Book reports can be fun, and they can be a great way for kids to get experience writing and reviewing. They can also help kids learn what to look for in books as they read — what’s the plot, what do they like about the book, what are the main conflicts, why would they recommend the book or not, and so on.
That said, they can get a little dry after doing one or two. There are so many fun ways kids can respond to books in creative ways!
Here are a few ideas….
- Make your own cover and back cover on Canva, with art that shows the characters and plot, a quick synopsis, and an author bio
- Write a diary entry as one of the characters about what that part of your life was like
- Make a playlist, with each song representing a character or part of the plot
- Write an advice column based on some of the problems and characters
- Make a list of who you’d cast for the movie version
- Create a 30-second trailer for the book
- Make a PowerPoint presentation about why it’s the best book or worst book you’ve read in a while
- Describe a part of it like a sports reporter
- Design a room for one of the characters
- Turn it into a short play
- Pretend to post/tweet as the character for each chapter
- Design a Movie Poster for the movie version
- Write a letter to the author about how the book made you feel and your favorite elements
- Write a children’s book version of it
- Pretend to be the main character and give a presentation about what happened
- Rewrite the last chapter or add a final paragraph that changes everything
- Write a short story based on the book set in a completely different setting or time (such as in space, in your town, or in the future)
- Write a “which character are you?” quiz
- Write a pretend complaint from one of the characters about how you were unfairly portrayed by the author
- Design costumes for the main characters
- Make a mock-up of a graphic novel based on the book
- Create a summary of what you think the sequel should be
- Make a rap/song summary or theme song
- Go through as an editor and find 20 things (even a word) that you would change to make it more descriptive, longer, shorter, more exciting or better written
- Draw illustrations for the book
- Write a newspaper article based on something that happened in the book
- Be a newscaster reporting the story
- Make a family meal representing the setting and characters
- Do something the characters do in the book yourself for the first time
- Make a Pinterest board of things related to the book and characters
- Find 3 non-fiction library books to read next based on things in the book
- Make a Minecraft scene based on the book
