Glassbourg, Michael. Learn to Speak Film. Illustrated by Jeff Kulak. Owlkids Books, 2013. ISBN:  978-1926973852

I’ve talked to parents who desire to promote a love of reading in their children, but some of the best-loved fiction titles don’t hold their child’s interest. This is when we start to explore individual interests, and non-fiction options.

Part of the Learn to Speak series, this title would appeal to any middle-grade or tween reader who loves film, directing, acting, art and set design, or dreams of writing a screenplay.

The layout and design of the book is appealing, with block color contrast and lots of bold silhouettes and lines. Displaying a “hipster cool” visual vibe, it does not feel like an educational read, although it is filled to the brim with advice, step-by-step procedure, and appreciation for the artistic and creative elements of the craft.

Everything from the format and look of a screenplay, to organizing a shoot, to storyboarding, film festivals, musings from current filmmakers and lists of jobs in the industry are found in this title. This book is not overwhelming, and gives just the right amount of information about each subject.