introducing a celebrity; we are “bringing the author to life” and in doing so, we bring the books and the desire to read them to life as well.
When you meet young readers, what stands out to you about the way they connect with books and storytelling?
Loren Long (LL): I often compare creating a picture book with making a little movie. Every kid loves movies and I think it becomes relatable to children when they learn how I think about casting the characters (by drawing them) and how I think about the camera angle (up close, overhead, far away) and the setting for my stories. I tell kids that the most important part of storytelling is mood. And together we ponder what kind of music would be playing in different scenes of my books. When they begin to write their own stories and illustrate them, I hope they think about those ideas.
Karen, how does the connection with children’s book creators translate into kids actually wanting to read more?
KH: Once a child makes a personal connection with an author or illustrator, the ‘magic’ of storytelling becomes real to them. We see this translate into immediate action: children hunt down every other title that the author has written. This momentum builds naturally. There is nothing quite like the look on a student’s face when they hold a book signed specifically to them. It turns them into a devoted fan and they want to read everything the author has written. In a classroom often crowded with curriculum demands, an author visit offers a much-needed breath of fresh air, filling the room with the joyof shared storytelling and books which lasts long after the author leaves. This year from April 28th– May 26th teachers will have the opportunity to bring some of the most popular children’s authors directly to their classroom by signing up for a virtual visit.
Loren, have your interactions with young readers influenced you as a creator?
LL: Yes, for sure. The simple act of reading my books to an audience of children is informative. On a very genuine level, I think an artist first has to create for themselves. But as I write my own material more and more these days, I’m thinking about what I want to say, and also very much imagining how I will read it in front of an audience.
Karen, the Shenandoah Children’s Literature Conference is all about connecting educators and book creators. What is it about that experience—those in-person conversations and shared moments—that makes it so impactful for educators?
KH: For the past 40 years, the conference has brought the people who create stories and the heroes who share them together under one roof. Many teachers refer to the conference as their vacation because it provides time and access to many of the best and brightest authors and illustrators in the business. During the last few years many teachers have been following scripted reading programs to ensure that students master important foundational skills but in many classrooms the joy of reading is missing. By hearing the ‘story behind the story’ firsthand, attendees gain an ‘insider’s scoop’ that recharges their professional batteries. They return to their classrooms not only with new book lists, signed copies, and photos of themselves with the authors but with renewed passion and determination to turn their students into a motivated, engaged, and joyful community of book lovers.
Last question for Loren: what do you hope kids take away from meeting you?
LL: They’ll see that I’m a person not all that different than they are.
That I’m from the Midwest, that I have a family, and that I love dogs. They’ll see that an everyday person living in Ohio can work with major publishers in New York City, and even with some very famous authors. And no matter what they choose to do with their own lives, they also have talents the world needs, regardless of where they live.
But the most important thing I hope kids take away from meeting me is how passionate and grateful I am about my life, telling stories and making art that come together to make picture books for them.
About the Participants
Dr. Karen Huff is the coordinator of the B.Ed Elementary Education and the MS in Literacy Education programs at Shenandoah University, as well as the long-time director of the Shenandoah Children’s Literature Conference, which celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2026. In addition to teaching at the university level, she has taught elementary and nursery children and has also conducted numerous workshops for parent groups and in-service training.
Loren Long is the award-winning illustrator of nearly 30 picture books, over half of which have appeared on the New York Times bestseller list, including titles by Barack Obama, Madonna, Amanda Gorman, and Matt de la Peña. He is the author and illustrator of the Otis series, which was developed as an animated television series on Apple TV+, as well as the #1 NYT bestselling The Yellow Bus. A lifelong Midwesterner, Long resides in Cincinnati, where he and his wife raised two sons and four dogs. He serves on the board of literacy nonprofit Queen City Book Bank, whose headquarters feature a mural of his art.
This interview—Dr. Karen Huff and Loren Long on the Lasting Impact of Author Visits—was conducted between Dr Karen Huff, Loren Long and Bianca Schulze.
