Booktalking: getting readers hooked on books

Booktalking is not just something that librarians do.
This week we are getting 5th graders signed up to do booktalks to each other.
Here are some of the things we are talking about to make the booktalks great.

What is a Book Talk anyway?

Booktalks can take many different forms, but their main job is to convince someone to read a book

How to create a great booktalk?

1. Find a book you want to tell people about.
2. Read the book closely:

• Use stickies
• to jot down questions, predictions, connections, insights about characters or themes
• to note great passages to read aloud in your booktalk
• Take notes

3. Ask yourself:

• What makes this book stand out from others?
• Why did you like it? (for example: the characters were believable and you related to them or the plot was fast-moving and made you want to find out what happened next)
• Is there anything interesting about the author? (Many authors have websites you can check.)
• What is your opening hook to get readers interested?

And never ever give away the ending!!!

PTO New Book Fair in the Library

This week in the library the PTO is running the new book fair.  The library has been transformed into a hip independent book store.  I have to say I totally love the selection of titles.  Believe it or not I love having the book fair in the library.  Students come to the book fair with their classes and get a chance to walk around and look at books.  And talk about books. And recommend books to each other.  I love hearing what students are recommending and I am having a blast recommending books to students.  This is a fun week to just be totally into books - whether it is Jonathan's Stroud's latest or a beautiful picture book like Journey or a super cool graphic novel of Rick Riordon's The Titan's Curse.  It is all good.  One of the best book sharing moments for me was sitting with a few students as they flipped through the big red hardcover copy of the latest Guinness Book of World Records.  I absolutely adored that book when I was in elementary school.  We had a fun time getting grossed out or amazed with every turn of the page.

-Ms. J.