2. Know Your Audience Consider the interests of your audience Choose a book with broad rather than narrow appeal Select a book at the reading level of your audience
3. Book Selection Tips Choose a book you love Never choose a book you haven’t read Select a book that others will enjoy but one they might not otherwise notice
4. Develop Your Speaking Skills Wear clothes you’ll feel good about that won’t be too distracting Make eye contact with your audience Show your audience you like them and the book by your tone of voice and mannerisms Relax and smile at your listeners Practice in front of a mirror
5. Presentation Format: Introduction Display the book, stating the title and author Tell the genre and author details if possible Discuss the setting of the book Introduce the main character(s) and your opinions of them
6. Presentation Format: Continued Briefly discuss the conflict of the book—but never reveal the resolution; you have to “hook” your readers Give your opinion of the book’s theme State why you would recommend this book or to what audience you would recommend it Never book talk a book you wouldn’t recommend
7. Pointers Limit your book talk to under five minutes Try to relate an interesting event from the book that is typical of the entire book Make the book talk interesting so that your audience will want to read the book Do not reveal the conclusion of the book—let your listeners read the book to find out what happens for themselves
8. Recommendations Remember: A book talk is not a review; think of it like a movie trailer Start with an attention-grabber End with a cliff-hanger Make an outline on paper Read the book jacket or book reviews for ideas Practice!
