Book Reviews Kids Flip Over

"What should I read?"

It's one of the most frequent questions I get in the library (right after, "Can I print my homework? In color?")

I often tell students that while I certainly can share with them the books that I love, book choice is very personal and we may not find the same books appealing. It is true that I only read YA these days, but it seems to me that students look for a book recommendation might find a better source in their peers, rather than their Friendly Librarian.

Lately, I've turned to one of my favorite tech tools, the app Flipgrid, to offer students advice on what to read. If you are not familiar with Flipgrid, its a fun little app that allows users to record short videos using their phone or tablet. They can add pictures, music or stickers. Flipgrid videos are fast and authentic.

Using Flipgrid for book reviews is a little bit of genius. Students returning a book are asked, "Did you love it? Would you recommend it to a friend?" If they answer with an enthusiastic "YES!" I pull out the iPad or ask them to make a Flipgrid at home. They might focus on why the book is special, why they loved a character or plot. Some students are masters at suspense, telling viewers just enough to get them to grab the book. Videos are posted to a shared platform (soon to be added to our library homepage) and now readers can get ideas for their next great read.

So students... what books are you ready to Flip over?