The booktalker gives the audience a glimpse of the setting, the characters, and/or the major conflict without providing the resolution or denouement.
One of the oldest sources to mention the actual art form of booktalking is Amelia H. Munson's An Ample Field (1950)[3] and in The Fair Garden and the Swarm of Beasts Margaret Edwards discusses performing booktalks in the 1930s when it was difficult to get into Baltimore schools.
For example, booktalks in senior centers and in adult book discussion groups in libraries.
[8] However, booktalks for children focused heavily on teaching kids to read using mostly picture books.
However, librarians and educators have been able to utilize the Internet and computer software in order to modernize and improve book talks.
The traditional booktalk consists of a presenter using few tools to engage his audience, save the script he has created and a copy of the book itself.
The presenter must engage the audience as any good public speaker would, with an excited feeling, a non-monotonous tone of voice, and eye contact.
Genres to consider for a booktalk may include classics, sports, historical fiction, science fiction and fantasy, romance, fairy tales, short stories, mystery, adventure, non-fiction, short or thin books, horror, realistic contemporary fiction, humor, adult books, graphic novels, and poetry.
People prefer to have multiple genre booktalks ready in case the presenter starts to "lose" his audience.
Some librarians and educators consider the non-fiction booktalk to be the best way to win over a young adult audience.
Non-fiction booktalks allow the presenter to tell astonishing yet true stories that can garner an emotional response.
Non-fiction booktalks include a wide range of topics such as poetry, history, music, entertainment, crafts, folklore, crime, psychology, UFOs, etc.
[16] By utilizing Web 2.0, such as wikis and podcasts, and software such as Power Point, the presenter creates multimedia booktalks that incorporate film and videos, music and the Internet.
[17] Using a projection screen and computer, the presenter no longer has to pass around a book to show cover art, illustrations, or photographs.
Software programs, such as Photo Story, iMovie, and Windows Movie Maker, can be used to create a video booktalk without any expensive equipment.
[19] To find out which types of booktalks work best, people create an evaluation form for the audience to complete.
[23] Booktalks for senior citizens that relate to the life experiences or periods of time that the group may have lived during, help keep the audience intrigued and involved.
The presenter takes into consideration books that available in large print or audio format for older audiences.
The presenter also defines and discusses the characteristics of the type of booktalk and some audiences will benefit from a comparison of print and film versions and why the book is almost always better.
Lucy Schall[30] (author of many guides to book talks) describes the three following common ways to perform a book talk for all ages: Caroline Feller Bauer[31] offers the following unique alternatives to perform a booktalk for children: There is limited research conducted on the effectiveness of booktalks but they clearly demonstrate the increase of booktalked titles being circulated and lack of effect on reading attitudes.