1. How to write a book review

2. Let’s look at these reviews
• My Magical Life by • My Magical Life by
Harry Howdyni Harry Howdyni
This book is really great! Harry Howdyni is a
I think you should read famous magician. That’s
it!!!!!!<3 why he can write a
book about a magical
life and make it so
interesting. Don’t miss
this book, It’s terrific!!

3. Okay, from those reviews,
• Could you tell what the • If it’s non fiction, did you
book was about? One know when the book took
interesting part? place? Is it 1800s, or
• Could you tell whether it 1900s?
was fiction or non-fiction?
i.e., is it about magic • Did the reviewer make it
tricks, biography or a clear to you why you
fiction book? would like the book?
• If it was fiction – what • Did you actually get any
genre was it? Was it sense of the book at all?
Adventure? Humor? • Of course you didn’t!
Suspense? Mystery???

4. Key elements of your review
• Describe the setting of the • Plot. What is the book
book (past, present, future, about? Or if you are
what does the place look recommending a non fiction
like?) book, what was the purpose
of the book? To tell about a
time in history? A
• Main characters. True for biography? How to care for
both fiction/non-fiction. a pet?
Can you briefly describe
their personalities? • No Spoilers Allowed!!
Pretend you are at an ice
cream store – just give them
• Interest. Why was it a spoonful so they can get
interesting to you? Why the taste but don’t give
would it interest others? away any surprises!

5. Advice from the Book Chook (with
help from Mrs. Casey)
• Choose a book you can • What happens to the
write about. main characters in the
• Think about what you’ve story?
read. • Or if non fiction, what are
• Try to describe the book the main events in the
in a couple of sentences story?
without giving away the • Who do you think would
ending like this book? Is it
• What’s your favorite part something everyone
and why? would like, or is it for
boys, or people who love
humor, or enjoy reading
history…

6. More Advice….
• Start with an interesting • Make sure your review has
sentence. Maybe a question an order.
(“If you were a girl growing • Read it through.
up in Kansas, would you • Have a classmate read it
ever dream about flying
around the world?”). • Check for spelling and
punctuation.
• After putting it in your glog,
• Or start with a quote from you will be copying it and
the book (“It was the best pasting it into the Destiny
of times, it was the worst of Catalog. Thousands of
times…”). students will be able to read
your review.

7. If you want to look at some sites for
help with your review
The book chook for tips on • Spaghetti Book Club to
writing a review. read reviews for kids, by
Christchurch Kids in New kids and here are two
Zealand examples below by 3rd
graders:
• A non fiction review of
Tornadoes
• A fiction review, The
Cricket in Times Square