Book reports are a curriculum mainstay, but their format is a bit tired.
Spice up your assignment with these creative book report ideas!
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Book Report Ideas
Book reports are a great educational tool because they teach students to identify the framework of a story and analyze its structure and style.
They are also a welcome chance to practice persuasive writing and presentation.
Book reports’ very utility is why they are assigned so often (and why students start to dread them).
You can turn all this around by jazzing up a book report in one of two ways.
The first way to add creativity to a book report is to alter the form of the report.
Instead of summarizing the story, plot, setting, and characters and ending with a recommendation (“I liked this book because…”), you ask for something more creative.
The second way to add creativity is to change up the presentation.
Who says a book report need always be on 8.5 x 11 paper?
Why not creatively present the report (and perhaps incorporate art as well)?
Creative Ideas for Book Reports
Here are some book report ideas that ask for creative content:
Ask the Therapist Book Report
Imagine you are a therapist analyzing a character in the story.
What does the character fear?
Give specific examples from the story.
Magazine Interview Book Report
Imagine you are a reporter interviewing the main character for an article.
What would you ask the person?
Write an engaging article about the background of the character, their personal life, and what’s next on the horizon.
5W’s + H Book Report
Keep it simple and have the student answer these basic questions (the main components of a story sequence chart).
- Who are the main characters?
- When does it take place?
- Where does it take place?
- What is the problem?
- How is it resolved?
- Why did you like/dislike it?
Newspaper Article Book Report
Take the 4W’s + H questions above (leave off the “Why” question) and turn it into a newspaper article.
You can illustrate it.
Villain’s Book Report
Imagine that the villain of the story (as an alternative, pick a minor character) read the book.
What would his/her book report be like?
How would the villain describe the main character and the action?
What would the villain think about the way the author told the story?
Collage Book Report
Hunt through magazines to find pictures that tell the story.
Assemble them and give a presentation of your book report with that as a visual aid.
Book Report Acrostic
Use the title of the book (or even the letters of the alphabet ABC…) to generate an acrostic poem about the book.
If the book is Tom Sawyer, T could be “Tom is a clever and hilarious boy.” O could be, “Over and over you see Tom get into mischief.”
Book Report Project Ideas
Here are some book report project ideas that involve creative presentation:
The World’s Tiniest Book Report
Stick to the basics and assemble a mini book report.
You can fit it in a mint tin or jewelry box.
Origami Book Report
Put the 5W’s and H in an origami creation like the classic “cootie catcher” (alas, that is what the kids call it and what you have to put in the search engine).
Illustrated Book Report
Don’t just stop at writing–add art!
Diorama Book Report
Create a diorama of the most important scene in the book.
Have the student give a presentation on what is happening in the scene and why she feels it is pivotal.
Keep in mind that you’re probably going to have to teach your students how to make a diorama because it’s pretty much a lost art!
Book Report in a Bag
Decorate a grocery bag with the title of the book and illustration.
Fill the bag with the paragraphs of a book report, each written on their own paper in fun shapes.
Reach your hand into the bag and pull out the info on the book!
Pizza Box Book Report
Ask a local pizza company to donate some unused boxes.
Create paper book report pizzas that tell about the book on each slice.
Decorate the inside lid of the pizza box like a project board advertising your book.
Cover Design Book Report
Create a new dust jacket for the book.
How would you illustrate it?
What content would you put on the back to entice the reader to buy the book?
Don’t forget to invent quotations from other famous authors or celebrities!
Creative Book Reports and Projects
Your students have likely had enough of the traditional book report.
Add pizzazz to the task with these creative ideas for book reports.