Novel Excerpts

[Anne-Marie]

I want to read a few pages of a different novel every day to pique students' interests in reading. If they like the excerpt, they will hopefully seek out the book.

Does anyone know of a source that lists the most catching, or representative, or intriguing few pages of popular childrens' novels? Does such a thing even exist?

[dsmms]

I did a lesson on mood and tone last year using the book Woodsong, by Gary Paulson. I read only the first chapter aloud. Many of my students wanted to check out the book so they could finish reading it. I haven't heard of a list like you describe, but we could probably come up with one here if enough people share. I like your idea of hooking them with a preview of the text.

I also try to get them talking to each other about what they are reading. They will listen to their peers when they won't listen to anyone else. I let them do "60 second book commercials" on Free Read Fridays. I ask if anyone is reading a really good book. They have exactly 60 seconds to sell their book to the class. They seem to like this.