1. Write about it to a friend.
2. Make a map of where it takes place.
3. Create a crossword puzzle, using its setting and plot.
4. Tell why it would (or wouldn't) make a great movie.
5. Make a poster about it.
6. Pick five to ten adjectives that describe it. Tell why you chose them.
7. Describe an incident from it as though you were an on-the-scene TV reporter.
8. Make a model of something in it: a house, a log cabin, a rocket.
9. Draw objects from it and make them into a mobile.
10. Create a mural about it, using charcoal, crayons, cut paper, watercolors, or another art form.
11. Compare it to the movie or TV version.
12. Make a time-line of its events.
13. Create a new ending for it.
14. The U.S. President has learned that you've read this book and wants to know one thing a main character discovered about life that you think all Americans should know. What would you tell him? Why?
15. Describe the main character in 64 words.
16. Choose a character you'd like (or not like) to have as a friend. Tell why.
17. Make believe you were one of the minor characters. How would you describe a main character?
18. Plan an appropriate meal for a main character.
19. Do a cartoon strip based on a character.
20. Write a few pages in a diary as if you were one of the characters.
21. Write a poem about a character.
22. Design costumes for some of the characters.
23. For stories that took place in another time, tell how one of the characters would act today, or would react to a present-day situation.
24. Tell what your home would be like if it belonged to one of the main characters.
25. Write a biography of one of the characters.
26. Pick a book you think each of the main characters would enjoy reading. Tell why.
27. Guess what would have happened if a character had made an important decision differently.
28. Persuade an audience to read (or not read) it.
29. Tell why you would (or wouldn't) recommend it to your principal, a parent, or another student.
30. Write a song about it.
31. Demonstrate something you learned from it.
32. Make a bulletin board about it, showing the main characters, the setting, and so forth.
33. Compare it with a book of similar theme.
34. Prepare a book jacket for it.
35. Have someone who has read it try to stump you with questions.
36. Become the author and tell why you wrote this book.
37. Plan the questions you'd use in a conference-call interview with the author.
38. The author has written to you and wants to know how this book could have been improved. How would you answer?
39. Write a letter of appreciation to the author, asking questions and sharing thoughts.
40. Make sound effects for your book and tape them. Read your book or part of it at a story time with taped sound effects.
41. Write an imaginary interview with a person whose biography you've read.
42. Use the overhead projector to illustrate a book talk.
43. Make a logo or special symbol for a character in your book.
44. Choose some music which would create the right mood for your book. Tape record the music in the background and read a favorite part of the book.
45. Write a comparison of a character in your book to a real person you kow. How are they alike? How are they different?
46. Suppose you had written to a character in your book and asked him/her what he/she would like for birthday presents. Make a list of ten presents and explain why the character would want them.
47. Choose two characters from the book and have them exchange letters discussing how each feels about the activities taking place in the story. It would be helpful to provide a short character analysis of each person before the letters are written so I will understand why each person feels as he does. (Minimum of two letters each character.)
48. Tell about the greatest fear your character has. Describe how he acts when he is afraid, and what he imagines when he is afraid.
49. If your main character could wish on a wishbone and have his wish come true, what would he wish?
50. DEAR ABBY! Select a character in your book that has a problem that "Abby" could help solve. Pretending that you are the character, write to Abby about your problem. Then…pretend that you are Abby and give a mature answer. You could use a newspaper with a "Dear Abby" heading to mount your project.
51. Write a different ending to your book…how would you like to see it end?
52. If the main character in your book rebelled against something, do you think he would rebel in today's world? Would there be any cause for him to rebel today? Write a theme based on these questions.
53. Describe the culture or ethnic setting as presented in your book as compared to your life.
54. Are the characters in the book more kind or more cruel than the people you meet in everyday life? More tolerant? Wiser? More or less superstitious? More or less thoughtless than the people you know? Write a theme based on these questions…minimum of 5 paragraphs.
55. Tape your book talk and be prepared to broadcast it to the class. Be sure you use sound effects to make it really interesting! Please use cassette tapes.