Creating Booktalks
Preparation Do's and Don'ts
- Clearly tell the book title and author. It's best to repeat this both at the beginning and the end. For picture books, also tell the name of the illustrator.
- Find a "hook" - a scene, event, or circumstance that will intrigue your readers, show them what's special about the book, and make them want to know more.
- It could be a question
- It could be the first line or paragraph of the book - if it's a grabber.
- Add a personal touch...
- something to make the talk yours.
- also, let the readers know how the book relates to them.
- Choose a voice
- You can comment on the book,
- Or, for fiction books, you can become one of the characters (this works best if you like to act)
- Don't tell your readers that the book is a great book...
- Demonstrate that it is by what you tell about it.
- Never, ever, ever give away the end of a fiction book
- Make your audience want to read it to find out the end.
- This may also apply in nonfiction books that tell a story.
- Be well prepared.
- You don't need to memorize, but you have to sound natural. Don't sound like you are reading from a script. If you are recording for an online booktalk, you can read as long as the script isn’t visible and you make it sound like you aren't reading. •
- Keep it short.
- One minute is probably a good average length for a recorded talk.
- For live book talks, you might make it is a little longer, especially if you ask questions and get answers from your audience, but two minutes should be about the longest. •
- For a recorded book talk that will be online:
- Tell your first name only
- Get your parents' permission
- Do prepare a script you will read. Go over the script enough times to make it sound as if you aren't reading.
| Book Talk Do's and Don'ts |