Reaching Reluctant Readers By Joy Millam Heather Gruenthal
Reaching Reluctant Readers By: Joy Millam Heather Gruenthal Teacher Librarians & YALSA’s Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers Committee
What does a reluctant reader look like?
There is no single answer They are the goths, geeks, preps, jocks, nerds, skaters, and gamers. Kids from every demographic can be RR’s. How do we define a reluctant reader: • RR’s are kids who for whatever reason do not like to read.
Reasons they don’t read Sometimes they are too busy to read • Athletics and extra-curricular activities • Demanding course of study (IB/AP coursework) • Employment
How do we reach them? Booktalks Digital book trailers Purchase appealing books for them “Read the movie”
Digital Booktrailers
More book trailers
Publisher book trailers
Publisher trailers (2)
Buy appealing books RR’s like books that have these characteristics • Appealing covers • Attention getting opening • Edgy topics
How? There’s no $$$ Ask for donations (registration packet or back to school night, alumni letter) Recycling collection Book fairs (physical & virtual) Amazon wishlist Selling bookmarks
Read the Movie Twilight The Vampire’s Assistant (Cirque du Freak) Harry Potter Series Holes Ella Enchanted Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants The Chronicles of Narnia Coraline
Darren Shan Cirque Du Freak: The Saga of Darren Shan • Book 1 Cirque Du Freak • Book 2 The Vampire’s • • • Assistant Book 3 Tunnels of Blood Book 4 Vampire Mountain Book 5 Trials of Death Book 6 The Vampire Prince Book 7 Hunters of the Dusk Book 8 Allies of the Night Book 9 Killers of the Dawn Book 10 The Lake of Souls Book 11 Lord of the Shadows Book 12 Sons of Destiny
Adventure Downriver The Wreckers A Girl Named Disaster Hatchet The Cay Reef of Death Soldier X Stormbreaker Julie of the Wolves My Side of the Mountain
Gateway books RR’s also like Gateway books like Post. Secret • Very visual • Few words These books don’t look like much but they lead to quality books.
Gateway: Movie or Manga http: //www. kidsreads. com/series-alex_rider-titles. asp
Booktalking Basics
Booktalk Do’s Read all books you share with students Cover is impactful Choose popular books • ie: Child Called “It” Take notes as you read • Cite passages • Note important events
Booktalk Do’s (cont’d) Buy extra copies Note popular titles & find similar titles • (ie: “It”- Bruises, Basement) Practice, practice • Your comfort is critical • Practice passages and summaries Take your show on the road • Make regular appointments
Do’s (Cont’d) Take books to the classroom Prepare several different presentations Ensures availability Wear comfy clothes Leave brochures Display booktalk books Add encouraging note
Booktalking DON’TS üDon’t booktalk a book you disliked üDon’t reveal too much üDon’t go too long per title ü 2 -5 min per title max. üDon’t memorize üDon’t talk too fast
The Future The Giver Gathering Blue The Hunger Games The Messenger Uglies Series Shadowchildren Series Invitation to the Game Ender’s Game Tom Clancy’s Net Force Unwind
Katniss and Peeta
Vampires Eighth Grade Bites Ninth Grade Slays Tenth Grade Bleeds Vampire Plagues Peeps Cirque du Freak In the Forests of the Night Thirsty
Teens Like Me Bluford High Series Lost and Found A Matter of Trust Secrets in the Shadows Someone to Love Me The Gun (Payback) The Fallen The Bully
Dear Diary, Angus, Thongs, and Full-Frontal Snogging Diary of a Wimpy Kid Annie’s Baby Jay’s Journal Sleeping Freshmen Never Lie
Teen Girls, Mean Girls Clique Series The Girls Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Series True Confessions of a Heartless Girl
Teen Relationships Arizona Kid What my Mother Doesn’t Know Forever My Darling, my Hamburger I’ll Be Seeing You Out of Time Running Loose
Secrets and Lies Maximum Ride by James Patterson The Face on the Milk Carton by Caroline Cooney Swallowing Stones by Joyce Mc. Donald Split Image by Mel Glenn
Horror Goosebumps Series and Fear Street Series by R. L. Stine Spooksville Series by Christopher Pike Raven’s Gate In the Forests of the Night
Horror Goosebumps Series and Fear Street Series by R. L. Stine Spooksville Series by Christopher Pike The Silver Kiss and Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause In the Forests of the Night by Amelia Atwater Rhodes The Mediator Series by Meg Cabot
Science Fiction Akiko Series Alien Secrets When the Tripods Came Ender’s Game Among the Hidden The Animorphs Turnabout A Wrinkle in Time
Daughters of the Moon Lynne Ewing http: //www. bookmice. net/darkchilde/yadult/moon 4. html
Fantasy Harry Potter Eragon Dealing with Dragons The Golden Compass The Book of Three The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe Dragonsinger Everworld Series
Isobel Bird Circle of Three Series • • • • 1 so mote it be 2 merry meet 3 second sight 4 what the cards said 5 in the dreaming 6 ring of light 7 blue moon 8 the five paths 9 through the veil 10 making the saint 11 the house of winter 12 written in the stars 13 and it harm none 14 the challenge box 15 initiation
Melinda Metz Fingerprints • • 1 Gifted Touch 2 Haunted 3 Trust Me 4 Secrets 5 Betrayed 6 Revelations 7 Payback
Cate Tiernan Sweep Series • • • 1 book of shadows 2 The Coven 3 Blood Witch 4 Dark Magick 5 Awakening 6 Spellbound
Information This presentation and these booktrailers are available on our websites: • Booktalksandmore. pbwiki. com • RIYL. wikispaces. com
Sources Pictures used by permission from Valencia High School Some photos courtesy of Creative Commons and Google Images. All are copyright free. Book covers courtesy of individual publishers.
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