Booktalking Tips and Techniques

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Booktalking Tips and Techniques

• Strategies for Success!
• When using this presentation please add slides
  for at least one booktalk to demonstrate each of
  the four approaches discussed in this PowerPoint
  and a final booktalk that includes props and
  music. A slide for a booktalk may include an
  image of the cover of the book, the authors
  name, and the title.

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Content of this PowerPoint

• Text and ideas were taken from
• Jones, Patrick. Connecting Young Adults and
  Libraries. Neal-SchumanNew York, 1998.

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What is a booktalk?

• It is like a commercial. It is an attention
  grabbing presentation created to catch the
  audiences attention and make them want to read
  the book being presented!

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When you do a booktalk you are

• A performer
• And
• A salesperson

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Four Styles of Booktalks

• 1. Plot Summary Create a cliffhanger ending by
  summarizing the plot to a particular point and
  then stopping. This is the easiest and most
  common approach.

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Four Styles of Booktalks

• 2. Character Based Describe a character or
  pretend to be a character in the book.

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Four Styles of Booktalks

• 3. Mood Based Create a mood by voice, words you
  choose, and emphasis. You may want to include the
  actual words the author has written by reading a
  passage from the book.

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Four Styles of Booktalks

• 4. Scene Based Focus on one particularly
  gripping scene in the book. Tell only what
  happens in that one scene.

You can also combine elements of different styles
in one booktalk.
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How will you generate interest?

• A hook is something that catches peoples
  attention. Most songs have a catchy beat, chorus,
  or sing along part. Think about commercials

• How will you hook your
• audience?

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What are possible hooks?

• Change your voice and pattern of speech! Is there
  an accent used by a character that you could
  use? Can you pretend to be the character?
• Pretend the events of the story really happened
  to you!
• Present the booktalk as an interview or as a news
  story.

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What are possible hooks?

• Tell the story from the viewpoint of different
  characters.
• Make it funny..
• Build it around several cliffhangers that leave
  your audience wanting to know what happens next!
• Find a phrase that fits to repeat throughout the
  booktalk.

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You can also create interest by

• Adding props or wearing a costume!
• Having an introductory, concluding, or background
  piece of music that sets a mood.

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The First Sentence

• Make it count! Grab the audiences attention by
• Using a quotation or description of a character
• Focus on a strong feeling
• Act out an attention-grabbing behavior
• Focus on a shocking event
• Relate to something the audience shares ex.
  Remember the first day of school.

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The Last Sentence

• Make it memorable!
• If it fits, try to end with the title.
• Use the same strategies for the opening sentence
  by creating some strong emotion, or include
  something shocking.

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In General

• Keep it simple by focusing on only a few
  characters and using short descriptive sentences.
• Maintain eye contact with the audience. Memorize
  the talk. Even if you are reading a section from
  the book practice it so you know exactly how you
  want to read it.
• Keep it short!! Four minutes should be about the
  maximum amount of time.
• Less is more!!
• Remember to be responsible and keep your behavior
  and language appropriate!
• Never give the ending away!!!

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Resources Used

• Audio
• Like 7th Guest-Dollroom. Online Sound
  Available http//canvaswerks.com/spookymidi.htm,
  July 29, 2002.
• Text
• Jones, Patrick. Connecting Young Adults and
  Libraries. Neal Schuman New York, 1998.
• Visuals
• Actor. Online Image Available
  http//www.andersnelsson.com/images/actor.gif,
  July 27, 2002.
• Booktalk . Online Image Available
  http//www.ic.edu.lb/library/images/ainaarbooktalk
  1.jpg, July 27, 2002.

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Resources Used

• Chinese costume. Online Image Available
  http//www.hartfordchorale.org/ChinaTour/George,2
  0Tracy,20and20Henley20in20Costume.jpg, July
  27,2002.
• Cliffhanger. Online Image Available
  httpwww.people.fas.harvard.edu/mcsteven/cliffhan
  ger.JPG, July 28, 2002.
• Disaster/Fire. Online Image Available
• http//www.handpen.com/Bio/disaster.gif,
  July 27, 2002.
• Harry Potter book jacket. Online Image
  Available http//www.adventistreview.org/2001-1547
  /images/harry-potter.sorcerers.jpg, July 26,
  2002.
• Haunted House. Online Image Available
• http//www.visi.com/sack/HAUNTED.gif, July
  27, 2002.

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Resources Used

• Hook. Online Image Available
  http//www.goldcrownjewelers.com/hook.jpg, July
  28, 2002.
• Trumpet player. Online Image Available
  http//soo.studentorg.wisc.edu/images/opportunitie
  s/music.jpg, July 28, 2002.

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The End

• The PowerPoint was created by
• Ms. Kate Kelley
• 7/30/02