The Book Report Builder

The five parts

• 1.The basics: title, author, and one sentence on what it is about.
• 2.The story: the main character, what they want, and the big problem, with no spoilers.
• 3.Your favorite part: one scene you loved, and why.
• 4.Your review: a rating and one honest reason.
• 5.Your recommendation: who would like this book.

A finished example

Here is a completed report for a book you might know:

• •Title and author: Charlotte’s Web, by E. B. White
• •Type: a friendship story, a little sad and a lot sweet
• •About: a pig named Wilbur is saved by a clever spider named Charlotte
• •Main character and want: Wilbur wants to live, and to have a real friend
• •The big problem: Wilbur learns he might be turned into bacon
• •How it changes: Charlotte writes words in her web to make Wilbur famous
• •Favorite part: when the words “SOME PIG” appear in the web and the whole town gasps
• •Review: five stars, because it made me care about a spider, which I did not expect
• •Recommend to: anyone who likes stories about unlikely friendships

Your turn

Now build your own. Fill it in, then say it out loud.

• •Title and author
• •Type of book
• •What is it about? (one sentence)
• •Main character, and what they want
• •The big problem
• •How things change (no spoilers)
• •Your favorite part
• •Your rating, and one reason
• •Who would like it

Parent tip

Ask your child to tell you the report out loud before writing anything. Speaking it first makes the writing faster and the delivery more natural.