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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful.

1. Concrete Found Poem

A student sample of a concrete found poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

A picture of a piece of text with comments and visuals added as commentary as an example of creative book report ideas

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Character To-Do List

A hand written character to do list

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

6. Mint Tin Book Report

A mint tin is converted to a book report with an illustration on the inside lid and cards telling about different parts of the book inside as an example of creative book report ideas

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. This teacher blogger describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

7. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

8. Book Report Cake

A purple cake made from paper cut into slices

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. See the sandwich and pizza options above and check out this blog for more delicious ideas.

9. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

10. Sandwich Book Report

A book report made from different sheets of paper assembled to look like a sandwich as an example of creative book report ideas

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger.

11. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

12. Peekaboo Book Report

A tri-fold science board decorated with a paper head and hands peeking over the top with different pages about the book affixed

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over the report.

13. T-Shirt Book Report

A child wears a t-shirt decorated as a book report as an example of creative book report ideas

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint. Get step-by-step directions .

14. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

15. Watercolor Rainbow Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

16. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

17. Pizza Box Book Report

A pizza box decorated with a book cover and a paper pizza with book report details as an example of creative book report ideas

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

18. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

19. Book Reports in a Bag

A group of students pose with their paper bag book reports

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

20. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

21. File Folder Book Report

A manilla file folder decorated with elements of a book report as an example of creative book report ideas

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

22. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

23. Book Report Triorama

A pyradimal shaped 3D book report with illustrations and words written on all sides

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but Elisha Ann provides a lesson to show students how to glue four triangles together to make a 4D model.

24. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8 x 11 sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

25. Clothes Hanger Book Report Mobile

A girl stands next to a book report mobile made from a wire hanger and index cards as an example of creative book report ideas

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

26. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then give them a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

27. Dodecahedron Book Report

A dodecahedrom 3D sphere made into a book report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels , and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

28. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

29. Book Report Booklets

A book made from folded grocery bags is the template for a student book report as an example of creative book report ideas

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

30. Letter to the Author

Write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

31. Book Report Charm Bracelet

A decorated paper hand with paper charms hanging off of it

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

33. Cereal Box TV Book Report

A book report made from cardboard made to resemble a tv set as an example of creative book report ideas

This book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut-out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

34. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

35. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

36. Foldables

A book report made from a paper background and attached flaps as an example of creative book report ideas

From Rainbows Within Reach , this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

37. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment. For more, here are step-by-step directions .

38. Comic strips

A girl stands holding a comic strip book report as an example of creative book report ideas

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strips. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

39. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

40. Cereal Box

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report Wheaties-style. Decorate all sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

41. Wanted Poster

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Make a “wanted” poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

What creative book report ideas did we miss? Come share in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, check out the most popular kids’ books in every grade..

Book reports don't have to be boring. Help your students make the books come alive with these 42 creative book report ideas.

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That's So Montessori

Book Report Ideas for 5th Grade that Spark Imagination

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As an experienced Montessori elementary teacher, fostering a passion for reading is a key aspect of my language curriculum.

That’s why I want to share this list of great book report ideas for your 5th grade classroom.

In elementary classrooms, I’ve learned that a fun book report makes the reading experience more memorable. That’s why it’s important to make reading and reporting a blast for every student!

A 5th grade boys hands are shown holding a book open and there is stars and magic coming out of the book. This student wants to learn some epic book report ideas for 5th grade.

Discover 13 creative book report ideas for 5th graders, perfect for enriching reading experiences in upper elementary classrooms. Explore how these ideas can make reading assignments more engaging and meaningful for students.

Make Book Reports Fun for 5th Grade Students

Indeed, when creating fun book report ideas for 5th graders, they should match the curiosity typical of kids in the second plane of development .

At this age, kids move from needing help to wanting to explore on their own. To support this shift, it’s important to add fun enjoyable vocabulary development activities and hands-on experiences to their book reports.

Fun book reports cultivate a love for reading and self-expression, blending learning with enjoyment for kids. This is what we call learning in disguise .

Concentrated black male kid in casual wear sitting at table working some book report ideas for 5th grade project.

We’ve included activities that capture attention and align with the Montessori philosophy. They encourage independent thinking, exploration, and unique problem-solving approaches.

13 Creative Book Report Ideas for 5th Graders

Transform book reports into engaging adventures for 5th graders with these innovative and enjoyable ideas.

💡 Teacher Tip: Incorporate some of these book report ideas into your family book club for added excitement. Prepare to captivate everyone in the household!

1. Interview the Main Character s

When students interview a book’s main character, they act as reporters, igniting curiosity and engagement.

By creating captivating questions for the main characters, they not only enhance critical thinking but also look deeper into the story, making the learning process more fulfilling.

Here are some engaging interview questions for a fifth-grade student to ask the main character of a book they read:

  • Are there any hobbies or interests you have that weren’t explored in the book?
  • How would your friends describe you?
  • If you could switch places with another character in the story for a day, who would it be and why?
  • How do you see your life beyond the ending of the story?
  • What is the most important lesson you’ve learned from your journey in the story?

A Boy Holding a Camera Beside a Girl Holding Microphone ready to do an interview as their book report assignment. This is one of our favourite book report ideas for 5th grade.

Additionally, have students answer the questions they came up with. Encourage them to use the voices of different characters, providing answers in the unique perspective of each persona.

Based on my experience, this is one of those book report ideas for 5th grade students that stands out because it enables students to explore the main character in a captivating manner. They formulate the questions, engaging deeply with the character.

This book report prompts elementary students to think differently, fostering a thought-provoking experience.

💡 Related articles: 31 Fun Summer Reading Activities Elementary Students Will Love  Summer Brain Drain: 9 Ways to Help Elementary Children Avoid the Summer Slide 27 Educational YouTube Channels to Prevent Summer Learning Loss

2. Film a Movie Trailer for the Book

Elevate book reports by delving into multimedia storytelling. Empower students to create engaging movie trailers for the book they finished reading.

With this activity kids combine technology and creativity to showcase key moments, characters, and the story’s excitement.

Boy in Blue Dress Shirt Holding Black Selfie Stick recoding himself for a. movie trailer for the book he read. This is a popular book report ideas for 5th grade.

My students loved making these trailers! 🎬

I’d have them work in small groups over a couple of weeks, planning and filming their creations. They really got creative, dressing up as characters and using props for authenticity. Then they’d put it all together using iMovie to create their final book trailers

We’d then gather as a class on a designated day to watch all the trailers, creating a memorable experience for everyone!

This dynamic approach not only boosts their digital literacy skills but also showcases their enthusiasm for the book.

3. Write an Alternative Ending

Encourage upper elementary students to think critically and creatively by exploring different ways a book could have ended.

Discussing alternate endings lets kids exercise creativity and analytical skills when a story takes an unexpected turn.

This engaging activity extends beyond altering endings. It serves as a platform for students to express their reasoning, providing insight into narrative choices and their impact on the overall story.

Cute little black boy wearing fleece sweater sitting on chair with pencil under chin brainstorming book report ideas for a 5th grade assignment.

To start this engaging activity, I have students brainstorm and jot down potential alternate endings.

From these ideas, they choose one to develop further. They then embark on the task of writing a descriptive and meaningful alternate ending that flows seamlessly with the story.

This hands-on approach of putting their stamp on the story enhances their comprehension of the narrative. It also encourages them to think about character motivations, plot dynamics, and the overall impact of their chosen ending.

💡 Teacher Tip: Have students write an alternative ending, and then film a scene from the new ending they’ve written. How fun!

As you can see, these 5th-grade book report ideas are ideal for any elementary classroom.

4. Explore Different Characters’ Viewpoints

Students, in this activity, become sidekicks and antagonists, gaining different perspectives on the story’s events.

Based on Montessori principles, this method expands comprehension, thereby fostering empathy and critical thinking. Moreover, by embodying different characters’ perspectives, students develop a richer understanding of varied viewpoints in the story. This, in turn, enhances both creative and analytical abilities.

5th grade Girl Doing her book report.

My 5th-grade students loved this book report idea. They selected 3 or 4 characters from the book, excluding the main one, and answered questions from each character’s perspective, providing distinct insights into the story.

This activity seamlessly blends creativity and analytical exploration, rendering the book-reporting process both enjoyable and insightful.

🤨 Curious about the questions my students selected? Here are some of their favourites:

  • If your character was the main character, would the book title change?
  • How does your character perceive other characters in the book?
  • If your character were to tell the story from their perspective, how might the narrative change?
  • If your character had the opportunity to change one event in the story, what would it be and why?
  • What is your character’s relationship with the main antagonist or opposing force in the story?

5. Curate a Main Character Scrapbook

This 5th-grade book report idea deepens students’ connection with the main characters uniquely.

Young readers are invited to create a scrapbook that visually captures the main character’s personality, hobbies, and journey throughout the book.

In this activity, students create a visual representation to better understand and connect with the story’s main character.

3 Children Doing Art Projects for their book report at a table.

By seamlessly blending pictures, drawings, insightful captions, and quotes, students can unravel the complexities of the character’s personality. This approach enhances their artistic expression while fostering attention to detail.

I encouraged my students to include stickers, clippings, quotes, and images in their projects, capturing the essence of the main character.

This allows for a truly personalized and engaging scrapbook creation that goes beyond the surface, providing a rich exploration of the character’s traits and experiences.

6. Storytelling Through a Podcast

In this book report idea designed for 5th graders, students are immersed in the popular world of podcasting. Working either in pairs or individually, students produce a podcast that mirrors the theme of the book they’ve recently read.

The initial phase of this assignment involves collaborative brainstorming to develop the theme. From there they can write a script that authentically captures the essence of the book they’ve read.

This brainstorming process encourages teamwork and sparks discussions about the book’s central themes, characters, and compelling plot points.

5th grade girl filming herself for a great book report idea.

Adding to the versatility, I offer students two podcasting formats to choose from.

The first option involves artfully retelling the story, sparking curiosity, and encouraging others to pick up the book. Kind of like a book teaser.

Alternatively, students can choose an interview-style podcast where one interviews another about their thoughts on the book.

This choice empowers students to explore various podcasting styles, catering to diverse preferences and talents.

A Young Girl in White Shirt speaking into a microphone recording a podcast for her book report.

To guide their podcast creation, I provide students with a comprehensive outline that includes essential elements such as plot highlights, character analyses, and personal reflections. This structured approach assists in organizing their podcasts and ensures a well-rounded exploration of the book’s key components.

As these budding podcasters explore the world of audio storytelling, they refine their verbal communication skills. The podcast format encourages students to articulate their viewpoints in an engaging and concise manner, fostering analytical thought.

7. Build a Diorama to Represent a Scene in the Story

This is one of the most popular book report ideas for 5th grade, as students always love getting their hands dirty creating.

A diorama is like a tiny, 3D world that shows a scene from a story in a creative way. This option allows students to visually interpret the book’s essence by crafting a vibrant representation of a specific scene.

A diorama of a farm, where the animals are made of plasticine and the background is construction paper. This is one of the more popular book report ideas for 5th grade.

Equipped with a variety of art supplies, including construction paper, plasticine, magazines, paint, as well as everyday objects, students tap into their creativity to vividly portray the selected scene, making it tangible and visually engaging.

There’s so much fun and learning going on here!

Engaging in this hands-on activity nurtures students’ artistic skills and also deepens their comprehension as they depict key elements from the story.

An image of a students hands making characters with plasticine. She is making a diorama for her book report.

Transforming the traditional book report into a multi-sensory experience sparks a love for literature through creative expression.

8. Paper Bag Book Report

Explore the world of literature creatively with a paper bag book report. This hands-on project combines artistic expression with literary analysis, offering students an interactive way to represent their learning.

In this unique approach, students take a simple paper bag and turn it into a representation of the book’s key elements.

Students showcase artistic talents by recreating the book cover on one side of the bag. The back features a brief plot summary for a quick overview.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

As students continue their exploration, one side of the bag is dedicated to listing the characters in the story. On the opposite side, students outline the overarching theme of the book.

Focused diverse little girls painting with brushes in art studio working on their 5th grade book report.

To add a tangible and personal touch, students fill the bag with carefully chosen artifacts that symbolize significant elements from the plot, characters, or themes.

This unique activity not only sparks creativity but also encourages thoughtful reflection, making it an ideal addition to your repertoire of book report ideas for 5th grade students.

9. Book Scavenger Hunt

Another engaging book report idea is to have 5th graders channel their creativity into designing a scavenger hunt inspired by the book.

Asian Little girl reading the books on the desk with a magnifying glass

This activity taps into their comprehension of the plot and characters and also encourages them to think critically about the story.

The process involves identifying significant locations, events, or items from the book and incorporating them into the scavenger hunt checklists or clues. This tests understanding and sparks imagination in weaving the story into challenges.

A picture of an imaginary scene where a young girl is standing in a large open story book with a dolphin jumping out.

Creating a scavenger hunt instills a sense of responsibility, as students must ensure that their peers can navigate the adventure they’ve crafted. A scavenger hunt is a fun activity for everyone!

💡 Printable scavenger hunts for hassle-free learning!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

10. Book Character Trading Cards

This unique activity is a captivating spin on traditional book reports tailored for 5th graders. In this interactive project, students unleash their creativity by making trading cards inspired by characters from the book they read.

Whether mimicking the style of hockey trading cards or adopting the charm of Pokemon cards , students have the freedom to design these cards to match their interests. Each card becomes a canvas for vibrant images, character names, essential traits, and concise yet captivating descriptions.

This activity fosters artistic expression while allowing exploration of character traits in an engaging manner.

An illustration of a cat in a superhero costume on a playing card. This is a cute creation for a book report.

Elevating the book reporting experience, this hands-on project not only engages students but also adds an artistic flair to your collection of book report ideas for 5th grade.

Boy in White Shirt Holding playing cards that he made. This is another great book report idea for 5th grade students.

11. Create a To-Do List for the Main Character

This book report activity blends literary exploration with practical life skills. Students will step into the main character’s shoes and write a to-do list, considering their goals, desires, and motivations.

As students delve into the intricacies of a character’s psyche, they not only sharpen their analytical skills but also cultivate crucial life skills, fostering personal growth and preparing them for success in various aspects of life.

An illustration of a sheet of paper taped to the wall with the words 'To Do'

My students enjoyed diving into the main character’s life by creating to-do lists for a day, week, or month. It’s a simple yet effective way to connect with the story and gain deeper insights into the character’s experiences.

Thinking deeply about a character from the book while making practical to-do lists for that character helps students develop a more clear understanding of their complexities, providing a valuable bridge between literature and real-life tasks.

Boy in Black and White Striped Dress Shirt Wearing Eyeglasses writing a to do list as his book report for 5th grade.

12. Build a Timeline of the Book

Engage students in the literary journey with a book timeline project. Encourage them to create a chronological display of key events from the story, whether on a long strip of paper, with 3D objects, or through digital tools.

Boy in Brown Sweater Painting a timeline on White Paper. This is one of many amazing book report ideas for 5th grade.

Enhance their comprehension by incorporating illustrations or visuals for each event on the timeline, providing a comprehensive overview that reinforces their grasp of the book’s plot progression.

This creative approach not only hones organizational skills but also fosters a deeper connection to the flow of the story.

13. T-Shirt Book Report

Students can transform a plain T-shirt into a visual representation of the book, employing artistic expression to convey characters and the books theme.

This hands-on approach not only nurtures creativity but also encourages students to delve into the book’s core message, providing a deeper understanding of the story.

In my classroom, students loved having the option to do a T-shirt book report.

I had students recreate the book cover on the back of the shirt, while the front was designed to reflect the attire of one of the characters.

Before painting the shirt, students brainstormed and sketched at least three ideas. This planning phase fueled their creativity and helped them consider how to visually represent their concepts effectively on the T-shirt.

Elementary-aged girl wearing a white t-shirt that she smeared paint on. This is her book report representing what the main character would wear.

The interactive approach, coupled with the thoughtful planning process, make the T-shirt book report a dynamic and engaging learning experience for 5th grade students.

These alternative approaches to the common book report encourage children to think outside the box and showcase their understanding of the book in a unique and personalized way.

Why Book Reports Are Important in Elementary

Book reports hold significant importance at the elementary level as they serve as invaluable tools for assessing a child’s comprehension and analytical skills.

These reports encourage students to look deeper into the plot, characters, and themes of a book, promoting a more profound understanding of what they have read.

Beyond academic benefits, book reports can nurture creativity and communication skills alongside academic growth.

A boy with a pencil drawing a dream background

And on top of that, elementary book reports teach kids about responsibility and following rules as they meet deadlines and guidelines. This helps them develop important skills for future academic tasks.

The Wrap-Up: Book Report Ideas for 5th Grade

These creative and fun book report ideas for upper elementary not only make the learning process enjoyable but also encourage independence and self-expression. By incorporating engaging activities, we can foster a love for reading and storytelling in young minds.

Let these innovative approaches inspire a newfound appreciation for literature, turning book reports into exciting adventures for every 5th-grade reader.

Happy reading and reporting!

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Donna Paul, with over 15 years as a certified Montessori teacher, is praised for her engaging teaching style. Beyond the classroom, she's a children's book author and spearheads two impactful blogs with her partner, Karen: thatssomontessori.com for Montessori insights at the elementary level and thenomadicstrays.com for simple road life living. Based in British Columbia, Canada, Donna's nomadic life allows her to share ideas and develop educational products with Karen as they travel. Donna can be found spreading smiles and knowledge wherever she roams.

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Fun book report ideas for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

Book Report Ideas

Book reports don’t need to be painfully boring. In fact, they can be a ton of fun, and with the right project, students will love the entire process of creating and sharing meaningful book projects. There are loads of great book report ideas out there just waiting to happen in your classroom!

Here are 10 book report ideas that kids will love:

1. cereal box book report.

These oh-so-cool reports were always the top-ranked project by my fifth graders. Students loved creating an original book report display using a covered cereal box and ready-made templates. The finished projects made a great classroom display, and students loved looking at their classmates’ creative reports. Read more about Cereal Box Book Reports HERE .

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

2. Paper Bag Book Report

This is a super simple idea that is quite fun for students. Provide each student with a lunch-sized paper bag. Tell them to think about 5 objects that relate to the main character of their book . The objects have to be small enough to fit into the bag . Send the bags home and have students place the 5 objects in the bag and bring them back to school. On the day they are due, have students take turns sharing the objects in their bags and explaining how they relate to the main character of the book. You can even make a great display with the bags, objects, and books to pique the interest of other students.

3. Character Day

Have students dress up as the main character of their book. Then, have each student take a turn standing in front of the class and telling their character’s story in first person point of view.

4. Book Report Lap Book

you need are two file folders, some cardstock or construction paper, scissors, glue, and the FREE book report template found here . The finished products are quite amazing, and your students will probably keep theirs forever! Check out my photo tutorial for making a lap book .

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

5. Book Scene Diorama

Have students construct a diorama of one of the main events of their book. They will make a 3-dimensional scene, including models of characters, the setting, and objects. A shoebox makes a great place to build a diorama. Require students to write a description of the scene.

6. Book Report Posters

This might be the easiest option of the book report ideas. Have students first sketch their posters on a sheet of notebook paper. Then, provide students with a large piece of poster paper or chart paper. Posters must identify main characters, setting, title, problem, and solution. Display finished posters in the classroom or on hallway walls.

7. Book Report Mobiles

Mobiles are easy to make, and it’s fun to watch students use their creativity in designing their own projects. A paper plate folded in half makes a great base/topper for mobiles. Have students write the title of the book on this paper plate semi circle and hang the mobile pieces from it. Provide students with construction paper, yarn, markers, paper hole punches, and any other materials they might need.

8. Book Report Mini Books

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

With just one piece of paper, your students can make a complete, creative book report!

In these clever book projects , students identify:

  • Title/Author
  • Main Character

No tape, glue, or staples required! Photo directions are included in this download.

9. Design a Book Jacket

Show your students several examples of some outstanding book jackets. Point out the front with the title and illustration, the spine and its information, and the back with the book summary. Also show the two inside flaps with information about the author and a smaller summary. Provide them each with a larger piece of paper and have them design a jacket for the book they have just read.

10. Ready-to-Print Templates

Use NO PREP book report templates to save your sanity AND to keep things fun for your students. You could print out all 12 templates in this Book Report Templates Packet and let students choose the one they want to do each month! There is even a really nice digital option for Google classroom included!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Regardless of which of these book report ideas you choose, be sure to clearly outline the expectations before your students begin. It’s best if you can model a project to demonstrate the quality of work your students should strive for.

Keep it fun and engaging, and your students will be excited to invest their time in their projects!

Check out these ready to go, easy to use book report projects in my store:

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Pin this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board  so you can come back for these book report ideas!

To recap, the 10 Book Report Project Ideas are:

  • Cereal Box Book Report
  • Paper Bag Book Report
  • Character Day
  • Book Report Lapbook
  • Book Scene Diorama
  • Book Report Posters
  • Book Report Mobiles
  • Design a Book Jacket
  • Ready-to-Print Templates

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Shelly Rees

Hi, I’m Shelly! Thank you for being here. I love helping third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers with fun and engaging activities that require no to little prep! Let me help you by taking some of the stress and work off your plate.

Hi, I'm Shelly

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12 creative book report ideas your students will love

12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

Whether you’re teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they’re more than just a test or essay.

Below, you’ll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.

Choose your favorite projects to offer to students as options on a book report project choice board.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Board Game

When I gave “create a board game about the book you read” as a book report option for my students, I was pleasantly surprised at the results! Quite a few students excitedly chose this option and created some really fun-looking games centered on their books. 

This is a great project choice if you’re looking for something that students can’t create by just Googling the book.

Here are some tips and suggestions for assigning a board game book report:

  • Give clear parameters and requirements to keep students on track, such as requiring game elements to represent certain literary elements of the book they read.
  • Provide suggestions for game components and materials – encourage students to consider the game play and elements of their favorite board games and to use materials they already have at home to create them.
  • For a whole-class novel study, consider allowing students to work in teams to create the novel-based board games, then setting aside a class period for students to play each others’ games and see who wins!

If you’re looking to save time… clear directions handouts, lots of suggestions, and a handy grading rubric for a board game post-reading assessment are all included in this resource . Take a look! 

For more independent reading response ideas, check out this post with ideas for fun post-reading projects.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Journey Box

Engaging students in authentic conversations about books is a passion for Carolyn of Middle School Café .  In traditional oral book reports, students simply get up in front of the class and read a summary of the book they read.  Carolyn found this method of oral book reports painful for both her and her students.

Wanting to find a way to help her students talk about their book and keep her class engaged, Carolyn began incorporating Journey Box Book Reports.  A journey box is a shoebox (or bag) that contains artifacts from the story that help the reader share important events from the story. 

Students predetermine what events of the story are most important to share, then they create an artifact to share with the class or small group as they explain the plot.  As an example, Carolyn had a student who read The Diary of Anne Frank.   He created a small 3D tree that he displayed on the desk as he shared about how Anne looked out the window and dreamed of her former life.  It’s a small piece of the story that helps the student explain the plot point and gives the audience something visual to look at and stay engaged. 

Journey Box Book Reports have been successful for Carolyn in both her middle school and high school classrooms.  She does suggest, if using Journey Boxes in older grades, to have students share their stories in small groups.  

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Literary Food Truck

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s food – especially high schoolers – and with this in mind, one of Simply Ana P’s favorite ways to recap a class novel or an independent reading unit is with Literary Food Trucks. This is definitely not a new idea, but it’s one that will have you coming back for seconds 🙂 

Ana first tried this project at the end of The Odyssey , where students were able to decide which book(s) they wanted to make the focus of their trucks. The main requirement was that every single choice made had to be intentional and clearly relevant. With this in mind, students could start the planning process. 

You can make the truck’s requirements as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but Ana recommends having students plan: 

  • Truck name, design, and branding colors
  • Menu design and items (5 items minimum)
  • Employee uniforms
  • Merch 

Ana includes a writing component by having her students defend all of their selections in the form of a proposal. This is later used in their presentations, and the better (more intentional) their proposal is, the more likely they will win the class vote. This proposal can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what writing goals you have for them, and should definitely include text evidence. 

Part of the beauty of this type of project is that it can be done digital or paper-based. Ana likes to walk her students through a Canva tutorial, where there are even menu templates that students can use so they don’t feel overwhelmed starting from scratch. Or, for more creative students, they can create their trucks on chart paper, poster board, or even 3D dioramas.  After students finish making their food trucks, it’s always fun to take a day for the in-class Food Festival, where students are invited to bring in items from their menus or simply some type of snacks. Some students get super hype about this day and even make/wear aprons or themed employee uniforms. Students are able to walk around, visiting each of their trucks, and casting their votes for Best Food, Most Relevant, and Most Detailed. Have fun and bon appetit !

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Mood Board

It can be hard to come up with creative post-reading assessments for your students when they’re done with a full class novel, literature circles, or a choice reading unit. In an attempt to combine 21 st century skills with literary analysis, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary decided to try something a little different. Enter: The Mood Board.

A mood board combines images to elicit a feeling from a viewer much like a writer does with words. The possibilities for using a mood board with your class are endless. Students can create a mood board for an overall book, a character, an event, a theme, a poem, etc. Then, have your students carefully curate a board that is aesthetically pleasing and considers color, space, and design in the execution. As students explain why they’ve made the choices they have, the upper-level thinking comes naturally.

Canva is an excellent tool to use to create your mood boards. Having students interact with software they may be unfamiliar with is a meaningful learning experience in and of itself. If you want to learn more about how to use mood boards in your own classroom, click here to read Samantha’s blog post about it or check out the resource she created that includes done-for-you student instructions, examples, and a rubric here .

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a New App

How would a character’s life change if there was just the perfect app to solve their conflict??

This is the question Krista from @whimsyandrigor poses to her students as they finish a novel and begin to reflect on the character’s journey. Students begin by discussing all of the details surrounding the protagonist and what they experienced. In small groups and in whole-class discussions, students discuss the conflicts, both internal and external, and then brainstorm all of the realistic and not-so-realistic ways the character could have addressed their problems.

Once students have generated a healthy list of ideas, Krista tells them they get to become an app developer and they must create an app that would greatly benefit a character from their reading.

The requirements are:

  • The app cannot already exist.
  • The app can be totally unrealistic/not probable.
  • The app developer must be able to explain how its features would benefit the character.
  • The developer must also create an icon for the App Store.

Here is a print-and-go handout students use to get designing. 

Here are some example apps students could create: to help Will from Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down , maybe an app that predicts his future would help him decide what to do once he steps off the elevator. Or maybe Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would have benefited from a life-detection app that would accurately determine whether or not someone was actually dead.

When students sette on the conflict they want to address and the app that would help, they write a Spill the TEA paragraph, as explained by Krista in this YouTube video .  Using this paragraph organization strategy, students will introduce their app, use evidence to explain how it is necessary for the character, and explain how the app would have benefited or changed the protagonist’s journey.

Now they get to be a graphic designer as they design the app’s icon. Students may want to peruse the actual App Store to get ideas about how an icon is designed, what elements must be present, and how to create something that is eye-catching.

If space allows, Krista encourages you to display the icons and Spill the TEA paragraphs in the hallway for other students to see the in-depth critical thinking and character analysis your students did after finishing a novel. 

Who says technology is only a distraction for our students?! This activity proves technology can help students dive deep into a text and its characters!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Write a Vignette

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 often focuses on character-based activities for novel studies including a character profile activity , character conversations through text messages , or the writing of a good vignette. 

Vignettes can be a great way to assess students’ literary analysis skills and understanding of the text. Students write a short piece of about 500 words that is descriptive of a particular moment in time focusing on one of the book’s characters. These moments could be placing the character in a new setting, writing about a particular moment in the story that was less developed, or even extending to a moment beyond the book’s conclusion. Lesa provides students with some mentor texts, including “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street or “The Prisoner Van” by Charles Dickens in Sketches by Boz or even one from a novel being read in class. Review the stories for structure, language choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language, and so on. This helps to co-create the criteria for the assignment. Then students write their own vignette. Build in some peer review as an accountability piece and voila!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Character Collage

It’s safe to say that most English teachers have a bin of cut-up magazines somewhere in their classrooms. While these tattered copies of People and Us Weekly have definitely seen better days, they live on in the many collage creations of our students.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use collages as visual representations of comprehension. After reading a novel or short story, creating a character collage to show how a character has evolved from beginning to end requires students to use higher order thinking skills to analyze, synthesize and demonstrate their understanding of characterization by dividing their page in half and choosing words and images to represent the character at the start and conclusion of the story on each side.

The results will show the depth of your students’ interpretation of character as well as their ability to use critical and creative thinking skills to represent their knowledge.

Other ways to use this idea instead of showing character evolution are to show two different sides to a character, for example, who they are with different people in their lives. 

If you are looking for other ways to incorporate collage and magazines into your post-reading assessments, check out this blog post for more ideas!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Design Shoe Charms

Crocs are not Olivia ’s shoe of choice, but when she noticed her students bedazzling their plastic footwear with shoe charms, it was a learning opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. Here’s how to make it work in your classroom:

First, have your students choose a character from the book they have finished reading. Then encourage them to find quotes from the book that reveal the character’s interests, values, or personality. Once they have found their quotes (she has her students find 4), tell them to design and color shoe charms that represent those interests, values, or personality traits. This helps students with inferencing, textual evidence, and even symbolism!

When your students have finished making their shoe charms, they can either tape the charms to their shoes for a fabulous, foot-themed fashion show, or they can glue them to a picture of a Croc for quirky classroom décor. Check out this Instagram post to see the charms Olivia’s students came up with!

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Movie Poster

When was the last time you went to the movies? Did you notice the posters along the way? If yes then you have walked down the movie studio promotional lane. Like trailers, studios create movie posters to grab the attention of movie-goers before they even enter the theater. Yes, you may have already purchased your movie ticket, but those posters were created for the future. After you finish watching Sonic 2 , what movie will you see next? You probably already pointed to that poster on the way into the theater and said, “That looks like it is going to be good. I want to see that!”   As a post reading idea, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students create movie posters based on the text read in class. This allows her to complete a formative assessment on what the students learned from the text. Before having her class create a movie poster, she shows them examples of posters from different genres such as drama, action, family-friendly, and comedy. Then she hands out a piece of construction paper and goes over the basic requirements. On the movie poster, the students are required to have their actors names or image (characters), the title of the movie, a visual (setting or symbol from the story), and a tagline, and a short two to three sentence summary of the movie. Once her students are finished with the assignment, she displays them outside the classroom, so the students can have their own movie studio promotional lane.  If you are looking for more after reading ideas, click here .

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Try Novel Engineering

Whether you’ve been hoping to collaborate with another department, or just really want to try something new, Novel Engineering is an amazing way to get students thinking outside of the box ! Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher has found that Novel Engineering requires students to actively comprehend and interact with a novel and get creative about how to help improve the lives of characters! Basically, students work to create a product that will help solve a character’s problem. Here’s how it works…

Before reading : Choose a narrative text where the character faces tangible conflicts. Model and practice the design process in small ways. Try using picture books like Mucha! Muncha! Mucha! in order for students to see and practice what they’ll be doing with a text at grade-level.

While reading : Emphasize the conflicts characters face and give students time to brainstorm possible products that would help solve said problem. Make sure students record evidence from the text so they can later justify the need for the product they design.

After reading : Give students time to draft, craft, and improve their designs that will help solve a problem faced by a character. You can give students options where they draw their creation, make their creation, or even plan a digital app like this, depending on time and resources. Whatever you choose, students will be sure to be pushed to use some skills they may not always practice in an ELA classroom!

Staci has some FREE Novel Engineering Digital Planning Pages or you can read more about her experience with novel engineering on the Donut Lovin’ Teacher blog .

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Create a Tik Tok Video

How many times have you passed a group of students filming a TikTok in a hallway? Have you had students ask to film in your class once they finish assignments? You are not alone. Students love TikTok and Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room has figured out how to get students using TikTok for academic purposes!

Yaddy likes to challenge students to create TikTok videos that track a character’s development, encapsulates the main theme of the story, or that exemplifies a key conflict. These easy, low stress videos are great at getting even reluctant students to participate.

To incorporate TikTok videos as a means of assessing students after a novel or story, try the following steps:

1)      Get students to brainstorm which part of the novel they would like to use for their video.

2)      Ask students to start combing TikTok for an audio that fits with the portion of the text they chose

3)      Ask them to plan out how they will realize their vision

4)      Rehearse and film!

5)      Bonus: ask students to upload their videos to Google Drive and share the link with you so that you can make QR codes to post around your classroom!

Want to get started using TikTok videos for book reports? Check on Yaddy’s free planning sheet here !

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fun book report ideas for 5th grade

15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get your students excited to read

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Not all students are excited to read a book. So how can you make reading a book more engaging and fun? This is a huge challenge for most teachers, so I hope I can help you out!

Here’s what you’ll find in this blog post (click on the title if you want to jump to the section directly)

5 tips to get your students excited about reading

  • 15 creative and digital book report lesson plans (free & ready to use!)
  • The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment (your students get to choose!)

Instructions on how to use these digital book report lesson activities

Before you dive into the book reports, you have to get your students excited about reading first. In this previous post about reading, I’ve listed 10 tips that will encourage your students to read . I’ve come up with 5 more amazing tips! Here we go:

1. Use AR apps

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Here are a few apps with amazing storylines and AR books.

  • Wonderscope , for example, is an excellent storytelling tool. It uses augmented reality to transform ordinary places into real-time stories. Students also learn to read with the app. They ask questions to the characters in the story and listen to the characters’ answers.
  • The Ghostkeeper’s journal and field guide : This book is an immersive adventure for readers aged 10 and up, offering several AR experiences to enhance the storyline. These are accessed via a mobile app “ Ghost-o-Matic ”.
  • Bookful creates an engaging reading experience and brings stories and characters in books to life. The app holds the world’s largest 3D/AR library with hundreds of titles from leading publishers and brands such as: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, DK’s Encyclopedia, and children’s favorites such as Barbie, My Little Pony, Thomas & Friends, Transformers, and The Smurfs.

2. Escape lessons

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Here are 3 fun ready-to-use escape lessons to spark your students’ joy of reading:

  • A Halloween Murder : Let your students investigate the murder of the victim: Brat Spook. When they find the murderer, they get their “inspector” badge. Let them look for evidence in the murder scene, talk to suspects, analyze lab results, and so on!
  • Finding Rudolph : Save Christmas by helping Santa find back Rudolph. Students go through different challenges, talk to eye-witnesses, and follow Rudolph through a winter maze, so Santa can deliver all the presents to the children.
  • Easter Bunny Substitute : Can your students find a good Easter Bunny replacement? In the last breakout game for the classroom, the Easter Bunny is hurt, so your students need to interview the possible applicants and take tests to replace the Easter Bunny themselves. If they succeed in the challenges, they get an Easter Bunny substitute badge.

3. Storytelling

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

If you bring cultural elements into your lessons by telling a story, your students will be more eager to learn. Storytelling makes students want to “live the story”. And they do this by reading it. If your story is strong enough, your students will love learning and reading. They will even remember the lesson content better.

Here’s a fun & ready-to-use example: The life of William Shakespeare

4. First chapters

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

5. Books & sleepovers

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

You can even add different parts to your sleepover. For example, let students read their favorite passage in a book of choice out loud, and 1 hour before bedtime, all your students take their book and read in silence. Or how about creating cozy themed corners? Fantasy, science fiction, detectives,… When your students are reading in themed corners, they get the full experience. They can even dress up as a character in their book whilst reading.

15 Creative and digital book report lesson plans

Step 1: Get your students excited about reading. ✅ Step 2: make sure they don’t lose their interest when you’re announcing the book report assignment! ☑️ This part can be demotivating.

As the lower grade students often still get fun book report assignments, the higher grade students often get a dull worksheet where they have to describe the characters and give a summary. Change up your book report assignments with these creative, free & ready-to-use lesson ideas.

Take a look at all these ready-to-use and free digital book report activities. They’re all made with BookWidgets . You can even make exercises like these yourself in your own BookWidgets account.

Keep on reading to find out how to use these exercises in your lessons.

How did your students experience the book? Let them fill the glasses with drawings of the storyline/the book. The glasses represent the view of the students. Students can get really creative and use the toolbar at the bottom to draw and type.

You can ask your students to present their book report artworks to the other students as well. This way, your students can explain what’s on their drawing.

Creative book report - glasses drawing

2. Bookworm

Creative book report - bookworm worksheet

3. Timeline

This interactive book report asks your students to create a timeline of the story. When did what happen, chronologically? The have to add the biggest events in the story to the timeline.

Creative book report with timeline

4. Comic book

In this book report exercise, your students have to write a comic book based upon the book they’ve just read. When they click on the “start” icon, they can choose fitting text balloons to go with their story.

Here are three other fun websites that let students create comic books: Storyboard That , Comic Life , and Toonytool . They already give you creative templates and drawings. This is a bit easier for students. This way, they don’t have to start from scratch.

Creative book report - Comic book

5. Character portrait

Creative book report - Character portrait

6. Randomness task

Just… add a little spice. I’ve turned the ordinary book report task, where students have to describe characters, the setting, plot, etc., into an exciting one. Your students don’t know yet what they’ll have to describe. They spin the randomness wheel and their task appears. The fun thing about this one is that all of your students will write a different book report.

Creative book report - bookworm

7. Book cover

Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you’ve read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc.

Creative book report - book cover

8. Character family tree

This digital mind map exercise allows your students to add boxes with text and connect them to each other. This is perfect for a book report activity focusing on the characters in their book.

Creative book report - family tree

9. Facebook Profile

Modern days call for modern book report lesson ideas. Image the main character having a Facebook profile. What would be on it? That’s exactly what your students have to figure out here. Create a Facebook profile about the main character.

Creative book report - Facebook profile

10. Book Collage

Here, students have to add 10 pictures or images that have to do with the book. They can do so by clicking on the photo icon and adding images into their collage.

Creative book report - family tree

11. Mirror selfie

In this creative book report, students have to dress up like the character in their book, including holding 3 attributes that refer to the personality of the main character. They have to take a picture or mirror selfie of themselves dressed up, and add that picture to the whiteboard. You can ask them to come forward and present their images and explain why they’ve chosen those specific attributes.

The fun thing about all of these exercises is that they work on smartphones as well. So in this case, students can just open the exercise on their smartphones, take a mirror selfie with their phones and add it to the mirror in the digital whiteboard exercise.

Creative book report - Mirror selfie

12. Email to the author

Your students have the chance to write a friendly email or letter to the author of the book they just read. Students have to share:

  • their opinion;
  • the character in the book they liked most, and why;
  • their favorite part of the book and why;
  • questions that they have about the book.

If you have an email address of the author, ask your students to submit their works to you, the teacher, first. After having given feedback on their letters, they can make some changes and send it over to the author.

If you have the author’s postal address, it’s much more fun to write a classic letter.

Creative book report - Letter to the author

13. Conversation between characters

There is something called a “texting thumb” or a “smartphone pinky”. This shows that students like to send texts. A lot of them. So why not include it in your book report lesson plan? In this digital book report, students have to invent a conversation between two characters in their book.

Creative book report - Conversation with a character

14. Movie vs. Book

A lot of books have a movie version too. If your students choose a book that also has a movie, it’s interesting to let your students make a comparison. With this book report exercise, you’re also sure your students actually read the book instead of just watching the movie and write a summary of the movie and not the book.

Creative book report - movie vs book

15. Emoji summary

The last exercise is also one students can relate to. Nowadays, we use emojis after almost every sentence when we’re communicating with friends. Emojis also have a strong meaning and can be used to express feelings or say something without actually saying it.

Creative book report - Emoji summary

The complete collection of book report lesson ideas in one assignment

All these book report exercises are so much fun and yet they don’t take up a lot of time. Perhaps they just ask your students to only describe a certain part about the book. Cue… the planner widget.

With this type of BookWidgets activity, you can combine several lessons into one. You can let your students take matters into their own hands and choose which book report activities they’d like to finish.

It’s actually pretty easy. Your students read the instructions in the instructions widget and then start adding at least three book report activities to their planner. They finish the activities, submit them to their teacher, check off their planner, and that’s it!

Creative book report - Collection

Above, you can find the 15 ready-to-use book report activities. You can use these lesson examples for free. Since they’re all made with BookWidgets, I’ve listed them in this BookWidgets group . Here’s what you need to do:

  • Click on this link . It will immediately bring you to the group with all of the book report activities. If you don’t have a BookWidgets account yet, you’ll have to sign up first for free .
  • Duplicate all the book report activities. Click on the settings wheel , select all widgets , click on the settings wheel again, choose duplicate selected widgets . Choose where you want to save the activities in your BookWidgets account.
  • Go to your saved book report lessons. You can now click on the black dropdown arrow next to the ‘Show’ button of a particular exercise and select Edit . You can make some changes to this activity (if you want). If it’s perfect for you, click on Share in the upper right corner.
  • Share this link with your students. When they click on it, they can fill it out. A lot of the book report examples above have been made with BookWidgets’ Whiteboard widget, in which students can use the tool menu at the bottom to switch tools (draw, type,…), and to switch colors. When done, they can submit the book reports to you by clicking on the envelope in the upper right corner.
  • As a teacher, you go to “Grades & reporting” in BookWidgets to find your students’ answers.

Of course, now that you’ve got your own BookWidgets account, you can also create book report activities or other assignments yourself!

Attention! Once your free trial runs out, you’ll only be able to use the widgets you’ve already finished/shared with students. While your BookWidgets account will still work and you’ll still get your students’ results with the free BookWidgets version, you won’t be able to duplicate widgets nor create new widgets yourself anymore.

So that’s it! I hope these lesson ideas are useful for your classroom or at least give you lots of new ideas for your book report lessons! You can even create ones yourself!

Create your first digital book report with BookWidgets

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fun book report ideas for 5th grade

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26 EPIC Book Report Ideas

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Book reports are a great way for kids to recall what they’ve read, help with reading comprehension, and improve writing too. But not all kids enjoy filling out book report forms. Here are 26 creative, fun, and unique  book report ideas . So if you are looking to make book reports more fun, you will love these clever  creative book report ideas  for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students.

Attributes: PreK 1-3 4-5

Resource Link:  https://www.123homeschool4me.com/26-book-report-ideas_52/

The Joy of Teaching

Sharing creative ideas and lessons to help children learn.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Book Report Project Ideas and Forms: Trading cards, book mobiles, and more.

May 8, 2015 by Evan-Moor | 1 Comment

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Use these free printables for creative book reports from Evan-Moor’s How to Report on Books :

  •   A character trading card project: This book project focuses on recalling facts about a character and creating trading cards.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  • Book mobile project: This book project guides students in identifying setting/characters and problem/solution, and in creating a mobile.Tips: glue white paper to backs of construction paper for the illustrations (step #1); add a length of construction paper to increase the long strip to form a ring (step #2.)

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  • An exciting event pop-up: This book report project focuses on summarizing an exciting event from a fiction book and includes instructions on making a pop-up book report form.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Other engaging book report ideas include:

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  • Cereal box book report
  • Trivia/board games
  • Sandwich book report

See our Book Report Fun Pinterest board for more book report ideas such as making character puppets, comic strips, posters, story bags, puzzles, and awards.

Image of Theresa Wooler

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Book Report Writing

Book Report Ideas

Barbara P

Creative and Excellent Book Report Ideas for Students

19 min read

Book Report Ideas

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Book Report Writing Guide - Outline, Format, & Topics

Guide to Craft an Outstanding Book Report Outline

Are you tired of the same old book reports? Are you looking for creative ways to make your literary analyses more exciting?

You're in the right place!

In this blog, we've gathered a variety of unique book report ideas that break away from the usual routine. If you're a student or a book lover, our fresh ideas will make your book reports more interesting.

So, let's dive in and explore these exciting ways to share your thoughts and love for literature!

Arrow Down

  • 1. How to Create an Interesting Book Report?
  • 2. Creative and Fun Book Report Ideas for Middle School
  • 3. Book Report Ideas High School

How to Create an Interesting Book Report?

Do you know there are many ways to present your book report? Of course, the traditional way is writing it. 

Here’s how you write a book report:

  • Select a Book and Take Notes: Choose a book and read it attentively, taking notes on essential elements like characters, plot, themes, and notable quotes. Jot down your reactions and thoughts while reading.
  • Understand the Requirements: Understand the guidelines or requirements given by your teacher or the format you need to follow. Different book reports might have specific criteria to fulfill.
  • Craft an Outline: Organize your thoughts by creating an outline. This could include an introduction, summary, analysis, and conclusion. This step helps you structure your report effectively.
  • Write the Report: Begin writing your report using your outline as a guide. Start with an engaging introduction, summarize the book's key points, delve into your analysis, and conclude with your thoughts on the book.
  • Revise and Edit: Review your report for any errors, and consider refining your content. Check for grammar, spelling, and punctuation mistakes, and ensure your ideas are presented clearly and coherently.
  • Add Creativity: Enhance your report by adding imaginative features such as oral book reports, book report mobiles, book jackets, or create a timeline presented visually. These elements contribute to making your report more captivating and interactive for your audience.

Here’s a variety of creative book report ideas you can choose from:

Creative and Fun Book Report Ideas for Middle School

Creative ideas include more than writing, and this is why working on these ideas requires more time and attention. This is what makes the process so engaging and interesting for the students.

Here, we have provided some ideas and ways of presenting your book report in an outstanding and creative way.

Paper Bag Book Report Idea

Probably one of the most simple book report types, this kind of project does not need many objects, and all you need is a lunchbox size paper bag. 

To create the paper bag book report, follow the below steps:

  • Add up to five objects that are relevant and significant in the bag
  • When presenting the report, explain one by one how these objects are significant in the book and to the main book characters
  • Instead of keeping the cover plain, you can draw some relevant drawings on it

This is an interesting book report idea for 3rd grade as younger students are usually visual learners.

Cereal Box Book Report Idea

These kinds of book reports are quite creative and cost-effective also. All you need to have is an empty cereal box and some paper to cover the box and to add other details.

To create book report, follow the below steps:

  • Cover the entire cereal box with white, or any other color, paper
  • Make a relevant drawing on the front part of the cereal box
  • Write the details like the book’s themes and summary at the sides of the box
  • Rename the cereal with a correlating name

This idea is well-suited for slightly older students, making it an ideal choice for a book report idea for 4th-grade students.

Character Analysis Book Report

This kind of book report is unique as in it, the students dress up like one of the characters in the book and present it through the character’s point of view. Students may choose their favorite character for the analysis. Besides the acting part, your teacher may ask you to prepare the written character analysis report also. When dressed up, explain the significance of the character and its role in the book.

This makes for an interesting book report idea for 7th grade as it involves critical skills to analyze a character.

Lapbook Book Report

Lapbooks are different from scrapbooks and make for an excellent and quick book project that is both creative and informative. The students create them to present their book reviews and reports creatively. 

To make the Lapbook, follow the below steps:

  • Take a file folder; you can take a file folder of any color
  • Fold both sides of the folder inwards and make a strong crease
  • Cut and paste a piece of strong paper like cardboard paper or construction paper in the middle part of the file
  • You can add the summary and list of important themes in the middle section of the file
  • To the side panels, add the list of main characters and personal analysis and recommendation

This is quite a simple and creative type of book report idea for 5th grade, and you can present all the necessary details easily with it.

Diorama Book Report

A diorama is a 3-D version and representation of a scene or character from the book. It is different from a simple and straightforward drawing and includes more creative and interesting elements. 

To make a diorama, follow the below steps:

  • Take a shoebox, big enough to help you present the scene completely
  • Draw the scene that you want to represent on the inside of the box and place it facing forward
  • Draw and make some paper structures from the scene like objects and characters
  • Place them to represent the said scene
  • You can write the scene’s description and place it at the top of the box

A diorama is an excellent way of defining and explaining a scene from the book, and if you are good with papercraft, it would be an easy project. It's a bit more complex so it would be a suitable book report idea for 6th grade students.

Poster Book Report Ideas

Looking for something different from the usually written book report? Try a poster-style book report. Poster-style book reports are creative and allow you to add as many features from the book as possible. 

To make the poster, follow the below steps:

  • Take a poster of the color of your choice
  • Draw the characters and some scenes from the book on it
  • You can also divide the poster into sections and add things like the book’s summary, the list of themes and characters on it

This is a unique book report idea for  and allows a lot of creativity.

PowerPoint Book Report

This idea is more suitable if you are having a class presentation for the book report. Prepare a PowerPoint presentation of your chosen book. You can add pictures and other visual objects to your slides. 

Moreover, to make a memorable PowerPoint book report, follow the below steps:

  • Add the name of the book on the first slide and add some elements from the book to it
  • Mention the summary of the book on the next slide
  • Add a list of main themes and explain them verbally
  • Mention the main characters from the book; you can either add a list of these characters or dedicate one slide to each character and add some of its defining qualities to it

This is quite an interesting book report idea where you get a chance to combine visual objects with explanations. It involves the use of PowerPoint software, making it a suitable book report idea for 7th grade.

Mini-Book Report

These are the miniature versions of the complete and lengthy books, and all you will need is a paper or a premade template that you can download online. Since they are easy to make, students read and make the report easily.

If you are making the mini-book yourself then follow the following steps:

  • Fold the paper into four sides
  • Add the title of the book on the main cover and draw a scenic view of it
  • List the main characters of the book on one side of the paper
  • Add the main theme or scene that you will discuss in your report and add its description and explanation on one side of the fold

These mini-books are easy to make, and you can fit an entire book into a single paper.

Jacket Book Report

A jacket book report is somewhat like a lapbook with the only distinction that the jacket is used from all sides. You can either download a premade template or make one yourself. Follow the below steps:

  • Fold the paper inwards like a jacket
  • Write the summary of the book at the back of the jacket
  • Write the list of the main themes and characters at the flaps of the jacket
  • Add the description of the main occurrences and characters on the inside of the jacket

The project is quite interesting as you get a chance to present your book report in detail.

Letter-to-the-Author Book Report

In this project, the student writes a letter to the author and tells him about what they have experienced when reading the book. It is a great way of communicating your thoughts, and the writer is alive. The school or teacher could actually arrange to mail these letters to him. 

Some key steps to mention in the letter are given below:

  • Explain how you like the plot of the book
  • Describe the traits of the main characters that you like and dislike about them
  • Comment on the setting and conclusion of the book and explain if you agree or agree with it

Writing a letter-type book report will help you become a better analyst and write a better and more detailed analysis of the book.

Book Report Ideas High School

Here are a few book report ideas for high school students:

Picture Book Report

These kinds of book reports are all visuals and appeal greatly to younger students. After you read the book, create a picture version of it. 

Either you could add the pictures only, or you can mix it with some written descriptions like the summary of the book on the cover page. 

Other things and elements that you could add to your book report are given below:

  • The list of the main characters
  • The list of the themes and parallel plots

However, add the list alongside the pictures depicting these themes and characters. These reports will help them understand the book in a better manner.

Timeline Book Report

As the name says it all, in this kind of book repkort, you will prepare a timeline of the main events as and when they occurred in the book.  Instead of adding all the events in a row, look for the events that are significant in the book and explain how they helped to shape the story. It is an easy way to learn about the main events that occurred in the book.

Factsheet Book Report

This kind of book report is based on gathering and presenting the relevant facts about the book. You can either prepare ten or more significant facts about the book and that you have learned while reading comprehension. 

Some of the things that you add in this factsheet are:

  • Morals that you have learned from the book talks
  • Incidents that are prevalent in both the book and the life of the author
  • The significant flaws in the personalities of the main characters
  • Key points of additional information about the book

Factsheet book report helps you understand the book better, focusing on important events and themes. This way of presenting information using data might be complex, making it an appropriate book report idea for 8th grade.

Glossary Book Report

This is a very interesting type of book report, but you will need to be quite careful when working with it. To create a glossary and understand the book better, you must carefully read it and observe how specific words impact the overall story. To make such a book report, follow the below steps:

  • Read the book carefully and note down important words and phrases
  • Explain the collected words and phrases and add relevant sentences as examples
  • Explain verbally also how these collected words and phrases are important in the book
  • If your teacher allows, pass the book report in the class for everyone to read it

These kinds of book reports encourage you to read the book and help others understand the main aspects of the book.

Character Book Report

Sometimes instead of the entire book, the teacher gives the choice of choosing any one character from the book and preparing your book report on it. You can choose any character and study it in detail. 

When preparing the report, add the following points to it:

  • Positive traits of the character
  • Negative traits of the character
  • The significance of the character in the book
  • The way the character has helped shape the storyline

This kind of book report is a good way of understanding and studying the characters of the book.

T-Shirt Book Report

This could be a great way of using an old white t-shirt. 

You can use color pens, glitter pens, crayons, and acrylic colors to make the scenes and write down different things on it. To make one such t-shirt book report, follow the following steps:

  • Draw the scene of the book on the front of the shirt with details like the title of the book, its author, and genre
  • Use the back of the shirt to write a summary of the book and section it to add the main characters of the book
  • Use the sleeves to add other details like the themes and plot of the book
  • Draw some scenes from the book that is significant for the story

To present the book report, you can either wear it in the class, or you can hang it on a hanger and present it.

Rainbow Book Report

This is quite an enjoyable project, and we are sure that no matter what grade you are studying in, you will enjoy working on this project. To make a colorful rainbow book report, follow the below steps:

  • Take a white-colored poster
  • Paste the printed picture in the middle of the poster
  • Draw lines from the middle picture and divide them into several sections
  • Write details in those sections
  • Color each section with a different color and use crayons or watercolors for it

The project is colorful and informative; as with it, you can explain your book in a better manner.

Hanger Book Report

This is a very simple kind of book report. All you will need is a hanger, some paper cards, and pencils or markers. It is easy to make and equally easy to present. To make one, follow the below steps:

  • Write the name of the book on the top of the hanger
  • Draw the characters and scenes on the paper cards
  • Add the summary of the book and description of the themes of the book on other paper cards
  • Attach all the cards with strings and in the flow that represents the events in a sequence

The project is simple, and you will not need many things to execute this project.

Charm Bracelet Book Report

Who doesn’t love charm bracelets? They are cute and make a great book report project idea also. To present such a book report, you can either make one and wear it to your class or draw an entire paper hand with the charm bracelet around it. 

To make one, follow the below steps:

  • Cut a paper in the shape of a hand with the bracelet on it
  • Use each part of the charm bracelet to present a different aspect of the book, like the list of the main characters, the summary of the book, the main themes of the book, etc.
  • Color each part with a different color

This project makes an interesting book report, one that you will really enjoy making.

Pizza Box Book Report

Do you know that your favorite pizza makes for a great book report idea? Yes, it does. 

It is a unique idea, and it will really get your creativity going. To make a pizza box book report, follow the following steps:

  • Cut a paper in a circular shape and make sure that the paper is big enough to cover all the main book details
  • Divide and design the paper like that of a pizza
  • Use the upper slice to add the book title and the name of the author
  • Use other slices for the summary of the book, main characters, setting, themes of the book, and important incidences
  • Use the insides of the box to add and stick paper cutting for other important book details

This is an excellent idea to present your book report, and you will enjoy making it also.

Sandwich Style Book Report

Another ‘edible’ book report idea is on our list. This yummy book report has a number of layers, just like a sandwich, and you will use each layer to present different aspects of the book report. To make a sandwich book report, follow the below steps:

  • Download the printable versions of the slices of bread, lettuce, cheese, etc. or draw and cut them yourself
  • On the top layer of the bread, mention the title of the book plus the author of the book
  • In the next layer, add the summary of the book
  • Use other layers to add and explain the main characters and themes of the book
  • In the last layer, add the recommendations and personal analysis

A sandwich book report is easy to make, and if you have downloaded the designs, then all you will have to do is to add the written details.

Mint Tin Book Report

Now, this kind of book report represents how to present a book in a box or in a tin box. It is a really cute and adorable way of presenting your book, and you can make one by following the below steps:

  • Get a tin box of any size that you find perfect for your book report
  • Cut papers as per the shape and size that will fit into that tin box
  • Make a list of the things that you will add into your book report tin
  • Write the summary of the book on the top piece of paper
  • Add other details like the themes, settings, plot, and characters on other paper pieces
  • To make it even interesting, draw a relevant drawing on the title paper of the book report You can use the same idea to make other books in the box types of book reports.

Cake Book Report

Love cakes? Why not make one as your book report? A cake-style book report is quite creative, and your teacher will love to have these in the class. To make a cake book report, follow the below steps:

  • Download and assemble a premade cake book report
  • At the top main, write the title of the book and the author
  • At the top tier of the cake, list the names of the main characters, like the main protagonists and antagonists
  • In the second tier, add the main themes and motifs of the book
  • In the last tier, add personal analysis and recommendations

If you do not want to make the report with a premade template, you can also make one yourself.

Alternate Ending Book Report

Not satisfied with the ending of the book? Why not write an alternate ending for it? This makes for an excellent book report where you can explain the main themes and elements of the book and the reason why the ending is not relevant or could be better.  When working on this kind of book report, add the following points:

  • Explain the background of the author and the book
  • Explain the main incidences, characters, and themes of the book
  • Mention why the ending is not appropriate and add relevant examples from the text
  • Suggest an alternate ending and explain why and how it is better than the actual ending

This kind of book report is a great exercise to read and analyze a piece of literature while working on your critical analysis skills.

Book Report Ideas for Distance Learning

Following are a few book report ideas for distance learning.

Screenplay Book Report

How would your favorite book be formed in a movie? Making movies based on books is nothing new, and you will find plenty of them. This kind of book report is different, and you will need to ask your teacher if he would allow you to do it this way.  When writing the screenplay, add the following things to it:

  • Write the dialogues according to the personality of the character
  • Make the setting as close to the ones described in the book
  • Make sure that you have built your characters as per the descriptions in the book

It is quite a creative project and will help you sharpen your creative writing skills.

Collage Book Report

Looking for an easy and creative book report idea? A collage book report is easy to make, and it is quite colorful and creative also. To make a collage book report, follow the below steps:

  • Take a strong chart paper in any color
  • Cut different structures to represent different characters and themes of the book
  • Other things to mention and add are the settings of the book and important incidences

The project is a great book report idea if you are fond of drawing and want to combine it with writing.

Letter-to-the-Character Book Report

If you have the liberty to choose the kind of book report then this kind will definitely excite you. in it, you will write a letter to one of the characters of the book. When doing so, you can add the following details to it:

  • Mention how you do like the character
  • Explain the qualities and personality traits that you like about him or her
  • Mention the traits that you do not like or want the character to improve

This kind of book report helps you in building your critical analysis skills and use them in further projects.

Compare and Contrast Book Report

For this kind of book report, you will need to choose two or more books. Then, read them and find out the parallels between them and how these books are similar to one another.  Afterward, 

You can use a file folder or even a collage to draw these parallels and differences between them. However, no matter what kind of design you choose, present the book’s side so that the onlooker can understand the similarities and differences between them.

Here are some sample book report to give you ideas:

Diary Of A Wimpy Kid Book Report Ideas

Harry Potter Book Report Ideas

Biography Book Report Ideas

All of these creative idea book report projects follow different outlines and are unique. They make great teaching ideas and lesson plans also.

If you need assistance with book reports or any other assignments, remember that our book report writing service is here to help.

Our skilled writers can provide fresh ideas for your report projects.

No matter your deadline, our essay writing website  is dedicated to delivering an engaging and one-of-a-kind book report.

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Barbara P

Dr. Barbara is a highly experienced writer and author who holds a Ph.D. degree in public health from an Ivy League school. She has worked in the medical field for many years, conducting extensive research on various health topics. Her writing has been featured in several top-tier publications.

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Raise the Bar Reading

A Reading Teacher's Blog

Nonfiction Book Report Templates and Ideas for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Students

Generally, when we think of book reports, we think of fiction reading response. However, nonfiction book report templates serve equally as important of a purpose for digging deep into nonfiction texts.  

Book reports are such a great way to encourage the use of many different reading skills with the same text. With one nonfiction text, students can practice skills like identifying main idea and details, analyzing text structure, finding nonfiction text features, summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, finding the author’s purpose, citing text evidence, etc. The list goes on and on! 

By allowing students to practice so many skills at once, they are able to deeply analyze the text and think critically about the topic. Students can then form their own opinions on the topic and the author’s writing style, and ask important questions for further investigation.   

1. BACKPACK BOOK REPORT:

Backpack Book Reports are an engaging, hands-on twist on a classic book report. They are very easy to prep and make a great bulletin board display when completed. 

Nonfiction Backpack Book Craft (Each page is a graphic organizer focusing on a different fiction skill)

Each page focuses on an important nonfiction reading skill. These include: 

  • Main Idea & Supporting Details
  • Summarizing
  • Nonfiction Text Features
  • Author’s Point of View & Text Evidence
  • Text Structure
  • Academic Vocabulary
  • Interesting Facts
  • Back Up Opinions
  • Reflection (What I Learned, My Connection, Questions I Still Have)

2. BOOK REPORT TAB BOOKS:

These tab books really bring nonfiction texts to life! Students re-create the cover of their informational book on the front of their book report. Then, each of the 10 tabs represent an important nonfiction reading response skill.  The tabs include:

Nonfiction graphic organizers in a tab book format

They also come in full page option to maximize student writing space, or half page size to maximize wall space for a display.  

text features graphic organizer tab for a nonfiction tab book

3. INFORMATIONAL TEXT LAP BOOK REPORT:

These lap books are great in that you can have students 1.) completely design their own lap books, or 2.) provide them with more structured directions.  

  • Lap Book Free-Writes: The teacher tells students what nonfiction elements they are responsible for reporting on, but does not tell them exactly how to present them. The teacher provides students tools like paper, envelopes, scissors, etc. and students can present the information however they would like.

nonfiction lap book craft - students use scissors, glue, paper, and a file folder to create their own unique book report

  • Structured Lab Book: With this option, the teacher can set clear expectations and provide a model for how to present each nonfiction element on their lap books.

4. NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

Students can fill in each template and staple them together with the included cover page. These 10 templates are versatile in that if there’s a skill you haven’t yet covered, you can easily leave that page out until later into the school year and it won’t affect the finished book report product.

Book Report Templates for writing a more traditional nonfiction book report

5. DIGITAL NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

These digital slides are the same as the nonfiction book report templates above, just in a digital Google Slides format. With this format, teachers can just delete any of the slides that cover skills that their students are unfamiliar with before making them their own copy. 

Digital book report slides for Google Slides

6. CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT IDEAS:

Cereal boxes are a popular 3D way to have students present their book report since cereal boxes are easily accessible for any student to get their hands on. Students cover their boxes with paper to create drawing and writing space.  

The front of the box is transformed into a type of cereal that is fitting for the text they read.  For example, a student reporting on owls might name their box “Hoot Loops”. Then, the back and sides of their box are filled with information on the text. 

Similar to the lap book options described above, it is up to the teacher in how much structure they want to provide in this activity. Students can follow a model of how to present each element of nonfiction, or come up with their own ways to present each element on their box.

7. ONE PAGE BOOK REPORT (One Pager) :

Not every single book report we assign needs to take up tons of class time. A one-page book report option is an essential resource as it can be used as a quick, zero prep assessment tool. Although short, this type of report can still have students dig deep into reading comprehension.  

a one-pager nonfiction book report that includes a title, author, summary, text structure, fun fact, overall opinion, what the student learned, a recommendation, and star rating

On the one pager that is pictured, students still use many important nonfiction skills. These include writing a nonfiction summary, identifying text structure, finding facts, giving an overall opinion, writing a recommendation, reflection on what they learned, and providing a rating.

8. PARAGRAPH WRITING WITH GUIDELINES:

If you are looking for a way to provide a lot of structure and clear expectations, you can give students a nonfiction book report writing rubric for what their reports need to include from the very start.

Nonfiction book report guidelines, rubric, and graphic organizer

Students can also use graphic organizers that break down necessary points to include according to their rubric. Using a graphic organizer for prewriting is a great support for students in organizing their ideas before jumping into their drafts. 

No matter what book report format you go with, it is important that students know and understand what is expected of their writing content. Displaying a Nonfiction Book Report Bulletin Board is such a helpful way to provide students with steps to writing a book report as well as terms they will come across in their templates.

Nonfiction book report bulletin board display with a poster, writing tips, and words to know when writing a book report

All of the nonfiction book report templates from this blog post are included in the Nonfiction Book Reports Bundle as well as the Fiction & Nonfiction Book Reports Megabundle !

Next up: Fiction Book Report Writing Ideas

Teaching Book Report Writing: Book Report Ideas and Formats (Grades 3-5)

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fun book report ideas for 5th grade

How to Write a Book Report (+ a FREE Step-by-Step Printable for Your Kids)

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We read a lot of books (homeschool moms, can you relate?). Right now, we are reading the Harry Potter series together as a family, and as my kids have grown, it’s been fun to see them become more interested in reading for fun. As part of our homeschooling this year, we have been learning how to write a book report, which has been a great way for me to evaluate how well my kids are understanding what they read.

My son is in 3rd grade this year and recently had a book report as one of his assignments in English. While there were a couple of steps given to him, he struggled with the process and actually putting the book report together. So I decided to create a step-by-step book report printable to help him learn how to write a book report.

I hope these printables will be a big help to your kids, too! They will walk your kids through the steps of organizing their book report, writing a draft, revising and proofreading, and writing a final copy. Plus, I’ve included a rubric for you that you can use to give helpful feedback if you’d like.

Not only will this template help your kids learn how to write a book report, but they will be fun to add to your homeschool portfolio and look back on in the future.

Why Should You Use Book Reports in Your Homeschool?

Writing a book report or using an organizer to respond to what they have read is a great way to help your kids with their reading comprehension . It’s also fun to see their unique writing styles come to light and learn what they think about the books they have read.

Plus, I have found that incorporating book reports into our homeschool is a fun way for my kids to practice their writing skills because they get to write about a book they have loved. My son doesn’t necessarily love to write, so making the writing topic interesting is really important in our current season.

They also will obviously get to practice their handwriting, and you can include an oral presentation component if you’d like to as well!

Teach Your Kids How to Write a Book Report

A book report is just what it sounds like – a detailed report your kids will write after reading a book. In the report, they will give a summary of the book and share some of the important plot points, as well as share their opinion of the book.

When my son first attempted to do his book report from his English assignment, he struggled with what to write, and how to pull it all together in one cohesive report. I wanted to really lay out the process for him, to break it down into manageable steps .

Writing book reports can be a great way to help your kids with their reading comprehension, writing skills, and handwriting. Teach your kids how to write a book report in easy, manageable chunks with this step-by-step template.

If your child is new to writing book reports, I would recommend doing the first one together . Choose a book you have been reading aloud as a family (or a new one to read together), so you can then walk through the template and process with them.

If you are reading the book together, model how to take notes of important characters and plot points as you read . These notes will be great to reference later when writing the report.

Once you are finished reading and taking notes, grab your book report template and work through the process of putting together the report ( this printable makes it so easy! ).

My Book Report Template for Kids

There are many options out there with ideas for creative and different styles of book reports (I love these ideas from We Are Teachers), but if you are looking for a simple way for your elementary-aged student to organize their thoughts into a basic book report, these are for you.

The pages include:

  • 2 Book Report Planning Pages where your kids will organize their thoughts about the main characters, important plot events, and what they learned and liked about the book. They will also have space to draw out their favorite scene from the story.
  • First Draft Pages where they will write a rough draft. These sheets also include checklists that will walk them through the revision and proofreading process.
  • My Book Report Pages where your kids will write their final copy of their book report.
  • Book Report Rubric which is a sheet you can use to offer comments and suggestions on their work, if desired.
  • Reading Log page that your kids can use to keep track of what they are reading (great for your homeschool record keeping as well!)

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Using a template like this will help your kids organize their thoughts in the planning pages, so it’s easier for them to put the final review together. They will see all of the important parts that need to go into their book reports, which will help them learn how to write effective reviews and recommendations.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Printable Book Report Template

I’d love for this book report template to be a blessing to you and your family as well! Grab it below when you join my subscriber list – I love to send out freebies, homeschool tips, inspiration and more as I go through my own homeschooling journey.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Grab your FREE Book Report Printables!

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And if you love all of those, take a peek at my shop where I share some other helpful printables I’ve created for your home and homeschool.

Drop a comment below and let me know – what are some of your kid’s favorite books they have read, or what are they reading now?

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

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Over 6,200 homeschool resources and growing!

Homeschool Giveaways

33 Free Book Report Forms and Templates for Kids

Published: April 11, 2019

Annette Breedlove

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. 

free book report templates and forms

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 . 

free DIY book report

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.

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Home » Blog Posts » Book Ideas » The 10 Best Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

The 10 Best Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

Reading novels is a wonderful way to build a love for reading! Here you will find the 10 best novel studies for 4th and 5th graders. These 4th and 5th-grade chapter books keep students engaged because they are interesting and fun to read.

You will also find a FREE printable list of each chapter book with their reading level, Lexile level, and other good-to-know information at the end of the post.

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

*This post contains affiliate links to Amazon for your convenience. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases, which do not cost any extra for you. Please see the  full disclosure here. *

This post is one part of a series on helpful content geared toward literacy instruction in upper elementary classrooms. Here are the other posts to checkout once you’ve read all of this post:

  • Why You Need to Have Literacy Centers in Your Upper Elementary Classroom
  • 4th Grade Literacy Centers
  • Teaching Strategies for Reading Comprehension in Upper Elementary Classrooms
  • Ideas to Help Older Students Who Struggle with Spelling*
  • Read Alouds for Upper Elementary Students*
  • How to Use Choice Boards to Run Literacy Centers*
  • 8 Clever Ways to Get Students Writing More*

Posts with * beside their titles have free downloads available!

Why I Recommend Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

I looked across my classroom and couldn’t believe my eyes.

Other than the sound of one selected student reading out loud, you could’ve heard a pin drop.

Every single one of my 4th-graders were glued to their books. Some of them were crying. A few of them had red faces or dropped jaws.

We were engaged in our novel study–a chapter book by Christopher Paul Curtis–titled Bud, Not Buddy. We were only a few chapters in as students listened to the part where Buddy, an orphaned 10-year-old black boy, was being abused by his foster parents.

books for kids

I use a special bell in my class to get my students’ attention and signal that reading time is over. My hand reluctantly rang the bell and all across the room I heard:

“Noooooo, please let’s have more time!”

“Ms. Marshall, is this book based on a true story? Is there a movie to go with it?”

“Can I take this copy home to read for my reading homework tonight?”

As the loud groans and constant question filled the air, I knew we had ourselves a new favorite chapter book!

This is why I recommend these novel studies for 4th and 5th graders: they keep students engaged and in love with reading !

What Are The Best Chapter Books for 4th and 5th Graders?

When selecting novel studies for 4th and 5th-grade students, I consider the following criteria:

  • Word or Chapter Count (to decide how long it may take us to complete the novel)
  • Reading and Lexile Level
  • Whether it’s an Accelerated Reader book or not (our school is an AR school and I heavily push it in my class)
  • Gender/ Race /Life-Situation of the main character (I want books that appeal to all my students)

Once I check out these factors, then I read it myself before introducing it to my students.

Each of the 10 books in this list has gone through this process, and have been read several times with my students.

These 10 novel studies for 4th and 5th-graders also have some of the highest ratings on goodreads.com, Amazon book reviews, and other sites. Many of them have even won numerous awards in children’s literature.

Now that you know my process for chapter book selection, let’s dive right into this juicy book list!

First Best Novel Study: Holes by Louis Sachar

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

I was honestly nervous about introducing this book to my students at first. I knew it would make a great novel study for teaching theme and sequence. But I didn’t know if my students would be able to understand some of the experiences of the main character Stanley Yelnats.

Boy was I wrong!

My students ADORE this book–every single year. Plus, it has been made into a movie. My kids really enjoy comparing and contrasting the novel and the movie once we finish both.

The movie for Holes is FREE for Prime members. You can get 30 Days FREE with my code HERE .  #AmazonAd

Second Best Novel Study: From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler by E.L. Konigsburg

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

This chapter books starts off a little slow (as far as “kid” action is concerned). Once you get a few chapters in, the plot hooks you into the mystery.

If you have students who love solving riddles or reading mystery chapter books, they will love this novel study.

Each year that I’ve read it with my students, I catch a new clue or detail that I didn’t see before. It’s great for teaching plot!

Third Best Novel Study: Bud, Not Buddy by Christopher Paul Curtis

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

I could write an entire blog post on nothing but Christopher Paul Curtis books! Especially Bud, Not Buddy!

Every year that I introduced this chapter book as a part of our class novel studies, my students display emotions all across the board.

When students’ emotions are activated by what they’re reading, then you know that they are truly engaging with and understanding the text.

I love using this chapter book to teach characterization because the characters in this book are so real and multi-faceted. It is hands-down one of the best novel studies for 4th and 5th-grade students of all reading levels!

Related Posts for Reading Instruction:

  • Teaching Strategies for Reading Comprehension for Upper Elementary Students
  • Literacy Centers for 4th Grade
  • The Best Read-Alouds for Upper Elementary Classrooms
  • Using Life Lesson’s to Teach Children’s Literature

Fourth Novel Study: Wonder by R.J. Palacio

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

This book was recommended by one of my students after she purchased it from our school book fair.

This novel study is wonderful for teaching empathy and kindness in the classroom. I even incorporated it into our Golden Rule classroom practice. 

I also love how the main character is a 5th-grade boy who experiences struggles with fitting in. This is great for helping students feel a sense of connection to the novel.

Being able to relate what they are reading to real-life helps students stay engaged with reading longer texts.

You Might Want to Check Out: How to Help Your Boys Fall in Love with Reading

Fifth Novel Study: Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Having a dog as the main character makes teaching personification and other figurative language elements a breeze!

My students (and I) absolutely love this novel. The reading level is 3.9 (as you will see in the FREE printable below),  so I often use this as our introductory novel study at the beginning of the school year.

Which works great because I need to teach them the procedures for our novel studies, and they need to ease back into reading deeply after being out all summer.

The first-person narrative of the book makes both of those goals super easy.

Sixth Novel Study: My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

This classic chapter book provides rich details and descriptions that are great for teaching imagery.

Students enjoy visualizing the main character’s adventures through the wilderness.

One of my favorite things about this chapter book for 4th and 5th graders is that the main character keeps a journal of his adventures.

So I encourage my students to keep a journal while we read the novel. They are more motivated to write about their daily and weekly lives to compare with the journal entries of the character.

Anything I can do to combine reading and writing practice is a bonus in my book!

Seventh Novel Study: The Watsons Go to Birmingham–1963 by Christopher Paul Curtis

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

I told you that I love this author right?

All of my students who read Bud, Not Buddy as a 4th-grader can’t wait to read this chapter book as a 5th-grader.

The historical fiction setting gives vivid details about life during the 60’s for African-Americans, from the perspective of a 10-year-old boy.

This author has an amazing way of detailing uncomfortable topics in a kid-friendly way that’s accurate, but also full of humor. My students always give rave reviews about this book.

Eight Novel Study: One and Only Ivan by Katherine Applegate

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Ivan, a silverback gorilla, steals your heart as the narrator and main character of this amazing read-aloud for 4th and 5th-graders.

He is caged, and his experiences help you see life from an animal’s perspective in a whole new way.

Be sure to check out these reviews on this book from other readers.

Amazon Kindle Unlimited--The Butterfly Teacher

Related Posts and Resources on Reading:

  • Cheap and Easy Ways to Stock Your Classroom Library
  • Read-Aloud with Rigor Book Series 
  • Centers in Upper Elementary Classrooms
  • The Best FREE Literacy Apps

Ninth Novel Study: Esperanza Rising by Pam Muñoz Ryan

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Initially, when my students looked at the cover, they whined about reading it. They assumed that it would be “boring” based on the cover illustration.

But this novel is far from boring.

It is one of the best books for novel studies with 4th and 5th graders because it teaches so many essential lessons. I especially like to emphasize having a growth-mindset through the main character of this book.

Esperanza is a wealthy Hispanic girl whose life is turned upside down due to tragedy in her family; her father is unexpectedly murdered. She and her mother are forced to flee their country and become migrant workers in California.

I use this novel study with current events to help students better understand immigration issues in our country.

Plus, building a culturally responsive classroom ranks HIGH on my list as a teacher! One of the ways to do that is by showcasing diversity through book selections.

This novel helps to achieve that goal!

Tenth Novel Study: Mr. Popper’s Penguins by  Florence Atwater and Richard Atwater

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

Besides the very funny book-based movie starring Jim Carrey, Mr. Popper’s Penguins is hilarious!

I definitely think it is the most fun book for a novel study.

Even though it is far from being realistic fiction, my older kiddos enjoyed the over-the-top scenes of Mr. Popper taking care of his penguins.

Before teaching 4th grade, I taught 2nd grade for four years and I read Mr. Popper’s Penguins with my 2nd graders.

Here’s why I recommend it in this list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders:

  • My 2nd graders could NOT read this book independently. The word selection and meaning were too complex.
  • 4th and 5th graders CAN read and understand the content of this book independently.
  • This novel has many high-frequency words and vocabulary words that are recommended for older students.

Bonus Book– Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen

fun book report ideas for 5th grade

This book is a new edition to my list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders, because I just recently read it at home with my son who is now in 5th grade.

Even though it’s new for us, I highly recommend it as a novel study in the classroom.

My son Caleb could not put it down! He actually finished it in four days. We both enjoyed the deep plot twists and unexpected surprises throughout the story.

My only caution is that it contains content about magic . If your school doesn’t allow books like Harry Potter, then this book probably wouldn’t qualify either. You can check it out here to see for yourself.

Reading and Lexile Levels of 4th & 5th-Grade Chapter Books

For many teachers, novels must be chosen based on their Lexile and reading level. So I created a chart that lists all the information for each chapter book featured in this post.

You can access that free list by entering your email below. Please be aware that many school servers automatically block outside senders. You may have a better chance of grabbing this guide with a personal email address.

The Butterfly Teacher

22 Responses

With remote learning being the optimal choice I am trying to set up a homeschool curriculum to make sure my child will not miss out on what they would normally get in the classroom. I am not sure how the material will be presented 2020 – 2021 but if it is anything like last year I will be responsible for teaching and the teachers will provide sheets and websites. When doing a novel study do the students read on their own and come prepared to discuss it in class or is it done as a read aloud?

Any feedback is GREATLY appreciated!!!

Erika, Novel studies can be done both ways depending on your kids’ reading level. If your child is motivated to do the reading own his/her own, then you will focus on reading comprehension and activities around what has been read. If this approach doesn’t work for your kid, then set up times to read aloud together. While you read together, pause and ask questions to gauge his/her understanding. Then at the end of your read aloud time together, give him/her an activity related to that chapter OR give a quiz to see what they learned from that reading. Hope this makes sense! Thanks for all you do to help your kids with reading at home. 🙂

I appreciate your list and would love to look at your additional information on each novel. Thank you for sharing!

I was to order the novel for my 10yr old son how can I order please n from where

Hi Daisy, You can order any of these novels using the Amazon links I provided in the post. These are affiliate links that pay a small commission to this site, but they do not cost you anything. I also emailed you more info about books for your son. Enjoy 🙂

Thank you for your novel study suggestions would love to see yourchart that lists all the information about each chapter book.

Thank you in advance

Sure Cara, When you enter your email, you should receive the book list. If you have trouble with it, email me directly: [email protected] Thanks!

Hello, lots of great information. Do you use a basal reading program along with your novel studies?

Hi Cheryl, I used both. Our school requires the basal reading program. I use it to teach specific reading skills.

Then we extend the practice of those reading skills with our class novel studies. -Tanya

Not a bad list- but I’m very shocked by Mr. Popper’s Penguins being on the list. I read that aloud to my 2nd grade class – who followed the story with ease. I would see Mr. Popper’s Penguins as a 2nd/3rd grade novel- not 4th/5th – especially as far as content goes.

Hi Elissa, I also read Mr. Popper’s once when I taught 2nd grade, but–just like you–I also had to read it out loud to them; they were not able to read it on their own fluently with solid comprehension. This novel is great as independent reading with older students, so that they can complete it without the teacher reading it to them. 🙂

Tanya- I teach 3rd, 4th , and 5th grade ELA at a French immersion school. I have a wonderful job and I love the kids. I have a dilemma this year and would love your feedback. I need to teach a whole group novel to guide them through the novel study process and help set up the rest of the year, but then I would like to transition into self selected novel groups. I have some amazing readers as well as some lower readers. I love teaching in small groups and using literacy centers.

My question for you is if you have taught both whole group and small group…and how did you set up your novel selection for the kids if you taught in small groups (all different novels).

Thanks so much! Erin

Erin, I did one novel as a whole class assignment each grading period. But I also had each student complete a self-selected novel study each month with my monthly book reports. Each student had to choose books from a certain genre each month, but they could pick any book within that genre. Then they would complete a different book report project for their book each month. I hope this gives you some ideas of how I did whole class and self-selected novels. Thanks for your question! 🙂

Thanks for the novel study ideas and information on each book.

THANK YOU! I currently teach 4th grade and would love to implement novel studies with my students. I bought a resource for James and the Giant Peach, but couldn’t afford a class set and no one in my school had copies 🙁 I plan on buying a few copies of books each month. I thought about Donor’s Choose as well. Again, thank you for the recommendations and synopsises!

Angela, James and the Giant Peach is a great book choice! I hate it that you couldn’t find a class set. I will do more research on how teachers can get class sets of books for great prices! 🙂 Thanks Angela

Thank you Tanya for this detailed list of grade appropriate novels! I’ve also used Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH with success. Happy reading!

Cathy, This sounds like a really interesting book! I will check it out. Thanks for suggesting it. 🙂

What a great reading list! Thanks for sharing. I especially love that you included a synopsis and why the book is appropriate for 4th/5th grade. Very valuable. I was thinking of reading Fish in a Tree as a novel study. Have you read it?

Becky, Yay! I am so happy this reading list with the synopsis is helpful for you. If you didn’t get a chance to grab the free list with more info on each book, be sure to sign up for that freebie. I haven’t read Fish in a Tree, but I will certainly check it out! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

This has been very helpful as it is my first year teaching 5th grade reading. Thank you!

Maria! Congrats on your first year teaching 5th! I’m glad this list has been helpful for you. Thanks for sharing.

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fun book report ideas for 5th grade

IMAGES

  1. 10 Book Report Ideas That Kids Will Love

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  2. Book report ideas are fun and easy with this printable book report

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  3. Make your students' next book report super fun with this Doodle Book

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  4. 35 Creative Book Report Ideas for Every Grade and Subject

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  5. How To Write A Book Report 5th Grade

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

  6. Fun book report printables for your students covering setting, plot

    fun book report ideas for 5th grade

VIDEO

  1. HOMESCHOOL 5TH GRADE INDEPENDENT READING CHAPTER BOOKS

  2. Book Report With a Twist

  3. Travel Brochure

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  5. Time Capsule Book Report Idea (Bombay Blues)

  6. Diary of a Wimpy Kid Report!

COMMENTS

  1. 42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Every Grade and Subject

    You'll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc. A fun adaptation of this project is the book report cheeseburger. 11. Book Alphabet.

  2. Book Report Ideas for 5th Grade that Spark Imagination

    The Wrap-Up: Book Report Ideas for 5th Grade. These creative and fun book report ideas for upper elementary not only make the learning process enjoyable but also encourage independence and self-expression. By incorporating engaging activities, we can foster a love for reading and storytelling in young minds.

  3. 10 Book Report Ideas That Kids Will Love

    Here are 10 book report ideas that kids will love: 1. Cereal Box Book Report. These oh-so-cool reports were always the top-ranked project by my fifth graders. Students loved creating an original book report display using a covered cereal box and ready-made templates.

  4. 12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

    12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love. April 20, 2022 admin. Whether you're teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they're more than just a test or essay. Below, you'll discover a dozen fun book report ideas ...

  5. 7+ Book Report Ideas For 5th Grade Popular With Teachers

    Draft a Reader's Theater Script. One of the best book report ideas for 5th grade is to have students write a script for a reader's theater play. Reader's theaters are short plays that students perform in class in order to boost reading comprehension, vocabulary understanding, and reading fluency. Though fifth graders may have experience ...

  6. 26 EPIC Book Report Ideas

    These ideas are great for book report ideas for 5th grade and elementary age students. Make a diorama - these still my children's favorite. Create a book jacket - different than the original. Kids will love making these book report t-shirts. Present an oral book report - dress up as your favorite character.

  7. 15 Creative and digital book report ideas that will get ...

    Click to open. 7. Book cover. Here, students get to be creative and invent their own book cover (front and back) of the book they just read. Or maybe just a cover for of a piece of text you've read out loud. They can use the whiteboard tools: pencil, type tool, switch colors, add images, etc. Click to open. 8.

  8. 11 Fun Book Report Ideas That Teachers and Students Love

    For this fun reading book report idea, students will take 14 blank, white sheets of 8.5 x 11 inches paper and cut each into halves. Two of the pages will serve as a cover page and an outro page. The other sheets will each represent one letter of the alphabet. Students will brainstorm a significant word from the book that starts with the letter ...

  9. 42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Every Grade and Subject

    Help your students make the books come alive with these 42 creative book report ideas. From mint tins to cereal boxes to "wanted" posters. ... Grading 6-12 PreK 6th Grade Kindergarten 7th Grade 1st Rank 8th Grade 2nd Grade 9th Grade 3rd Grade 10th Grade 4th Grade 11th Score 5th Grade ... etc. A fun adaptation of this get is the book report ...

  10. Ten Great Creative Book Report Ideas

    Ten Great Creative Book Report Ideas. There are many, many great ways for students to respond to literature. Students especially enjoy creative book reports. These will work for almost any book and are especially good when students are reading independent book selections. A quick web search will reveal that there are many ideas out there for ...

  11. 26 EPIC Book Report Ideas

    But not all kids enjoy filling out book report forms. Here are 26 creative, fun, and unique book report ideas. So if you are looking to make book reports more fun, you will love these clever creative book report ideas for kindergarten, first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, 5th grade, and 6th grade students. Attributes: PreK. 1-3. 4-5.

  12. How to Write a Book Report for Fifth Grade

    The first step in writing a fifth grade book report is to, of course, choose a book! In some cases, the teacher will tell students which book they need to read, especially if students are all required to write a book report on a book read aloud in class. They may also tell the students which book to choose based on a certain topic the class is ...

  13. Book Report Project Ideas and Forms: Trading cards, book mobiles

    See our Book Report Fun Pinterest board for more book report ideas such as making character puppets, comic strips, posters, story bags, puzzles, and awards. Theresa Wooler has more than 10 years' experience in K-6 classrooms as a parent volunteer and homeschool educator, has taught high school English, and is currently involved in education ...

  14. Teaching Book Report Writing: Book Report Ideas and Formats (Grades 3-5)

    Writing a response to literature, or a book report, is an essential part of connecting reading and writing for upper elementary students. It allows them to reflect on what they have read and dig deep into important fiction skills. These can include: Identifying author's purpose. Writing a fiction summary. Selecting key events.

  15. 25+ Creative Book Report Ideas for All Grades

    Creative and Fun Book Report Ideas for Middle School. ... This is quite a simple and creative type of book report idea for 5th grade, and you can present all the necessary details easily with it. Diorama Book Report. A diorama is a 3-D version and representation of a scene or character from the book. It is different from a simple and ...

  16. Nonfiction Book Report Templates and Ideas for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade

    Generally, when we think of book reports, we think of fiction reading response. However, nonfiction book report templates serve equally as important of a purpose for digging deep into nonfiction texts. Book reports are such a great way to encourage the use of many different reading skills with the same text.

  17. How To Write A Book Report + FREE Printable Template for Kids

    The pages include: 2 Book Report Planning Pages where your kids will organize their thoughts about the main characters, important plot events, and what they learned and liked about the book. They will also have space to draw out their favorite scene from the story. First Draft Pages where they will write a rough draft.

  18. 33 Free Book Report Forms and Templates for Kids

    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: ... 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 ...

  19. FREE Printable Book Report Template

    This free printable book report form is a great resource for parents, teachers, and homeschoolers to help students work on recalling what they've read, remembering the important parts, while working on writign skills too. This handy reading report template is perfect for first grade, 2nd grade, 3rd grade, 4th grade, and 5th graders too.

  20. Book Report Activities

    Activities for Any Literature Unit. The generic worksheets, games, art activities, and teaching ideas in this workbook are ideal for core literature as well as for individualized reading. Assign creative ways for students to convey their knowledge of literature.

  21. The 10 Best Novel Studies for 4th & 5th Graders

    Bonus Book- Thomas Wildus and The Book of Sorrows by J.M. Bergen. This book is a new edition to my list of novel studies for 4th and 5th graders, because I just recently read it at home with my son who is now in 5th grade. Even though it's new for us, I highly recommend it as a novel study in the classroom.

  22. Book Report Ideas For Fifth Grade Teaching Resources

    This worksheet will work well with any age of students, but especially with students from Kindergarten through fifth grade. In the first worksheet, students will choose a favorite book, write. Subjects: Library Skills, Reading, Writing. Grades: 1 st - 4 th. Types: Worksheets, Printables, Bulletin Board Ideas.