I love sharing books with kids, but this year once someone touches the book and changes their minds, I can’t hand it to another student who is interested. A few ways to help others learn about books without touching them is by using a Digital Book Tasting, Book Trailers, and Book Talks.
Book Trailers: Book Trailers are like book previews. They give just enough to entice the reader and leave them wanting to read. Creating Book Trailers is a great way to make learning fun and engage the students. I’ve enjoyed using WeVideo and iMovie with students to help them create Book Trailers to share with others. I used WeVideo to create this book trailer for Hardscrabble by Sandra Dallas.
You can connect these book trailers in virtual classrooms. Here is a look at the one I created to introduce our Battle of the Books this year. Each book cover is linked to a book trailer to preview each book.
Digital Book Tasting Tips
Digital Book Tasting: Book tastings are so much fun and I love the engagement and discussions that come, but this year is different. To build the excitement and interest, without touching all of the books. For the book tasting, I created a slide on each genre of literature and added book trailers on books I had available in the library. There are many great ones on YouTube.
Scholastic is a great YouTube Channel to start searching for book trailers your student will love.
I also have a Genre Digital Book Tasting here all set for you.
Book Talks: This is an easy way to sell students on a new book. With book talks you can tell a quick summary of the book, read the blurb provided by the publishing company, or use these reading advisory sticky notes to cover the main topic. When you talk about a book you enjoyed reading, students buy in with your positive review.
You can grab Reader Advisory Display Templates in this article.
Book Displays – Creating displays of books is a great way to catch the eye of a reader. Displays can take on a specific theme, a certain genre, or be ones that are popular. In the library, I create one that focuses on specific hundreds in the Dewey Decimal System. I use these posters to help readers know what they can find in the display.
Regarding video book trailers – I could use a little more direction. For example, does WeVideo cost anything for students? Also, does WeVideo or Imovie come with the video clips that you use to put the video together? I use iMovie with my own videos but where do the video clips that you. use the movie trailer come from? I know where to find copyright free images for my students (Pixabay, etc) but not the video clips like the snake or bugs or someone at a cemetery. Can you share a bit more about the process?
Hi Jennifer,
Thanks for the questions. WeVideo does have a charge. I loved it so much that I bought my own personal one to use in my classroom. It is super easy to use and the amount of Stock Images they have is amazing. They do create quotes based on your needs, so you can reach out to them and see what is the best fit for you. I have used iMovie with students and they produced some great videos. They recorded them on the iPads and uploaded the videos. As far as stock images with iMovie, you can use Stock Images you get and can upload them to iMovie for your book trailers. I also had kids who just enjoyed writing or doing a book talk that was recorded as well. I hope this helps. I am going to work on a post for you that will take you through the process I did with students and some of the things I learned along the way. That might help answer it a little better. I will start on that this weekend so you can see more about my process.
Jessica
Hi, could I get a copy of your Dewey Decimal posters file? Thank you so much.
Hi,
You can get them here:
https://www.teacherspayteachers.com/Product/Dewey-Decimal-Posters-4944739
Thanks for reaching out!
Jessica