A key skill to have is the ability to summarize a book.  But there are summaries, and then there are summaries. With this activity students learn how to tell someone why a book is interesting, fun, and worth reading. More importantly, they'll be able to say what it's about.

1. Have the students choose a book they've read recently (for an extension you can have them invent a product based on the book: a hungry caterpillar puppet, a Frog and Toad house, and so on).

2. If the group decides to include a product then have them name it.

3. Each group should come up with a slogan.

4. Encourage them to also have a jingle.

5. Ask them to plan a commercial once they have these things in place.

6. Have each group perform/videotape the commercials.

7. Consider screening each group's commercial. Which one was the most effective at selling the product? Why?