Readers My First Writers Genre Workshop Book Reviews by Carrie Smith and Steve W. Dunn B e n c h m a r k E d u c a t i o n C o m p a n y
Fr M y i st Genre: Book Reviews Genre Features title author summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) your opinion for reason your opinion recommendation Oral Genre Vocabulary book review characters illustrations opinion problem recommendation resolution setting story events My First Readers & Writers Genre Workshop Book Reviews Benchmark Education Company R e a d e r s W r i t e r s Genre Workshop How to Use This Book with Children 1. Read about book reviews (pages 2 3). 2. ead what to include in a book review R (pages 4 5). 3. ead aloud the story The Tortoise and R the Hare (pages 6 9) and invite children to respond and retell the characters, setting, and plot. 4. ead aloud and discuss the mentor book R reviews (pages 10 11). 5. ead aloud the story Jake Learns the Rules R (pages 12 14) and invite children to respond and retell the characters, setting, and plot. 6. Use the book reviews graphic organizer (page 15) to practice telling or writing book reviews about Jake Learns the Rules. 7. eview the steps for writing a book review R and the writer s checklist (page 16). 8. se the write-on/wipe-off book review frame U on the inside back cover of the book to model writing your own reviews of The Tortoise and the Hare and Jake Learns the Rules. 9. odel writing reviews of other books before M asking children to write their own book reviews. 10. S upport children as they write their own book reviews in small groups or independently. 629 Fifth Avenue Pelham, NY 10803 www.benchmarkeducation.com Credits: Creative Director: Laurie Berger Senior Art Director: Glenn Davis Director of Photography: Doug Schneider Photo Editor: Diane French Illustrations: Bill Greenhead and Lyn Boyer 2012 Benchmark Education Company, LLC All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopy, recording, or any information storage or retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Printed in Guangzhou, China. XXXX-XXXX-XXXX ISBN: 978-1-4509-4497-7 For information about ordering, call Toll-Free 1-877-236-2465 or visit our website: www.benchmarkeducation.com. Illustration credits: Cover, Pages 6-9, 7-14: Bill Greenhead.; Table of Contents; Pages2-4, 11, 15, 16, Lyn Boyer. Book Reviews by Carrie Smith and Steve W. Dunn
What Is a Book Review Who Reads Book Reviews? A book review tells about a book. Many people read book reviews. They read book reviews in newspapers, in magazines, and online. A book review tells what the writer thinks about a book. This is an opinion. Some people read reviews to help them choose a book. 2 3
What Should You Include in a Book Review? Tell the title and author. Share your opinion. Give a reason for your opinion. Then give your recommendation. What Parts of a Book Can You Review? You can review many parts of a story. You can review the characters. You can review story events and illustrations, too. Characters Like D o n t Like Title and author Summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) Opinion Reason for your opinion Recommendation The Three Billy Goats Gruff is by Brenda Parkes. Three goats want to cross a bridge. A troll won t let them pass. The big goat pushes the troll in the water so they can go across. You won t get bored reading this story. It has great action. I definitely recommend this book to all readers! Story events Illustrations 4 5
Read a story. The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop One day Hare told Tortoise, You know, Tortoise, I am faster than you. They set off. Hare was soon far ahead. Tortoise smiled. Let s have a race. Let s see who wins. [[ART: Hare and Tortoise had met up in a clearing in the woods]] 6 7
I have hours before Tortoise catches me, he thought. I ll take a nap. Then I ll finish the race. Hare ran as fast as he could, but Tortoise beat him. You may be faster than me, said Tortoise, but slow and steady wins the race. Hours later, Tortoise passed sleeping Hare. He was about to cross the finish line when Hare woke up. 8 9
Now write your review. You can write about the characters. You can write about the events. Summary Character(s) and Setting: Hare and Tortoise are in the forest. Problem: Hare says he is faster than Tortoise. They have a race in the forest. Resolution: In the end, Tortoise beats Hare and teaches him a lesson. Opinion I don t like Hare at all. Reason He brags, and it isn t nice to brag. My recommendation Read to find out how Tortoise gets the better of Hare. Title and author Summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) Opinion Reason for your opinion Recommendation The Tortoise and the Hare was written by Aesop. Hare thinks he is better than Tortoise because he can run faster. They race in the forest. Hare learns that faster isn t always better. I like when Hare takes his nap and Tortoise passes him. This part shows you can win if you don t give up. Read this story. It has a good lesson for everyone. 10 11
Read this story. Jake Learns the Rules by Carmen Dunst illustrated by Bill Greenhead Marta had a dog named Jake. Marta had an idea. She followed rules. Jake needed to follow rules, too. Marta and her dad took Jake to pet school. Marta loved Jake, but her parents did not. Jake chewed their shoes. He did not listen when they said, No! No, Jake! 12 13
Now tell or write your review. Now Jake doesn t chew shoes. Now Marta s parents love Jake as much as Marta does well, almost as much. Title and author Summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) Opinion Reason for your opinion Recommendation 14 15
First, Write Your Own Book Review 1. Read the book. 2. Tell the title and author. 3. Give a summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution). Book Review: Summary Character(s) and Setting: Problem: 4. Give your opinion about the book. 5. Give a reason for your opinion. Resolution: 6. Give your recommendation. Next, Review Your Checklist Opinion I remembered to... Tell author and title. Reason Give a summary. Give my opinion. Give a reason for my opinion. My Recommendation 16 Give my recommendation.
GENRE: Book Reviews Book Reviews Do you like to share your opinions about stories you have read? Enjoy all of these My First Readers & Writers Genre Workshop titles! You can share them Book Reviews Informational Reports Journals Personal Narratives in a book review. Find out the features of a book review and read sample reviews. Then write your own reviews to share with others. Book Reviews Informational Reports Journals Personal Narratives Carrie Smith is an award-winning novelist and author of short stories. She has also written and edited hundreds of books for children. She lives in New York City. Steve W. Dunn is a former teacher and principal. He now works with teachers and principals across the country on how to help their students become better readers and writers. B e n c h m a r k E d u c a t i o n C o m p a n y