I understood the expectations in creating a book report, a book review, and even a book analysis. What I had not experienced before was a “book talk”. When I heard the term I was expecting something along the lines of the Oral Book Share (OBS for short) that I had seen given as an assignment for middle schoolers at the Challenge School. As it turns out and OBS is more of an oral book report with a plot description, a reading from the book, a list of characters and setting, a activity, and a recommendation. A book talk is a quick, 3 to 5 minute, enthusiastic advertisement to convince a listener that they cannot go on without picking up and reading the book being presented.
Now I understand, having done a book talk myself. I cannot help associating the term “book talk” with the feeling of enthusiasm. Teri S. Lesesne, in Naked Reading, uses book talks as a way to share her enthusiasm and passion about reading and she has discovered that her enthusiasm is contagious (61). And it certainly is, I have caught the book talk fever and cannot wait to “book talk” again. This is a short outline of my first (but not my last) YAL book talk:
I would like to introduce you to Savvy by Colorado Author Ingrid Law.
The story is about the Beaumont Family. Specifically Mibs Beaumont, short for Mississippi. She is about to turning 13 and turning 13 is a VERY BIG DEAL in the Beaumont family.
Let me read to you about what has happened on the 13th birthdays of some of the other members of her family: Fish (Mibs’ brother): parts of pages 1-3 Grandpa Bomba: parts of pages 4-5
So what exactly is a savvy? Ingrid Law describes it as “American magic”. She wanted to write a book about magic without using the word magic and she also want a different kind of magic, not based on the traditional European idea of magic. She was drawn to American Folktales, folktales filled with American perseverance and talent, stories of Paul Bunyan and Pecos Bill. It is in these stories that she found her “American magic”.
That brings us back to Mibs. Mibs is two days away from her 13th birthday and getting her savvy. Unfortunately tragedy strikes, Mibs’ father is in a terrible accident and is transported approximately 150 miles south to a hospital in Salina Kansas. Mibs’ mother and brother leave to be with him in the hospital. As if she does not have enough to worry about some well meaning neighbors decide to throw Mibs a birthday party in the basement of the church, to help cheer her up and take her mind off her father. This party only adds to her worries:
1. She cannot stop worrying about her father.
2. She has no idea what savvy she will get but can only pray that it is something she canuse to make her father better.
3. The possibility she might reveal her family’s secret by getting her savvy surrounded by all the kids from school.
With things so out of control she decides to take matters into her own hands. She sneaks on to a pink school bus driven by a Bible salesman, that she believes is going to Salina. Also hitching a ride are two of her brothers and the two preacher’s kids. The adventure begins!
Savvy is not only a story of Mibs' adventure in traveling to see her father. It is also about the journey Mibs takes in discovering her savvy and herself and learning to appreciate all the talents she has.
Ingrid Law likes to end her author visits by asking the audience to think about what their dream savvy would be and to also think about their ordinary everyday savvy.
Ingrid Law says her dream savvy would be to fly or breathe underwater and her ordinary savvy would be that smiles a lot and spills stuff on her shirt at all parties.
My dream savvy would be to be able to do chores at the speed of light and my ordinary savvy is that I know bits and pieces of hundreds of song lyrics.
My last bits of info to share:
Savvy is Newberry Honor Book and an ALA Notable Book for Children among many other awards.
Grades 4-7th
I brought to share the poster board of a middle school student’s OBS on the book Savvy.
Also shared the next savvy story by Ingrid Law called Scrumble.
No comments:
Post a Comment