New Jersey Association of School LibrariansNovember 14, 2009

Booktalking Across theBooktalking Across the CurriculumCurriculum

Booktalking Across theBooktalking Across the CurriculumCurriculum

Hunterdon Central Regional High SchoolFlemington, New Jersey

Heather Hersey

MATERIALS: http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/imc/emanj

Promoting BooktalksPromoting Booktalks

…”when academic reading is the only kind of reading put on our students’ plates, readicide occurs. As much as I love Dickens and Shakespeare, I would turn off to reading if I didn’t have a balanced reading diet that included Scott Turow and Michael Connelly” (p. 44).

Independent Reading & Silent Independent Reading & Silent Sustained ReadingSustained Reading

Power of Readicide & SSRPower of Readicide & SSR

First six days of classes = 24 booktalksFirst six days of classes = 24 booktalks 500 fiction books checked out500 fiction books checked out

SEPT 2008Fiction and PB – 350Graphic Novels – 89

SEPT 2009Fiction and PB – 847Graphic Novels – 149

OCT 2008Fiction and PB – 479

Graphic Novels - 161

OCT 2009Fiction and PB – 937Graphic Novels - 274

Booktalks: What are they and how can you use them?

Compare the Curriculum Compare the Curriculum to your Collectionto your Collection

US History 1920-present

Contemporary Literature

Comparative World Studies

Expository Writing

Angela’s Ashes

Historical Fiction of WWII and the Holocaust

Authors of the last 20 years

International Authors

Nonfiction

Memoir

Shakespeare retellings, Shakespeare retellings, adaptations, and nonfictionadaptations, and nonfiction

Ugly Book CoversUgly Book Covers

TRW and SLM Month RafflesTRW and SLM Month Raffles

Banned BooksBanned Books

Displays in IMCDisplays in IMC Freshman TourFreshman Tour Class booktalksClass booktalks

Letter home for approval signatureLetter home for approval signature Have generated interest in “older” booksHave generated interest in “older” books Continue to be requestedContinue to be requested

Class assignmentClass assignment Discuss why book was challenged/bannedDiscuss why book was challenged/banned

Literature Circle BooktalksLiterature Circle Booktalks

Offer to teach content, too!Offer to teach content, too!

US History IIUS History II: focus on how literature : focus on how literature was a reaction to the timeswas a reaction to the times

Graphic NovelGraphic Novel: include instruction on : include instruction on how to read themhow to read them

Banned BooksBanned Books: include discussion of : include discussion of and resources about censorshipand resources about censorship

Pre-Booktalk AssignmentsPre-Booktalk Assignments

Take a graphic novel section/panel Take a graphic novel section/panel and write it in narrative formand write it in narrative form

Online pieces of Online pieces of PersepolisPersepolis and and American Born ChineseAmerican Born Chinese

Journal questions about censorship:Journal questions about censorship: What is the difference between a What is the difference between a

challenge and a ban?challenge and a ban? Do you ever think censorship is Do you ever think censorship is

necessary to protect children? necessary to protect children?

Other Quick IdeasOther Quick Ideas

Making it easier for teachers and Making it easier for teachers and students (3 week checkouts; full class students (3 week checkouts; full class renewals)renewals)

Send emails offering to come in Send emails offering to come in before breaks begin, on half days, or before breaks begin, on half days, or oddly scheduled days.oddly scheduled days.

Preparing BooktalksPreparing Booktalks

Topics for BooktalksTopics for Booktalks General (genre)General (genre)

MulticulturalMulticultural

Banned BooksBanned Books

Memoirs/NonfictionMemoirs/Nonfiction

SAT VocabularySAT Vocabulary

International FictionInternational Fiction

GeneticsGenetics

Social Issues In LiteratureSocial Issues In Literature

Short StoriesShort Stories

““Modern Classics”Modern Classics”

Books & MoviesBooks & Movies

Historical FictionHistorical Fiction

American/British American/British AuthorsAuthors

Contemporary AuthorsContemporary Authors

Teen Reading WebsitesTeen Reading Websites

readingrants.org

NoveListNoveList

NoveList: Advanced SearchNoveList: Advanced Search

Shelf-WalkingShelf-Walking

SAT Vocabulary: SAT Vocabulary: Skimmed for wordsSkimmed for words Two favorites: Two favorites: The LuxeThe Luxe and and Rats Rats

Saw GodSaw God Text size is often opposite Text size is often opposite

vocabulary sizevocabulary size

Do you shelf walk only for books you’ve read?

Booktalking without ReadingBooktalking without Reading

Memorize the author, title, main Memorize the author, title, main characters, and book covercharacters, and book cover

Read the cover descriptionRead the cover description Use Amazon.com or BN.com to read Use Amazon.com or BN.com to read

reviews (editorial and everyday readers)reviews (editorial and everyday readers) Try to read at least the first chapter Try to read at least the first chapter Be honest with students if they askBe honest with students if they ask

What if I don’t have enough books? Get creative!

Bharti KirchnerIndia

Shiva Dancing: Meena Kumari was seven when she was abducted from her village. Though she managed to escape a life of slavery, she was unable to find her way home, and was adopted by a wealthy American couple. Despite a flourishing career, she lacks a personal life and keenly feels the separation from her heritage. Shiva Dancing takes us from the arid desert plains of Northern India to the bustle and charm of San Francisco to modern-day Calcutta as a spirited woman seeks to reconnect with her past. (Adapted from BN.com)

Action/Adv

Fairy Tales

Fantasy

Historical Fiction

Horror/Suspense

Humor

Mystery/Thriller

Realistic

Romance

Sci-fi

Sports

War

HandoutsHandouts

Booktalk & Research ProjectsBooktalk & Research ProjectsFreshmanFreshman

Books to Movies Books to Movies ((Schindler’s ListSchindler’s List, , Black Hawk DownBlack Hawk Down, , A Beautiful MindA Beautiful Mind))

SophomoreSophomore Banned BooksBanned Books Social Issues in Literature – Social Issues in Literature – how is the how is the

social issue reflected in the literature?social issue reflected in the literature?• http://issues-in-lit.wikispaces.com/http://issues-in-lit.wikispaces.com/

Presenting BooktalksPresenting Booktalks

Appealing

Displays!

How long should it be?How long should it be?

8-10 books (but I always prepare more)8-10 books (but I always prepare more) Vary the length of each talkVary the length of each talk Add pop-ins: mention other similar titles Add pop-ins: mention other similar titles

quickly after a longer talkquickly after a longer talk Entire talk around 20 minutes unless I Entire talk around 20 minutes unless I

see…see…

Reading from the BookReading from the Book

Skin (p. 1-2)Skin (p. 1-2) Speak (p. 4-5)Speak (p. 4-5) The Body of Christopher Creed (p. 27-28)The Body of Christopher Creed (p. 27-28) Martyn Pig (p. 19-20)Martyn Pig (p. 19-20) Shattering Glass (p. 1)Shattering Glass (p. 1)

ComparisonsComparisons

If you like Twilight…If you like Twilight… If you don’t like Twilight…If you don’t like Twilight… If you like Lord of the Rings…If you like Lord of the Rings… If you like zombies…If you like zombies…

Can get comparisons from reviews and Can get comparisons from reviews and NoveList’s “Recommended Read” lists.NoveList’s “Recommended Read” lists.

Can also make bookmarks with these lists.Can also make bookmarks with these lists.

Starter QuestionStarter Question How old are all of you? Unfortunately, in How old are all of you? Unfortunately, in

the world of this novel, you’d already be the world of this novel, you’d already be dead. dead.

How many of you immediately reach for How many of you immediately reach for your cell phones when the bell rings? your cell phones when the bell rings? Does it make you crave brains? Does it make you crave brains?

Picture a fairy in your mind. What do you Picture a fairy in your mind. What do you see? Now imagine these fairies are see? Now imagine these fairies are smarter, more technologically advanced, smarter, more technologically advanced, and really pissed off. and really pissed off.

[[Shade’s ChildrenShade’s Children]]

[[CellCell]]

[[Artemis FowlArtemis Fowl]]

Story Set-upStory Set-up

Cal is hunting down some old girlfriends in Cal is hunting down some old girlfriends in New York City, and when I say hunting, I New York City, and when I say hunting, I mean literally hunting them down. mean literally hunting them down.

Sam hates attention, which is good Sam hates attention, which is good because most of it goes to her beautiful because most of it goes to her beautiful older sister or brainy younger one, but older sister or brainy younger one, but when she saves the president’s son from when she saves the president’s son from an assassination attempt, she gets more an assassination attempt, she gets more attention than she can handle. attention than she can handle.

[[PeepsPeeps]]

[[All-American GirlAll-American Girl]]

Where to find booktalks?Where to find booktalks?

NoveListNoveList Booktalks Quick and Simple by Nancy Booktalks Quick and Simple by Nancy

Keane: Keane: http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/ Publisher’s WebsitesPublisher’s Websites Numerous published books: Numerous published books: Booktalks and Booktalks and

BeyondBeyond (Schall), (Schall), TeenplotsTeenplots (Gillespie), and (Gillespie), and Tantalizing Tidbits for Teens, Vol. 1 & 2Tantalizing Tidbits for Teens, Vol. 1 & 2 (Cox-Clark)(Cox-Clark)

Your work is not done yet…Your work is not done yet… To help students find books:To help students find books:

What genre of books (or movies) do they like?What genre of books (or movies) do they like? What books have they enjoyed in the past and What books have they enjoyed in the past and

why?why? Give 2 – 3 choices and recommend that Give 2 – 3 choices and recommend that

students read the blurb and a few pages to “try students read the blurb and a few pages to “try it on.”it on.”

Have ample covers displayedHave ample covers displayed!!

The Future of BooktalksThe Future of Booktalksor Booktalks 2.0or Booktalks 2.0

WikisWikishttp://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachershttp://www.wikispaces.com/site/for/teachers

Diigo.com: social bookmarking and moreDiigo.com: social bookmarking and more

•Save and organize web pages

•Share bookmarked web pages with others

•Create groups

•Annotate and highlight the web

Podcasts and VideosPodcasts and Videos

Joyce Valenza’s NeverEndingSearch Blog: Joyce Valenza’s NeverEndingSearch Blog: Booktalking 2.0 and Booktalking 2.0 (2.0) Booktalking 2.0 and Booktalking 2.0 (2.0)

Videos (Videos (like movie trailerslike movie trailers)) Find them on YouTube Find them on YouTube Make them on MovieMaker (PC), iLife (Mac), Make them on MovieMaker (PC), iLife (Mac),

Animoto (web-based; free)Animoto (web-based; free) PodcastsPodcasts

Make them with AudacityMake them with Audacity

Thank you!!!Thank you!!!

Heather Hersey

hhersey@hcrhs.k12.nj.us

Hunterdon Central Regional High School

http://www.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/

84 Route 31

Flemington, New Jersey 08822

(908) 284-7141

MATERIALS: http://central.hcrhs.k12.nj.us/imc/emanj