Our teacher librarians and media managers use a variety of ways for students to preview new books. Patsy Cockrum at Ponderosa Elementary uses a version of Musical Chairs. She places enough chairs for all of the students around in a circle. On each chair is a new book to preview. When she starts the music, students walk around the chairs. When she stops the music, each student must find a chair and sit and peruse the book for 1-2 minutes. Then Patsy starts the music again and repeats the activity. I noticed that she mixed up the music so that it was a new song playing each time. At the end of the activity, students were able to check out a book, including the new ones. Before the next class came she replenished the books for any chairs that were empty.
