Booktalks that Work :

A workshop presented by

Nancy J. Keane

Types of booktalks

Brief Summary

McCormick, Patricia.Cut. Asheville, NC : Front Street, 2000, 168 p. 

Anderson, Laurie Halse.Fever, 1793.New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2000, 251p.

Character from the book

From the character’s perspective

Smith, Cynthia Leitich.Rain is not my Indian name.New York :HarperCollins, c2001, 135p 

Cooper, Susan, 1935King of shadows . New York : Margaret K. McElderry Books, c1999, 186p

Hesser, Terry Spencer.Kissing doorknobs .New York : Delacorte Press, c1998, 149p

Talk about the character as if it’s someone you know

Bauer, Joan, 1951Hope was here .New York : G.P. Putnam, c2000, 186p

Mosher, Richard.Zazoo. New York : Clarion Books, c2001, 248p

Character as a friend

Brashares, Ann.The sisterhood of the traveling pants .New York : Delacorte, c2001, 294p

Konigsburg, E. L.Silent to the boneNew York : Atheneum Books for Young Readers, c2000, 261p

Comparisons with other books

Lowry, Lois.Gathering blueBoston : Houghton Mifflin, c2000, 215p

Author’s purpose in writing book

Cushman, Karen.Catherine, called BirdyNew York : Clarion Books, c1994, 169p

Event in author’s life that influenced the book

Spinelli, Jerry.Stargirl. New York : A. Knopf , Distributed by Random House, c2000, 186p

Compare events in book to your own life

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.Just EllaNew York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c1999, 185p

Share a favorite scene or event

Wyss, Thelma Hatch.Ten miles from Winnemucca .New York : HarperCollins, c2002, 129p

Audience participation 

Ask questions

Lynch, Chris.Gold dust New York : HarperCollins, c2000,196p

Boring list

Sachar, Louis, 1954HolesNew York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 1998, 233p

Holm, Jennifer L.Boston Jane : an adventureNew York : HarperCollins, c2001, 273p

Headlines

Strasser, Todd.Give a boy a gun . New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2000, 146p

Klass, David.You don't know me : a novelNew York : Farrar, Straus and Giroux, 2001, 262p

Mystery

Plum Ucci, Carol, 1957The body of Christopher Creed .San Diego : Harcourt, Inc., c2000, 248p

Zindel, Paul.RatsNew York : Hyperion Books for Children, 1999,204p

Questioning

Haddix, Margaret Peterson.Turnabout.New York : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, c2000, 223p

Hesse, Karen.Witness : a novelNew York : Scholastic Press, 2001, 161p 

Themes

Cormier, Robert.The rag and bone shop : a novel New York :Delacorte Press, c2001,154p

Mikaelsen, Ben, 1952Touching Spirit BearNew York : HarperCollins, c2001, 241p

Myers, Walter Dean, 1937MonsterNew York : HarperCollins, c1999, 281p

What if? Present a moral dilemna

Bunting, Eve, 1928BlackwaterNew York : Joanna Cotler Books, c1999, 146p

Anderson, Laurie Halse.SpeakNew York : Farrar Straus Giroux, 1999, 197p

Trueman, Terry.Stuck in neutralNew York : HarperCollins, c2000, 114p

Relate events to listener’s life

Griffin, Adele.AmandineNew York : Hyperion, c2001, 220p

Non fiction

Armstrong, Jennifer, 1961Shipwreck at the bottom of the world : the extraordinary true story of Shackleton and the EnduranceNew York : Crown, 2000, c1998, 134p

Murphy, Jim, 1947Blizzard! : the storm that changed AmericaNew York : Scholastic, 2000, 136p

Krull, Kathleen.Lives of the musicians : good times, bad times (and what the neighbors thought)San Diego : Harcourt Brace, c1993, 96p

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