Technology becomes a “middle-man” and interrupts the flow and experience. I’d say to get down in the middle of all of the children, walk around with the book or pass it around. The reading activity is about the connection between the listener, the reader and the book, not about focusing on a televised version of the book.

@terriebittner: Children need to see the book in hand to help them love books. Anything else is just tv in disguise. The book needs to be part of the whole emotional experience. I’m old fashioned–I like my books to be real.

@kaymathews: The teacher-librarian I was says: book in hand. You’re creating a common experience, you want to pull the kids into your circle, create a sense of intimacy and close connection with the book/with you as story teller. It’s also part of storytelling — you can use the book to pace yourself, to create tension, in a way you can’t otherwise. But it’s still putting another layer between teacher/storyteller and students/listeners. I’m sure it has a place…I’m thinking, too, of a recent experience with the book “Sailor Girl” (adult book) — it’s printed on beautiful paper it’s a pleasure to hold, it’s lovely to turn the pages — I’d have a much different relationship with the book..if I were reading it on one of those electronic book gizmos.

@ldpodcast: tough one. They can read along on screen, but would depend on book- Expressiveness wins every time, though

@1styear: book in hand is my fav, but I can see the value of students being able to read along if it’s on doc cam. Wish I had one!