Promotional Ideas
Book: Ruth and the Green Book by Calvin Alexander Ramsey
Vehicle for promotion: Wiki
Target audience: Teachers
Vehicle for promotion: Wiki
Target audience: Teachers
A good way to promote this book would be to create a wiki as a place for teachers to share ideas on how to use this book and other materials to teach units on Civil Rights and racism to elementary students. I chose a wiki because it would allow teachers to add content whenever they came up with a new or different idea or when they taught a particularly effective lesson with students. Teachers could also add quizzes or supplemental activities as they become available. This wiki could be used from year to year to give teachers a resource for ideas.
As the librarian, I would create the wiki, but once created, there would be very little need for maintenance I would monitor it periodically to ensure that content was appropriate, but since this is a space for teacher ideas, it would be open and free for teachers to add content as they see fit.
I would let teachers know about the wiki by sending out an email to all of the appropriate teachers and by having a link to it on the "teachers only" portion of the library website. I would also remind teachers about it in staff meetings. Teacher word of mouth would also help market the wiki, if it was effective.
As the librarian, I would create the wiki, but once created, there would be very little need for maintenance I would monitor it periodically to ensure that content was appropriate, but since this is a space for teacher ideas, it would be open and free for teachers to add content as they see fit.
I would let teachers know about the wiki by sending out an email to all of the appropriate teachers and by having a link to it on the "teachers only" portion of the library website. I would also remind teachers about it in staff meetings. Teacher word of mouth would also help market the wiki, if it was effective.
Book: Pure by Julianna Baggott
Vehicle for promotion: Digital Booktalk
Target audience: Students
Vehicle for promotion: Digital Booktalk
Target audience: Students
I would have a class read this book and, as an assignment, have them create a digital booktalk to promote the book to other students in the school. I would split the class into groups and ask each group to discuss the book and come up with a feature of the book that they wish to promote. Students would then decide how they would represent their feature in a video. Students would record their feature on flip cameras in a short segment. As a class, we would then edit and put those segments into a digital format where they could be seen by the school as a book promotion.
Because this promotion project contains many different parts, it will require planning and supervision of the students. I see this as being a class assignment, to be completed over several different class sessions. The first lesson for this assignment would need to include a discussion on the features of a book so the students have an understanding of what they will be focusing on in their groups. Students will also need training in using flip cameras and will need supervised time to decide how to represent their book feature. Once the students have their recordings, I would need to provide training on the digital format (Moviemaker or other format) that we will use to put the clips together to form the booktalk.
Once it has been created, I will run the booktalk on the closed circuit television in the library so the whole school can see it. I will also put in on the library website so students have access to it outside of the library.
Because this promotion project contains many different parts, it will require planning and supervision of the students. I see this as being a class assignment, to be completed over several different class sessions. The first lesson for this assignment would need to include a discussion on the features of a book so the students have an understanding of what they will be focusing on in their groups. Students will also need training in using flip cameras and will need supervised time to decide how to represent their book feature. Once the students have their recordings, I would need to provide training on the digital format (Moviemaker or other format) that we will use to put the clips together to form the booktalk.
Once it has been created, I will run the booktalk on the closed circuit television in the library so the whole school can see it. I will also put in on the library website so students have access to it outside of the library.
Book: Divergent by Veronica Roth
Vehicle for promotion: Bulletin Board
Target audience: Students
Vehicle for promotion: Bulletin Board
Target audience: Students
To promote this book, I would put up a bulletin board entitled, "Which Came First...". I would choose this book, and several others in the same age range, which have been made into movies. This book promotion would encourage students to read books that they may have enjoyed in movie form. As a part of the bulletin board, I would create a display for each book/movie with a picture of the book jacket and a photograph from the movie. Along with the pictures, I would have QR codes that link to the movie trailer and to a book trailer that has been created by the students. I think that students would benefit by learning how to use current technology to create the book trailers and because they might be more likely to view the trailers if they are able to do so using the QR codes.
For this project, I would put together the bulletin board by getting photos of the book jackets and of a scene from the movie. Once that part was completed, I would have the students create the book trailers as a part of a class lesson. We would have a class discussion about what a book trailer is and watch a few examples to give students an idea of what they were going to create. We would then have a lesson on how to use iMovie. Once students were familiar with iMovie, we would take time to create the trailers in groups. Once the trailers were complete, we would create the QR codes to link to both the movie and the book trailers. I would then put the QR codes into my display and create the bulletin board. Students coming into the library could then use the bulletin board to learn about the books and movies. I would also include a place for students to write comments about which they liked better, the book or the movie, and why. This would need to be closely monitored for appropriateness.
To let students know about the bulletin board I would put a write up about it in the library newsletter and on the library website. The bulletin board would also promote itself, since it will be up in the library for all to see.
For this project, I would put together the bulletin board by getting photos of the book jackets and of a scene from the movie. Once that part was completed, I would have the students create the book trailers as a part of a class lesson. We would have a class discussion about what a book trailer is and watch a few examples to give students an idea of what they were going to create. We would then have a lesson on how to use iMovie. Once students were familiar with iMovie, we would take time to create the trailers in groups. Once the trailers were complete, we would create the QR codes to link to both the movie and the book trailers. I would then put the QR codes into my display and create the bulletin board. Students coming into the library could then use the bulletin board to learn about the books and movies. I would also include a place for students to write comments about which they liked better, the book or the movie, and why. This would need to be closely monitored for appropriateness.
To let students know about the bulletin board I would put a write up about it in the library newsletter and on the library website. The bulletin board would also promote itself, since it will be up in the library for all to see.
Book: Frogs by Nic Bishop
Vehicle for promotion: Webquest
Target audience: Students
Vehicle for promotion: Webquest
Target audience: Students
To promote this book and the author, I would create a webquest for students as an assignment. A webquest is a fun way for students to learn about a book, author, or topic. It is also a great way to teach students to use the computer and it provides a nice link to teaching research and citation skills to students.
Before this lesson, I would create the webquest. Once the students logged on to the website, the webquest would have several links to information about the author and his books, including the author webpage. Students would have to gather information about Nic Bishop and his books. The first task would provide a form for students to write down 5 facts about the animals that Nic Bishop has written books about and to cite the sources where they obtained the information. The next step would require students to create a Powerpoint as a way to present those facts. The Powerpoint would need to include text and pictures. The final step would require students to create a biography bag including 3 items that represent something they learned about the author. There would be a form where students could explain why they chose to include the representative items. This would be a multi part lesson. I would need to be sure that the prerequisite skills of navigating within a website, how to find citation information, how to note citations, and how to use Powerpoint had been taught previous to this particular lesson.
Since this is a lesson that students would participate in during library sessions, the marketing of the book would be contained within the lesson itself. The webquest would be the vehicle through which the students learned about this and other books by Nic Bishop and about the author himself. The hope would be that once students learned about the books and the author, they would be drawn to those books when reading for information and for pleasure.
Before this lesson, I would create the webquest. Once the students logged on to the website, the webquest would have several links to information about the author and his books, including the author webpage. Students would have to gather information about Nic Bishop and his books. The first task would provide a form for students to write down 5 facts about the animals that Nic Bishop has written books about and to cite the sources where they obtained the information. The next step would require students to create a Powerpoint as a way to present those facts. The Powerpoint would need to include text and pictures. The final step would require students to create a biography bag including 3 items that represent something they learned about the author. There would be a form where students could explain why they chose to include the representative items. This would be a multi part lesson. I would need to be sure that the prerequisite skills of navigating within a website, how to find citation information, how to note citations, and how to use Powerpoint had been taught previous to this particular lesson.
Since this is a lesson that students would participate in during library sessions, the marketing of the book would be contained within the lesson itself. The webquest would be the vehicle through which the students learned about this and other books by Nic Bishop and about the author himself. The hope would be that once students learned about the books and the author, they would be drawn to those books when reading for information and for pleasure.
Book: Poetry For Young People: African American Poetry, eds. Arnold Ramersad & Marcellus Blount
Vehicle for promotion: Blog
Target audience: Parents
Vehicle for promotion: Blog
Target audience: Parents
I chose to use a blog to promote this book and the other books in the series. I felt that I wanted a space where parents could learn about great books to read with their children. Blogs provide readers with the ability to see what others are doing and to post their own great ideas and suggestions. I wanted a way that I could share what we were doing in the library with the parents in a semi controlled space.
The blog would be a monthly one, in which I choose and showcase different books that are relevant for the students and for what is happening in the library. I would choose to promote this book and the others in the series during the month of April, for National Poetry Month. This series is a great way to expose young readers (and family members) to some of the best poets in our history. I would maintain the blog regularly and add a new post with book recommendations each month. I would also add any supplemental information about community activities and school wide events that tie in to the featured books, so that parents would have knowledge about activities they could do as a family that tie in to what their children are learning in school. Parents could then comment about suggestions of activities or ways to incorporate the books into their lives. They could also add books that their families love or that tie in with the theme of the blog for that month.
The promotion for the blog would need to be ongoing. I would send an email to all parents and teachers at the beginning of the year to let them know that it exists. I would also send home notes with students. I would include information about it in the library newsletter and the library website and would have fliers up in the office and in the library to catch parents who come to the school. I would hope that parent word of mouth would also be a good marketing tool.
The blog would be a monthly one, in which I choose and showcase different books that are relevant for the students and for what is happening in the library. I would choose to promote this book and the others in the series during the month of April, for National Poetry Month. This series is a great way to expose young readers (and family members) to some of the best poets in our history. I would maintain the blog regularly and add a new post with book recommendations each month. I would also add any supplemental information about community activities and school wide events that tie in to the featured books, so that parents would have knowledge about activities they could do as a family that tie in to what their children are learning in school. Parents could then comment about suggestions of activities or ways to incorporate the books into their lives. They could also add books that their families love or that tie in with the theme of the blog for that month.
The promotion for the blog would need to be ongoing. I would send an email to all parents and teachers at the beginning of the year to let them know that it exists. I would also send home notes with students. I would include information about it in the library newsletter and the library website and would have fliers up in the office and in the library to catch parents who come to the school. I would hope that parent word of mouth would also be a good marketing tool.
Book: Creepy Carrots by Aaron Reynolds
Vehicle for promotion: iMovie book trailer
Target audience: Students
Vehicle for promotion: iMovie book trailer
Target audience: Students
To promote this book, I created a trailer using the iMovie app on the iPad. Using the "Trailer" option in iMovie allowed me to create a trailer using a template designed to promote scary movies or books. The trailer has creepy music and flashing images of different sections of the book to add to the scary theme. A book trailer is a nice way to promote books because it is easy to create and does not need any kind of maintenance. It can also be used during different times of the year or in different years with the same level of appeal.
A book trailer is a great way to get students interested in books. The multimedia presentation is something that students of all ages respond well to and enjoy. Students love movies, and presenting a book with a trailer like a movie has a trailer, generates a great deal of interest quickly. This trailer will be playing on the library computer for students to view when they come to the library. It will be played with other trailers on a looping multimedia presentation and will require nothing from the librarian.
A book trailer is a great way to get students interested in books. The multimedia presentation is something that students of all ages respond well to and enjoy. Students love movies, and presenting a book with a trailer like a movie has a trailer, generates a great deal of interest quickly. This trailer will be playing on the library computer for students to view when they come to the library. It will be played with other trailers on a looping multimedia presentation and will require nothing from the librarian.
Book: Inside Out and Back Again by Thanhha Lai
Vehicle for promotion: Glogster
Target audience: Students, Teachers, Parents & Community
Vehicle for promotion: Glogster
Target audience: Students, Teachers, Parents & Community
I chose to create a Glogster to promote this book. A Glogster is an online, interactive way to showcase a book and to provide information about different aspects of the book. This is a perfect way to showcase a book for users because all of the information about the book is in one place, with links to more information. All of the work is done ahead of time, so that good, quality sources of information about a book and the author can be easily accessed. Users do not have to do a lot of searching on the Internet, trying to sort through a large quantity of information. They can see the information that the librarian has chosen and can immediately go to that information. It also keeps the user's attention because it is interactive and colorful.
A Glogster also has the added benefit of being easy to create, with no maintenance necessary. Once the Glogsters are created, they can be accessed at any time. I plan to put this, and other Glogsters showcasing books, on my library website as a link for users. Students can use them to find out more information about good books in our library. Teachers can use them to find good books that can be linked to the curriculum. Parents and community members can use them to help select quality books that they may want to purchase for their children or check out at the library. They can also use them as a way to find out information about a book that their child has read so that they can discuss the book and author with their child without having to read the book themselves.
A Glogster also has the added benefit of being easy to create, with no maintenance necessary. Once the Glogsters are created, they can be accessed at any time. I plan to put this, and other Glogsters showcasing books, on my library website as a link for users. Students can use them to find out more information about good books in our library. Teachers can use them to find good books that can be linked to the curriculum. Parents and community members can use them to help select quality books that they may want to purchase for their children or check out at the library. They can also use them as a way to find out information about a book that their child has read so that they can discuss the book and author with their child without having to read the book themselves.