For children with big feelings, bright ideas and stories of their own
Virtual author visits, signed books and story activities for primary schools
Bring a meaningful story session into your classroom
Stories help children make sense of the world. They let children explore fear, kindness, friendship, courage and difference in a safe and playful way.
A Northkind school visit gives students the chance to meet an author, hear a story read aloud, ask questions, and take part in a creative story activity.
The focus is not perfect writing. It is curiosity, imagination, and helping children know that their ideas matter.
Why author visits are so powerful
Author visits help children connect with books in a different way. When pupils meet the person behind a story, books can feel less distant. Writing feels less like a school task and more like something real people do.
Our author visits can help children:
- See reading as enjoyable, not just required
- Understand how stories are created
- Build confidence in their own ideas
- Ask questions about books, writing and publishing
- Explore emotions through story
- Talk about characters, choices and consequences
- Feel invited into creativity
Sessions can be adapted for different year groups
Early years and reception
EYFS
Sessions focus on:
- Listening to a story read aloud
- Joining in with sounds and repeated phrases
- Talking about what they notice in the pictures
- Naming simple feelings
- Drawing a character or story moment
- Sharing simple ideas out loud
- Exploring kindness and friendship
- Exploring worry and feeling safe
Years 1 and 2
KS1
Sessions focus on:
- Listening to a story and talking about what happens
- Thinking about characters, choices and feelings
- Exploring what makes something feel scary, funny or kind
- Asking questions about the book
- Hearing how the book was made
- Creating a simple character or story idea
- Drawing and labelling story ideas
- Beginning to understand story structure
- Talking about kindness, bravery and friendship
Years 3 and 4
Lower KS2
Sessions focus on:
- Exploring how stories are built
- Discussing character motivation and choices
- Thinking about fear, kindness and courage
- Asking deeper questions about writing
- Learning about books and publishing
- Creating story ideas from a strange or surprising starting point
- Developing characters with wants, worries, and problems
- Understanding story structure, tension, and resolution
- Using discussion to test, shape and improve ideas
- Reflecting on how stories can help us see people differently
Designed to be easy for schools
Benefits for school
Schools are busy. Our offer is designed to be simple, and tailored to the needs of the school.
When you book with us, we will briefly discuss your needs, and be as flexible as possible to find the right package for you.
You will receive clear information before the visit, including:
- Session length
- What pupils need
- Any printable materials
- Suggested follow-up activities
- Joining link details for virtual sessions
- Book order information, where relevant
No complicated prep. No giant resource pack that quietly becomes another job for a teacher. Just a thoughtful, useful session that children can enjoy.
#WeArenorthkind
About Northkind Press
Northkind Press is a small independent publisher creating stories with meaning, humour and heart.
We believe stories matter because they help people feel, wonder, imagine, and connect.
Our work includes children’s books, story activities, school sessions and creative projects that help people of all ages find their way into story.
Northkind Press was founded by Rachel Forbes, author of The Haunting That Helped.
we can tailor our offer
Pricing
Prices will vary depending on:
- Number of classes/sessions
- Number of books
- Session length
- Bespoke activity requests
- Whole-school events
Please get in touch if you want something slightly different.
We can usually shape the offer around your school.