kindergarten book report pdf

Kindergarten Book Report Worksheet Freebie

By: Author jfletcher

Posted on Last updated: February 25, 2021

Kindergarten book report worksheet printable freebie is an easy way to start teaching story elements and comprehension to young learners. 

Post may contain affiliate links. To read my affiliate policy click here .

Part of our plan for homeschool in kindergarten is teaching parts of stories and doing some more formal review of what we read together.

My daughter loves reading and being read to and she loves to draw pictures.

This kindergarten book report printable worksheet freebie has been a good way to reinforce simple story elements and document our reading for our end of the year evaluation.

Why Do Book Reports in Kindergarten

Book reports don’t have to be boring!

Especially for little learners! This book report template for kindergarteners engages my homeschool kindergartener by using drawing to show her favorite parts of the story. It also helps introduce the concept of story elements like characters and setting.

This activity gives her a structured way to discuss her favorite stories with me in a way that keeps her interested.

Easy Book Ideas for Kindergarten

The first half of the year, we read and did units based on:

• Elephant and Piggy: We are in a Book
• Elephant and Piggy: Pigs Make me Sneeze!
• Ladybug Girl and the Dress Up Dilemna
• The Berenstain Bears Four Seasons
• The First Thanksgiving Day
• How the Grinch Stole Christmas
• The Polar Express
• Snowmen at Night

Right now, we are doing a huge unit loosely based on the Disney Princesses since my daughter loves them so much and more than anything, reading should be fun!

We are reading different versions of the stories- the Disney version that we all know- and the tales they are based on. (If you plan to try this with your little one, do your homework! Some of these stories are very dark but you can find kid friendly versions out there.)

We use this sheet as a springboard for doing a compare and contrast between the Disney version of the tales and the other versions.

So far we have done Frozen, which is based on the Snow Queen, and Sleeping Beauty. 

Chapter Books for Read Aloud for Kindergarten

We’ve also been transitioning into reading aloud each day from chapter books. Again, we let her pick books she is interested in. Some of her favorites have been:

• The Unicorn Princess Series
• Cutiecorns (notice a theme here lol?)
• Lucky Stars Series
• Baby-Sitters Club Little Sister series

We also plan to dive into The American Girl series as we do a bit of history later this year.

Get your Kindergarten book report worksheet printable!

Grab your free kindergarten book report template here !

Other Homeschool Printables

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[…] Kindergarten Book Report Worksheet […]

Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

33 Free Book Report Forms and Templates for Kids

Published: April 11, 2019

Contributor: Annette Breedlove

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning if you decide to make a purchase via my links, I may earn a commission at no additional cost to you. See my disclosure for more info.

I loved writing book reports growing up. My kids, however, do not share the same sentiment. They love to read books and retell the stories to me, but they have a disconnect when it comes to putting it down on paper. That’s why I love using a free book report template to give them a little extra help. 

Fun Book Report Ideas

There are many different ways children can share about a book they read other than writing about it. Check out all of these fun ideas:

• Act it out. Young students and even older students may enjoy acting out a story that they read in lieu of writing about it. 
• Make a 3D diorama . This is a great way for students who like to work with their hands and create visuals.
• Draw it out on a poster . For young kids who don’t have strong writing skills yet, drawing out what they read is a great option.
• Make a comic book with a free comic book template we have included below. 
• Oral narration . Narrating back a brief summary of the book  they read is another alternative to writing a book report. You can see if your children comprehended what they read or at least got the main points of the story by asking them basic questions about the book.

Types of Book Reports

If you prefer using book reports, they come in a variety of types and styles. You can write plain-Jane ones or get a little more creative, like the comic strip option below for a different way to format a book report. Whichever you choose, having the option to use a book report template can be helpful for kids. 

While I enjoy book reports and see their value, I much prefer my kids enjoy reading a lot of books and sharing, over the finer points of proper form. So if we can use a simple book report template to keep them excited about reading and not dread the reports, I call that a win-win.

Mix it up with the different types of book reports that you assign to your children. Keep it fun and engaging and they will want to read more books and tell everyone about what they have read. 

Using Book Report Templates

As with anything we print out for school, I like to find cute printables with book report designs and age-appropriate graphics. This is especially for my middle school-aged daughter, who thinks some of the free worksheets I find are too childish.

Using a book report template for 3rd grade might look a little different than what I’d want to use for 7th grade. A pdf book report template for high school students definitely needs to be less kid-friendly and more informative.

There are simple book report templates for beginning writers and more advanced ones. The options are endless when it comes to choosing a book report template for your homeschool children.

Printable Book Report Forms

Whether you are looking for a short book report template or one for high school, book report templates will help students get their thoughts on paper. They will learn to organize their thoughts so that their finished book report project is a success!

Book report templates can encourage all the readers in your homeschool to crank out an organized, thorough book report that they are proud of! Once you select a free template, you can get started. Let your children choose one of their favorite books for their first report as it will help to keep them engaged.

How to Use a Book Report Template

When you are looking for the perfect book report template, keep in mind the age of your child. Some one-page forms are perfect for young children and beginning readers with boxes to draw, lines to write down main characters, setting, the plot, etc.

When you have a high school student needing to write a paper or a book report, you obviously need something more in-depth. A book report template can help them get their ideas on paper well enough to organize thoughts and personal opinions for an essay, or even a research paper. 

The key point of using worksheets for book reports is to have an easy way to get thoughts on paper. A book report template can help your student stay organized so they are able to draft a well-written paper. These types of graphic organizers make book reports a breeze!

What’s included in a book report?

• A good book report will consist of the book title, author’s name, main idea, main theme, plot points and important details.
• It will explain the narrative and setting, and cover the main elements of the story as well as describe important characters of the book.
• You’ll also want to include details on the time period, major conflicts and the book details, or rather a plot summary of the book.
• Don’t forget to include unusual facts and key elements that stand out. 

Character Description

Besides adding basic details about the key characters in the book, it’s a good idea to include character details. You will want to include details such as; appearance, interests, and list out some adjectives that describe characters on the book report form . 

Analyze what your character looks like so the reader of the book report gets a vivid description of the character. What color is their hair and skin? What is their clothing style like? Do they have a best friend or an animal that is constantly with them?

Is the character an animal? If so, what type of animal are they and what do they look like?

Character Development

Characters develop on in the story as you read about them. Make sure to make note of positive and negative character traits and how those change throughout the plot. Is there a hidden message or reason why the character is behaving the way that they are?

Make notes of how your character has changed and why you think they changed and the reasons for the actions that they took. You can take it a step further and explain how their actions either harmed or helped the story to move along.

Printable Book Report Templates and Forms

If you want a book report template quickly, simply scroll to the bottom of this post to download ours FREE.

DIY Book Report Kit {works with ANY book} This printable book report template is more like a graphic organizer , in my opinion. You can print several different template pages to organize different aspects of the book so you can create a great book report. 

Free Book Report Template for Elementary Students Get your 1st -4th graders writing book reports with ease with these pdf book report pages.

Book Review Templates This cute pack of 5 different book report template pages would be perfect for early learners who know how to write . 

Printable Book Report Form I like this simple book report template that’s perfect for a new reader. The free printable book report template is organized and will prompt your kids to be creative. 

Elementary Book Reports Made Easy An easy one-page pdf download of a book report worksheet that would be good for elementary students.

Printable Book Report Forms (Non-Fiction, Fiction, Biography, Mystery & Fable) You have lots of different options for book report templates. Whether or not you need a book report form for a biography, non-fiction resource , or even a fable, there are several  different pdf templates to choose from. There are also multiple book report poster forms for those kids who prefer to draw.

7 Different Versions of Book Report – If you are looking for different versions for different age levels or grades then these reports are worth reviewing.

Easy Book Report – This features an easy form for younger students as well as outline form for older students.

Book Report Templates for Younger Students

There are different styles of book report templates that you will want to focus on for younger students. A book report template that you use with your middle school aged child will be too difficult for beginning writers.

You will want to look for a book report format with dashed lines, boxes to draw a picture in, and more. 

My Book Report Worksheets These book report worksheets are suitable for children in kindergarten or first grade. 

Comic Strip Book Reports If you have a reluctant writer , or a comic book lover, these free printable comic strip book report templates will likely make a book report less dreaded!

Reading Logs and Bookmarks

Reading Log and Book Report Templates If you are on the hunt for cute reading log printables, these are perfect for elementary students. There are a few different templates that offer options to rate the book and write a review. Using a creative book report template like this might take the sting out of writing book reports for reluctant writers. 

Free Reading Log and Book Report Forms   My Joy-Filled Life has a 2-page book report template and a printable reading log that you can slip into your homeschool binder . 

Free Reading Logs, Bookmarks and Charts – Encourage your readers with fun and colorful bookmarks and charts that they can use to track their reading time as well as the books they have read. Free Instant Download included!

Book Report Template

Book reports don’t have to be boring or something that your children dread. They may be overwhelmed because it is a new thing that they have never done before and may need just a little guidance to get started.

Our FREE DIY Book Report template pack includes four pages of graphic organizers, question prompts, illustration boxes, and more. It is a great start to guiding your children on how to write a book report in a non-threatening way. 

You can download it for free in our subscriber library . 

In Conclusion

The body of the book report should include the title, the author of the book, characters, setting, major conflicts, direct quotes, and plot. The conclusion can include a personal opinion. Book reports are a fun way to develop critical thinking skills and teach students how to gather information to format into a writing assignment.

Annette Breedlove

Annette has been married to her husband and best friend since 2003. Together they are raising their six children to follow the Lord’s will, no matter what. Annette longs for the day when she will meet her angel babies who have entered heaven before her. She enjoys creating UNIT STUDIES and FREE PRINTABLES for homeschool families. You can follow her crazy life at In All You Do where she blogs about homeschooling, homemaking and marriage while trying to maintain her sanity. She is also the owner of Thrifty Homeschoolers where she shares her tips on homeschooling without breaking the bank.

Related resources

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Mega List of Biographies for Kids

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Tales from a Teacher’s Bookshelf + FREE Hardcover Book (Limited) & Giveaway

Mega List of Mystery Books for Kids

Guided Book Report for Kids- Printable Template

This post may contain affiliate links.

Is it book report time?  It’s always nice to have an easy way to do book reports with your kids. In this post I have a printable guided book report for you!  This is a fun and colorful book report template in a few different styles.

This Guided Book Report is great for elementary aged kids. It has 6 pages. The first two pages are for younger elementary-aged kids, the second set of pages are for upper elementary aged kids, and the last set of pages are for kids to use to take notes on the book as they are reading it.

These guided book report templates are perfect for teaching study skills and note taking in preparation for writing the book report.

I am curious, for my homeschooling parents, do you give your homeschooled kids book reports?  I have from time to time and I think it is a good accountability opportunity for them. I do not always have my kids do book reports on the books they read, though.  They read way too many books!

You can read some of my thoughts about reading in the post on the the Importance of Reading to Kids .

Need help encouraging your kids to read?  Try our 12-Month Reading Challenge , or our Summer Reading Challenge .

Want something a little more basic, and with no colors or characters not hem?  Also check out my Elementary Level Book Report Template post.

Need ideas for what books to read with your kids/students?

Check Out Some of Our Favorite Book Posts:

Must Read Classic Books for Kids

Best Books for Tween Boys

Best Books for Tween Girls

Newbery Medal Book List

How to Find Clean Books for Kids to Read

How to Print the Elementary Guided Book Report

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Fun with Mama

Toddler and preschool activities

Written by Stacey J • Sep 25, 2023 • Leave a Comment

Reading Log PDF and Book Report Templates

Reading logs are a popular tool used to track reading time or the number of pages/books read each day. As someone who values the joy of reading and learning, I’ve created printable reading logs and book review template ks2 in various formats to encourage children to read more and record what they have been reading.

These offer an effective means for students to track the list of books they’ve read at school, as well as encourage them to read at home, over the weekend, and during the holidays. The reading log pdf and book report template are perfect for elementary students, while the reading log coloring pages cater to the needs of preschoolers, making literacy development an enjoyable experience for all.

Table of Contents

Reading Log PDF

This book review and reading log printables pack is available in black and white to help save printing costs. It includes a variety of printable pages for kids to complete as they read new books.

The best part? It’s designed for repeated use! Here’s how:

• Print and Protect: After you’ve printed the pages, take a simple step to ensure their durability. Either laminate each sheet or place them in sheet protectors. This not only safeguards the pages but also helps reduce your overall printing costs.
• Dry Erase Fun: Equipped with laminated or protected pages, your child can now complete these activities using a dry-erase marker. This means they can enjoy the same worksheets over and over again, without the need for excessive paper consumption.

These Book Review and Reading Log printables are a fun way for young children to review books that they have read, while encouraging them to explore further. Reading logs are a wonderful visual reminder of a child’s reading achievements.

The pack offers various advantages for educators, parents, and children.

• It encourages a consistent reading routine
• Promotes critical thinking through book reviews and
• Provides organized record-keeping options.

With flexibility in formats, it accommodates various reading schedules and preferences, making it a valuable resource for fostering a lifelong love of reading and enhancing comprehension skills. Whether tracking daily reading progress, celebrating reading milestones, or accommodating different seasonal cycles, this product empowers children to become enthusiastic and dedicated readers while simplifying the monitoring process for teachers and parents.

What’s included?

Whether you’re a parent or an educator, these resources are designed to make reading a delightful and organized experience.

Weekly Reading Logs

Weekly reading logs both with and without a space for a parent signature are included to cater to various preferences, as well as a versatile printable reading log suitable for monthly or yearly use. You can print out a new weekly log for your kids each week. Each reading log template can be printed in either portrait style or landscape which allows ample space for younger children to fill in. Here children will write the title of the book that they have been reading as well as the duration of their reading session in minutes. There is also a spot for children to initial each page and for their supervisor/parent/teacher to also initial. This fosters a sense of accountability and support in their reading journey.

Monthly Reading Logs

Two versions of monthly reading logs are included for students to record how many books they’ve read. The color-to-record version allows children to color in one book for each book they read, whilst the write-to-record version allows kids to write out their list. Encourage children to read more by offering them prizes such as a new book of their choice as a reward for coloring in all the books on their reading log by the end of the month and meeting their reading goals.

These reading log coloring pages are also great for toddlers and preschool students to give them a visual clue as to how many books they have read in amonth. They would also be great for preschool summer reading logs.

Daily Reading Logs and Reading Log Bookmarks

Another format included are reading log templates – one for each day of the week , and reading log bookmarks. It contains information such as the title of the book, the number of pages read, and a space to write out a short summary of the story. Reading log bookmarks are handy bookmarks for students to record the page they started reading at, the page that they stopped reading at, and how long they have read for.

Book Review Templates

Lastly, there are three Book Review templates for students to reflect on their reading. On these pages, children can fill in the title and author of the book they have been reading, as well as rate the book by coloring in the number of stars they give it. There are also spaces for children to write their favorite characters, outline the setting of the book, write out a summary, and draw their favorite scene!

The book review template gives children practice in learning how to review a book which is great for reading assignments.

A good way to store these pages is in a binder already in sheet protectors so they can be easily removed when needed. In my home, we print out each of these pages and bind them into a folder for easy access and storage.

FREE Reading Log Template

GET THE READING LOG TEMPLATE HERE

WHERE TO GET THE PACK

GET THE READING LOG PDF HERE

Stacey is a homeschooling mom trying to live a simple, frugal, healthy life. She lives with her husband and two gorgeous boys in the sunshine state of Queensland, Australia. Her blog is called Simple Living Creative Learning.

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Have you grabbed the latest FREE printables?

How to Write a Book Report

Use the links below to jump directly to any section of this guide:

Book Report Fundamentals

Preparing to write, an overview of the book report format, how to write the main body of a book report, how to write a conclusion to a book report, reading comprehension and book reports, book report resources for teachers .

Book reports remain a key educational assessment tool from elementary school through college. Sitting down to close read and critique texts for their content and form is a lifelong skill, one that benefits all of us well beyond our school years. With the help of this guide, you’ll develop your reading comprehension and note-taking skills. You’ll also find resources to guide you through the process of writing a book report, step-by-step, from choosing a book and reading actively to revising your work. Resources for teachers are also included, from creative assignment ideas to sample rubrics.

Book reports follow general rules for composition, yet are distinct from other types of writing assignments. Central to book reports are plot summaries, analyses of characters and themes, and concluding opinions. This format differs from an argumentative essay or critical research paper, in which impartiality and objectivity is encouraged. Differences also exist between book reports and book reviews, who do not share the same intent and audience. Here, you’ll learn the basics of what a book report is and is not.

What Is a Book Report?

"Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

This article, written by a professor emeritus of rhetoric and English, describes the defining characteristics of book reports and offers observations on how they are composed.

"Writing a Book Report" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab outlines the steps in writing a book report, from keeping track of major characters as you read to providing adequate summary material.

"How to Write a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

This article provides another helpful guide to writing a book report, offering suggestions on taking notes and writing an outline before drafting. 

"How to Write a Successful Book Report" ( ThoughtCo )

Another post from ThoughtCo., this article highlights the ten steps for book report success. It was written by an academic advisor and college enrollment counselor.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and an Essay?

"Differences Between a Book Report & Essay Writing" ( Classroom)

In this article from the education resource Classroom,  you'll learn the differences and similarities between book reports and essay writing.

"Differences Between a Book Report and Essay Writing" (SeattlePi.com)

In this post from a Seattle newspaper's website, memoirist Christopher Cascio highlights how book report and essay writing differ.

"The Difference Between Essays and Reports" (Solent Online Learning)

This PDF from Southampton Solent University includes a chart demonstrating the differences between essays and reports. Though it is geared toward university students, it will help students of all levels understand the differing purposes of reports and analytical essays.

What’s the Difference Between a Book Report and a Book Review?

"How to Write a Book Review and a Book Report" (Concordia Univ.)

The library at Concordia University offers this helpful guide to writing book report and book reviews. It defines differences between the two, then presents components that both forms share.

"Book Reviews" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s writing guide shows the step-by-step process of writing book reviews, offering a contrast to the composition of book reports.

Active reading and thoughtful preparation before you begin your book report are necessary components of crafting a successful piece of writing. Here, you’ll find tips and resources to help you learn how to select the right book, decide which format is best for your report, and outline your main points.

Selecting and Finding a Book

"30 Best Books for Elementary Readers" (Education.com)

This article from Education.com lists 30 engaging books for students from kindergarten through fifth grade. It was written by Esme Raji Codell, a teacher, author, and children's literature specialist.

"How to Choose a Good Book for a Report (Middle School)" (WikiHow)

This WikiHow article offers suggestions for middle schoolers on how to choose the right book for a report, from getting started early on the search process to making sure you understand the assignment's requirements.

"Best Book-Report Books for Middle Schoolers" (Common Sense Media)

Common Sense Media has compiled this list of 25 of the best books for middle school book reports. For younger students, the article suggests you check out the site's "50 Books All Kids Should Read Before They're 12."

"50 Books to Read in High School" (Lexington Public Library)

The Lexington, Kentucky Public Library has prepared this list to inspire high school students to choose the right book. It includes both classics and more modern favorites.

The Online Computer Library Center's catalogue helps you locate books in libraries near you, having itemized the collections of 72,000 libraries in 170 countries.

Formats of Book Reports

"Format for Writing a Book Report" ( Your Dictionary )

Here, Your Dictionary supplies guidelines for the basic book report format. It describes what you'll want to include in the heading, and what information to include in the introductory paragraph. Be sure to check these guidelines against your teacher's requirements.

"The Good Old Book Report" (Scholastic)

Nancy Barile’s blog post for Scholastic lists the questions students from middle through high school should address in their book reports.

How to Write an Outline

"Writer’s Web: Creating Outlines" (Univ. of Richmond)

The University of Richmond’s Writing Center shows how you can make use of micro and macro outlines to organize your argument.

"Why and How to Create a Useful Outline" (Purdue OWL)

Purdue’s Online Writing Lab demonstrates how outlines can help you organize your report, then teaches you how to create outlines.

"Creating an Outline" (EasyBib)

EasyBib, a website that generates bibliographies, offers sample outlines and tips for creating your own. The article encourages you to think about transitions and grouping your notes.

"How to Write an Outline: 4 Ways to Organize Your Thoughts" (Grammarly)

This blog post from a professional writer explains the advantages of using an outline, and presents different ways to gather your thoughts before writing.

In this section, you’ll find resources that offer an overview of how to write a book report, including first steps in preparing the introduction. A good book report's introduction hooks the reader with strong opening sentences and provides a preview of where the report is going.

"Step-by-Step Outline for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This article from Classroom furnishes students with a guide to the stages of writing a book report, from writing the rough draft to revising.

"Your Roadmap to a Better Book Report" ( Time4Writing )

Time4Writing offers tips for outlining your book report, and describes all of the information that the introduction, body, and conclusion should include.

"How to Start a Book Report" ( ThoughtCo)

This ThoughtCo. post, another by academic advisor and college enrollment counselor Grace Fleming, demonstrates how to write a pithy introduction to your book report.

"How to Write an Introduction for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief but helpful post from Classroom  details what makes a good book report introduction, down to the level of individual sentences.

The body paragraphs of your book report accomplish several goals: they describe the plot, delve more deeply into the characters and themes that make the book unique, and include quotations and examples from the book. Below are some resources to help you succeed in summarizing and analyzing your chosen text.

Plot Summary and Description

"How Do You Write a Plot Summary?" ( Reference )

This short article presents the goals of writing a plot summary, and suggests a word limit. It emphasizes that you should stick to the main points and avoid including too many specific details, such as what a particular character wears.

"How to Write a Plot for a Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

In this article from a resource website for writers, Patricia Harrelson outlines what information to include in a plot summary for a book report. 

"How to Write a Book Summary" (WikiHow)

Using Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone as an example, this WikiHow article demonstrates how to write a plot summary one step at a time.

Analyzing Characters and Themes

"How to Write a Character Analysis Book Report" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kristine Tucker shows how to write a book report focusing on character. You can take her suggestions as they are, or consider  incorporating them into the more traditional book report format.

"How to Write a Character Analysis" (YouTube)

The SixMinuteScholar Channel utilizes analysis of the film  Finding Nemo to show you how to delve deeply into character, prioritizing inference over judgment.

"How to Define Theme" ( The Editor's Blog )

Fiction editor Beth Hill contributes an extended definition of theme. She also provides examples of common themes, such as "life is fragile."

"How to Find the Theme of a Book or Short Story" ( ThoughtCo )

This blog post from ThoughtCo. clarifies the definition of theme in relation to symbolism, plot, and moral. It also offers examples of themes in literature, such as love, death, and good vs. evil.

Selecting and Integrating Quotations

"How to Choose and Use Quotations" (Santa Barbara City College)

This guide from a college writing center will help you choose which quotations to use in your book report, and how to blend quotations with your own words.

"Guidelines for Incorporating Quotes" (Ashford Univ.)

This PDF from Ashford University's Writing Center introduces the ICE method for incorporating quotations: introduce, cite, explain.

"Quote Integration" (YouTube)

This video from The Write Way YouTube channel illustrates how to integrate quotations into writing, and also explains how to cite those quotations.

"Using Literary Quotations" (Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison)

This guide from the University of Wisconsin-Madison’s Writing Center helps you emphasize your analysis of a quotation, and explains how to incorporate quotations into your text.

Conclusions to any type of paper are notoriously tricky to write. Here, you’ll learn some creative ways to tie up loose ends in your report and express your own opinion of the book you read. This open space for sharing opinions that are not grounded in critical research is an element that often distinguishes book reports from other types of writing.

"How to Write a Conclusion for a Book Report" ( Classroom )

This brief article from the education resource  Classroom illustrates the essential points you should make in a book report conclusion.

"Conclusions" (Univ. of North Carolina)

The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill’s Writing Center lays out strategies for writing effective conclusions. Though the article is geared toward analytical essay conclusions, the tips offered here will also help you write a strong book report.

"Ending the Essay: Conclusions" (Harvard College Writing Center)

Pat Bellanca’s article for Harvard University’s Writing Center presents ways to conclude essays, along with tips. Again, these are suggestions for concluding analytical essays that can also be used to tie up a book report's loose ends.

Reading closely and in an engaged manner is the strong foundation upon which all good book reports are built. The resources below will give you a picture of what active reading looks like, and offer strategies to assess and improve your reading comprehension. Further, you’ll learn how to take notes—or “annotate” your text—making it easier to find important information as you write.

How to Be an Active Reader

"Active Reading Strategies: Remember and Analyze What You Read" (Princeton Univ.)

Princeton University’s McGraw Center for Teaching and Learning recommends ten strategies for active reading, and includes sample diagrams.

"Active Reading" (Open Univ.)

The Open University offers these techniques for reading actively alongside video examples. The author emphasizes that you should read for comprehension—not simply to finish the book as quickly as possible.

"7 Active Reading Strategies for Students" ( ThoughtCo )

In this post, Grace Fleming outlines seven methods for active reading. Her suggestions include identifying unfamiliar words and finding the main idea. 

"5 Active Reading Strategies for Textbook Assignments" (YouTube)

Thomas Frank’s seven-minute video demonstrates how you can retain the most important information from long and dense reading material.

Assessing Your Reading Comprehension

"Macmillan Readers Level Test" (MacMillan)

Take this online, interactive test from a publishing company to find out your reading level. You'll be asked a number of questions related to grammar and vocabulary.

"Reading Comprehension Practice Test" (ACCUPLACER)

ACCUPLACER is a placement test from The College Board. This 20-question practice test will help you see what information you retain after reading short passages.

"Reading Comprehension" ( English Maven )

The English Maven site has aggregated exercises and tests at various reading levels so you can quiz your reading comprehension skills.

How to Improve Your Reading Comprehension

"5 Tips for Improving Reading Comprehension" ( ThoughtCo )

ThoughtCo. recommends five tips to increase your reading comprehension ability, including reading with tools such as highlighters, and developing new vocabulary.

"How to Improve Reading Comprehension: 8 Expert Tips" (PrepScholar)

This blog post from PrepScholar provides ideas for improving your reading comprehension, from expanding your vocabulary to discussing texts with friends.

CrashCourse video: "Reading Assignments" (YouTube)

This CrashCourse video equips you with tools to read more effectively. It will help you determine how much material you need to read, and what strategies you can use to absorb what you read.

"Improving Reading Comprehension" ( Education Corner )

From a pre-reading survey through post-reading review, Education Corner  walks you through steps to improve reading comprehension.

Methods of In-text Annotation

"The Writing Process: Annotating a Text" (Hunter College)

This article from Hunter College’s Rockowitz Writing Center outlines how to take notes on a text and provides samples of annotation.

"How To Annotate Text While Reading" (YouTube)

This video from the SchoolHabits YouTube channel presents eleven annotation techniques you can use for better reading comprehension.

"5 Ways To Annotate Your Books" ( Book Riot )

This article from the Book Riot  blog highlights five efficient annotation methods that will save you time and protect your books from becoming cluttered with unnecessary markings.

"How Do You Annotate Your Books?" ( Epic Reads )

This post from Epic Reads highlights how different annotation methods work for different people, and showcases classic methods from sticky notes to keeping a reading notebook.

Students at every grade level can benefit from writing book reports, which sharpen critical reading skills. Here, we've aggregated sources to help you plan book report assignments and develop rubrics for written and oral book reports. You’ll also find alternative book report assessment ideas that move beyond the traditional formats.

Teaching Elementary School Students How to Write Book Reports

"Book Reports" ( Unique Teaching Resources )

These reading templates courtesy of Unique Teaching Resources make great visual aids for elementary school students writing their first book reports.

"Elementary Level Book Report Template" ( Teach Beside Me )

This   printable book report template from a teacher-turned-homeschooler is simple, classic, and effective. It asks basic questions, such as "who are the main characters?" and "how did you feel about the main characters?"

"Book Reports" ( ABC Teach )

ABC Teach ’s resource directory includes printables for book reports on various subjects at different grade levels, such as a middle school biography book report form and a "retelling a story" elementary book report template.

"Reading Worksheets" ( Busy Teacher's Cafe )

This page from Busy Teachers’ Cafe contains book report templates alongside reading comprehension and other language arts worksheets.

Teaching Middle School and High School Students How to Write Book Reports

"How to Write a Book Report: Middle and High School Level" ( Fact Monster)

Fact Monster ’s Homework Center discusses each section of a book report, and explains how to evaluate and analyze books based on genre for students in middle and high school.

"Middle School Outline Template for Book Report" (Trinity Catholic School)

This PDF outline template breaks the book report down into manageable sections for seventh and eighth graders by asking for specific information in each paragraph.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( Classroom )

In this article for Classroom,  Elizabeth Thomas describes what content high schoolers should focus on when writing their book reports.

"Forms for Writing a Book Report for High School" ( The Pen & The Pad )

Kori Morgan outlines techniques for adapting the book report assignment to the high school level in this post for The Pen & The Pad .

"High School Book Lists and Report Guidelines" (Highland Hall Waldorf School)

These sample report formats, grading paradigms, and tips are collected by Highland Hall Waldorf School. Attached are book lists by high school grade level.

Sample Rubrics

"Book Review Rubric Editable" (Teachers Pay Teachers)

This free resource from Teachers Pay Teachers allows you to edit your book report rubric to the specifications of your assignment and the grade level you teach.

"Book Review Rubric" (Winton Woods)

This PDF rubric from a city school district includes directions to take the assignment long-term, with follow-up exercises through school quarters.

"Multimedia Book Report Rubric" ( Midlink Magazine )

Perfect for oral book reports, this PDF rubric from North Carolina State University's Midlink Magazine  will help you evaluate your students’ spoken presentations.

Creative Book Report Assignments

"25 Book Report Alternatives" (Scholastic)

This article from the Scholastic website lists creative alternatives to the standard book report for pre-kindergarteners through high schoolers.

"Fresh Ideas for Creative Book Reports" ( Education World )

Education World offers nearly 50 alternative book report ideas in this article, from a book report sandwich to a character trait diagram.

"A Dozen Ways to Make Amazingly Creative Book Reports" ( We Are Teachers )

This post from We Are Teachers puts the spotlight on integrating visual arts into literary study through multimedia book report ideas.

"More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use for Book Reports" (Teachnet.com)

This list from Teachnet.com includes over 300 ideas for book report assignments, from "interviewing" a character to preparing a travel brochure to the location in which the book is set.

"Fifty Alternatives to the Book Report" (National Council of Teachers of English)

In this PDF resource from the NCTE's  English Journal,  Diana Mitchell offers assignment ideas ranging from character astrology signs to a character alphabet.

• PDFs for all 136 Lit Terms we cover
• Downloads of 1939 LitCharts Lit Guides
• Teacher Editions for every Lit Guide
• Explanations and citation info for 40,890 quotes across 1939 books
• Downloadable (PDF) line-by-line translations of every Shakespeare play

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Fun Book Report Templates For Kids

Inspire a love of reading in your kids with book reports that are fun, simple, and creative enjoy these great book report templates for kindergarten & 1st grade, and try some of these great book report tips and ideas.

What Grade Should Kids Start Doing Book Reports?

Book reports offer a great opportunity for kids of all ages to learn, discuss, and present. There’s value in teaching this skill to kids at the earliest ages, but for the love of crayons please don’t get too academic too quickly.

If you want to try book reports with your youngest kiddos, your #1 goal should be FUN! Yes, I say it all the time and I”ll continue saying it forever. Focus on the fun! So what age is good to start doing book reports? Younger is just fine, as long as it’s fun.

“Book reports” can really start as soon as toddler age. When you read books to your little 3 year old, ask some questions about what’s happening along the way. When the book is done, talk about the characters in the book, what it would be like to live in the setting, and what was the most exciting part. You just helped your toddler complete an oral book report! Want to go further as your toddlers grow up – without going too far? Draw a picture together of the characters and even try acting out the story. What a fun start to book reports that’s creative and full of precious mommy & me time!

Should preschoolers do book reports? Coloring a picture and talking about the book is a great start!

Kindergarten Book Reports

If you’re looking into Kindergarten book reports , your starting point should be the same: FUN! Even by age 6, the physical act of writing can be difficult and even painful for kids. Don’t force your kiddo to write too much and work on a book report for too long. Portion a book report into appropriate size projects and keep it simple. Continue your process of asking questions, getting excited to hear your child’s recount of the story, and talk about what the characters went through.

Kindergarten Book Reports can look like a simple one page report . Have your child write the title of the book at the top of a blank piece of paper. Lead them to draw the cover of the book or a favorite scene or character. Inspire them to write one or two phrases or sentences (if they’re ready) at the bottom of the paper about their favorite part of the book. Show them the names of the Author and Illustrator of the book. Make kindergarten book reports simple and one-page assignments and don’t stress about doing them all in one sitting.

For younger grades like kindergarten and first grade, try a one-page,simple book report to keep the fun in reading!

Keep Book Reports Simple To Make Reading Fun

The goal here for our younger kids is to help them LOVE reading. That means keeping things positive from the start and using “mommy time” to make reading a special thing. Your time is the most valuable thing to them, so spending time reading to them, with them, alongside them – this all helps them love reading. Once they love reading, you’ve given them the foundation they’ll need to tolerate more academic book reports when they’re older.

1st Grade Book Reports

First grade is such an exciting time for kids! They’re able to do a little bit more schoolwork at a time (think 20 minute activities at this age with plenty of variety.) First grade book reports can be a little more in depth, but – you know what I’m going to say here – still keep it FUN!

Use creative book reports like making puppets from the characters, a play dough replica of a scene or setting, a mini book with drawings from what happened in the story, a creative lapbook book report project, and so on. Cover just the basics in your 1st grader’s book report like title, author, illustrator, characters, setting, beginning, middle, and end.

Try having your kid make a paper bag puppet of a character in the book, then write title, author, and story highlights on the back for an easy book report .

Remember that even though your 1st grader is probably writing phrases and sentences at this point, they will most likely still struggle with handwriting. Don’t push them to do too much writing – 2 to 3 sentences is a big assignment for them. If you want them to write more than that, try breaking up the book report assignment over a period of days.

Creative Book Report Ideas

Keep it super fun by using creative book report ideas. A book report doesn’t have to always be a writing assignment. Book reports are great ways to use many different learning styles and skills. The goal of a book report is to be able to identify the key elements of a story and present them back to someone. So any project that accomplishes this is a win!

Ideas for creative book reports:

• Character puppet: Choose a character from the story and make a paper bag puppet of them. Write the title of the story and the author/illustrator on the back of the paper bag. Have your child use the puppet to tell the beginning, middle, and end of the story to your family.
• Playdough diorama scene: Discuss the setting of the story. Direct your child to recreate a scene from the book, focusing on the details of the setting. They can add characters too!
• Mini Book: Fold a piece of paper in half twice to make a mini book. Have your child draw the cover of the book and write the title. Then use the remaining three pages to draw a scene from the beginning, middle, and end of the book. If they’re ready, they can add one simple phrase or sentence to each page to tell what happened. Have your child use the mini book to help them tell the family about the story. This is a great thing to present at the dinner table for sharing board time.
• Pit & Peak: This is a really simple idea for kids who can’t tolerate a large assignment. Have your child draw a pit and peak on a plank piece of paper – a mountain connected to a valley. Write the title of the book at the top of the page. Inside the mountain write/draw about their favorite or most exciting part of the book. Inside the valley, have them write/draw about the part they liked least.
• Story Chain: This one is for kids who are comfortable writing sentences, but don’t want to write a long paper. Make strips of construction paper of any color. Help your kiddo think of the events of the story in the order they happened. Write each event on a separate strip of paper and create a chain with them – connecting them in order. Want to go further with this? Use two different colors – one for main events, and one for minor events. You could start the chain with a strip for title, one for author, one for setting, and some for the characters in the book. Again, your child can use the chain to tell the family about the book.
• Evan Moor How To Report On Books: If you love creative book reports and want a steady supply of ideas for your kids, I highly recommend these workbooks . These are craft based book report templates your kids can use for their book reports. One thing to note, is that each book report tend to focus on one aspect of a book report – scene, characters, etc. This is a great way to begin talking about the different elements of a book without having to tackle all the ideas at once.

If you want your younger kids to do book reports, keep it simple and fun.

Here’s a low prep option for kids who need smaller and simpler book reports.

Make a story chain to help your younger kids report on a book they’ve read.

One Page Book Report Template

Keeping book reports simple and down to one page is a helpful approach to not overwhelming your child. Use a one page book report template to make things easy – and keep the FUN! While it’s perfectly ok to use a blank piece of paper as your starting point, a template is a low-prep way to help your child know exactly what to do. I’ve got plenty of free printable book report templates in the PK1Kids Subscriber Freebies Library:

Free Printable Book Report Templates:

If you’re looking for free printable book report templates for kids , take a look at a few that I’ve got inside my Subscriber Freebies Library. They’re completely free and come with the added bonus of getting access to all my other freebies on my site! Snag my free printable book report bookmarks, my free one page book report template, and my book report lapbook template for young kids.

Use these bookmarks for your kids to take notes while reading.

Lapbooks make great book reports! Try this free template.

A simple one page book report is perfect for kindergarteners and 1st graders.

A simple one page book report for younger kids.

A simple lapbook project for young kids to report on book they’ve read.

This bookmark helps kids write notes about characters, setting, and events while they read, to make their book report easy to write when they’ve finished the book!

Get these freebies PLUS access to the entire PK1Kids Subscriber Freebies Library by signing up below:

Check your inbox or spam folder for the password to unlock the entire PK1Kids Freebies Library.

Simple Book Report Ideas

I hope you’ve found plenty of simple book report ideas in this post. From the youngest ages you can lead your kids through oral questions and answers about any book you read to them. As your kids get older, begin highlighting the different elements of a story. A book report doesn’t have to be complicated. A simple idea of writing or drawing a few elements of a story on a blank piece of paper is a perfectly appropriate book report for your younger kids! 

Here’s a simple book report idea you can use that’s low prep : Take a piece of paper and fold it into six squares. Label each square: Title & Author, Setting, Characters, Beginning, Middle, & End. Then have your child write and draw in each square. Get them used to doing simple book reports like this that aren’t intimidating, and your kids will love doing reports as they get older!

More Great Book Report Resources:

Book Report Lapbook from Homeschool Share

Free Book Report Template for Homeschool from Homeschool of 1

Books vs Movies – Compare and Contrast FREE Report Template from Homeschool of 1

How To Write A Book Report + FREE Printable Template For Kids from Blessed Homeschool

How We Do Book Reports – 4th Grade Literature from Monkey and Mom

FREE Mini Reading Graphic Organizers from Blessed Learners

Keep the love of learning by using simple and fun book reports for kindergarteners and first graders!

A simple lapbook project for young kids to report on book they’ve read.

This bookmark helps kids write notes about characters, setting, and events while they read, to make their book report easy to write when they’ve finished the book!

Get this freebie PLUS access to the entire PK1Kids Subscriber Freebies Library by signing up below:

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My Book Report Worksheets

These book report worksheets are great for kindergarten or grade 1 students. There are large lines for them to easily write in with places to draw and show their creative side as well.

And now we have tons more fun printable kindergarten worksheets to share.

This worksheet pack also includes a reading log so your child can keep track of the books that they’ve read. At this stage, I’d have them use a favorite book of theirs to work on the book report so that it is easier to recall any details. I’d discuss each question first before setting your child off to write. I have boys who are reluctant writers so this helps them think through things first before they get to the daunting task of writing.

Plus, these book report worksheets bring so much fun to the world of reading. Once they find a book that they love to read, have them explore more and record what they read with these simple book reports.

Most book reports allow the students to write down what they saw, but these let them draw them out as well. Who doesn’t like to draw out their thoughts and ideas from a book?

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

My simple tip? Print off several and keep them handy. That way, anytime that your child finishes a book, they can grab one of these worksheets as well. Easy, right?

Another tip is that you can laminate them so that they can be used over and over again. There are always ways to make learning more fun for your child! All you have to do is try different things out!

And just in case you needed a few more helpful hints for your book report writing journey, here are some great books that you can get as well that can help your child understand the importance of book reports and how to do them.

This book report can be used for any books. I love having the child create their own book cover, they always pull out something interesting from the book that you didn’t think was significant but they really hung on to it.

Do you keep track of the books they read? My son reads a ton so he forgets which books he read that he wanted to continue in the series so it’s a good way to keep track of what they read.

More Book Report Templates

These printable book report templates from Etsy are great. Just print and kids can do their book reports right away. You can either get the Dinosaur Book Report Printable or the Stars Printable Book Report . They both have themes so kids will enjoy writing their book report entries.

Even when the kids are older I like having a space for them to draw something. They can get stuck on the writing part but if you can get them to start drawing then they can write about what they drew.

Introduce the different story elements like setting, characters, problem, and solution so kids can start to recognize these elements in each story in your book.

We don’t do a book report for each book, I don’t want them to dread finishing a book. So depending on how many books your child is reading, it may be one in every 4 or 5 books.

Or I might have a child do the drawing and writing sheets only and not do the more writing-intensive worksheets for some books. And the go over the story elements and other things orally.

The focus is to get them to read a lot of books so I don’t want to kill that joy.

More Homeschool Worksheets

All About Me Worksheets

Calendar Book

Field Trip Journal

Country Activity Pages

Homeschool Student Planner by Inspire the Mom

I share educational printables and activities to help homeschoolers make learning science fun and engaging!

What a great worksheets! Thanks for sharing on the Thoughtful Spot Blog Hop!

I like this a lot and since Charlie has been wanting to help Blog I can have him review children’s books and use the sheets to write his thoughts out on. Once he is done I can show him how to write them in a Blog post.

This is a great idea-so helpful for students! Thanks for sharing at #OMHGWW

Oh wow, what a great printable. Thanks for sharing on Toddler Fun Friday! Love it!

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Free Kindergarten Books

I Love to Count!

What is Your Favorite Shape?

The Tens Frame is a Fantastic Game

Let’s Count One More!

Counting Is So Sweet

Five Crazy Dinosaurs

I Love Numbers

Arrgh! Is it Small, Medium, or Large Mattie?

Goldilocks Mixed-Up Large, Medium, and Small

Shapes are Terrific

Let’s Write the Numbers