Readers My First Writers Genre Workshop Book Reviews by Carrie Smith and Steve W. Dunn B enchmark e ducation c ompany
Genre: Book Reviews Genre Features title author summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) your opinion reason for your opinion recommendation Readers My First Writers Genre Workshop How to Use This Book with Children 1. Read about book reviews (pages 2 3). 2. Read what to include in a book review (pages 4 5). 3. Read aloud the story The Tortoise and the Hare (pages 6 9) and invite children to respond and retell the characters, setting, and plot. 4. Read aloud and discuss the mentor book reviews (pages 10 11). Oral Genre Vocabulary book review characters illustrations opinion problem recommendation resolution setting story events M y First r eaders & Writers Genre Workshop Book Reviews B enchmark e ducation c ompany 629 Fifth Avenue Pelham, NY 10803 www.benchmarkeducation.com 5. Read aloud the story Jake Learns the Rules (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. Review the steps for writing a book review and the writer s checklist (page 16). 8. Use the write-on/wipe-off book review frame 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. Model writing reviews of other books before asking children to write their own book reviews. 10. Support children as they write their own book reviews in small groups or independently. 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 A book review tells about a book. A book review tells what the writer thinks about a book. This is an opinion. 2
Who Reads Book Reviews? Many people read book reviews. They read book reviews in newspapers, in magazines, and online. Some people read reviews to help them choose a book. 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. 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! 4
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 Don t Like Story events Illustrations 5
Read a story. The Tortoise and the Hare by Aesop One day Hare told Tortoise, You know, Tortoise, I am faster than you. 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
They set off. Hare was soon far ahead. 7
I have hours before Tortoise catches me, he thought. I ll take a nap. Then I ll finish the race. Hours later, Tortoise passed sleeping Hare. He was about to cross the finish line when Hare woke up. 8
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. 9
Now write your review. You can write about the characters. 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. 10
You can write about the events. 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. 11
Read this story. Jake Learns the Rules by Carmen Dunst illustrated by Bill Greenhead Marta had a dog named Jake. Marta loved Jake, but her parents did not. Jake chewed their shoes. He did not listen when they said, No! No, Jake! 12
Marta had an idea. She followed rules. Jake needed to follow rules, too. Marta and her dad took Jake to pet school. 13
Now Jake doesn t chew shoes. Now Marta s parents love Jake as much as Marta does well, almost as much. 14
Now tell or write your review. Title and author Summary (characters, setting, problem/resolution) Opinion Reason for your opinion Recommendation 15
First, Write Your Own Book Review 1. Read the book. 2. Tell the title and author. 3. Give a summary (characters, cters, setting, problem/resolution). 4. Give your opinion about the book. 5. Give a reason for your opinion. 6. Give your recommendation. Next, Review Your Checklist I remembered to... Tell author and title. Give a summary. Give my opinion. Give a reason for my opinion. 16 Give my recommendation.
Book Review: Summary Character(s) and Setting: Problem: Resolution: Opinion Reason 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 enchmark e ducation c ompany