How to Write a Book Report for a Child

Make writing a book report fun for your child.

Throughout grade school children are encouraged to read and write. Book reports are a great way for kids to learn how to express what they've learned in their reading assignments. As a parent it is good to know how to help your child write a book report. With your help your child will turn in thorough reports and will also feel accomplished. Kids will complete about 50 book reports in their grade school years. Follow a few basic steps of writing book reports to help your child with this process.

Instructions

1. Read a book that interests your child. Teachers often suggest books for their students to read. Kids may have the option of reading fiction, nonfiction or biographies. As your child reads his chosen book, encourage him to take notes. Use sticky notes to flag pages which have important information. Highlighting key points through notetaking will make the book report process easy.

2. Ask your child to explain the book she's read. By telling you out loud about the book and the important, key elements your child will have an easier time with the writing process. Ask her questions about what was the main plot, who are the characters in the book, and if she did or didn't like the book and why.

3. Have your child write an outline. In the outline have him refer to points he found interesting in the book. The outline will include the title of the book, author, illustrator, name of characters, what they did and favorite and least favorite character and why. Include a short description of the story and why your child did or did not like the book. Use the notes your child took while reading to help with the outline process.

4. Sit your child at a table in a quiet place and have him write what he just told you about the book. With the notes and outline he wrote plus the recollection of what he said orally your child is well prepared to write his book report. Have him follow the order of his outline.

5. Offer to proofread you child's finished book report. Check for misspelled words and run-on sentences. When something needs correction, point it out and tell your child it is confusing. Ask him to explain it or to fix the problem to make it better. Do not tell him how to fix it. Let him problem solve it. If he still does not understand how to fix something in his book report give him an idea of how to correct it.

References

• Kids: Helping Your Child
• International Reading Association: Help a Child Write a Book Review
• Teach Kids How: Teach Your Child How to Write a Book Report