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Book report form (free printable)

A one-page book report with a place for the title, author, characters and setting, a summary, a favorite part and a star rating. Print a class set.

Printed on the sheet. Leave it empty to write by hand.
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Book Report, page 1Book ReportNameDateTitleAuthorGenrePagesMain charactersSettingWhat happened in the bookMy favorite part, and whyMy rating1Not for me2Okay3Good4Great5Loved itI would recommend this book to…Free at teach.peabody.kids

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About this sheet

Many schools still ask for a book report, and a long one can turn a reader against books. This form keeps it to a page: the facts of the book at the top, a short retelling in the middle, and the reader's own opinion at the bottom. The questions move from what the book said to what the reader thought, which is the order of real reading. The favorite part box has room for a sentence and a sketch. The rating row uses numbers, so a child commits to a view. Use it for independent reading, a book club or a library program, and keep the stack as a record of what the class has read.

Grades: 2 to 8. Best in: September, October, November, January, February.

How to use it

  1. Print a stack and place it where students can take one when they finish a book. Explain the page in two minutes.
  2. Students fill in the facts first, then the summary in their own words, then their favorite part and their rating.
  3. Read a few aloud on Fridays, and keep the finished forms in a class binder that others can browse.

Five ideas for class

  1. Model one report on a picture book the class knows, so students see how much a few sentences can say.
  2. Ask for a summary in no more than five sentences. A short summary shows more understanding than a long retelling.
  3. Ask students to put their rating on a class chart, and use the totals to recommend books to each other.
  4. Let students present their report to a partner before they write it. Talking first helps a reluctant writer.
  5. Collect the favorite-part boxes into a class anthology, with a short quote and a drawing from each student.

Related

Questions

Is one page enough?

For most grades, yes. The page is meant to be a record of reading, not a test of writing. For older students, pair it with a longer response in another form.

Does it work for nonfiction?

Yes. Students can write the topic in the characters box and the most interesting facts in the summary.

Can students type it?

The page is made for pencil. For typed responses, copy the headings into a document and have students fill them in there.

How do I save it as a PDF?

Choose Print, then pick “Save as PDF” as the printer. Only the sheet prints: the page around it is hidden. You can also save a sheet as a PNG image under the preview.

Can I print it in black and white?

Yes. Switch to Black and white beside the sheet: fills turn white and lines turn black, so it saves ink and photocopies cleanly.

Is what I type saved or sent anywhere?

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