It’s more than just talking about books.

What is booktalking? A presentation of a book Think of it as a sneak preview A great motivational tool Inspires reluctant readers A promotion of quality literature There’s no Rolling Stone for books What It’s Not: A plot summary

Booktalking Methods The Mood Mode Set the stage Ratchet up the tension Reveal little about the characters or motivations Works great with dystopian novels and fantasy

Booktalking Methods Hypotheticals The “what if…” approach Address a moral dilemma Use the character’s struggles as the means to an end. Works well with books that have serious ethical questions, science fiction, and horror

Booktalking Methods Plot Thickeners Map specific plot points Give away nothing Don’t overdo this method The plot approach should be quick and to the point, not belabored Works well with horror, fantasy, and books with plot twists

Booktalking Methods Reading Aloud Can be an extremely effective approach Find a gripping passage that gives little away and read it (preferably with flair) Works really well with “novelized non-fiction” or books that are written with a quirky or original style (e.g. Out of the Dust, Monster, Nothing But The Truth)

Booktalking Methods I Am Not Myself Today Become a character Really tricky; relies heavily on theatrics Works well with historical fiction, realistic fiction, and humor

Booktalking: The Good Confidence Practice Responding positively “With-it-ness” Using a variety of books Use appropriate vocabulary

Booktalking: The Bad Dead openers “I really like this book.” Starting with a book title or author Information overload Lecturing Lyrical booktalking/purple prose Showing too much enthusiasm. Seriously.