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Booktalking 2.0

August 1, 2007
True confession: I was never a good booktalker. 

I did it at every level.  I spent a week quickly reading or re-reading 10 or so books around a theme, around a genre, the new titles.  I'd talk passionately about each one. At the end of the period or block, all 25 students were motivated to read at least one of those ten titles. 

So it worked?  Not so much.

When the grabbing was over, the waiting lists began.  Then the next class arrived. . .

I simply couldn't read or re-read enough fast enough.  The pressure wore me out.  And the job was bigger than booktalking alone.

I needed booktalk support.  Booktalk rehab.  I craved intervention. Web 2.0 rescued me.

I love that we can now share our booktalks, and in true 2.0 style, we can involve learners in creating them.  I love that we can link to or share a colleague's booktalk through the magic of streamed media.  I love that I don't have to create them all from scratch.

Here's a list of traditional booktalks and book reviews in podcast/vodcast format:

Bookwink:  Selected as an ALSC Great Web Site, Bookwink's mission is:

to inspire kids to read. Through podcasting and web video, we hope to connect kids in Grades 3 through 8 with books that will make them excited about reading. The videos are approximately 3 minutes long and are updated monthly. Each video booktalk is about a different topic, and additional read-alikes can be found on the Bookwink website. You can look for books by subject, grade level, author or title. We are constantly updating the booklists with our newest favorite books.  

Librarian Sonja Cole (seen in the pic) is Bookwink's host and booktalker.  She is joined by art director and producer, Paul Kim.

Book talk expert Nancy Keane now presents her Booktalks Quick and Simple podcast style.  Nancy aims to share a podcast everyday. Visit the site or subscribe via RSS.  The huge archive will amaze you!

Just One More Book, is a nonprofit effort celebrating "literacy and great children's books." Booktalks, ranging in length from 5 to 35 minutes, are recorded in a coffee shop somewhere in Canada (?).

Each weekday morning, we take a few minutes out of our morning coffee ritual to discuss one of our many favourite children’s books. We also feature weekly interviews with authors, literacy related discussions and audio reviews submitted by our listeners.

Nancy Pearl's Book Reviews for Puget Sound Public Radio are archived as MP3s each Monday. 

From thrillers to memoirs, international fiction to overlooked authors and even young adult novels, she plays matchmaker for the bibliophile in all of us.

Orange County Library System (FL) shares an array of podcast booktalks, stories and programming highlights.

New York Times Book Review Editor Sam Tanenhaus shares his conversations with authors, editors, critics and senior editor Dwight Garner at the NYT Book Review Podcast archive.

And among the growing number of student-created booktalks out there are:

• Readers Circle Booktalks (Pike School)
• Hopkinton High/Middle Schools
• Runkle School Book Reviews
• Portland Public Schools

Publishers podcast too.  Simon and Schuster offers its SimonSays Podcasts.  Among the adult book podcasts included are a number of great YA reads.  Scholastic shares a wonderful menu of print booktalks as well as podcasts relating to Harry Potter.

Please use your comments to share any worthy booktalking efforts I may have missed!

And, once again, I run low on space.  Next time, book trailers!

Posted by Joyce Valenza Ph.D on August 1, 2007 | Comments (3)