Reading Raps

Professional Programming.  Rita Soltan explores a variety of family book club structures in Reading Raps: A Book Club Guide for Librarians, Kids, and Families (Libraries Unlimited, 2006).  Soltan describes four unique book club styles for young readers and their families; whole family book clubs, mother-daughter books clubs, father-son book clubs and 'Reading Raps, book clubs for young readers to participate in without their families.  For each type of club, Soltan recommends 25 appropriate books, including summaries, notes on theme, discussion questions, and a quick list of other books that share the theme.  Soltan emphasizes books that do not have alternate media tie-ins (i.e. movies or TV shows).  Soltan does not shy away from controversial books, on the contrary, she explains how family book clubs can be an excellent way for families to openly discuss tough subject.  This guide is an excellent source for books selection, however it is not enough to carry book club leaders through the whole discussion.  Highly recommended for public librarians who are interested in engaging families in new and interesting ways; especially those who want to create more family programming for readers in upper elementary and middle school for whom story time is not quite cutting it.  Recommended, ****