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booktalks

Booktalking is a proven method of getting everyone excited about reading. We have used it in groups and with individuals, from first grade through college and on into adulthood. The goal is to present the book in such a way that the listeners want to read the entire book. Our booktalks engage listeners; introduce them to the main characters while describing the beginning plot lines. These booktalks are 2 to less than 4 minutes in length. Here are a few guidelines that have proven successful.

  1. Be true to the book.
  2. Be dramatic—assume one of the characters or act out a scene when possible.
  3. Use an accent and vary your voice.
  4. Use props as many individuals are visual learners. We use puppets for the animals but pictures could be used.
  5. Always leave your audience hanging. They will beg you to tell them more. Just smile and hold up the book!

Many of the booktalks include props and directions for using those props. We've also included subject headings for each title. If a book has won awards, a few are listed. (The list of awards is by no means exhaustive.) For more information about the award, click on the award name.

Key:
juvenile fictionJuvenile Fiction nonfictionJuvenile Nonfiction available in audio formatAvailable in Audio Format
young adult fictionYoung Adult Fiction   title is part of a seriesSeries

Joan Abelove
Go and Come Backyoung adult fiction

Lloyd Alexander
The Book of Threejuvenile fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Elaine Alphin
Ghost Cadetjuvenile fiction

Laurie Halse Anderson
Fever 1793young adult fiction
Speakyoung adult fictionavailable in audio format

M.T. Anderson
Feedyoung adult fictionavailable in audio format

Mary Jane Auch
Ashes of Rosesyoung adult fiction

Avi
Crispin: The Cross of Leadjuvenile fictiontitle is part of a series
Nothing But the Truthyoung adult fiction
Something Upstairsjuvenile fiction
The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyleyoung adult fiction

Eleanor H. Ayer
Parallel Journeysjuvenile nonfiction

Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Black Potatoesjuvenile nonfiction
Hitler Youthjuvenile nonfiction

Joan Bauer
Peeledyoung adult fiction

John Bellairs
The Curse of the Blue Figurinejuvenile fictiontitle is part of a series

James Berry
Ajeemah and His Sonjuvenile fiction

Gary Blackwood
The Shakespeare Stealerjuvenile fictiontitle is part of a series

Edward Bloor
Tangerineyoung adult fiction

John Boyne
The Boy in the Striped Pajamasyoung adult fictionavailable in audio format

Eoin Colfer
Airmanjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Ellen Conford
And This Is Laurayoung adult fiction

Caroline B. Cooney
Driver's Edyoung adult fiction

Christopher Paul Curtis
The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963young adult fictionavailable in audio format

Karen Cushman
Catherine, Called Birdyyoung adult fiction

Dana Davidson
Jason & Kyrayoung adult fiction

Kate DiCamillo
The Tiger Risingjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Cory Doctorow
Little Brotheryoung adult fiction

Sharon M. Draper
Fire from the Rockyoung adult fiction

David L. Dudley
Caleb's Warsyoung adult fiction

William Durbin
The Broken Bladejuvenile fiction

L. M. Elliot
Under a War-Torn Skyyoung adult fiction

Nancy Farmer
The House of the Scorpionyoung adult fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

John Feinstein
Last Shotyoung adult fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Jean Ferris
Once Upon a Marigoldyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series
Underground young adult fiction

Paul Fleischman
Seedfolksjuvenile fiction

Cornelia Funke
The Thief Lordyoung adult fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Jack Gantos
Jack's New Poweryoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

  

Morris Gleitzman
Onceyoung adult fiction

Margaret Peterson Haddix
Don't You Dare Read This, Mrs. Dunphreyyoung adult fiction
The House on the Gulfjuvenile fiction

Bill Haduch
Food Rules!juvenile nonfiction

Mary Downing Hahn
Time for Andrewjuvenile fiction

Victoria Hanley
The Seer and the Swordyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Pete Hautman
Mr Wasyoung adult fiction

Karen Hesse
Letters from Rifkajuvenile fiction
Out of the Dust juvenile fiction available in audio format

Carl Hiaasen
Flush juvenile fictionavailable in audio format
Hootjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Beth Hilgartner
A Murder for Her Majestyjuvenile fiction

Felice Holman
The Wild Childrenjuvenile fiction

Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler
In Darkness, Deathyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Ellen Hopkins
Crankyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Anthony Horowitz
Stormbreakerjuvenile fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Alison Jackson
Rainmakeryoung adult fiction

Charlotte Foltz Jones
Eat Your Wordsjuvenile nonfiction

Barbara Kennedy
The Boy Who Loved Alligatorsjuvenile fiction

Peg Keret
The Volcano Disasterjuvenile fiction

Patrice Kindl
Owl in Loveyoung adult fiction

David Klass
Firestormyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Annette Curtis Klaus
Alien Secretsyoung adult fiction

E. L. Konigsburg
Silent to the Boneyoung adult fiction

Gordon Korman
No More Dead Dogsjuvenile fiction

Christa Laird
But Can the Phoenix Sing?young adult fiction

Iain Lawrence
The Wreckersjuvenile fictiontitle is part of a series

Gail Carson Levine
Dave at Nightjuvenile fiction

Lois Lowry
Number the Starsjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Mike Lupica
Heatjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Harry Mazer
Who Is Eddie Leonard?young adult fiction

Geraldine McCaughrean
The White Darknessyoung adult fiction

Patricia McKissack
The Clone Codesyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Graham McNamee
Accelerationyoung adult fiction

L. A. Meyer
Bloody Jackyoung adult fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Joseph Monninger
Hippie Chickyoung adult fiction

Bel Mooney
The Voices of Silenceyoung adult fiction

  

Michael Morpurgo
Private Peacefulyoung adult fiction

Jim Murphy
An American Plaguejuvenile nonfiction

Anna Myers
Flying Blindjuvenile fiction

Walter Dean Myers
The Cruisersyoung adult fiction
Slam!young adult fiction

Nancy Osa
Cuba 15young adult fiction

Gary Paulsen
How Angel Peterson Got His Namejuvenile nonfiction
My Life in Dog Yearsjuvenile nonfiction
Soldier's Heartyoung adult fictionavailable in audio format
Woods Runner young adult fictionavailable in audio format

Richard Peck
The Teacher's Funeral: A Comedy in Three Partsjuvenile fiction available in audio format

Mal Peet
Keeperjuvenile fiction

Rodman Philbrick
The Last Book in the Universeyoung adult fiction
The Mostly True Adventures of Homer P. Figgjuvenile fiction

Charlie Price
Dead Connectionyoung adult fiction

Philip Pullman
The Golden Compassyoung adult fictionavailable in audio formattitle is part of a series

Kathryn Reiss
Dreadful Sorryyoung adult fiction

Justin Richards
Death Collectoryoung adult fiction

Ann Rinaldi
Or Give Me Deathyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Willo Davis Roberts
Baby-Sitting Is a Dangerous Jobjuvenile fiction
The View from the Cherry Treejuvenile fiction

Laura Roybal
Billyyoung adult fiction

Ivy Ruckman
Night of the Twistersjuvenile fiction

Pam Muñoz Ryan
Esperanza Risingjuvenile fictionavailable in audio format

Darren Shan
A Living Nightmare (Cirque Du Freak)juvenile fictiontitle is part of a series

Roland Smith
Jaguarjuvenile fiction

Jonathan Stroud
The Amulet of Samarkandyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

Diane Swanson
Burp!juvenile nonfictiontitle is part of a series

Marc Talbert
Heart of a Jaguaryoung adult fiction

Kate Thompson
The New Policemanyoung adult fiction

Vivian Vande Velde
Stolenyoung adult fiction

Cynthia Voigt
A Solitary Bluejuvenile fictiontitle is part of a series

John R. Weber
Orphan young adult fiction

Robb White
Deathwatchyoung adult fiction

Carol Lynch Williams
The Chosen Oneyoung adult fiction

Sarah Withrow
Bat Summerjuvenile fiction

Don Wulffson
Soldier Xyoung adult fiction

Timothy Zahn
Dragon and Thiefyoung adult fictiontitle is part of a series

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