A presentation to describe what booktalks are, why we do them and their benefits. Aimed at trainee teachers and others who know very little. Contains useful links and bibliography.

1. Book talking school
students.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/hippydream/385979449/sizes/z/in/photostream/

2. What is a book talk?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/93357283@
N08/8480012069/sizes/c/in/photostream/

3. “A booktalk is a commercial designed to get
someone to read a book. It is a way of
"selling" your merchandise, a performance to
get the audience excited about your book.”
http://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/cbec/booktalks.pdf

4. http://www.flickr.com/photos/w
adem/2730257498/sizes/z/in/p
hotostream/

5. Increase circulation.
Promotes collection.
Increases awareness of
the library.
Provides out reach to
community groups.
Aimed at the non / low
user. http://www.flickr.com/photos/mempix/5646343024/sizes/z/in/photostrea
/

6. The most effective way to motivate
reading.
http://libraries.vermont.gov/sites/libraries/files/cbec/booktalks.pdf
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kathycassidy/45284104
44/

7. Other benefits include…
• Helping students find books they will
enjoy
• Develop a rapport between students
and adults.
• Model enthusiasm for books.
• Highlight reading and books without
any additional funding.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jud
ybaxter/5484879/sizes/z/in/phot
ostream/

8. Traditional Book talks
Find a book you love.
Read all.
Decide on a ‘hook’ that will catch
children’s attention quickly.
Describe the basic plot of the
story without giving away the
ending.
CHANCE & LESESNE (2012).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/cuorhome/50300425/
sizes/z/in/photostream/

9. Short and Sweet
Sonja Cole, Bookwink.com,
recommends keeping a booktalk
for children to no more than
seven sentences!
• 1 and 2 introduce the main
character.
• 3 to 5 Summarize the conflict.
• 6 and 7 get the children thinking
about what happens in the story.
• Connect with their experiences
http://www.flickr.com/photos/abakedcreation/6090220029/

10. “Book trailers
are a visual representation of a book.
In one way book trailers are similar to a
movie trailer; they are designed to interest
a reader in a particular book.”
CHANCE & LESESNE (2012).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/tra
velinlibrarian/622599953/sizes/
m/in/photostream/

11. "Book trailers take what happens in
a reader's mind and display it like
real-life. Trailers can also do the
opposite, and make people who
watch book trailers want to read
the book. Whatever side people sit
on, be it a reader or a non-reader, a
book trailer will fill that gap in a
powerful, potent way. It's a
powerful tool for 21st-century
students.“
Chance & Lesnese (2012).
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ku_no It’s a book by Lane Smith
n/207942973/sizes/z/in/photostrea
m/

12. “ the best book trailers are just
like the best book talks. They
basically just give the jacket
synopsis . . . only instead
of kids having to make the
images in their minds, the trailer
spoon feeds the imagery and
music to them.“
CHANCE & LESESNE (2012).
This is not my hat http://www.flickr.com/photos/safari_vacation/58
42069535/sizes/z/in/photostream/

13. Create a buzz.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/q
uisnovus/5835239431/sizes/z/
in/photostream/

14. Utilize digital
technologies
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99411713@N00/6
170567978/sizes/z/in/photostream/

15. Worth exploring
International Children’s Digital Library
InAnimate Alice
Storyline Online
The Amanda Project
315 Stories
Guy’s Lit Wire Blog
Book Trailers for all
90 Second Newbery
http://www.flickr.com/photo
s/35014792@N00/3371873
61/sizes/z/in/photostream / Skype an Author Network Valenza, & Stephens, (2012).

16. Suggested readings
Blass, R. J. (2002). Booktalks, bookwalks, and read-
alouds : promoting the best new children's literature
across the elementary curriculum / Rosanne J. Blass.
Greenwood Village, Colo. : Teacher Ideas Press, 2002
Gillespie, J., & Naden, C. J. (2003). Teenplots : a
booktalk guide to use with readers ages 12-18 / John T.
Gillespie and Corinne J. Naden. Westport, Conn. :
Libraries Unlimited, c2003.
Langemack, C. (2003). The booktalker's bible : how to
talk about the books you love to any audience / Chapple
Langemack. Westport, Conn.
Schall, L. (2007). Booktalks and beyond : promoting
great genre reads to teens / Lucy Schall. Westport,
Conn. : Libraries Unlimited, 2007.
Schall, L. (2001). Booktalks plus : motivating teens to
read / Lucy Schall. Englewood, Colo. : Libraries
Unlimited, 2001.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pindec/131451908/sizes/z/in/photostream/

17. http://www.flickr.com/photos/wbaiv
84877973/sizes/z/in/photostream/
References
Chance, R., & Lesesne, T. (2012).
Rethinking Reading Promotion.
Teacher Librarian, 39(5), 26-28.
Valenza, J., & Stephens, W. (2012).
Reading remixed. Educational
Leadership, 69(6), 75-78.