The winter holidays are a wonderful time to tell stories, read books aloud, and share memories. Below are a few suggestions for Web sites that provide tips on how to engage children (and others!) in discussing a book. By selecting a book that has meaning to the child, new memories and traditions can be created.
Enjoy the winter months by sharing books and ideas!
Web Resources for Booktalking
BookTalker!
http://www.thebooktalker.com/
Developed by Dr. Joni Richards Bodart, prolific author and active lecturer on booktalking since 1977, this Site offers booktalks for several dozens of titles.
Booktalking Ideas
http://www.albany.edu/~dj2930/yabooktalking.html
Provides two to four booktalking ideas for each title highlighted in this Web Site.
Booktalks – Quick and Simple
http://nancykeane.com/booktalks/default.htm
Launched in 1995 by Nancy Keane, a school media specialist, this database contains nearly 1,000 booktalks and is updated monthly. You can locate booktalks by title, author, subjects, and interest level.
Do’s and Don’ts of Booktalking
http://hometown.aol.com/naughyde/connecting/do_donts.htm
A quick guide to booktalking adapted from Connecting Young Adults and Libraries by Patrick Jones (New York: Neal-Schuman).
Librarians@Random – BookTalks
http://www.randomhouse.com/teachers/librarians/booktalks.html
Provides booktalks prepared by school library media specialists for more than 250 titles. You can locate booktalks by title or author.
Scholastic Books for Children & Young Adults Booktalks
http://teacher.scholastic.com/products/tradebooks/booktalks/index.htm
Provided booktalks contributed by Joni Richards Bodart for several dozens of Scholastic titles.
YALSA Booktalking
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/professsionaldev/booktalking.htm
Offers a few sample booktalks, an annotated bibliography on booktalking for young adults, and links to booktalking resources on the Web.
YALSA Program “GET REAL! Booktalking Nonfiction to Teens”
http://www.ala.org/ala/yalsa/newsandeventsb/yalsagetreal.htm
Provides handouts (in PDF format) used at the “GET REAL! Booktalking Nonfiction to Teens” program held at 2003 ALA’s Annual Conference in Toronto.
For storytelling tips see the Web sites listed at
http://www.library.uiuc.edu/edx/story.htm