Inspiring a Love of Reading in Your Classroom with “Blind Date with a Book”
Kids love a bit of mystery - don’t we all? If the popularity of blind bags and surprise eggs has taught us nothing else, there is something about not knowing what you are going to get that makes the unwrapping process more exciting!
Why not incorporate this in your classroom? Enhance your classroom library with some “blind date with a book” selections!
How to Set up “Blind Date with a Book”
Do you have some fantastic books in your classroom library that no one chooses? They are great candidates! Just wrap them in plain paper, such as a paper grocery bag turned inside out. Write some intriguing hints and embellish with some themed stickers or drawings.
What Kind of Hints to Use
You can write small hints such as “mystery” “romance” or “graphic novel.” Or, take it a step further and write a description of the main problem of the story.
For example, for “The City of Ember,” you could write: “They are running out of supplies, running low on food, and - most concerning of all - running out of the lights that keep their world from plunging into darkness.”
For “Savvy,” you could write: “A girl gets a magical power on her 13th birthday. But will it destroy her family?”
For “Twilight,” you could write: “They are falling in love, but he may not be able to stop himself from killing her.”
To get ideas for what to write, check out the book description online or the blurb on the back. Try to focus on the action and suspense in the story.
You can also include hints on aspects of the book that may appeal to different students, like “female lead” or “set in the future.”
Ways to Embellish
You can add even more hints by decorating the paper covering the books. You may add stickers, doodles, or even print out images that go with the theme of the story.
Announce to Your Class
When your books are ready, display them prominently in your classroom. Announce to your class that you have some mystery books! You may want to read a few of the intriguing hints to catch their interest.
Get Your Students Involved
Once your class had enjoyed their first round of “blind date with a book,” you can invite your students to wrap up some books of their choice. This could be one of your classroom jobs or a reward for students who earn it in some way. Provide them with paper, stickers, and other embellishments so they can prepare the books. They can write short blurbs on the cover as well to see if they can entice their fellow classmates to pick up a new book!