The first step in the joining process is to register online. Once registered, participants receive regular updates about the program, schedules of author appearances, directions for downloading software, and more. Web site offers many other valuable teaching tools including a list of author Web sites and contest information. Transcripts of last year's conversations with authors can be found there too. In addition, each participating group provides a short paragraph to introduce themselves to others.
Many teachers build math and geography lessons around that information.
They spend the day celebrating reading in all kinds of ways. Students discuss books they're reading, engage in debates, present plays built around their favorite books, and much more. There's no better way, in my opinion to combine reading and the future. Someday I'd love to see kids' faces at they watch Eve Bunting read aloud one of her books to them. But most schools can't afford video conferencing, and it's not important.