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kids' book discussion groups
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From: Eva Mitnick <emitnick_at_lapl.org>
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:47:40 -0700
I never seemed to have success with traditional kids' book discussion groups, the sort where everyone sits around and has a meaty discussion about a particular book - possibly this was because I was competing with library computers, homework, and after-school activities for the attention of my 9 to 12 year olds. Or perhaps I'm just no good as a book discussion moderator!
A "Books Plus" Club was more successful. We gathered together once a week to write letters to international penpals, share collections and hobbies, write puppet plays and creative dramatics based on fairy tales and folktales (and then create the props, rehearse, and perform them for little kids), and more - and while kids busily wrote and painted, they were very receptive to talking about books. I booktalked new books (and gave them first dibs at checking them out) and they talked about books they were reading. If it was the right time of year (fall/winter), I would do my best to persuade club members to read, discuss, and vote on the current nominated middle-grade books for the California Young Reader Medal - and a few of them usually would. So - a fairly non-rigorous, informal sort of book club.
We only ever had a small number in the club at any one time - between 4 and 8 - but it was so much fun. I miss it! Eva Mitnick Senior Librarian, Children's Services Los Angeles Public Library http://evasbookaddiction.blogspot.com
Received on Mon 19 Oct 2009 11:47:40 AM CDT
Date: Mon, 19 Oct 2009 11:47:40 -0700
I never seemed to have success with traditional kids' book discussion groups, the sort where everyone sits around and has a meaty discussion about a particular book - possibly this was because I was competing with library computers, homework, and after-school activities for the attention of my 9 to 12 year olds. Or perhaps I'm just no good as a book discussion moderator!
A "Books Plus" Club was more successful. We gathered together once a week to write letters to international penpals, share collections and hobbies, write puppet plays and creative dramatics based on fairy tales and folktales (and then create the props, rehearse, and perform them for little kids), and more - and while kids busily wrote and painted, they were very receptive to talking about books. I booktalked new books (and gave them first dibs at checking them out) and they talked about books they were reading. If it was the right time of year (fall/winter), I would do my best to persuade club members to read, discuss, and vote on the current nominated middle-grade books for the California Young Reader Medal - and a few of them usually would. So - a fairly non-rigorous, informal sort of book club.
We only ever had a small number in the club at any one time - between 4 and 8 - but it was so much fun. I miss it! Eva Mitnick Senior Librarian, Children's Services Los Angeles Public Library http://evasbookaddiction.blogspot.com
Received on Mon 19 Oct 2009 11:47:40 AM CDT
