Conference Handout

BOOKTALKS!

 

Almost Super                                                                                        Marion Jensen

Elements

Cliffhangers                                                                                                                                

Stick Dog (Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Funny Books)                                          Tom Watson 

  Operation Bunny (Junie B. Jones/Spunky Girls)                                   Sally Gardner                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       

                                                                  

Character

Odessa Again (Junie B. Jones/Spunky Girls)                                              Dana Reinhardt

Scare Scape (Goosebumps/Scary Books)                                                      Sam Fisher 

 

 

Scene Stealers

The Day My Butt Went Psycho (Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Funny books)       Andy Griffiths         

 Whales on Stilts                                                                                    M. T. Anderson                                    

Mood

Attack of the Fluffy Bunnies (Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Funny Books)            Andrea  Beaty                                                                                                            

The Imaginary (Goosebumps/Scary Books)                                                A. F. Harrold                                                                         

 

Tips for Writing:

• Read, read, read.
• Choose the books you read carefully – Consider Your Audience.
• Take notes while reading and write the booktalk as soon as you finish.
• Remember it is not a book report, review or evaluation – our goal is to attract and excite readers!
• Think Short – rather than long and drawn out.               
• First sentence and ending are key!
• Write like you would talk.
• Know when to stop and avoid spoilers at all costs!

 

Hooks

Props                                                                                                                                                                       Zombiekins (Diary of a Wimpy Kid/Funny Books & Goosebumps/Scary Books)  Kevin Bolger                                                                                                               Go!: A Kidd’s Guide to Graphic Design                                             Chip Kidd                                                                                              

 

Questions                                                                                                                                                                Cat Dad, King of the Goblins                                                             Britt Wilson  

An Army of Frogs: A Kulipari Novel (Warriors/Animal Adventures)        Trevor Pryce

 

First Lines: Millicent Min, Girl Genius                                                           Lisa Yee                                            

 

Movie & TV tie-ins                                                                                                                                                        

The Iron Trial (Fantasy)                                                     Holly Black & Cassandra Clare

The Familiars (Warriors/Animal Adventure)                                             Adam Jay Epstein                                                                                                             

 

Excerpts

Sipping Spiders Through a Straw: Campfire Songs for Monsters             Kelly DiPucchio                     

Mr. and Mrs. Bunny: Detectives Extraordinaire (Warriors/Animal Adventure)  Polly Horvath                                                                                                                                

 

Non-fiction:

Zombie-Makers: True Stories of Nature’s Undead                            Rebecca L. Johnson                                                                    

I Feel Better with a Frog in My Throat: History’s Strangest Cures          Carlyn Beccia  

 

Picture books, Beginning Readers, Bridge books:

Tales for Very Picky Eaters                                                                 Josh Schneider

Disgusting Critters series                                                                    Elise Gravel

When the Beat was Born                                                                     Laban Carrick Hill

Jim Curious: A Voyage to the Heart of the Sea                                   Matthias Picard

 

–   Pick a strong starter –   Strategize about structure –   Mix up your content –   Consider working with a partner –   Prepare more books than you need

Performing Tips:

• Plan your presentation:
   

• Print your script
• Stay in your comfort zone
• Practice practice practice
• Be physically dynamic
• 
  

  Vocal warmups Stretch Make eye contact Face the audience

  Bail on the script
• Use your teacher skillz
   
• Do what works

SOURCES & SITES:

Finding Books

Novelist K-8 Plus (subscription-based database)

Goodreads.com (social network based on book reviews)

BN.com (Barnes & Noble)

Children’s Literature Database (subscription-based database)

EarlyWord Kids (pre-release website)

Display Ideas: Pinterest (social network based on images)

Booktalk Writing

          Scholastic (Booktalks within the Teachers & Librarians section)

NancyKeane.com (older site, but SO MANY BOOKTALKS!)

Random House (Booktalks within the Teachers section)

Google (yes, it’s true!)

YouTube (booktalks and book trailers)

 

See more Sources & Sites on the presentation Blog (http://elementarybooktalk2015.blogspot.com/)

Booktalking Bibliography

Bibliography : Booktalking

Compiled by staff of Timberland Regional Library

 Books

 Baxter, Kathleen A and Kochel, Marcia Agness. (2010) Gotcha Again for Guy!s :  More Nonfiction Books to Get Boys Excited About Reading. Westport, Connecticut:  Libraries Unlimited.

 

---  (2002).  Gotcha Again! : more nonfiction booktalks to get kids excited about reading.  Greenwood Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.

 

---  and Dahl, Michael.  (2005). Gotcha Covered! : more nonfiction booktalks to get kids excited about reading.  Greenwood, Colorado: Libraries Unlimited.

 ---.  (2007).  Gotcha for Guys: nonfiction books to get boys excited about reading.  Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

 Arranged by subject, this series offers booktalks that will get kids clambering to check out books.  The authors have done considerable research on boys and reading and agree that choice is the most important factor in creating good readers.  Suggestions for discovering good books to promote include reading reviews (pay special attention to starred .reviews!), looking at the twice-yearly Horn Book Guide and talking with colleagues.

 Bromann, Jennifer.  (2005).  More booktalking that works.  New York: Neal-Schuman Publishers.

 In this companion volume, the author addresses booktalking questions from school and public library perspectives including, but not limited to, setting up visits and structuring presentations, books that make the best booktalks and “hooks.”  200 actual booktalks organized alphabetically by author are included.

Cox Clark, Ruth E., Ph.D.  (2005). Tantalizing tidbits for middle schoolers:

     quick booktalks for the busy middle school and junior high media

     specialist.  Worthington, Ohio: Linworth Books.

 Definitely useful for librarians working with grades 5-8, this resource is intended to assist media specialists in introducing leisure reading to students and to provide short booktalks for curriculum-related titles.  With an impressive range of newer titles well organized with great indices, each of the 75 entries includes an annotation, booktalk, suggested excerpts and similar titles.

 Diamant-Cohen, Betsy and Levi, Selma K. (2009). Booktalking Bonanza: ten ready-to-use multimedia sessions for the busy librarian.  Chicago, Illinois: American Library       Association.

 The first ten chapters provide actual, full-length booktalk presentations,  which although primarily geared to upper elementary students, include a select few for young adults and adults.  Chapter 11 includes a complete description of the “Booktalking with Pizzazz” workshop  at the 2004 ALA Conference which demonstrated adding music, Internet sites, science experiments, video clips, drama and more to traditional booktalk presentations.  The authors’ sample booktalks are intended to help librarians create more invigorating presentations and jazz up booktalks.

 

Langemack, Chapple.  (2003). The Booktalkers Bible: how to talk about the books you love to any audience.  Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited.

 Langemack offers a wealth of practical information on developing booktalks, getting into schools, knowing your audience, remaining flexible and considering the appeal(s) when choosing books.  Also includes an excellent list of resources as well as a chapter on booktalking to adults and seniors complete with suggested titles.

 Articles

Presentation & Types of Books

Belben, Cathy. "There Are No Booktalking Police: Alternatives to Stand-and-Deliver Presentations." Library Media Connection 26, no. 2 (October 2007): 28. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Blasingame, JamesNilsen, Alleen Pace. "Books, Audience, Action!" School Library Journal, January 2004., 35, MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 20, 2014).

Chelton, Mary K. "BOOKTALKING." School Library Journal 22, no. 8 (April 1976): 39. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Cox Clark, Ruth E. "Become the Character! First-Person Booktalks with Teens." Library Media Connection 26, no. 2 (October 2007): 24. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Coleman, Jennifer. 2003. "The Prop Connection: Bringing Books to Life." Library Media Connection 22, no. 3: 26. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

El-Hai, Jack. 2014. "A new way of looking at the video book trailer." Quill 102, no. 1: 25. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Englebright, CurtisFox, Jill Englebright. "41 WAYS TO DO JUSTICE TO OUR FAVORITE BOOKS." Instructor 115, no. 5 (January 2006): 54. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 19, 2014).

Mascia, James. 2012. "How to make a book trailer: Our author shows you how to create this promotional tool inexpensively. (cover story)." Writer (Kalmbach Publishing Co.) 125, no. 3: 33. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

McGarrigle, Dale (2013, November 01).’That’s a Wrap!” Writer, (11), 24, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

 Rochman, Hazel. 1984. "Booktalking the Classics." School Library Journal 30, no. 6: 44. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Springen, Karen. 2012. "The Big Tease." School Library Journal 28. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

 

Booktalk Basics & Tips

Baxter, Kathleen. "Booktalking basics." School Library Journal 44, no. 6 (June 1998): 70. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 19, 2014).

Chance, Rosemary and Lesesne, Teri. "Rethinking Reading Promotion." Teacher Librarian 39, no. 5 (June 2012): 26. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Cole, Sonja. 2007. "Booktalks That Knock 'em Dead." Teacher Librarian 35, no. 1: 41. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Jones, Patrick. "Booktalking boosters: Eighteen ideas to reach those under eighteen." Emergency Librarian 18, no. 2 (November 1990): 28. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Osborne, Marcia. 2001. "Booktalking: Just Do It!" Book Report 19, no. 5: 23. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Riesterer, Linda. 2002. "(Book) Talk Them into Reading." Book Report 21, no. 3: 8. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Rochman, Hazel. "BOOKTALKING THEM OFF THE SHELVES." School Library Journal 30, no. 10 (August 1984): 38. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 19, 2014).

Thompson, Ellen A. 2002. "RAH-RAH READING!" Instructor 111, no. 8: 20. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Younker, J. Marin. 2006. "Talking It Up." School Library Journal 52, no. 4: 39. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

 

Special Groups

Jones, PatrickFiorelli, Dawn Cartwright. 2003. "Overcoming the Obstacle Course: Teenage Boys and Reading." Teacher Librarian 30, no. 3: 9. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 20, 2014).

Parks, Alexander F. (2012, July 01). “Opening the Gate: Booktalks for LGBTQ-Themed Young Adult Titles.” Young Adult Library Services, (4), 22, Retrieved from http://elibrary.bigchalk.com

Trott, BarryBaker, Jennifer. "Booktalking for Adult Audiences." Reference & User Services Quarterly 49, no. 3 (Spring2010 2010): 234. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

York, Sherry. "Culturally Speaking: Booktalking Authentic Multicultural Literature. (cover story)." Library Media Connection 27, no. 1 (August 2008): 16. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 19, 2014).

 

Last-minute booktalks

Chatton, B. 1989. "Chapter and verse: Books, poetry & booktalking." School Library Journal 35, no. 13: 176. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 11, 2014).

Stone. "Promoting reading to middle school students: May the Booktalks continue." Book Report 18, no. 4 (January 2000): 12. MasterFILE Premier, EBSCOhost (accessed August 19, 2014).

 

Webpages, Video & Podcasts

 

Scholastic Book Talks and Discussion Guides

 

Be a Better Booktalker

 

Nancy Keane’s Book Talks Quick and Simple

 

Miranda McDermott’s Booktalking Blog for NYPL

 

Scholastic 65 Book Videos to Build Excitement for Summer Reading

 

Book Trailers for Readers

 

Book Talks and Book Trailers from Eastern Washington University

 

90 Second Newbery Trailers