If you’ve been putting off the habit of reading for the longest time, you’re probably a bit intimidated and at a loss on how you can get back to reading books. The good news is that there are numerous ways that you can reintroduce yourself to literature, including Booktube – the newest video genre that’s taking YouTubers by storm.

 

What Is Booktube?

As we all know, YouTube is home to millions of videos from different genres, like make-up reviews, ASMR, gaming, and travel. In recent years, a new genre has been increasing its follower base by introducing the wonder of reading books and various types of literature through video – Booktube.

BookTube discusses literature, from children’s books to classic novels, in an entertaining and easy-to-digest medium, perfect for people who prefer visual ways to peruse the written word. However, some BookTubers are also broadening their coverage by introducing other ways to promote reading, such as discussion videos, author interviews, and even read-alongs.  

This genre’s popularity also skyrocketed during the pandemic, with most people using it as a means to stay in touch with other book lovers – much like a book club but in a virtual setup – and still be updated with the latest releases of books and literary works from their favorite authors.

 

Popular International Booktube Channels You Should Check Out

If you’re looking for some of the best Booktube channels as your introduction to the wonderful world of literature, or at least your reintroduction to reading, here are a few Booktubers to check out:

 

C.S. Lewis Doodles

This Booktube channel focuses on C.S. Lewis’ essays, from Mere Christianity to The Four Loves, and reproduces them in an easy-to-understand form by doodling and drawing the complex concepts being discussed. If you’re looking for the more in-depth, traditional, and comprehensive portion of Booktube, C.S. Lewis Doodles is a great channel to start with.

 

Thug Notes

One of the most popular Booktube channels, raking in over 1 million views in some of his videos, Thug Notes discusses classic novels, like Animal Farm and To Kill a Mockingbird, but with a highly entertaining tone and funny illustrations to get everything across. Calling himself Sparky Sweets, Ph.D., Greg Edwards makes literature accessible and highly understandable by using African American Vernacular English.

When asked what prompted him to use this medium to summarize some of the most well-known classics in English literature, he said that it was a way to criticize the exclusionary characteristic of high-brow literature – by reproducing it in a language that was open and clear.

While the Thug Notes channel hasn’t produced any new videos since 2017, there are over 100 videos you can binge watch when you’re in the mood for some fun and understandable classic literature.

 

Darling Desi

With her distinct vibrant color palette of orange and other bright cozy hues, watching Darling Desi talk about her favorite books and make her seasonal book recommendations is an absolute delight. She has multiple videos up for her recommendations that consist of books, movies, and TV shows that would perfectly symbolize the turning of the seasons. Start watching her BookTube videos at her channel, Darling Desi.

 

Aissata Amadou

Aissata Amadou is a Booktuber that has a wide variety of content, from personal vlogs and unboxings to fashion videos. However, she’s most popular for her book reviews and recommendations. She reads a wide collection of literary genres, like non-fiction, classics, and young adult novels. Her community following is also highly dedicated and interactive, with numerous book recommendations in her video comments for related stories and whatnot. You can visit her YouTube channel at Aissata Amadou.

 

PaperbackDreams

If you’re looking for a book reviewer for young adult fiction, PaperbackDreams is a good Booktube channel to visit. Her reviews are often extremely in-depth, and she’s not afraid to criticize books when she doesn’t like them. So if you’re looking for someone who you can relate to about a book you just read, try visiting her channel at PaperBackDreams.

 

Filipino Booktube Channels to Visit in Your Free Time

The local scene hasn’t been slow in adapting the Booktube culture in everyone’s favorite video streaming platform, with hundreds of Filipinos and Filipinas starting Booktube channels where they discuss and review some of the books they’ve read. This has also been a great way to promote the reading culture in the Philippines. Here are some of Booktube channels you can visit:

 

Thirdworld Booknerd

Thirdworld Booknerd is a BookTube channel dedicated to self-confessed nerds or bibliophiles who like saving money so they can splurge on book hauls to sate their reading habits. Not only does this Booktuber cover book reviews and book recommendations, she also tries to be as informative as possible to help young Filipinos figure out how they can buy books from online shops or where they can score some of the cheapest books in the Philippines. Visit her Booktube channel at Thirdworld Booknerd, and don’t forget to subscribe!

 

Gerald the Bookworm

One of the top Filipino Booktube channels is Gerald the Bookworm, who posts reading vlogs, book hauls, and spoiler-free book reviews. If you’re looking for a pick-me-up after a long day’s work, Gerald’s channel will help cheer you up with his funny and upbeat personality. Visit his Booktube channel at Gerald the Bookworm, or you can check out his Goodreads page with the same name.

 

HerBookishSide

HerBookishSide, stylized as “herbookishside,” is a Booktube channel manned by Kat, who produces a wide variety of content, from recommendation videos and reading vlogs to wrap-ups and book collection discussions. If you’re looking for a BookTuber who reviews books from both Filipino and foreign authors, you wouldn’t be disappointed if you pay Kat’s channel a visit. Visit and subscribe at herbookishside.

 

Starting a Literary Channel? Start With the Booktube Newbie Tag

If you’re an avid book reader and book lover, why don’t you start your own Booktube channel? Think of it as a way to express yourself on a platform where you can share your thoughts and opinions on the book you’re reading or the novels you’ve read. You can even share reading techniques or book haul cheats to help other readers navigate the limitless world of literature.

In fact, the Booktube side of YouTube established a way to help newbie content creators begin with their video creation journey: the Booktube Newbie Tag. Here’s a list of questions you can answer in your first video (and you can even add some stories to make your first video interesting):

1. Why did you start this channel?
2. What are some fun and unique things you can bring to Booktube?
3. What are you most excited about this new channel?
4. Why do you love reading?
5. What book or series got you into reading?
6. What questions would you ask your favorite Booktubers?
7. What challenges do you think starting a Booktube channel will be the hardest to overcome?
8. When did you start reading?
9. Where do you read?
10. What kind of books do you like to read?
11. What does your book collection look like?

 

For the Love of Books, Start Your Booktube Journey Today

If you think that you’ve plateaued in your quest to find great books, or you’re intimidated by the fact that you’ve been away from the literary scene for far too long, Booktube is a great way to reintroduce yourself or shake it up. Booktube is a great platform for readers and writers alike if they’re looking for inspiration or easy-to-digest content. With content creators making a wide variety of videos about the literary world, no doubt that you’ll find the best book to add to your queue.

The next step is figuring out where to get these books from, which might not be too easy especially if you don’t fancy going out. The good news is that Books.ph has a rich catalog of some of the best titles in both paperback and eBook formats – whatever you prefer. We’ll deliver straight to your doorstep for a hassle-free shopping experience, and you’ll be free to read in no time.