A few things to consider when recording live book readings
1. Setting in which you are recording
a. Where is your location?
i. A quiet area free from distractions is preferable in order to
limit background noise so your voice is heard loud and clear.
ii. Your background should be uncluttered so that the child is
focused on you while you're reading and not distracted by
what is behind you.
iii. You should be in a well-lit area. Natural lighting helps. In dim
light, videos tend to be “grainy” and low quality.
iv. Sit just far enough away from the camera that the child can
see the entire book.
2. While you read
a. Give a brief introduction of yourself. Introductions should include the
following:
i. Your name, school name (if you are a student) and something
personal about yourself. Example: "Hi my name is Karen and I
am a Senior at Concordia University. I also play volleyball and I
am so excited to read to you today."
b. Introduce the book.
i. Title
ii. Author
iii. Illustrator
c. Hold the book still when possible. This is important since movement
tends to be distracting and can cause your viewer to lose attention.
d. Try to keep the book in the frame throughout the video.
e. Read slowly and clearly, slower than you would to an older child. Reading
slowly gives young children the chance to hear the words while looking at
the pictures to better comprehend the book.
f. After reading the words of a page, feel free to go “off script” sometimes.
You may want to make a comment about the pictures or ask a question,
prompting the children to think more about what they’re seeing or
hearing.
