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What Is a Book Talk? Your Guide to Making Them Work in the Classroom

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What Is a Book Talk

You want your students to read more, but the books aren’t exactly flying off the classroom bookshelves. A book talk may be just the tool you need to engage your students in a new book. A book talk could sell your students on the idea of picking up a new title or author or give them the push they need to find a book they love and convince their peers to read it.

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What is a book talk?

A book talk  is a short presentation about a book with the goal of convincing other people to read it. It’s not a formal book report or review. And, it’s more persuasive than expository—think sales and marketing. In a book talk, the goal is to engage the listeners and present a fun, exciting, and even suspenseful commercial for your book. A book talk could highlight the plot, like this example featuring the book Smile  by Raina Telgemeir. It could focus on a character, like this talk on the book Matilda  by Roald Dahl. Or, it could recreate a book’s mood to ignite readers’ curiosity. Teach your students how to do book talks by modeling the practice. Then hand the reins to students by assigning them book talks in partners or as presentations.

What are some good book talk examples?

Books talks can take many forms. Here are some of our favorite examples:

  • Teacher Mr. Rigney talks about Frankenstein  by Mary Shelley.
  • A student-led book talk about Because of Winn Dixie  by Kate DiCamillo
  • A student-led book talk about  Wemberly Worried  by Kevin Henkes. (Note how she takes on the character of Wemberly to sell the book. This student takes on the persona of Percy Jackson for her book talk.)

As you get started, use a book talk template  to help students organize their talks.

Choosing a book to talk about

Probably the best way to choose a book for a book talk is to find one that you really like. If students need inspiration to find a book to talk about:

  • Provide a box of books that are recommended for their grade level, like this list for 4th grade .
  • As you get to know students, slip them a note card with a personalized book recommendation. The personal touch will give them the confidence to know that they can read the book and that it’s a good choice.
  • Focus on a theme, like  Women’s History Month , by providing a shelf of books inspired by the topic.
  • Ensure that students will connect with a book by having them choose a book written in first person with characters that reflect their experiences (check out this list of diverse titles  for ideas).

Planning the best book talk

You have a book and know you have to sell it, but students need more guidelines than that. Here are some parameters that will maximize the book talk format:

  • Don’t give away the ending (the exception may be for a series or book of short stories where incorporating the ending to one story might excite readers about reading more from that author).
  • Similarly, show the book, title, and author at the end of the book talk. Don’t lead with it! That’ll keep the audience engaged and wondering, Have I heard of this book?
  • Start with a hook that will get the audience’s attention. This can be verbal, like reading a portion of the story (perhaps a cliffhanger), or nonverbal, like reenacting a major fight scene.
  • End with a hook. Leave the audience wanting to know more by creating a cliff-hanger, like authors do at the end of a chapter, and ending with it. A book talk is successful when the audience has questions.
  • A book talk should be short. Aim for between one and five minutes, depending on your audience.
  • No two book talks should sound the same! Bring your own personality and voice to the book talk and encourage students to do the same.
  • Choose a book that has a strong theme that will be of interest to your class. In middle and high school, books about love, humor, magic, friendship, and problems they deal with every day (breakups, family, school, etc.) are likely to resonate.
  • Prepare for a book talk while you read by taking notes and placing sticky notes at cliff-hangers, quotes, scenes that surprise you, and parts that you connect with.
  • Think about craft: What does the author do to keep you engaged?
  • Like any good presentation, don’t memorize it  but do have your major points in mind.
  • Engage your audience —ask questions, take a poll, have them guess what will happen next. The author kept you on the edge of your seat, get your students on the edge of theirs.
  • Practice, practice, practice! (Teacher bonus: Unlike your students, who take your class only once, you can perfect a book talk and give it year after year.)

Book talks = learning and love of reading

So they’re fun and spirited, but there are also real academic benefits to incorporating book talks into your classroom:

  • They get kids reading —really reading. When students do a book talk, they have to know the book and know it well. A book talk will fall flat if they haven’t read the book and can’t talk about it.
  • They get kids sharing reading with others. Reading can be contagious, and book talks are a great way to spread a love of reading throughout your class, one book at a time.
  • They teach note-taking. As students prepare for a book talk, taking notes and using those notes to summarize the story is an important skill they’ll develop.
  • They build presentation skills. The process of reading the book, thinking through how to present it, and practicing are good rehearsal for later presentations.
  • They build listening skills. When students aren’t presenting, they’re listening. The practice of participating in book talks, listening, and asking questions refines students’ listening skills.

Bringing book talks to the next level

Already do book talks? Here are some ways to kick it up a notch:

  • The cardinal rule of book talks is to talk about a book you like, but challenge your students to give a book talk about a book they don’t like. Can they convince people that they actually liked the book?
  • Partner book talks: As students get comfortable with book talks, you can  pair them up  in class or across classes for them to have conversations with peers. As they talk about different books, encourage them to find similarities and differences between what they’re reading.
  • Picture-book talks: Challenge older students to hone their presentation skills by having them give a book talk on a  picture book .
  • Peer review: Create a rubric or checklist (like  this one ) and have students give each other feedback.

Come and share your book talk ideas in our WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out 8 ways to amp up book talks.

What Is a Book Talk?: Your Guide to Making Them Work in the Classroom

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how to do a book talk presentation

A book talk is a popular instructional strategy used in classrooms to engage students in discussing and sharing their thoughts on books they have read. It involves presenting a book to the class and talking about its main ideas, characters, and plot, as well as sharing personal opinions and recommendations. Book talks can be informal or formal, and they can be conducted by teachers, students, or guest speakers.

The primary goal of a book talk is to generate interest in reading and promote a love for books among students. By sharing their enthusiasm for a particular book, presenters aim to inspire their classmates to pick up the book and read it for themselves. Book talks also provide an opportunity for students to develop critical thinking skills by analyzing and discussing different elements of literature.

To make a book talk effective, it is important to choose a book that is age-appropriate and aligns with the interests and reading levels of the students. Presenters should prepare by reading the book beforehand and making notes on key points to discuss. They can start the talk by providing a brief summary of the book and introducing the main characters. It is beneficial to include relevant excerpts from the book to give listeners a taste of the writing style and engage them further.

During the book talk, presenters can discuss the themes, conflicts, and messages conveyed in the book. They can also share personal experiences or connections they made while reading it. Visual aids such as book covers, images, or short video clips can be used to enhance the presentation and grab students’ attention. Encouraging active participation by asking questions and facilitating group discussions can make the book talk more interactive and engaging.

In addition to presenting the book, it is a good practice to recommend similar books or other works by the same author. This helps expand students’ reading choices and encourages them to explore different genres and authors. A book talk can also be followed by book reviews or written reflections to encourage students to reflect on their reading experience and share their thoughts with others.

In conclusion, a book talk is an effective educational tool that promotes reading, critical thinking, and discussion among students. By presenting books in an engaging and enthusiastic manner, book talks can help create a vibrant reading culture in the classroom and nurture a lifelong love for reading.

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Home » Reading Strategies » Book Talk: Creating Excitement About Reading

how to do a book talk presentation

Book Talk: Creating Excitement About Reading

A book talk is a fun and interactive way to introduce new books to your class and generate enthusiastic discussion. A book talk is a great activity not only for the student who is presenting but also for their peers who are listening and learning about a variety of books. Introduce book talk in your classroom and get your students excited about reading!

Table of Contents

What is a book talk, benefits of a book talk for your class, how to introduce a book talk into your classroom, steps to introduce book talk to your class, guidelines for students, presentation tips, book talk faqs.

A book talk is an activity used in many classrooms of all ages to generate excitement and discussion around books. It involves students giving a short (2-3 minute) presentation to the class about a book they have enjoyed. 

A book talk is not designed to be a formal book report but is a more relaxed presentation. The idea is to ignite interest in the book amongst other students, by describing what they enjoyed most about the book. A good book talk should encourage other students to read the book in question.

how to do a book talk presentation

The great thing about a book talk is that it benefits the entire class, not only the student who is presenting at the time. It exposes the students to a wide variety of genres and authors that they may not previously have been familiar with. A book talk can be the equivalent of a movie trailer, inspiring students to try an unfamiliar category of book. 

The whole process of discussing books will also generate excitement for reading within the classroom. As Donalyn Miller, author of The Book Whisperer said “Readers enjoy talking about books almost as much as they like reading.” 

The informal nature of the book talk will increase literacy skills without students even realizing it, and they will find this much less daunting than being sent to the library to choose a book from the hundreds available to them. 

Several transferable skills will also be developed during this activity, including speaking skills when presenting, and listening skills when others are talking. 

If you have never done a book talk before with your class, the best way to introduce it will be to demonstrate one yourself based on a book you enjoy.  This way, the students will be able to easily understand the format and replicate it with their own books. 

Watch this example from Ashley Strausser for inspiration, or share it with your class.

Try This Fun Twist

For something a bit different which will amuse your class, as well as help them to think critically, why not try demonstrating a bad example of a book talk? Show no enthusiasm, mumble while staring at the ground, and of course, make sure to give away the ending!  Pupils can write a critique of your ‘terrible talk’ and you could even use this to come up with a class set of guidelines like the ones below.

  • Provide the class with a suggested reading list, such as this one from readbrightly.com. Don’t limit them to the provided list though, if they have a book of their own that they are passionate about, allow them to choose their own. 
  • If you wish, you could set a theme for one of the book talks. You could choose a seasonal theme such as summer or celebrate a particular event you are discussing in class. This will encourage students to move even further out of their comfort zone when choosing a book.
  • As well as demonstrating a book talk yourself, you may wish to invite a guest in to talk about their favorite book. Having another member of staff give a different perspective may help the students to prepare their own presentations.
  • As a starter activity, you could ask students to work in groups and suggest books to their peers that they have read in the past and have enjoyed. Pupils are more likely to respond to recommendations from their peers than their teachers and this will lead to them feeling validated when their classmates take notice of their suggestions.

how to do a book talk presentation

Choose a book that you really love. Your passion for your book will come across in your presentation and keep the audience engaged.

Your book talk should consist of three main sections:

Hook – Grab the audience’s attention! Make sure they are hooked from the start by including a quote or fact that will generate interest and make them want to keep listening for more! Have a look at the blurb on the back cover of your book; this is used to encourage people to buy the book, so it may give you some ideas.

Content – Share the content of the book. Provide information about the plot of the book , but be sure not to spoil the main points! Share the most compelling points of the story and what makes you like the story so much. Can you think of any other books which are similar that your classmates may have read?

Show them the book. Bring along a copy of the book to show the class. You could also use any other props which may be appropriate to help convey the storyline. 

Cliffhange r – Keep them wanting more! End your book talk with a cliffhanger which will make the rest of the students want to find out more by reading the book themselves. Make sure you don’t spoil the ending though!

Give your class tips on making their presentation as engaging as possible. These could include:

  • Keep it short and sweet! The idea is to give a quick snapshot of the book and leave them wanting more!
  • Try to encourage pupils not to read directly from a card or memorize their talk. If they know their book well, they can talk from the heart, using their notes as a prompt. Other students are more likely to be engaged in this way. 
  • Pupils should try to ask questions of other pupils in the class to encourage an interactive discussion. They could start their talk by asking if anyone else has read their book. 

To make organizing a book talk with your class much easier, we have the perfect resource for you. Download our Book Talk Presentation Guide to take the hassle out of planning your book talk. It contains step-by-step instructions for pupils to follow, a self/peer assessment activity to help them plan, and a teacher’s marking rubric if you wish to assess the talks.

Join teachsimple.com for free today to gain access to this and thousands of other fantastic teaching resources.

That is entirely up to you!  You may want to start by only doing one book talk per term, and increase it gradually as the students become more familiar with them. Monthly book talks work well with most classes. 

In order to get your students excited about doing book talks, it is best to start them as ungraded, informal presentations.  You can always progress to assessed talks once your pupils have successfully completed a few and are more familiar with the guidelines.

Yes! By giving the students a time frame to present, you will ensure they get to the point of their presentation, making it more engaging. 3-5 minutes will give them enough time to share what they need to, without starting to ramble!

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Elaine T. is a teacher with 17 years of experience teaching 11-18 year-olds in Scotland, UK.

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How to do Book Talks in Your Classroom

Book talks will turn your students into avid readers!  This blog post shares tips for getting started with book talks in your upper elementary or middle school classroom.

Book talks are the tool you need to create avid readers in your classroom!  They will engage your students in new genres.  Book talks will encourage them to expand their reading tastes.  They will get your students discussing books more.  Book talks will motivate your class to read!

What is a book talk?

A book talk is a short presentation based on a book that a student has read.  It is a book commercial for the book, in which the student’s goal is to convince their peers that they need to read it!  In a book talk, they will be engaging their listeners by piquing their curiosity. They are making their book appear fun, exciting and suspenseful.  A book talk is not a formal presentation  This book advertisement is an authentic and persuasive sharing of their book.

Parts of a Book Talk

A book talk has three main parts – the hook, the content and the cliffhanger.

  • The Hook – To start their book talk, students should grab their audience’s attention right away!  They could do this with a powerful quote form the story.  Students could introduce the main character or vividly set the scene for the class.  They could also hook their audience by asking a question.  Let them get creative!
  • The Content – Next, they need to share what their book is about.  This is where they provide the details from the novel and summarize the plot.  They could even share a brief excerpt from the story.
  • The Cliffhanger – Finally, students need to end their book talk with a cliffhanger.  They should leave their audience wanting more, but they need to be careful to not give away the ending!

Book Talk Tips

  • Keep it short!  To keep their audience’s attention, a book talk should only be a few minutes.
  • Engage the audience by asking if anyone has read the book.  If they have, allow them time to share their thoughts on the book.
  • Encourage your class to record any books that interest them on their to-be-read list.
  • Create a book recommendation board in your classroom.  Grab a free book spine template to use in this blog post about building a reading community . Have students write the book’s title and author on the book spine and hang them up in the classroom.

Book talks will turn your students into avid readers!  This blog post shares tips for getting started with book talks in your upper elementary or middle school classroom.

Why are book talks important?

  • Reading is contagious!  When they know that their peers are reading and what they are reading, it entices them to pick up a book more often.
  • Builds speaking skills.  Oral speaking can be scary for students.  Giving them the opportunity to informally present in your classroom will help them gain confidence.
  • Book talks are beneficial for the audience too! Students are practicing how to be an attentive audience.  They will learn how to participate in a discussion and how to ask appropriate questions.

Book talks will turn your students into avid readers!  This blog post shares tips for getting started with book talks in your upper elementary or middle school classroom.

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Simple Tips for Starting Book Talks in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Simple Tips for Starting Book Talks in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Looking for a high-interest, simple, yet meaningful way to try something new in your classroom AND help students grow as readers? Try having book talks!

There is nothing more powerful to help turn students into readers, than student to student book recommendations!

As teachers, we are always reading and recommending books to our students. We organize our library, display popular books, and share read-aloud books to hook our students. But what kids rely on most of all when it comes to picking up a book to read, is a recommendation from a peer.

This is because reading is contagious!

We all know those books and series. The ones that the kids flock to! Each year it may be a new series, but once one book is read by one student or during a read aloud, you can bet that all kids will want to read that book, that series, and more from "that author" that all the kids are talking about!

One way to encourage positive and meaningful discourse about high-quality books is to start using book talks in your classroom.  Book talks are not structured like a book report. The goal of a book talk is to get others excited to read the book that is being shared. The excitement that a student has about a book or series will engage and interest readers of all levels in your classroom.

So what is a book talk?

A book talk is a structured time in your day for students to share and talk about the books that they are reading. Through the students' short oral presentation, they are trying to sell or persuade their peers to read the book. This means that the students are combining their reading, opinion, and persuasive skills in one short assignment. Yay! #teacherwin

Benefits of Book Talks

By bringing books talks into your classroom you are encouraging your students to:

  • Read a variety of books, genres, and authors throughout the year
  • Recommend books to friends
  • Engage in meaningful discourse about books
  • Practice persuasive writing skills
  • Increase speaking and listening skills
  • Participate in group discussions regularly and appropriately
  • Prepare, practice, and deliver a presentation

In addition, students have fun!   They really get into our weekly book talks and can not wait to hear what their peers have to share. Over the many years that I have used weekly book talks, I have seen friendships blossom and nonreaders love books! There are so many benefits to include book talks into your weekly plans.

The How-To of Book Talks

There is no right or wrong way for students to give a book talk! I love using templates so that students can stay on track, focused , and have a guide of what to talk about, especially when they are first beginning to give a book talk. 

While the templates I use are mostly open-ended to allow students to bring up the positive points of the book, the prompts do help all readers stay focused, especially struggling readers and shy students. I use different templates for fiction, nonfiction, and series books.

digital book talk templates for upper elementary

When first introducing book talks in my classroom I make sure to explain what a book talk is, what should be included, and what should NOT be included. I also model how to give a book talk with a book that we have already read together as a class. We set the timer to decide on how long our class book talks should be.

I have students follow these guidelines when giving their own book talks :

  • Select a book that you have finished reading and loved.
  • Be sure to know a lot about the book so that you can recommend it to a classmate.
  • Complete a book talk page that includes the title, author, and book genre.
  • Follow specific prompts that I have included in my template page to keep them focused.
  • Include book-specific information about the characters, favorite events, memorable parts, problems the characters faced, facts learned in a NF book, repeated themes in series or books by the same author.
  • Share a favorite quote from the book.
  • Go beyond the words and share adjectives to describe the setting, plot, or favorite characters.
  • Explain WHY your classmates should read the book.
  • Tell about the book to get others HOOKED, but do NOT give away too much or share the ending in any way.

We also talk about how to present and keep their audience engaged. I share these tips:

  • Make eye contact.
  • Speak with a clear and slow voice.
  • Be enthusiastic to "sell the book."
  • Refer to notes or template used, but do not read word for word.
  • Answer any questions your audience may have following your presentation.

Create your own template with these tips:

  • Think about a skill or strategy you want to reinforce (like character traits)
  • What type of books are students presenting on (fiction, NF , series)
  • What questions  you want them to answer (Why are you recommending this book?)

Organizing a Book Talk Schedule

You might be thinking that this is just one more thing to fit in your day! I get it and hear you! However, the benefits of using book talks in your classroom are worth the time that you use to teach students how to hold a book and to actually hold book talks!

When starting book talks, you can assign book talks for all students to complete once a month or allow students to volunteer and sign up to share. Spread the presentations out throughout the month or have a few students share once a week. I have always used Fridays as our book talk day. Having one consistent day of the week for book talks allows students to prepare ahead of time and it also gives your students something to look forward to each week!

  • following morning work or morning meeting
  • during snack
  • at the end of the day
  • to kick-off or wrap up your reading block

If you are sharing during classroom time, you can share the students' completed slides in front of the class and invite that student to come to the front of the room to share. If you are sharing virtually via ZOOM or another platform, have students share their completed work with you and then you can share your screen while allowing only the presenter to speak.

teacher quote about reading

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Simple Tips for Starting Book Talks in the Upper Elementary Classroom

Are you looking for engaging ways to get students talking in meaningful ways about the books that they are reading? These digital book talks are perfect for in-class learning and remote learning, too!

book talk templates for classroom or virtual learning

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breach of contract dispute The article 'Simple Tips for Starting Book Talks in the Upper Elementary Classroom' provides practical advice for educators on incorporating book talks into their classrooms. It emphasizes a student-centric approach, ensuring that the tips align with the developmental needs and interests of upper elementary students. The article also highlights the importance of inclusive classroom dynamics, showcasing the value of shared literary experiences among students. The article offers a variety of presentation formats or styles for book talks, allowing educators to find approaches that resonate with their classrooms. It also explores how book talks can be seamlessly integrated into the curriculum, highlighting the academic benefits of literature discussions. The article also explores the potential for technology integration in book talks, offering modern and engaging approaches. The article emphasizes student participation, fostering a collaborative learning environment and a sense of community in the classroom. It also provides reflection opportunities, encouraging teachers to share their experiences and feedback on implementing the tips.

All of these tips are the best. However, the fact is that, many students don't like book talks. However, if there are books that can talk (storytelling books), there are more chances that students can talk much about them. All is based on the interests. Perhaps this is the reason that many students prefer taking coursework help from experts rather than reading their books.

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How to make a book presentation

When it comes to promoting and selling your publication, book presentations play a major part. Are you interested in finding more about how to create a well-structured presentation ? Luckily, you landed on the right page. This article helps you understand the process behind making a successful presentation in Flipsnack. Just keep in mind the next steps we’re going to debate and enjoy the process. So, to cut a long story short here are 5 useful tips on how to make a book presentation:

  • Select a book. Decide on what book you want to make a presentation .
  • Collect information. Make a research about the author’s biography, reviews, and other books.
  • Start designing the page layouts. Flipsnack offers a fantastic online editor.
  • Add interactive elements. Integrate video, captions, hyperlinks, and other interactive elements in your design.
  • Download or publish it online. Display your book presentation publicly or private.

I was recently asked to design a book promo in both Indesign and Flipsnack, to show publishers how well Flipsnack works for them. I chose one of my favorite authors, Donald Miller.

About Donald Miller

This book presentation is focused on the work of Donald Miller, who usually writes about his life experience and his struggles, in a friendly way. His stories inspire people to fall in love with life and to live it at the highest level. He is better known for the New York Times Best Sellers: “Blue like Jazz”, “Million Miles in a Thousand Years”, but he’s written many other great books. I encourage you to read them.

His most recent publication is Scary Close, and it is the main focus of my book presentation .

Below you can see what I designed.

Because I like how the project turned out, I thought I should give you some tips on how you can make similar book promos.

Using Flipsnack for a book presentation

Flipsnack is a complex tool for creating brochures, newspapers, magazines, and books. Whether you are a professional designer or a high schooler the process of ‘“ how to make a book presentation”  has never been easier. You just have to select a template or create the presentation from scratch, choose the page layouts, to arrange the text and images on the page, add the photos and make it a flipbook . Then publish it and share it on social media or via email with your wide audience. With the help of Flipsnack you’ll be an expert at designing fabulous academic presentations in no time.

What should a book presentation contain?

There is some important information that every book catalog or book promo should contain.  It should present some interesting info that will entice the reader to buy the book. The content shouldn’t be too long or too short. Here are some ideas of what could be included in a book promo:

  • Book presentation
  • Main characters description
  • Other books
  • Interview with the author

Conclude the presentation with a closing paragraph sharing the most important lessons learned from the book and what you consider the most important message that you drew out from it.

Nowadays visual marketing is very important, so try to turn your book presentation into something beautiful, fascinating, with a design that matches the writer’s style.

How to integrate interactive elements in your design

When you design a publication in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, etc. reserve some white space for the interactive elements. Make interactivity a part of your design, and you’ll be surprised of what a big improvement it will bring to your project.

These text blurbs are great for highlighting quotes, for additional information, or for short descriptions. I used captions in the biography section to add some information about Donald Miller’s photos.

What is so great about captions is that you can use them to bring more color and contrast to your designs. Captions will also help you save space, by not revealing all text at once. This way, your design will have room to breathe.

Readers will love to click on captions to see what they reveal. The caption has that element of surprise, that we all love.     

caption

For the book presentation I chose a video tag, through which readers can watch an interview with Miller about his new book “Scary Close”. Tags are a great tool for adding videos or images to a design, because they are small and you can place them anywhere on the page. Just like captions, you can use them to de-clutter a design, prevent visual noise, while keeping all the needed information on the page. To catch the readers’ eyes, tags use a subtle blinking effect.

tags

“Buy This” Button

If you’re showcasing other books of the author you should make it easy for readers to buy them. You can do that by just adding some buy buttons . Insert the Amazon URL, (or any other URL for that matter) and with just one click the user will be able to buy it.

Buy buttons are very easy to use and they are very practical. They can help you sell, and that is the ultimate goal of any book catalog or book presentation.  

buy_button

Video Widget

After you read some paragraphs of an interview you probably become curious about how the writer would say those things. You don’t have to search for videos on Youtube, because with the video widget you can have it play right there on your page. You just have to reserve some space in your design for this. You will not regret it.

videowidget

This is how you can use Flipsnack to create a digital book or interactive experience for readers, which will make them interested in buying the book. Also if you are searching for a platform with a good reputation to sell your work, Flipsnack is the right place for you. Now you can sell and publish your publication in no time. The first step when setting your work for sale is to connect your Flipsnack account with Stripe. The second step is to set a price for the publication. Usually, the price of a digital magazine varies between $3 – $6, depending on the page number of the publication and then c hoose the right preview pages. Make sure the pages included in your preview edition share enough information, so your readers are attracted to purchase it.

After you set your publication for sale, you can find the statistics in the Stats section in your account. With the help of Flipsnack reaching readers from all over the globe has never been easier! Learn more about how to sell your digital magazines here!

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How to Share Books Using Book Talks

How to Share Books Using Book Talks

If you’ve ever wondered how to share books using book talks, you’re in the right place!

Book Talks are an effective way to get students excited about books!

Let’s start with the basics.

What is a book talk.

  • A short (1 – 2 minutes), mini-advertisement to try to generate interest in reading a particular book
  • Can be presented by students and teachers
  • Works well during Reading Workshop or for any reading instruction model

What are the benefits of book talks?

  • Encourages students to read a variety of books
  • Supports speaking and listening skills
  • Promotes a culture of reading
  • Motivates students to find and read fun books

How do you teach students to share books using book talks?

Start by teaching Book Talks by example! First, I choose a book that may be new to most of my students and share it with the class using a Book Talk.

I make sure to share the book enthusiastically, modeling what I want students to include in their own presentations.

Then I teach the specific information about giving a Book Talk using several mini-lessons. In fact, it’s one of the first mini-lessons after launching Reading Workshop .

Anchor charts  are great to use! I teach three mini-lessons. What a Book Talk is (pictured above), Dos and Don’ts for Book Talks, and the three main parts of a Book Talk (the hook, the content, and the ending).

Each day, I continue to give a short Book Talk, making sure to vary it. This helps students see that Book Talks don’t have to look or sound exactly the same.

After seeing a few examples, we go over the template that has the three parts of a book talk.

I also show students the sign-up sheet and go over the rules for signing up. For example, you can only sign-up IF you’ve completed reading a book AND it’s one that you love.

What are the three main parts of a Book Talk?

1. the hook.

The Hook is the introduction and can be compared to a topic sentence. It’s sole purpose is to get the audience’s attention.

Here are a few ways to introduce a book:

  • Ask a question
  • Read an exciting line from the book
  • Share an interesting fact
  • Make a surprising statement
  • Your own creative idea

I like to have a small stack of books ready for this lesson. I also make quick notes for myself of what I want to say for each.

To model each of the hooks. I hold up a book and demonstrate one of the hooks. I try to make this as entertaining an enthusiastic as possible.

2. The Content

In this part, students tell what the book was about. First, they tell the author’s name and the title. They show the actual book to their classmates too.

Then they give a short summary of the book. We use the familiar summary of a plot template as a starting place idea:

A. “Somebody” (main character)

B. “Wanted” (what did they want or try to do)

C. “But” (what was the problem)…

D. Don’t tell the “So” or the “Then” parts (no giving away the ending)

We discuss how to include this information without making it into a single sentence using those key words.  

To do this, I take a well-known book, usually a read aloud we’ve read together, and model this idea.

First, I model a bad example of sharing about a book using the SWBST template. Then, I model how to naturally and enthusiastically tell about the book while still including these ideas.

Additionally, you’ll want to make sure to stress the NO SPOLIERS policy! A good Book Talk NEVER gives away the ending.

3. The Ending

To wrap up it up, students should create curiosity about the book. One way to do this is to tell about an exciting part to make classmates curious without giving away the ending.

Another way to end the presentation is what I call the Reading Rainbow closing! If you’re a fan of Reading Rainbow , you know there’s always a phrase like “If you like books with/about _____, you might like (title of the book)!

Again, you’ll want to stress the idea that being creative and doing things a little differently is encouraged!

What are some Book Talk tips to share with students? Make sure to:

  • Share a book you’ve read and enjoyed
  • Be creative! This is a performance , not a book report!
  • Don’t “tell” about the book, but “sell” it !
  • Use a strong voice so everyone can hear
  • Use eye contact (if possible)
  • Practice the presentation a few times at home
  • Keep it short and sweet at 1 – 2 minutes!

How can you find time to do Book Talks?

My favorite time to do Book Talks is during Share Time in Reading Workshop .

If you feel like your Reading Workshop time or reading block is already stretched for time, here are a few alternatives:

  • After morning work
  • Transition times – before recess or lunch
  • If the class completes an assignment faster than expected
  • After students pack up for the day

Book Talks are a powerful motivating tool to get students excited about reading! By adding Book Talks into your classroom, you’re introducing students to lots of new books to read. And these peer recommendations can be powerful! The bonus is that you’ll most likely be amazed by how much students enjoy sharing books with each other!

That’s it! Now you know all about how to share books using Book Talks!

Do remember teaching students to give organized presentations (and teaching reading in general) is always a work in progress.

It will take a lot of time and practice to fine tune this reading activity.

The more you practice teaching and organizing Book Talks with your students, the more confident and skilled you’ll become!

Want more teaching tools? If you’re looking for a set of time-saving, print and digital resources, I have a set ready for you. It has everything you need to teach book talks plus anchor charts, graphic organizers, reader’s notebook materials, 4 weeks of lesson plans, bookmarks, posters, and more!

Click here to take a look at the Launching Reading Workshop unit!

Launching Reading Workshop

Now that you have a handle on book talks, maybe you’re wondering where you go from here?

If you’d like to plan out the grade level reading skills your students need for the year, I have a FREE set of pacing guides for 3rd, 4th, and 5th grades that I’d love to share with you.

The pacing guides are organized by weeks and come in color, black and white, and in editable formats too, so you can tweak them to match your needs.

Looking for more Reading Workshop Ideas?

  •   Ways to Add Accountability in the Reading Workshop Model

The Best Way to Lead Reading Conferences

Teaching Mini-Lessons in a Limited Amount of Time

  • Everything You Need to Know About Launching Reading Workshop

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Engaging Resources for Teaching Literacy

By Sara Marye Leave a Comment

Boost Reading Engagement With Book Talks

Book talks are a fun way to create ‘book buzz’ in your classroom. They boost engagement in the reading process, and can encourage students to read more books!

Book talks were one of my students’ favorite ways to share what they were reading with their classmates and it was a cornerstone of our classroom community.

So, how can you easily incorporate book talks into your classroom?

What are book talks?

After finishing a book, a book talk is a brief pitch of the book to the rest of the class! Think of it as a mini commercial that students give to advertise the book.

They are a great way for students to share the books that they love as they finish them and expose other students to types of books that they may not have read themselves.

how to do a book talk presentation

Why should you use book talks?

Book talks are a great way to build anticipation about different book titles in your classroom library! Recommendations from peers can be very influential to a reluctant reader or a reader who has been having a tough time finding a book that they love.

After students share a book talk, the rest of the students in your class will be so excited to read that same book.

Additionally, it brings your students into the conversation and engages them deeply. Students love giving book talks, and they love hearing the presentations from their classmates!

I mentioned this in my post about book clubs , but the more engaged students are with a particular task, the harder they will work, and the more they will grow! Also, we are constantly looking for ways to create positive reading experiences for our students to instill the habit of lifelong reading! Book talks are a great way to create fun, exciting book memories for our kids that they will hold onto for years to come.

image shows an anchor chart titled how to give a book talk

How do I get started with book talks?

You can easily get started with book talks at any point in the school year. Follow these three steps when you are reading to introduce book talks to your classroom community.

  • Teach a mini lesson where you review exactly what a book talk should include. Create an anchor chart with the key talking points, so students can refer to them later. I would recommend breaking down the structure of your ideal book talk into a checklist of things for students to include. You can structure your book talks however you want, but I suggest giving students a formula to follow (an engaging hook, key details, and a call to action is a great place to start).
  • Model a book talk! Take a picture book you’ve read recently, or one that you’re about to add to the library for students to use, and give a quick oral presentation sharing one of your favorite parts, hinting at the plot, and maybe sharing an interesting sentence or two. You want students to see how engaging a book talk should be!
  • Review the key tenants of a good presentation! Using a clear speaking voice, making eye contact, and holding the book so that the class can see it are all things that your students may not know to do without being told. You can even create a presentation checklist for students to have on-hand when they are practicing book talks at home!

BookTalkResource-8.jpg

What should a book talk include?

The great thing about book talks is there is no right or wrong way to do it! You can completely customize them to meet your classroom needs! But, if you’re looking for a little inspiration to start planning your own, here are some great things that you could include in your own book talks:

  • Reading the blurb on the back of the book
  • Sharing a funny moment or quote
  • Sharing why you enjoyed the book so much
  • Sharing a connection from this book back to the students’ lives
  • Describing the plot, but leaving a big cliff hanger
  • Sharing something that makes this book unique

You can also brainstorm a list of key book talk elements with your class. Let them brainstorm ideas of what they would like to share or hear during the book talks given in your classroom.

BookTalkResource-2.jpg

Tips for Extra Engagement:

  • Make book talks part of your read aloud time! Before you begin a lesson, give a quick ‘elevator pitch’ of your book to build anticipation of what you’re about to read, and to consistently model what a book talk can look like!
  • Invite special guests to come and give book talks. The principal, librarian, a parent, a community helper, and so many other fun guests would make for a great book talk! If you can’t have live guests in your classroom, this is a great virtual activity.
  • Create a waitlist. Nothing builds anticipation like a waitlist. Students will love to see where they are on the list, and when it will be their turn to give a book talk.
  • Use book talks to create a visual display. You can take a quick picture of students holding that book, and create a bulletin board, a class book in a binder, or a virtual library in a google folder, of all of the titles that your classroom has shared throughout the year!

Book talks can create authentic reading and sharing experiences, as well as creating space for each student to contribute to your classroom community. I hope that these tips gave you some new inspiration to work book talks into your classroom this year!

Put it into practice:

If you’re ready to get started with book talks in your classroom, you can take these three steps:

  • Download my free book talk anchor charts to help you introduce book talks to your students.
  • Listen to Episode #12 of the Stellar Teacher Podcast – Build Literacy Buzz with Book Talks.
  • Grab my Book Talk Planning Kit – It has everything you need to get book talks up and running in your classroom.

Happy Teaching! 

Want to learn more about how to boost engagement with book talks?

Check out this episode of Stellar Teacher TV where I talk all about Book Talks!

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Tips for Using Book Talks in Your Classroom

If you want to get more books into your students’ hands, book talks are just the ticket.  They are an excellent way to develop a culture of reading in your classroom and encourage students to try new authors and genres.  

What is a book talk?

A book talk is a short, informal speech delivered with the intent of convincing someone to read a novel.   It’s a way for students to share a reading they love with their classmates and encourage them to give it a try.

How can I bring book talks into my classroom?

Book Talk

1. Let students choose their book

The most important element of a strong book talk is that the student actually loves the book they are talking about.  Don’t try to assign or dictate which books students can choose. Give them full control over the book choice. By doing this, you’ll ensure that the student will speak honestly and passionately about the book in an effort to get their friends to also read it.

2. Focus on the process

Students will be naturally programmed to think you mean book report, review, or analysis when they hear you talking about book talks.  Make sure to erase this from their mind. 

They need to understand that the fundamental purpose of a book talk is not to analyze a text, but rather it is a means of introducing new books to the class and persuading their classmates to give it a try.  They need to think of a book talk as a movie trailer that give a glimpse into the novel (without spoilers) and entices the audience to want more.

Book Talk

3. Provide a structure

If you want students to be successful, lay out a basic structure for them to follow.  Below are the elements that I would have students include in their book talk , but of course you can alter this to fit your own classroom.

  • Introduce the text (title, author)
  • Hook the audience
  • Provide a very brief introduction of the plot (no spoilers).  Students are welcome to discuss themes, characters, or conflicts that piqued their interest, but must remember that the purpose is not analysis..  
  • Share their personal impression
  • Share a passage or a quote from the novel
  • Conclude  and persuade and entice the audience to read this text.  They should also share what type of person would like this novel.

I do provide a grade for students to hold them accountable, but I keep it very simple and if students come prepared and include all elements, they typically do very well on this.  Providing a grade is definitely not necessary.

Book Talk

4. Model the process

Although last on the list, this is one of the most important elements.  Ensure to model this process as much as possible. By sharing your own novel recommendations, students will see what a strong presentation looks like (volume, pace, tone, persuasive language etc.).  

I also suggest inviting other guests into your classroom to give book talks about novels they are reading.  This shows students that not only English teachers are readers. Consider bringing in another teacher (physical education, science, etc), an administrator, a custodian, or a school secretary to share what they are reading with the class.  

If you’d like some resources to implement book talks in your classroom, you can grab the pack I use here .

Looking for a fun way to make students more engaged independent reading? Click here to learn all about sending students on a date with their book.

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8 Steps to Create a Dynamic Presentation from Your Book by Kirsten Holmberg

Posted by Guest Post | Nov 12, 2020 | Blog , Professional Speaking , PROFESSIONAL SPEAKING - MEMBERS ONLY | 0

8 Steps to Create a Dynamic Presentation from Your Book by Kirsten Holmberg

Yet many authors—having poured their expertise into a robust written work—find the task of crafting speeches from their books daunting. Three common challenges include:

  • Deciding what to put into the speech—because it requires leaving something from the book out.
  • A lack of understanding of how the spoken word differs from the written word—and how to best serve a live audience with the right sentence and talk structure.
  • Discomfort with being “on stage” as a speaker due to a preference for the more solitary work of writing.

To leverage speaking as part of your author platform and book publicity efforts, use these steps to craft and refine a talk based on your book:

  • Know your audience. Ideally, you’ll initiate the process of crafting a talk with a particular audience in mind. If you haven’t yet been invited to speak, think about an event where you’d like to speak. Sketch out what you know about the audience: some general demographics, the purpose of the event, why your subject matter is of interest to them—and their underlying need. Don’t assume the audience is identical to the target audience of your book; identify ways they might be different as well as similar.
  • Review (or create) your annotated table of contents. In light of the audience you’ll be addressing, which chapters would most effectively address their needs? It might only be one chapter and probably won’t be more than three. How does your content need to be adapted in light of any differences between the event audience and your book’s target audience? Don’t be afraid to tailor your content to the group; it shows care and fosters connection, through which your message is best conveyed. If you’re not sure, find someone in your network who is similar to the event’s audience and ask them which chapters would be most helpful. Aim to address a felt need with valuable, actionable information.
  • Distill the selected chapters into their key points. Bulletize the key points instead of excerpting sentences or crafting new ones. Trust that you know your content and can speak to it without a full script. Writers rightly care a great deal about the turn of phrase and often want to write out their talks in full sentences. Yet this approach usually results in the speaker reading their talk instead of engaging the audience in a more conversational way; the latter is a profoundly more effective means of conveying the content. If you opt for a full script, take care to use simple sentence structure and common language: industry jargon and complex sentences are impediments to the audience’s ease of understanding.
  • Structure the content to engage—and re-engage—the audience. They will assume your book is interesting if you and your talk are interesting. Hook them quickly; leverage your skills as a writer build and release tension multiple times during your speech. Leave them will a clear, concrete call to action—a step they can take immediately even if they don’t purchase the book. Aim to provide value and maintain a posture of service.
  • Give the audience a gift. Share with them something you’ve learned since the book was published or give them a glimpse from behind the scenes of your book. Reward them for being part of the event by imparting some “insider information” they can’t get from the book. Consider addressing common questions that arise from the book content or sharing reactions from readers.
  • Be human. You’re the subject-matter expert and the audience needs your knowledge. But they also want you to be human. Establish common ground; show them—within the first few minutes—that you understand their needs because you have similar needs. Be willing to share some relevant faults or failings for the sake of conveying empathy for the shared human experience as it relates to your content.
  • Visualize your content. Audiences today are accustomed to visual accompaniment, most often in the form of slides. And slides really should be visual , not merely a list of words to prompt the speaker what to say. As wordsmiths, creating slides may not be a natural strength. Spend the time and energy to craft quality slides; involve friends with complementary skill sets or hire a designer if you lack the skills to do it well. Just as in writing, take care to avoid visual clichés. Check out com for symbols and images. Leverage pictures or graphics from your book where appropriate.
  • Refine the delivery. Your book represents you: your expertise, your thoughts, your story. But when you’re on stage, you represent your book. Merely knowing your subject matter isn’t sufficient for giving a great talk; you need to deliver it in a fashion that is clear, confident, and compelling. Audiences will determine whether they find you (and your book) credible in large part based on how well you present yourself. Plan to practice your speech daily, videotaping yourself several times and taking the time to review and evaluate the footage to identify areas needing improvement (this free rubric is a helpful guide for doing so).

Speaking is an essential component of a successful author platform, driving book sales and increasing visibility in the publishing world.

You’ve written the book you know the world needs; now use your voice to share that message in a spoken format.

About Kirsten Holmberg

Kirsten Holmberg is a public speaking coach and trainer who has worked with TEDx speakers and clients from Fortune 50 companies, including Google, HP, and Oracle. Leveraging two decades of experience in keynote speaking, she equips both new and skilled speakers to achieve maximum impact with their presentations to customers, stakeholders, and audiences of all sizes. Learn more about Kirsten at  www.kirstenholmberg.com .

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/kirholmberg

IG:  https://www.instagram.com/kirholmberg/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/kirholmberg

LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/kirstenholmberg/

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how to do a book talk presentation

Middle School Cafe

Middle School Cafe

December 6, 2022 · Leave a Comment

Book Talks – Engaging Students in Reading Through Peer Discussions 

ELA · Reading Workshop

Reading is an important part of a student’s development, but it can be difficult to get students excited about reading. That’s where book talks come in! Book talks are a fun and engaging way to encourage students to read, as well as to give them the opportunity to share their thoughts about a book with their peers. With this strategy, teachers can help create meaningful discussions among their students about books they have read.

What is a Student Led Book Talk?

A book talk is a short presentation given by a student that shares a small portion of the plot of a particular book they have read. The presenter provides a brief overview of the major characters, themes, plot points, and other important elements of the story. They may also provide personal opinions on what they liked or disliked about the book, as well as why they think their peers should read it. As they wrap up their discussion, they pose questions to their peers about some of the major themes in the book.

The purpose of the talk is not only for the student presenting to share what they got out of the book but also for other students in the class to hear what others thought of it and then join in on the discussion.

how to do a book talk presentation

How Do Student Led Book Talks Work?

The process begins by having students choose which book they would like to read and share. They will then use an organizer to prepare their talk by recording information while they are reading. Once their preparation is complete, they are ready to present their book talk!

To keep the focus of the book talk on academic discussions and to give everyone an opportunity to participate in discussions, break your class into small groups. This can be done by grouping students of similar interests or reading levels, but can also be done by mixing abilities. All levels of readers can be successful with student led book talks!

As students listen, they take notes so they can keep track of what was discussed during the presentation. After the talk is over, there is an open discussion period where students can ask and answer questions – engage in meaningful academic discussion about the book and share their thoughts.

These conversations often lead to further exploration into various topics such as history, geography, science, etc., which develops critical thinking skills and deepens understanding of these topics. In addition, these conversations allow students to get creative with their ideas while providing evidence from the text to back up their claims – all valuable skills that will benefit them far beyond the classroom setting! 

Click here to read a blog about how to set up student led book talks in your class.

how to do a book talk presentation

Benefits for Students

Book talks offer numerous benefits for both presenters and listeners alike. For starters, it encourages students who may not normally be interested in reading to pick up a book and dive into it. Additionally, it gives them an opportunity to practice public speaking skills while also learning how to engage in meaningful conversations with their peers—both valuable skills that will serve them throughout their lives! Talking about books can help build empathy and understanding between classmates as everyone shares different perspectives on various texts.

Why not make book talks a fun and exciting experience for your students? Book Talks are easy to implement with this resource ! All you need to provide are some books – who doesn’t love a trip to your school library?

Book talks are a great way for middle school teachers to engage their students in meaningful conversations about literature while developing critical thinking skills at the same time! By providing students with an organizer that helps prepare them for their book talk presentations and recording information using a group record sheet organizer, teachers can ensure that each student has ample opportunity to share his or her thoughts on something they’ve recently read with their peers in an authentic manner. Not only does this promote peer-to-peer discussion surrounding literature but it also allows for further exploration into various related topics such as history and geography which deepens understanding beyond what was initially presented in the text itself! With this classroom tested strategy, teachers can rest assured knowing that their students will be engaged throughout each session of reading!

Looking for an easy way to implement? Check out this Student Led Book Talk Resouce .

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Question: What are the best ways to present a book at a reading or book club?

In-person events continue to be one of the most effective ways authors can reach readers because readers love meeting authors face-to-face. These events give authors the opportunity to discuss and share their work, interact with fans, and create meaningful, long-lasting connections. And, of course, sell more books!

If you are considering adding events such as book signings, speaking engagements, or book club visits to your marketing strategy, here are six steps you can follow to ensure you have a successful event :

1. Know your audience and event format

The length, venue, and expected attendance can all greatly affect an event plan, as can the age and interests of the attendees. For example, a discussion with a small group at a local library or book club meeting is much less formal than a presentation in a ballroom at a large conference. And, the energy level of a presentation to school children is vastly different from one given to a professional organization.

Make sure you have a good contact for the event that can answer any questions and help guide you on the details and expectations. You’ll want to try and get at least 20 minutes of time for your presentation, but no more than an hour. You’ll also want to understand if the event is private and limited to select invitees only, or if it is open to the public.

2. Understand live reading best practices

If the event format allows for a live reading from your book , we recommend keeping it short – 6 to 10 minutes max. This is typically around one-thousand words or less. For fiction and memoir authors, you’ll want to focus on a faster-paced, compelling scene that doesn’t require too much explanation or backstory. The more conflict in the scene, the more gripping the excerpt will be for your audience.

Nonfiction authors should find a passage that demonstrates your expertise on the book’s topics, or solutions you present in the book. If you’re sharing a book of poetry, choose only a few of your favorite poems to read.

Be sure to read loudly and clearly, using your voice to express the tone and emotion of the scene or content, and your eyes to connect with your audience. If you bury your head in your book and speak in a monotone voice, you will quickly lose the interest of your listeners.

Whether you do your reading at the start of your presentation or after some initial discussion is up to you. Just consider what will flow best, keep the audience engaged, and entice them to buy your book.

3. Make the event interactive

As you’re planning the event schedule, it’s important to research how other authors best utilize the time they are given. Attend author events in your area to observe how attendees respond and take note of what you like and what you would improve.

When invited to speak at an event, it’s your job as the guest presenter to entertain, enlighten, excite, or engage. You can do this by including an interactive portion in your presentation. Ideas to engage the audience include conducting a question and answer session, having someone interview you, or creating a pre-planned discussion guide . If you’re up for a more unique approach, do something that ties to your book’s setting, themes, or characters. Maybe you do a cooking demonstration, dress-up as the villain, or host a game.

For children’s presentations, especially, authors must keep the content fun and entertaining, while also sneaking in some educational takeaways. No matter the audience or venue, your goal should be to create a memorable experience.

4. Plan ahead and practice, practice, practice

Once you know how much time you have for your presentation, create an outline of what you plan to do. Audiences may not know you, so are you going to start with a quick introduction of yourself and your book before doing a reading? How much time will you have for questions or for something interactive?

You’ll also want to understand what type of equipment is being provided to you. Will there be a podium and a microphone? What about a small table to display your book? If you plan to show visuals such as a PowerPoint presentation, will there be a projection screen and laptop hook-up provided? What about a wireless mouse to advance the slides? For some events, you might need to bring your own equipment.

Leading up to the event, it’s important to plan out and practice what you’re going to say during the speaking portions of the presentation. It’s a good idea to also write out answers to commonly asked questions such as, “What inspired your to write this book?” or “How long did it take to write it?” You can practice in front of friends or family that will provide honest feedback, or set up your phone or camera to record yourself on video. Whatever you do, don’t leave the planning and preparation to the last minute! You want to appear professional and ready.

5. Promote the event if you can

After the time and date are set, start building awareness for the event if open to the public. You can use your online presence such as a website and social media pages to promote, or announce the upcoming event in the email newsletter sent to your fans. The POEM Method of Book Marketing is an effective approach when wanting to maximize your promotional efforts.

If you’re speaking at a closed or private event, try to have someone take photos or video footage of you while presenting so that you can use these examples to build your speaking credibility and resume. The more events you do, the more opportunities will come your way.

6. Have book copies readily available

While you don’t want your presentation to feel like a big sales pitch, you definitely want to make it as easy as possible for attendees to purchase a copy of your book . If you’re allowed to bring physical copies to sell, make sure you estimate how many are needed based on the expected attendance. Also consider accepting credit card payments to maximize your sales potential. You can have a mobile card reader on hand to accept credit and debit cards, or be prepared to accept electronic payments through platforms like Venmo, PayPal, and Apple Pay.

In-person events provide a great opportunity to offer signed copies, a special discount, or free swag to your fans. If you’re presenting to a book club that has already purchased copies of your book, offer to sign the physical books, send bookplates, or email a link for a free digital download as a thank-you.

In addition to selling books, be sure to have a way for attendees to sign up for your email newsletter. You can have a physical sign-up sheet available, a tablet with an electronic sign-up, or a takeaway such as a bookmark or postcard with instructions on how to sign up online.

How to do a virtual speaking engagement or book club event

Online events have increased in popularity over the last couple of years. They are a great way to connect with readers around the world , and there are many free video conferencing platforms authors can use. Some of the more popular include Zoom, Google Hangouts, and Skype. Here are some tips for making sure your online event is a success:

•  Be in a quiet, private environment •   Be on time and connect early •   Dress appropriately – wear what you would wear for an in-person meeting; no wild patterns/colors or loud jewelry •   Use a simple, tidy background/backdrop – blank wall, organized bookshelf, etc. •   Test out your camera positioning and audio – use the built-in camera and microphone on your tablet or laptop  •   Turn off all phone ringers and notifications •   Close out of all apps and computer programs that aren’t needed •   Hydrate – keep water handy •   Look at your camera to make eye contact during the presentation •   Sit up straight and remain alert/engaged

No matter the type of event, it’s important to be authentic and in the moment. Public speaking and appearances are amazing opportunities to form personal connections and further spread your messages. Always be sure to thank event organizers for including you and attendees for participating.

Photo credit: ljubaphoto   via Getty Images Photo credit: skynesher via Getty Images Photo credit: DGLimages via Getty Images Photo credit: georgeclerk via Getty Images

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How to Write a Presentation of a Book

How to Write an Eighth Grade Book Report

How to Write an Eighth Grade Book Report

Book presentations are a staple of the educational process. Book reports and presentations help show that you comprehended the book and can apply that knowledge in a constructive way. Writing a book presentation requires an understanding of basic grammar and writing rules while also giving you some creative freedom in how you want to tackle the subject matter. Writing book presentations is likely something you'll have to do multiple times during your educational career.

Read the book you're writing the presentation on from cover-to-cover. Don't rely on abbreviated notes or other people's summaries of the story because you'll miss out on both the author's own voice as well as possibly vital story points.

Pick an approach for your presentation. If you will actually be discussing the book in front of the class, you can write a presentation in first-person perspective as a character from the book. A more traditional approach is a third-person narrative so you can discuss the story, characters and author from a more neutral viewpoint.

Write a brief overview of the book and discuss any importance it has to history or to culture. Include the year it was published, number of pages and what genre the book falls under.

Describe each of the main characters in the book and talk about how each influences the story.

Provide an explanation of your perceptions and thoughts regarding the book. While the rest of your presentation may be in third-person, you can usually write this section in first-person since you are discussing your own specific thoughts and feelings.

Conclude the presentation with a closing paragraph discussing the most important lessons learned from the book and what you think the most important message is that you gained from it.

  • Some book presentation assignments will have very specific requirements regarding structure and style. Review the criteria thoroughly before starting your presentation to ensure you will be in compliance with all requirements.

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Michael Davidson started writing screenplays in 2003 and has had a screenplay professionally produced. He has also studied martial arts since 1990 and has worked as a licensed security specialist. Davidson has written articles for various websites. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in advertising.

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how to do a book talk for school

How to Do a Book Talk for School

Nov 07, 2019

100 likes | 113 Views

How to Do a Book Talk for School. A Booktalk is telling about a book with the purpose of convincing someone to read it. You are “selling” the book to a person, a small group, or a large group. Steps to Doing a Booktalk. Talk to your teacher about what type of book she wants you to read.

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How to Do a Book Talk for School A Booktalk is telling about a book with the purpose of convincing someone to read it. You are “selling” the book to a person, a small group, or a large group.

Steps to Doing a Booktalk • Talk to your teacher about what type of book she wants you to read. Ms. Whatley --- • Choose a good book then read it, cover to cover. Do some research about the author and see if you can find out what the author says about the book.

Steps to Doing a Booktalk, cont. • List the elements or make notes about your book. Dwell on the positives. Use sticky notes to mark interesting parts or important passages. • Title, Author, Genre • Setting • Main Character or 3 most important characters. How would you describe them? • What conflict or struggle did the character have to overcome? • Describe a few details, WITHOUT giving away too much. No spoilers!!!! • What was the mood of the novel: funny, scary, sad, exciting? • What was the theme? (The central idea or lesson about life) • Why did you like the book? What do you remember most about the book? • Pick a passage, quote, description, or memorable line to share. • To whom would you recommend this book and why?

Types of Booktalks(From More Readers’ Advisory by Joni Richards Bodart) • Plot Summary: When the plot is the main focus of excitement, tell about what happens up to a climactic point and stop. “To find out what happened next, read . . .” Good with adventure, suspense, thrillers, mystery, science fiction • Character Description: Give a detailed description of the main character or become one of the main characters and tell about yourself and what happens in the book. Good for autobiography, realistic fiction, and character-driven novels. • Mood Based: Capture a unique writing style or mood. You can use quotes, short passages, or make your talk sound like the book, stylistically. Use your voice, changing pitch, pace, and rhythm, and pause for effect.

Compose your talk • Write it down, then later add to note cards. • Questions can be good starters. Ex. “Have you ever . . . .” • Make it interesting! Use some ideas to make your talk fun, but be sure to ask your teacher if you want to bring a prop, dress up, or anything unusual. • Be sure to address the elements that the teacher has asked you to address. DO NOT give away the ending! • Show initiative. Do something to stand out but don’t be weird. • Add other elements to improve your talk, like props, reading elements of the book in a lively and interesting way, or acting the role of a character to tell your story. • Impress. Add a bibliography at the end (You can generate it in Destiny). Use big words and literary terms. Show the teacher that you have learned something in the process of preparing the booktalk.

Practice Your Talk • Practice at home. Pets make great audiences. • Visualize encouraging others to read your book. • Time your presentation. • Make sure you can pronounce every word or phrase. • If you are using props or a costume, include them in each rehearsal. • Ask your family and friends to listen and offer suggestions. • Avoid looking bored or looking like you’re only doing this because you have to for a grade. Enthusiasm sells!

Tips and Warnings • Keep calm and speak steadily. It’s better to go too slow than so fast that no one can understand you. Practice at home, if possible, and record yourself at least once. • Be like Goldilocks, not too long, too short, but just right. • Bring the book to show. • Use notecards, not sheets of paper. • Provide any relevant props.

In Review • Include your favorite moment. • Talk about the plot, but no spoilers! • Type of book • Setting • Your favorite character • Information about the author • If you have required elements or strict instructions, be sure to meet them.

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How to Do a Book Reference

How to Do a Book Reference. APA Style. Created by Mrs. Barb Wargo. Lewis. Indent and write the author’s LAST name. Write the following:. Lewis. Indent and write the author’s LAST name. Put a comma after the author’s last name. Write the following:. ,. Lewis,.

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How To Give a Talk

How To Give a Talk

How To Give a Talk. Tammy Kolda Sandia National Labs July 3, 2007. Sandia is a multiprogram laboratory operated by Sandia Corporation, a Lockheed Martin Company, for the United States Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration under contract DE-AC04-94AL85000.

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How to Give a Talk

How to Give a Talk. Amy Bruckman. Start with a Story. Not a joke If you can’t think of a good one, don’t use one Should be evocative of broader themes. Outline. Next, give an outline of the rest of the talk I’ll give general advice for giving a talk

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How to Give a Talk

How to Give a Talk. Not. ^. By Ogram Fizzy-Water On December 4, 2008 In CS265. Do not put Titles oN your sliDes Use unreadable FoNTs uSE unREADable Colors Use REEAALLY interESTING capitalization .*&) And P!unct$ation too You ’ re SMarT soo no spel-chekING for U!.

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Book Talk

Book Talk. Mary Ann Christopher. Award Winners. Contemporary. Sports and Adversity. History and Mystery. Science Fiction. Fantasy. Titles.

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Book Talk

Book Talk. Mrs. Michel 2011-2012. Possible Discussion for Books. What don’t you like about the book? What is it like to read the book? What would you change? Why? Would you recommend this book to someone else? Why?. What’s your book? Who wrote it? Why did you pick it?

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Book Talk

Book Talk. Mrs. Michel 2011-2012. Possible Discussion for Books. What’s your book? Who wrote it? Why did you pick it? Explain the plot. Describe a character. What’s the conflict? What do you like about the book? What don’t you like about the book?. What is it like to read the book?

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Book Talk

Book Talk. Mrs. Michel 2011-2012. Possible Discussion for Books. What’s your book? Who wrote it? Why did you pick it? Explain the plot. Describe a character. What’s the conflict? What do you like about the book?. What don’t you like about the book? What is it like to read the book?

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How to Give a Talk

How to Give a Talk. Not. ^. By Ogram Fizzy-Water On Marfh 26, 2019 In CPSC 508. Do not put Titles oN your sliDes Use unreadable FoNTs uSE unREADable Colors Use REEAALLY interESTING capitalization .*&) And P!unct$ation too You ’ re SMarT soo no spel-chekING for U!.

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HOW TO PREPARE  A TALK

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IMAGES

  1. Book Talks

    how to do a book talk presentation

  2. Tips for Using Book Talks in Your Classroom

    how to do a book talk presentation

  3. Book Talk

    how to do a book talk presentation

  4. A Free Book Talk Template for More Engaged Readers!

    how to do a book talk presentation

  5. A Free Book Talk Template for More Engaged Readers!

    how to do a book talk presentation

  6. What Is a Book Talk?: Your Guide to Making Them Work in the Classroom

    how to do a book talk presentation

VIDEO

  1. The giver book talk presentation

  2. Book Talk with Notion Press: Prem Kumar

  3. Book Talk with Notion Press: Vaidya (Dr.) Shruti Kuchhal

  4. Book Talk with Notion Press: Ar. K. Shivkumar

  5. Book talk presentation by Tyler McCubbin

  6. SAMPLE BOOK TALK PRESENTATION

COMMENTS

  1. What Is a Book Talk? Your Guide to Making Them Work in ...

    In a book talk, the goal is to engage the listeners and present a fun, exciting, and even suspenseful commercial for your book. A book talk could highlight the plot, like this example featuring the book Smile by Raina Telgemeir. It could focus on a character, like this talk on the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. Or, it could recreate a book's ...

  2. Presenting a Book Talk

    Watch some booktalks on YouTube:Diary QueenThe Evolution of Calpurnia TateThe GiverThe Hunger GamesThe Outsiders. Or follow one these simple outlines. (Feel free to be more creative if you wish. Change any part of these outlines to suit your book or make up your own outline.

  3. Book Talks

    A book talk is a short presentation about a book with the goal of convincing other people to read it. It's not a formal book report or review. And, it's more persuasive than expository—think sales and marketing. In a book talk, the goal is to engage the listeners and present a fun, exciting, and even suspenseful commercial for your book.

  4. What Is a Book Talk?: Your Guide to Making Them Work in the Classroom

    A book talk is a popular instructional strategy used in classrooms to engage students in discussing and sharing their thoughts on books they have read. It involves presenting a book to the class and talking about its main ideas, characters, and plot, as well as sharing personal opinions and recommendations. Book talks can be informal or formal ...

  5. Book Talk: Creating Excitement About Reading

    A book talk is an activity used in many classrooms of all ages to generate excitement and discussion around books. It involves students giving a short (2-3 minute) presentation to the class about a book they have enjoyed. A book talk is not designed to be a formal book report but is a more relaxed presentation.

  6. How to do Book Talks in Your Classroom

    Book Talk Tips. Keep it short! To keep their audience's attention, a book talk should only be a few minutes. Engage the audience by asking if anyone has read the book. If they have, allow them time to share their thoughts on the book. Encourage your class to record any books that interest them on their to-be-read list.

  7. PDF Tips for Giving a Pro Book Talk

    Tips for Giving a Pro Book Talk. Book talks are like advertisements for a book. You want to entice your classmates to read the book with just a 2-‐minute mini-‐talk. Plan what you want to say carefully. Book talks will usually mention the characters, the genre, and it may hint at an important plot point for fiction books.

  8. Simple Tips for Starting Book Talks in the Upper Elementary Classroom

    Select a book that you have finished reading and loved. Be sure to know a lot about the book so that you can recommend it to a classmate. Complete a book talk page that includes the title, author, and book genre. Follow specific prompts that I have included in my template page to keep them focused.

  9. 6 Steps to Get Started With Book Talking

    1. Pick a date. It sounds silly, but choosing a day (especially one with a little alliteration) will help you get consistent with book talking, and it will give students a day to look forward to. In my classroom, book talking happens on "Book Talk Tuesday.".

  10. How to make a book presentation

    So, to cut a long story short here are 5 useful tips on how to make a book presentation: Select a book. Decide on what book you want to make a presentation. Collect information. Make a research about the author's biography, reviews, and other books. Start designing the page layouts.

  11. How to Share Books Using Book Talks

    1. The Hook. The Hook is the introduction and can be compared to a topic sentence. It's sole purpose is to get the audience's attention. Here are a few ways to introduce a book: Ask a question. Read an exciting line from the book. Share an interesting fact. Make a surprising statement.

  12. Book Talks

    You can easily get started with book talks at any point in the school year. Follow these three steps when you are reading to introduce book talks to your classroom community. Teach a mini lesson where you review exactly what a book talk should include. Create an anchor chart with the key talking points, so students can refer to them later.

  13. What Is a Book Talk?: Your Guide to Take Them Work in the Classroom

    Picture-book talks: Dare older students toward hone their presentation skills by having them give an book talk on a picture book. Peer review: Generate a rubric or catalog (like this one) and have collegiate give each sundry return. Komm and share your book talk ideas on our WeAreTeachers GET group at Facebook.

  14. 7 Tips to Write a Killer Book Presentation

    In fact, as you prepare to make your presentation, you may find that your writing skills are quite useful. You can leverage those skills by following these seven tips to write a killer book presentation. 1. Use Your Storytelling Skills. The people attending your presentation want to know the story behind your book.

  15. Tips for Using Book Talks in Your Classroom

    Providing a grade is definitely not necessary. 4. Model the process. Although last on the list, this is one of the most important elements. Ensure to model this process as much as possible. By sharing your own novel recommendations, students will see what a strong presentation looks like (volume, pace, tone, persuasive language etc.). I also ...

  16. 8 Steps to Create a Dynamic Presentation from Your Book by Kirsten

    Speaking gigs are a key ingredient in book publicity and building an author platform. An author's interaction with an audience often generates book sales. Likewise, strong demand for a book creates more opportunities for speaking. The relationship is symbiotic. Yet many authors—having poured their expertise into a robust written work—find the task of crafting speeches […]

  17. Book Talks

    Book talks are a great way for middle school teachers to engage their students in meaningful conversations about literature while developing critical thinking skills at the same time! By providing students with an organizer that helps prepare them for their book talk presentations and recording information using a group record sheet organizer ...

  18. How to Do a Booktalk

    How to create your own booktalk, with example booktalk and helpful hints - for Middle level.

  19. Book Talk Presentations

    Students will create a book talk presentation using Powtoons. -- Created using PowToon -- Free sign up at http://www.powtoon.com/ . Make your own animated v...

  20. What are the best ways to present a book at a reading or book club

    The more events you do, the more opportunities will come your way. 6. Have book copies readily available. While you don't want your presentation to feel like a big sales pitch, you definitely want to make it as easy as possible for attendees to purchase a copy of your book.

  21. How to Write a Presentation of a Book

    Include the year it was published, number of pages and what genre the book falls under. Describe each of the main characters in the book and talk about how each influences the story. Provide an explanation of your perceptions and thoughts regarding the book. While the rest of your presentation may be in third-person, you can usually write this ...

  22. Jazz Up Your Booktalks: 31 Practical Tips (Part 1)

    It apparently my Thursday post have morphed into a sort a "how-to" section for newer school librarians. Last week's post was about how to speed-up one buy racks process. This […]

  23. How to Do a Book Talk for School

    Steps to Doing a Booktalk • Talk to your teacher about what type of book she wants you to read. Ms. Whatley --- • Choose a good book then read it, cover to cover. Do some research about the author and see if you can find out what the author says about the book. Steps to Doing a Booktalk, cont. • List the elements or make notes about your ...