|
|
|
Starting a Book Club:
You might've heard your parents or other adults talking about a "book club" or a "reading group," and the idea sounds interesting to you, but you're curious about what they are and what they do. It's really simple --- a reading group or a book club is just a bunch of friends who decide to read the same book and then get together to talk about it. All across the country these groups of book lovers are becoming very popular, so maybe you and some book-loving friends would enjoy starting one of your own. It's easy, and it's lots of fun! Here are some tips on how to get a club started.
The easiest way to begin is to just call or email your buddies who like to read and see if they want to get together to read and discuss a good book. If everyone brings one other person, you'll have a big enough club in no time! You can also put up posters advertising your club if you still want more members. Post flyers at your school, church, or library (that's one place where you're sure to find book lovers!) and you can meet some new kids who might make great additions to the club.
Attendance can be a big deal with clubs just starting out. Make sure your friends are really dedicated to reading the books and will come to the meetings. You should decide if members who haven't finished the book yet are welcome to the discussion; they might steer the discussion off-track, and you want people there who have actually read the books!
Eight to twelve people is about the right size for a good club. Since some kids won't be able to make every meeting, you can still have a good conversation with a couple of missing members. If you have more than twelve, it's hard to let everyone speak their minds (the last thing you want to do is make people raise their hands like in school!). You should also decide before you start if you're going to have a coed club (boys and girls) or just keep it one gender. Sometimes it might be nice to have different opinions from the opposite sex, but the boys might want to read different books than the girls which can make it hard to stay focused. Remember: You're here to read and talk about books, not gossip and have a party!
Once you have your club, lay down some simple rules to keep things running smoothly. How are you going to choose your books? Some clubs only read one kind of book (like mysteries or fantasy), while others like to read a wide range of stuff. You might want to make one kid the "Secretary" (you can think of a cooler name if you want…); he or she will keep track of book lists and send out reminders about meeting times and places.
Your Book Club will be a lot of fun, but it might also be hard work at first. If you want help, ask a parent, teacher, or librarian --- they'll be happy to work with you and get your club going. The first few weeks will be a little crazy as you're working out the details, but you'll be surprised how much fun you and your friends can have discussing the great books you read! Good luck!
Back to top.
|
 |
|
Running a Book Club:
So you've got a group of friends who are eager to start a Book Club together. What's next?!
1. When to Meet
The first thing you should decide is when to meet. Most groups find that once a month works out best. This gives you plenty of time to read the book you've chosen without putting pressure on your homework time or other activities. Reading is fun, but no one likes to feel forced to plow through a long book just to meet a deadline. Some groups meet once every two weeks, but keep in mind that the books can't be too long if people only have fourteen days to read them. You also need to pick a set time to meet. It can be tough working around the busy schedules of everyone in the group, but you can usually find a couple of hours when everyone is free. Also, have kids check with their parents' schedules. If they need to be picked up or dropped off somewhere, they'll need someone to drive them. Once you have a time, stick with it! Kids should let their families know that the Book Club is an important activity for them; most parents will respect their kids' priorities and will help them fit their schedules around it.
2. Where to Meet
Once you have a set time to meet, you need a place. This can be tricky for kids, since you can't exactly hop in the car and drive to a convenient place. If the parents of kids in the group are willing, you can take turns hosting the group at different people's houses. Your parents might actually enjoy the idea of taking you over and then hanging out with the other adults for a bit while you and your friends discuss the books (I've heard that grownups like to have fun too …).
3. What to Bring
Your books, of course! And Snacks are almost as important as books for any good Book Club, so you should make sure everyone shares the responsibility of bringing something to eat, like chips and salsa, cookies, or brownies. Also, instead of having only one person supply food, have two or three; that way the group doesn't rely on just one person each time and there will be a variety of food.
4. Who Leads The Discussion
Another part of the Book Club to consider is the way the discussion is going to go. It's helpful to have one person lead the discussion, so some groups have the person who proposed the book make some questions and get the conversation started. You can also have each member come up with a couple questions of their own and go around the group. Don't be afraid of using outside help! Find a Book Club Guide for your book online and use those questions to start the discussion. Another possibility (especially for groups just starting out) is to ask a grownup like a teacher or librarian to lead the discussion until the group gets the hang of it. Sometimes it can be tough to spark a good debate, so it never hurts to have a lot of questions and tricks up your sleeve!
Once your discussion is rolling, you need to keep it on track. Remind kids to ground their comments in the text; if they have to point out specific examples from the book, they probably won't ramble too much. You might have a couple of kids who add a lot to the conversation but also have a tendency to get off topic a little. The most important part of a Book Club is the book, so try hard to keep the discussion focused on what you're reading and not Sally's new shoes or Ben's silly prank in school. If a Book Club turns into a Gossip Group, it won't last long, but if it sticks to books, it'll be a big success.
Back to top.
|
|
|
Choosing What to Read:
One of the most fun but difficult parts of managing a Book Club is choosing the books to read. You want titles that aren't too hard but aren't too easy, books that will be interesting for readers who like different things. You can only pick a small number of books, so make your choices count! Where on earth can you find these magically perfect selections?!
Probably the best place to start looking is on your members' bookshelves. If a kid in your club has already read a book and liked it, there's a pretty good chance others will too. You'll want to read new stuff too, but there's nothing wrong with occasionally rereading an old favorite. You'll be surprised how many points your club will bring up that you never thought about before. For example, most of the kids in your club have probably read some (or all) of the Harry Potter books, but if you find a good guide to give you challenging questions, you won't be bored thinking about it again!
We will be providing ideas for club discussions every month. Also, there are some websites with lists of books for kids' Book Clubs, and they'll give you some good titles to choose from. Sometimes it's risky to try a book that no one's heard of before, but by experimenting you might find a new favorite. If you're looking for new ideas, go to a local library or bookstore and ask an adult for help. Librarians often have Book Club experience and can help you pick some books that will suit your club's needs.
The best way to make sure your club's happy with the book choices is to create a list and then vote on which ones you're going to read. The more information you have on each book (author info, recommendations, previous reading experience, stuff like that), the easier it'll be for your club to make a smart decision. Some clubs like to plan out their reading for a whole year, but others prefer to wait and only pick a couple of books at a time since their tastes can change. Remember: Choosing your books should be fun; make a good list and then enjoy the best part --- reading and discussing great books!!
Back to top.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
