Mira Costa High School Library
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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
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  • Home
  • About
    • Library Info Videos
    • About Your Library
    • What Teacher Librarians Do
  • Research
    • Databases
    • eBooks
    • Newspapers
    • Pathfinders
    • Plagiarism
    • Search Strategies
    • Sources of Information
    • Evaluating Sources
    • Citations - MLA
    • Fair Use - Creative Commons
  • Summer Reading
  • Find A Book
    • Book Finder Databases
    • Book Lists
    • Book Awards Lists
    • Library Collections
    • Recommend A Book
  • Textbooks & Core Lit
    • Textbooks Policies
  • Free Access
    • Homework Help
    • Ebooks and More
    • Audiobooks
    • For Fun
    • Mental Health
  • MCHS