Name: _____________________________
Book Report Directions
Final Project Due Date: February 15th 2013
Step 1: Reading
Select a “just right” fiction chapter book to read on your own at home.
Step 2: Organizing
Complete the given graphic organizer and submit to your teacher no later than
Friday, February 1st. Remember to refer back to the example organizer
completed in class. (This must be checked by your teacher before beginning your
letter and project)
Step 3: Projects (Letter and Creative Choice)
I. Once your graphic organizer is complete, write a 3 paragraph friendly
letter to the author of your book. Use the sample friendly letter to Mrs.
Craighead George (on the back of these directions) and your graphic
organizer to guide your letter.
II. Pick one of the creative projects from the attached list to make and
bring in with your friendly letter on the due date.
If you have any questions regarding this assignment please ask your classroom
teacher. Have fun and be creative!
Sincerely,
The Fourth Grade Team
Creative Project Choices
Pick one of the projects from the list below to create and hand it
in with your letter.
1. Design a new book jacket for your book. Think about a
particular scene that you would like to depict on the front
cover. There should be a “blurb” about the book on the
front sleeve, a short biography of the author on the back
sleeve, and book reviews on the back cover.
2. Imagine that your book is being made into a movie!
Design a poster advertising the movie. Be sure to include
pictures and words that will get the public excited about
the movie. Think about who would be interested in seeing
this movie and ways that you can appeal to them.
3. Illustrate the top five scenes of the book or top five
things that you learned. Include captions and be prepared
to tell us why you chose each scene. They could have been
exciting to you or important to the plot.
4. Can It! You will need a coffee can. Make a wrap-around
cover of paper, the “cover” of your book, and tape it
around the can. Next, find five objects that have
something to do with the story. They must be objects
that fit into the can and are from around your house.
During your presentation pull out the objects and explain
their relation to the story.
5. Summarize the book into a comic strip or story aimed
for younger students or your classmates. Be sure to
include pictures and words that will get the children
excited about the book.
4th Grade Sample Book Report
January 14, 2013
Dear Mrs. Craighead George,
I just finished your amazing book, My Side of the Mountain, and I’m writing
to tell you how much I enjoyed it. Your descriptive writing and sketches really
helped me visualize the story, and I felt like I was on the mountain with Sam
Gribley. My favorite character was Sam because I was impressed with his
abilities to live off the land just like the Native Americans. He was very
resourceful and courageous. For example, he used every part of the deer he
found to make clothing, tools, a door for his tree house, and venison to eat. Sam
was also very smart to do his research before deciding to move to the woods.
In your story, Sam wanted to live on his own but he realizes no one can
really live alone, so he makes friends with the animals and the locals to help
him survive. This reminded me of our study of Native Americans. The Natives
needed the animals and their surroundings in order to survive. Tribes also
worked together in order to achieve many of their goals just like Sam needed
Bando and other friends to help him accomplish his goals.
The lesson I learned from your book is that if you set a goal and are
determined to reach that goal, you can accomplish almost anything. Sam could
have given up on the first day when he couldn’t make a fire, but he kept trying.
After many months, he was living off the land! Now that I finished My Side of
the Mountain, I am looking forward to reading more about Sam’s adventures. It
has inspired me to read more of your stories because this book made me realize
how much I enjoy realistic fiction books that focus on nature. Thank you for
writing such a wonderful novel.
Sincerely,
Name:______________________ Date: _____________________________
Book Report – Planning Graphic Organizer – Example
Title: ____________________________________________________
Author: ________________________________
Particular Part Specific Information to include in your friendly
letter to the author
Compliment to the author
(mention the title of the book) _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Information about a favorite
character: _____________________________________________________________
* name _____________________________________________________________
*specific character trait
*example/evidence of trait _____________________________________________________________
Summary
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Connections
(Text – Self) _____________________________________________________________
(Text – Text) _____________________________________________________________
(Text – World)
_____________________________________________________________
Lesson learned from this book
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
How has this book influenced you as
a reader/writer? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Opinion of the book and why you feel
that way _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Name:______________________ Date: _____________________________
Book Report – Planning Graphic Organizer – Due by Fri. Feb 1st
Title: ____________________________________________________
Author: ________________________________
Particular Part Specific Information to include in your friendly
letter to the author
Compliment to the author
(mention the title of the book) _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Information about a favorite
character: _____________________________________________________________
* name _____________________________________________________________
*specific character trait
*example/evidence of trait _____________________________________________________________
Summary
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Connections
(Text – Self) _____________________________________________________________
(Text – Text) _____________________________________________________________
(Text – World)
_____________________________________________________________
Lesson learned from this book
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
How has this book influenced you as
a reader/writer? _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
Opinion of the book and why you feel
that way _____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________
