This February writing activity includes a book report template that is perfect for bulletin boards, door decor, or a hallway display. Writing a book report or book review on a favorite (or not so favorite) book helps strengthen a student’s reading comprehension and provides a framework for writing. Writing book reports or book reviews and posting them in the classroom helps your aspiring readers decide whether or not they want to read a particular book.

In this resource, students will be able to:

• express their opinion through writing
• develop his or her writing style and voice
• learn how to write an effective book review by including certain elements
• learn how those elements can help him or her express opinions

In this activity, students choose a book they’ve recently read to write a book report or book review using step-by-step instructions that are given on the personal bookmark for students.

1) Students use a planning sheet that guides them to find:

• title of book
• author
• setting of book
• main characters
• type of literature (fiction or nonfiction)
• genre
• brief summary (including a beginning, middle, and end)
• one to five star rating

2) After the planning sheet is complete, students use the “Writing Good Book Reviews” bookmark and the final writing template to carefully develop:

• a strong summary (being careful not to give away the ending)
• their opinion of the book (with reasons)
• evidence from the text to support their reasons
• their favorite thing about the book and why
• a personal connection
• a recommendation
• a star rating
• …and finally, a reminder to proofread their writing for correct spelling, capitalization, and punctuation.

3) Last, students color their book report, cut it out, and add a colorful topper for display. Toppers are included in both color or black and white. If you would rather save printer ink, students can color the black and white versions.

What’s included in this product?

Classroom Poster

• The Best Book Reviews Have…

Student Bookmarks

• Writing Good Book Reviews
• Color Version and Black and White Version
• Students can color the black and white version.

Toppers for Display

• Staple to the back of each book review.
• Have students add their name on the right side of the book.
• Color Version and Black and White Version
• Students can color the black and white version.

Book Review Planning Sheet

• Students use this sheet to plan their book review.

Book Review Form (Writing Template)

• Students will write their final version of their book review on the writing template.
• (2 per page)

Book Review Rubric

• Makes grading easy!
• (2 per page)

Bulletin Board (Display) Letters

• PUT YOUR HEART INTO A GOOD BOOK!

Binder Covers

• Due to request, the next few pages are binder covers for you to use if you want to put students’ book reviews in a 3-ring binder to refer to throughout the month. They are available in color and black/white.

These book reviews look amazing on a bulletin board for Valentine’s Day, and they can be left up during the entire month of February. Your students will love reading the reviews and being inspired by all the different book reports on the board!