Author Visits by Tara Hackney
Interactive, meaningful virtual visits for elementary-age readers
Invite Tara into your classroom, library, homeschool group, or school event for a lively virtual author visit designed to get kids excited about books, creativity, faith, and the wonderful world around them.
Each visit combines storytelling, interactive activities, a behind-the-scenes look at how books are created, and plenty of opportunities for children to participate and ask questions.
Think of Wonderful Things
An Interactive Author Visit Inspired by Puffins, Ponies, and Wonderful Things
Where do authors get their ideas? Sometimes from the most unexpected places!
Join Tara for a playful journey behind the pages of Puffins, Ponies, and Wonderful Things. Children will hear how a bedtime game Tara played with her own kids—and a trip to Iceland filled with real-life puffins and ponies—sparked the idea for a picture book she began writing on the flight home.
Then it’s their turn! Children will play The Thinking Game with Tara, filling their minds with wonderful things while discovering the wisdom of Philippians 4:8. Together, they’ll consider how the good and lovely things all around us are gifts from God—little blessings that remind us of His goodness and love. We will finish our time together with a Q&A session.
Approximately 30–40 minutes
Around the World from A to Z
An Interactive Author Visit Inspired by All the Children of the World
Pack your imaginary passport and get ready to travel!
Join Tara on an A-to-Z journey around the globe as children encounter fascinating countries, cultures, traditions, languages, and some seriously surprising facts. Along the way, Tara shares the personal story behind the book—from her lifelong love of other cultures and adopting her daughters from India to the realization that God had woven those experiences together in a way she never expected.
Children will discover that the incredible diversity of our world is part of God’s grand design. Through stories, Scripture, prayer, and plenty of interaction, they’ll explore what it means to appreciate and love people who may look, live, or speak differently from them—and discover that every child, of every color and every shade, is purposefully made, personally known, and perfectly loved by Jesus.
The journey ends with a special sing-along of Tara’s newly recorded version of Jesus Loves the Little Children—All the Children of the World celebrating the beautiful truth at the heart of the book: Jesus really does love all the children of the world. And that includes YOU!
Approximately 30–40 minutes
Tara Hackney is married to her favorite human, Spence. Together they have five children who keep them busy, make them laugh, empty their pockets, and fill their hearts. Tara can often be found folding mountains of laundry, cheering from the sidelines, reading books about Jesus, and making themed dinners. In the quiet hours, she enjoys date nights, pajama days, decorating for holidays too early, and getting sand between her toes.
Tara lives with her family by the sea in Wilmington, North Carolina.
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