This document provides guidance on how to effectively booktalk to promote books to young readers. It discusses why booktalking is important to give readers a sense of available books, motivate reading, and promote knowledgeable recommenders. It offers tips like only discussing books you've read, using broad themes, including variety in genres, ages, and reading levels. Booktalks should be short, tell just enough to intrigue without spoiling plots, and highlight exciting elements to leave listeners wanting more. Practice is key to developing compelling booktalks.

1. Booktalking The Why & The How

2. Why Booktalk? To give kids a sense of what is available

4. Why Booktalk? To motivate kids to read and to read more and to read more widely

8. Why Booktalk? To promote yourself as someone who knows where the good books are

9. Where are the good books? Displays are nice but… Have some boxes or carts marked “good books” Do shelf markers and shelf talkers Spine labels for favorite genres (mystery) TAB choices Teens Top Ten

10. Teens Top Ten 1. Girls In Pants: The Third Summer of the Sisterhood by Ann Brashares 2. The Truth about Forever by Sarah Dessen 3. Looking For Alaska by John Green 4. My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult 5. Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie by Jordan Sonnenblick

12. Teens Top Ten 6. Maximum Ride: The Angel Experiment by James Patterson 7. The Gangsta Rap by Benjamin Zephaniah 8. Teen Idol by Meg Cabot 9. The Garden by Elise Aidinoff 10. How I Paid for College: A Novel of Sex, Theft, Friendship & Musical Theater by Marc Acito

14. Teens Top Ten from the Past Eragon Inkheart Trickster’s Choice Abhorsen The Earth, my Butt, and other Big Round Things Thief Lord Once upon a Marigold After First Part Last Second Summer of the Sisterhood Which need booktalking?

15. Christian and Ed

16. Booktalking The HOW

17. Some Guidelines Only talk about books you have read It’s also nice if you liked the book but sometimes a negative booktalk will work If you have not read it you cannot do an adequate job in terms of identifying the appeal and audience You cannot rely on reviews or publisher’s age recommendations

18. YA 4.9 RL

19. Guidelines Use themes but make them broad Makes it easier to include multiple genres Widens the appeal potential Themes could include: Dealing with adversity Finding your way Life sucks…

20. Dealing with adversity

21. Dealing with Adversity

22. Finding your Way

23. Finding your Way

24. Life Sucks

25. Life Sucks

26. Guidelines Include a variety of books considering: Genre Gender Audience age and interest levels Easy reading to books for GT readers

27. Genre Nonfiction See Quick Picks lists especially Poetry Blurred lines

31. Nitty Gritty Rules Booktalks need to be short and sweet Do not tell too much of the plot Perhaps do a read and tease Try for 10 books in 30 minutes You must SELL the book What is the most exciting thing to tell? How can you leave them wanting more?

32. More of the Nit and the Grit Capture the essence of the book Romance—the pair of lovers Mystery—the crime or mystery Sci-fi and fantasy Do not try to explain it all Hook on the real problem at the center

33. Finally Practice, practice, practice Start with colleagues Use post it notes if need be but do not write them out Begin with a core and extend each time adding 2-3 new titles