So you have to write a book report, but the guidelines given you are not clear enough or, the instructions are there, you are just at a loss on how to put a complete book report together. Do not freak out yet. There books, websites, and helpful teachers to help you complete the process. Below are just some of the many sources you could try:



Books on Writing Book Reports

How to Write Terrific Book Reports, by Elizabeth James is a Student Survival Guide, this book offers a definition and description of a book report, a chapter on how to choose a book to read, a chapter on using the library, and many more chapters on how to read the book, how to get organized, writing drafts, and even doing oral reports.

How to Write Book Reports, by Dawn B. Sova and Harry Teitelbaum is a step-by-step book on writing reports, knowing the difference between reports and reviews, qualifications of reviewers, note-taking for reports, and many more easy to follow guidelines.

Website Pages on Writing Book Reports

Bookadventure.com is a reading motivation program for students k-8. Separated into categories for parents, for kids, and for teachers. Includes book lists, sample quizzes, and a prize zone!

Just for Kids Who Love Books (alanbrown.com) - a site full of activities, including interactive homework chat, favorite quotes section, a place to express what is on your mind, links to more helpful sites for book lovers, and more.

Just for Kids Who Love Books (alanbrown.com) - a site full of activities, including interactive homework chat, favorite quotes section, a place to express what is on your mind, links to more helpful sites for book lovers, and more.

TeenInk.com is a full site for teens, where in one section they have book reviews written by teens for teens. A site especially good for models, or sample of book reports.

A Few Guidelines on Writing Book Reports, from a teacher

You might have noticed two words that must be defined, these are review and report. That is, a book review and a book report are different, even though many confuse the two. Ask your teacher for clarification if you are not sure whether the project calls for a review or a report:

A book report typically contains actual elements and characteristics of the book, the author's name, the title, genre (type or category book fits in), publication information, and what Sova and Teitelbaum call the "conditions under which the book was published" (how, why, etc.), and a summary of the book. The book report is, in essence, the factual information without any opinion.

A book review does have an opinion included, as well as some information about the book that people who have not read it would appreciate knowing.