How to Throw a Launch Party for a Children’s Book
A Few Tips and Tricks for Creating a Memorable Launch Party
It took Roman about 9 months to write the first book in his series, “The Adventures of Roman German.” On his 9th birthday, we had a launch party to celebrate the book. We invited his close friends and called it a “Birthday Book Launch.” It was nothing too extravagant – just friends, gifts, cake, and games.
Roman wrote the second book of his series in about 9 months, as well. We intentionally planned for his second installment to be published a few days before his 10th birthday party. We wanted to use his birthday to celebrate his new book again, but this time we wanted to have an official “Book Launch Event.” This is how we pulled it off!
Venue: We booked a room at our local recreation center that we were confident could accommodate 50 guests for 2 hours. It was very nice, with round tables, a microphone, projector, and a great sound system for music. We even added a little stage just for fun!
Guest List: We sent out invitations to about 20 kids and their parents, as well as our local family and several friends. We wanted to use the event to celebrate with friends, and we thought that doing so would give us a great opportunity for photo ops, videos, and more.
Food: Having food at events like these is crucial, so we ordered a book-printed cake and several other desserts. We order pizza, appetizers, and non-alcoholic drinks. We even wrapped the water bottles with a label that read “The Adventures of Roman German.”
Atmosphere: It’s important to make sure that the atmosphere is both fun and upbeat. I’ve learned that playing music can go a long way, especially if your venue has a nice sound system.
Activities: Kids are very active and love having things to do, so we had a photo booth for pictures, a shoe game, and several other activities. We also did a Mad Libs game, but I don’t recommend it – the kids got bored with it quickly!
Giveaways: Giveaways are essential at launch parties. We had bookmarks and book flyers with a QR code that led people to an online store where they could order his books! We also gave away snacks, like cookies and rice krispy treats, wrapped in clear plastic and blue ribbon.
It’s important to note that getting reviews for children’s books can be difficult since parents often don’t feel like going online and leaving a review – even if their children loved the book. It’s unfortunate, but it’s our reality. So, we work extra hard to get reviews for Roman’s books!
Book Presentation: Then, it was time for the main event. We asked all the guests to sit down. We dimmed the lights and played an official book trailer. It was awesome, and the kids were so excited! Roman read his favorite part of the book out loud, which was a big hit!
Decorations: We went all out for the decorations. We had blue and white balloons to match the book cover, white table covers with balloon centerpieces, a large backdrop with the title of the book, and two huge banners on the side. The party looked very official!
It truly was an amazing launch party. And – if you use some of my tips and tricks – I guarantee that you’ll have an amazing launch party too. Thank you for reading!
Video of the book launch party: https://youtu.be/IqF1kCtNDEE