Book Talk Guidelines
Prepare a 2-4 minute presentation about your book.
Type up and hand in an outline prior to speaking.
There are three key elements to a good book talk: hook, content, and wrap up.
1. The Hook – Present something that will grab the listener’s attention.
Read a page from a suspenseful section or other interesting part of the book
Show the cover of the book and talk about what drew you to it
Give the title and author and explain how they interested you.
Ask a question… “Have any of you ever wanted to/thought about/been in a situation where…”
Imagine… then give the predicament your character was in
Relate the events/feelings in the book to current events/feelings in the listener’s lives
Use props
Use sound (play a book on tape)
Link the book to a particular movie
**This is NOT a hook: “The book I’m going to tell you about is…”
2. The Content – Tell about the characters and/or plot.
Choose 2-3 of the following:
Choose a page from the story and read it, leaving off at a suspenseful part
Read an interesting description of a character, setting, problem, event, etc.
Give a very brief summary of part of the book… never give away the end or key, exciting discoveries. Provide facts, then move to something shocking or surprising
Read the first page, then give a brief overview of what comes next until you have explained the main conflict/purpose of the story
Explain something you did or did not like about the book: favorite characters, writing style, setting, favorite scenes, etc.
Know a secret? Talk about it, but don’t reveal it.
Tie the plot into a historical event or time period
Get into character; use voice or facial expression
Tell something interesting about the author, especially when the book is an autobiography or is written by a local author.
3. The Wrap Up – Choose TWO of the following:
End your book talk with a Cliffhanger: something unresolved; leave listeners wanting more so they will want to read the book to find out what happens next
Give two reasons why someone should read this book (You’ll like this book if you like books about…; You’ll like this book if you’ve read books such as…)
Give a reason why someone might not like this book
Prepare a 2-4 minute presentation about your book.
Type up and hand in an outline prior to speaking.
There are three key elements to a good book talk: hook, content, and wrap up.
1. The Hook – Present something that will grab the listener’s attention.
Read a page from a suspenseful section or other interesting part of the book
Show the cover of the book and talk about what drew you to it
Give the title and author and explain how they interested you.
Ask a question… “Have any of you ever wanted to/thought about/been in a situation where…”
Imagine… then give the predicament your character was in
Relate the events/feelings in the book to current events/feelings in the listener’s lives
Use props
Use sound (play a book on tape)
Link the book to a particular movie
**This is NOT a hook: “The book I’m going to tell you about is…”
2. The Content – Tell about the characters and/or plot.
Choose 2-3 of the following:
Choose a page from the story and read it, leaving off at a suspenseful part
Read an interesting description of a character, setting, problem, event, etc.
Give a very brief summary of part of the book… never give away the end or key, exciting discoveries. Provide facts, then move to something shocking or surprising
Read the first page, then give a brief overview of what comes next until you have explained the main conflict/purpose of the story
Explain something you did or did not like about the book: favorite characters, writing style, setting, favorite scenes, etc.
Know a secret? Talk about it, but don’t reveal it.
Tie the plot into a historical event or time period
Get into character; use voice or facial expression
Tell something interesting about the author, especially when the book is an autobiography or is written by a local author.
3. The Wrap Up – Choose TWO of the following:
End your book talk with a Cliffhanger: something unresolved; leave listeners wanting more so they will want to read the book to find out what happens next
Give two reasons why someone should read this book (You’ll like this book if you like books about…; You’ll like this book if you’ve read books such as…)
Give a reason why someone might not like this book