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 * *To listen to our very own community booktalkers, click here***

**What's a booktalk?**
toc Booktalks are brief "teasers" given enthusiastically by students, teachers, librarians, principals, etc. as a way to entice others to read a particular book (Johnson, 2003). They function like a movie trailer. A booktalk doesn't reveal the whole story; rather, it tells just enough to hook perspective readers.

Booktalking works! Dr. Joni Bodart's research has shown that booktalking is an effective way to get high school students to read selected titles (Eaton, 2002). And it's a worthwhile exercise because when students read for pleasure (what booktalking encourages), the better their reading skills become. Even if what they choose to read is graphic novels or comic books, their reading improves (Eaton).

What they are not: Booktalks are not reviews or book reports; they don't summarize or evaluate books. They also don't convey critical opinions of books, although a booktalk is an implied recommendation from the booktalker.


 * What they are: Booktalks are glimpses into a scene, a character or two, or a plot line that reveals just enough to convince the listener to pick up the book and give it a try. **

Language arts teacher Kathryn Tietze explains, “The main benefit of booktalks is that kids are exposed to a greater variety of authors, genres, and titles than if they were just let loose to stare at library shelves" (Cromwell, 2007).

A booktalk typically includes talking about 3 to 5 featured books for 4 or 5 minutes each (Eaton, 2002). However for our booktalks, we’d like you to choose just one (however if you really want to talk about more than one, we won't stop you!).

** What does a booktalk entail? **
1. The first step is to find a book. You don’t want to booktalk about anything unless you've read and enjoyed it yourself.

2. When thinking about what to discuss, consider the theme, characters, setting, and plot. You can focus on one aspect of the book or a variety of things.

3. Most importantly, you want to make your booktalk relatable to your listeners, to teens.

4. Most booktalks begin with a hook. You want the listener to be interested from the start. You could also begin with a question, a quote, or set the scene, focus on a character, tell a little about the plot, or set the mood (Pikes Peak Library District’s Teen Services Team, n.d.).

5. Be yourself! Your booktalk should convey your own individual style. If you feel comfortable doing so, make it a performance.

6. Speak with enthusiasm – you want your listeners to be excited about reading the book you recommend! You may benefit from reading off of a prepared script.

7. Share an exciting part of the story with the audience – but don’t give away the ending! Don’t spend all your time reading from the book but certainly read a little.

8. Leave another hook at the end! You want your listeners to feel that they need to read this book in order to learn what happens!

9. If you choose to cover multiple books during your booktalk, variety is **//key//**. Vary the types of books you present as well as the lengths and styles of the booktalks. If you present a "dark" title, follow it up with a light or funny one. Some people like to use themes, but if you do that, make sure it is very broad (e.g. "survival" and then focus on a variety of angles of this theme like wilderness, growing up, dysfunctional families, etc. or "food", and have that be the entrée into a number of stories) (Why booktalk?, n.d.).

10. Interested in giving a book talk? Email the library team to schedule a day.

11. Sharing your love of reading is truly a gift to the Moreau Catholic Community – one that keeps on giving as each booktalk is recorded for future Mariners to listen. So come on, what are you waiting for? Schedule a booktalk!