Gotcha!: Nonfiction Booktalks to Get Kids Excited About Reading

Features

• Cover Type: Paperback with 183 pages
• Published by: Libraries Unlimited December 15, 1999
• Written in: English
• ISBN 10 Number: 1563086832
• ISBN 13 Number: 978-1563086830
• Book Dimensions: 10.9 x 8.2 x 0.4 inches
• Weighs: 1.3 pounds

Reader Reviews
Baxter, Kathleen A. and Marcia Agness Kochel. 1999. Gotcha! Nonfiction Booktalks to Get Kids Excited About Reading. Englewood, CO: Libraries Unlimited. Kathleen A. Baxter states that she has a healthy streak of curiosity and an active interest in a lot of things which makes nonfiction books her choice for booktalks. She wants to tantalize, intrigue, and wet the appetite of children and adults and finds that Nonfiction has a wide range of reading levels available on an interesting subject. Ideas for over 350 booktalks are presented in seven chapters. Baxter always insists books in her library collection are well reviewed; books she mentions in the seven chapters have all received favorable reviews in major library reviewing publications. Booktalks\ programs include at least one book from every chapter. In her introduction, Baxter introduces herself and Marcia Agness Kochel, a public librarian and a school librarian as fanatics about quality books who hope to add some good ideas to your repertoire and fuel to fill up your bag of tricks. Baxter states: "Booktalking to me means telling people who may not be readers some of the reasons why a particular book may appeal to them." Baxter's suggestions for beginning your booktalks give general guidelines and include specific ideas such as "Gary Paulson's book Nightjohn, a fiction book that describes a slave who teaches other slaves to read and the horrible punishment he must endure as a consequence. One of the greatest ways to keep people from getting power is to prevent them from reading. If you want power, read!" High interest topics are discussed in depth in seven thematic chapters: (1) "Great Disasters," including shipwrecks and disasters at sea, fires, floods, diseases and other natural disasters; (2) "Fun Stuff--Jokes, Gross Books, and Books that Will Make You Laugh," including puzzles, jokes and fun facts, poetry, gross stuff, and just plain fun; (3) "Animals," including creatures of the air, creatures of the water, animals around the world, creepy-crawly creatures, pets, amazing animal facts, dinosaurs, and animals in danger; (4) "Unsolved Mysteries," including missing persons and disappearances, unexplained phenomena, and ghosts and urban legends; (5) "Science and Fun Experiments To Do," including experiments and activities, inventions and accidents, the world around us, dead bodies (archaeology and anthropology), and the human body; (6) "Fascinating People," including scientists/artists/musicians/writers, amazing women, athletes, historical figures, kids' favorite authors and illustrators, heroes and heroines, and fascinating kids; (7) "Our Wonderful, Terrible Past," including ancient history, customs and costumes throughout the ages, the American spirit, slavery and freedom, the continuing struggle for freedom, and the Holocaust and World War. Within each chapter are brief excerpts for reading aloud, pictures to lure kids to the books, and full bibliographies with reading levels for all the suggested titles. Each chapter offers plenty of starting points for creating attention-grabbing presentations. Baxter and Kochel's book is loaded with information, suggestions, and tips to help encourage reading. It is a valuable resource for finding fascinating, thought provoking, and fun books to share with children and young adults. Baxter and Kochel successfully describe how booktalking can match up children with just the right book. Educators can learn important tips to "hook" even the most reluctant reader. Starting their book with nonfiction disaster books is equivalent to starting their booktalks with disasters, they "Gotcha". To thoroughly understand how to get children, young adults, and adults reading nonfiction books draw upon the examples in this book. This book is a valuable resource for educators committed to creating excitement for reading because it gives specific choices for booktalks that includes specific text and pictures. Baxter also explains why these titles lend themselves to great booktalks, featuring specific questions to ask and extensions to follow. The authors' wide experience with many audiences is the basis for the practical, straightforward advice given. Comment | | (Report this)