Have you ever looked at your bookshelf and realised it's full of memories? Every book tells a story – not just the one inside its pages, but a story about you. That's why filming a Shelfie is such a fun and creative way to celebrate your reading journey. Making a Shelfie is a great activity for the school holidays and is fun to do with children and young people of any age. While younger children may need to be filmed and you will choose carefully how and with whom to share the results, teens and young adults may enjoy creating BookTok style content to pep up their socials.
A Shelfie is a short video where you give viewers a tour of your bookshelf, stopping to share the books that have shaped your life. There are no right or wrong answers – it's all about your own reading adventure.
Here are some ideas to get you started:
📚 The first book you ever owned or remember reading
Can you remember the very first book that sparked your imagination? Maybe it was a bedtime story, a picture book, or one you proudly chose from a library.
😂 The book that always makes you laugh
Everyone has a book that never fails to cheer them up. Share the funniest moment and explain why it still makes you smile.
🌟 The book that inspired your dreams
Was there a book that made you want to become a vet, astronaut, footballer, scientist, artist or writer? Tell your audience how that story made you think differently about the future.
❤️ Your favourite author or genre
Do you love fantasy, mystery, adventure or graphic novels? Perhaps there's an author whose books you can never put down. Explain what makes their stories so special.
🚀 The book that took you somewhere new
Maybe you thought you didn't like historical fiction until one amazing story changed your mind. Or perhaps a poetry collection or graphic novel opened the door to a whole new world of reading.
When filming your Shelfie, don't worry about making it perfect. Speak naturally, smile, and imagine you're chatting with a friend. Hold each book up to the camera, tell everyone why it matters to you, and keep your video between two and five minutes long.
Remember, your Shelfie isn't about having the biggest bookshelf or the newest books. It's about celebrating the stories that have made you laugh, think, dream and grow. Your reading journey is unique, and your Shelfie is your chance to inspire someone else to discover their next favourite book.
So grab your camera or mobile phone, head to your bookshelf, and start sharing the stories behind your stories. Team Jenny Many can't wait to see where your reading adventure takes you!