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12 Creative Book Report Projects Your Students Will Love

Whether you’re teaching a whole-class novel, or finishing a round of independent reading or literature circles, post-reading assessments are always more engaging when they’re more than just a test or essay.

Below, you’ll discover a dozen fun book report ideas for your middle or high school ELA students, curated by a team of experienced English teachers.

Choose your favorite projects to offer to students as options on a book report project choice board.

Create a Board Game

When I gave “create a board game about the book you read” as a book report option for my students, I was pleasantly surprised at the results! Quite a few students excitedly chose this option and created some really fun-looking games centered on their books. 

This is a great project choice if you’re looking for something that students can’t create by just Googling the book.

Here are some tips and suggestions for assigning a board game book report:

• Give clear parameters and requirements to keep students on track, such as requiring game elements to represent certain literary elements of the book they read.
• Provide suggestions for game components and materials – encourage students to consider the game play and elements of their favorite board games and to use materials they already have at home to create them.
• For a whole-class novel study, consider allowing students to work in teams to create the novel-based board games, then setting aside a class period for students to play each others’ games and see who wins!

If you’re looking to save time… clear directions handouts, lots of suggestions, and a handy grading rubric for a board game post-reading assessment are all included in this resource . Take a look! 

For more independent reading response ideas, check out this post with ideas for fun post-reading projects.

Create a Journey Box

Engaging students in authentic conversations about books is a passion for Carolyn of Middle School Café .  In traditional oral book reports, students simply get up in front of the class and read a summary of the book they read.  Carolyn found this method of oral book reports painful for both her and her students.

Wanting to find a way to help her students talk about their book and keep her class engaged, Carolyn began incorporating Journey Box Book Reports.  A journey box is a shoebox (or bag) that contains artifacts from the story that help the reader share important events from the story. 

Students predetermine what events of the story are most important to share, then they create an artifact to share with the class or small group as they explain the plot.  As an example, Carolyn had a student who read The Diary of Anne Frank.   He created a small 3D tree that he displayed on the desk as he shared about how Anne looked out the window and dreamed of her former life.  It’s a small piece of the story that helps the student explain the plot point and gives the audience something visual to look at and stay engaged. 

Journey Box Book Reports have been successful for Carolyn in both her middle school and high school classrooms.  She does suggest, if using Journey Boxes in older grades, to have students share their stories in small groups.  

Create a Literary Food Truck

If there’s one thing kids love, it’s food – especially high schoolers – and with this in mind, one of Simply Ana P’s favorite ways to recap a class novel or an independent reading unit is with Literary Food Trucks. This is definitely not a new idea, but it’s one that will have you coming back for seconds 🙂 

Ana first tried this project at the end of The Odyssey , where students were able to decide which book(s) they wanted to make the focus of their trucks. The main requirement was that every single choice made had to be intentional and clearly relevant. With this in mind, students could start the planning process. 

You can make the truck’s requirements as simple or as detailed as you prefer, but Ana recommends having students plan: 

• Truck name, design, and branding colors
• Menu design and items (5 items minimum)
• Employee uniforms
• Merch 

Ana includes a writing component by having her students defend all of their selections in the form of a proposal. This is later used in their presentations, and the better (more intentional) their proposal is, the more likely they will win the class vote. This proposal can be anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages, depending on what writing goals you have for them, and should definitely include text evidence. 

Part of the beauty of this type of project is that it can be done digital or paper-based. Ana likes to walk her students through a Canva tutorial, where there are even menu templates that students can use so they don’t feel overwhelmed starting from scratch. Or, for more creative students, they can create their trucks on chart paper, poster board, or even 3D dioramas.  After students finish making their food trucks, it’s always fun to take a day for the in-class Food Festival, where students are invited to bring in items from their menus or simply some type of snacks. Some students get super hype about this day and even make/wear aprons or themed employee uniforms. Students are able to walk around, visiting each of their trucks, and casting their votes for Best Food, Most Relevant, and Most Detailed. Have fun and bon appetit !

Create a Mood Board

It can be hard to come up with creative post-reading assessments for your students when they’re done with a full class novel, literature circles, or a choice reading unit. In an attempt to combine 21 st century skills with literary analysis, Samantha from Samantha in Secondary decided to try something a little different. Enter: The Mood Board.

A mood board combines images to elicit a feeling from a viewer much like a writer does with words. The possibilities for using a mood board with your class are endless. Students can create a mood board for an overall book, a character, an event, a theme, a poem, etc. Then, have your students carefully curate a board that is aesthetically pleasing and considers color, space, and design in the execution. As students explain why they’ve made the choices they have, the upper-level thinking comes naturally.

Canva is an excellent tool to use to create your mood boards. Having students interact with software they may be unfamiliar with is a meaningful learning experience in and of itself. If you want to learn more about how to use mood boards in your own classroom, click here to read Samantha’s blog post about it or check out the resource she created that includes done-for-you student instructions, examples, and a rubric here .

Create a New App

How would a character’s life change if there was just the perfect app to solve their conflict??

This is the question Krista from @whimsyandrigor poses to her students as they finish a novel and begin to reflect on the character’s journey. Students begin by discussing all of the details surrounding the protagonist and what they experienced. In small groups and in whole-class discussions, students discuss the conflicts, both internal and external, and then brainstorm all of the realistic and not-so-realistic ways the character could have addressed their problems.

Once students have generated a healthy list of ideas, Krista tells them they get to become an app developer and they must create an app that would greatly benefit a character from their reading.

The requirements are:

• The app cannot already exist.
• The app can be totally unrealistic/not probable.
• The app developer must be able to explain how its features would benefit the character.
• The developer must also create an icon for the App Store.

Here is a print-and-go handout students use to get designing. 

Here are some example apps students could create: to help Will from Jason Reynolds’s Long Way Down , maybe an app that predicts his future would help him decide what to do once he steps off the elevator. Or maybe Romeo from Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet would have benefited from a life-detection app that would accurately determine whether or not someone was actually dead.

When students sette on the conflict they want to address and the app that would help, they write a Spill the TEA paragraph, as explained by Krista in this YouTube video .  Using this paragraph organization strategy, students will introduce their app, use evidence to explain how it is necessary for the character, and explain how the app would have benefited or changed the protagonist’s journey.

Now they get to be a graphic designer as they design the app’s icon. Students may want to peruse the actual App Store to get ideas about how an icon is designed, what elements must be present, and how to create something that is eye-catching.

If space allows, Krista encourages you to display the icons and Spill the TEA paragraphs in the hallway for other students to see the in-depth critical thinking and character analysis your students did after finishing a novel. 

Who says technology is only a distraction for our students?! This activity proves technology can help students dive deep into a text and its characters!

Write a Vignette

Lesa from SmithTeaches9to12 often focuses on character-based activities for novel studies including a character profile activity , character conversations through text messages , or the writing of a good vignette. 

Vignettes can be a great way to assess students’ literary analysis skills and understanding of the text. Students write a short piece of about 500 words that is descriptive of a particular moment in time focusing on one of the book’s characters. These moments could be placing the character in a new setting, writing about a particular moment in the story that was less developed, or even extending to a moment beyond the book’s conclusion. Lesa provides students with some mentor texts, including “My Name” by Sandra Cisneros in The House on Mango Street or “The Prisoner Van” by Charles Dickens in Sketches by Boz or even one from a novel being read in class. Review the stories for structure, language choice, sentence structure, use of figurative language, and so on. This helps to co-create the criteria for the assignment. Then students write their own vignette. Build in some peer review as an accountability piece and voila!

Create a Character Collage

It’s safe to say that most English teachers have a bin of cut-up magazines somewhere in their classrooms. While these tattered copies of People and Us Weekly have definitely seen better days, they live on in the many collage creations of our students.

Katie from Mochas and Markbooks loves to use collages as visual representations of comprehension. After reading a novel or short story, creating a character collage to show how a character has evolved from beginning to end requires students to use higher order thinking skills to analyze, synthesize and demonstrate their understanding of characterization by dividing their page in half and choosing words and images to represent the character at the start and conclusion of the story on each side.

The results will show the depth of your students’ interpretation of character as well as their ability to use critical and creative thinking skills to represent their knowledge.

Other ways to use this idea instead of showing character evolution are to show two different sides to a character, for example, who they are with different people in their lives. 

If you are looking for other ways to incorporate collage and magazines into your post-reading assessments, check out this blog post for more ideas!

Design Shoe Charms

Crocs are not Olivia ’s shoe of choice, but when she noticed her students bedazzling their plastic footwear with shoe charms, it was a learning opportunity she just couldn’t pass up. Here’s how to make it work in your classroom:

First, have your students choose a character from the book they have finished reading. Then encourage them to find quotes from the book that reveal the character’s interests, values, or personality. Once they have found their quotes (she has her students find 4), tell them to design and color shoe charms that represent those interests, values, or personality traits. This helps students with inferencing, textual evidence, and even symbolism!

When your students have finished making their shoe charms, they can either tape the charms to their shoes for a fabulous, foot-themed fashion show, or they can glue them to a picture of a Croc for quirky classroom décor. Check out this Instagram post to see the charms Olivia’s students came up with!

Create a Movie Poster

When was the last time you went to the movies? Did you notice the posters along the way? If yes then you have walked down the movie studio promotional lane. Like trailers, studios create movie posters to grab the attention of movie-goers before they even enter the theater. Yes, you may have already purchased your movie ticket, but those posters were created for the future. After you finish watching Sonic 2 , what movie will you see next? You probably already pointed to that poster on the way into the theater and said, “That looks like it is going to be good. I want to see that!”   As a post reading idea, Sharena from The Humble Bird Teacher has her students create movie posters based on the text read in class. This allows her to complete a formative assessment on what the students learned from the text. Before having her class create a movie poster, she shows them examples of posters from different genres such as drama, action, family-friendly, and comedy. Then she hands out a piece of construction paper and goes over the basic requirements. On the movie poster, the students are required to have their actors names or image (characters), the title of the movie, a visual (setting or symbol from the story), and a tagline, and a short two to three sentence summary of the movie. Once her students are finished with the assignment, she displays them outside the classroom, so the students can have their own movie studio promotional lane.  If you are looking for more after reading ideas, click here .

Try Novel Engineering

Whether you’ve been hoping to collaborate with another department, or just really want to try something new, Novel Engineering is an amazing way to get students thinking outside of the box ! Staci from Donut Lovin’ Teacher has found that Novel Engineering requires students to actively comprehend and interact with a novel and get creative about how to help improve the lives of characters! Basically, students work to create a product that will help solve a character’s problem. Here’s how it works…

Before reading : Choose a narrative text where the character faces tangible conflicts. Model and practice the design process in small ways. Try using picture books like Mucha! Muncha! Mucha! in order for students to see and practice what they’ll be doing with a text at grade-level.

While reading : Emphasize the conflicts characters face and give students time to brainstorm possible products that would help solve said problem. Make sure students record evidence from the text so they can later justify the need for the product they design.

After reading : Give students time to draft, craft, and improve their designs that will help solve a problem faced by a character. You can give students options where they draw their creation, make their creation, or even plan a digital app like this, depending on time and resources. Whatever you choose, students will be sure to be pushed to use some skills they may not always practice in an ELA classroom!

Staci has some FREE Novel Engineering Digital Planning Pages or you can read more about her experience with novel engineering on the Donut Lovin’ Teacher blog .

Create a Tik Tok Video

How many times have you passed a group of students filming a TikTok in a hallway? Have you had students ask to film in your class once they finish assignments? You are not alone. Students love TikTok and Yaddy from Yaddy’s Room has figured out how to get students using TikTok for academic purposes!

Yaddy likes to challenge students to create TikTok videos that track a character’s development, encapsulates the main theme of the story, or that exemplifies a key conflict. These easy, low stress videos are great at getting even reluctant students to participate.

To incorporate TikTok videos as a means of assessing students after a novel or story, try the following steps:

1)      Get students to brainstorm which part of the novel they would like to use for their video.

2)      Ask students to start combing TikTok for an audio that fits with the portion of the text they chose

3)      Ask them to plan out how they will realize their vision

4)      Rehearse and film!

5)      Bonus: ask students to upload their videos to Google Drive and share the link with you so that you can make QR codes to post around your classroom!

Want to get started using TikTok videos for book reports? Check on Yaddy’s free planning sheet here !

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100 Creative Book Report Ideas (Kids Will Love)

Writing a book report doesn’t have to be boring. Infuse creativity and fun into your assignments with these 100 innovative book report ideas. From edible projects to multimedia presentations, there’s something for every student and book lover.

Here’s a comprehensive list to inspire your next book report.

All 100 Book Report Ideas That Kids Will Love

Table of Contents

Next, here is a massive list of book report ideas that I hope will inspire you and help students love learning.

1. Flip Book Report

Create a flipbook that illustrates a key scene or series of events from the book. Each page should show a progression of the action, culminating in a complete visual summary. This project combines art and storytelling in a compact, interactive format.

2. Newscast Video Book Report

Create a newscast-style video summarizing the book. Students can write a script, dress as news anchors, and report on key events, characters, and themes. This project encourages public speaking skills and creative scriptwriting while making the book report more engaging.

3. Meme Book Report

Create a series of memes that summarize key events, characters, and themes from the book. Use popular meme formats to make the content relatable and humorous. This project encourages students to think creatively and engage with the book’s content in a modern, entertaining way.

4. Diorama Book Report

Build a diorama inside a shoebox or small container, depicting a crucial scene from the book. Use clay, paper, and other craft materials to create characters and settings. Accompany the diorama with a written explanation of the scene’s importance and how it relates to the overall story.

5. Comic Strip Book Report

Draw a comic strip that retells the book’s story or highlights key scenes. Use dialogue bubbles and illustrations to capture the essence of the plot and characters. This project allows students to showcase their artistic talents and understanding of the narrative in a visually appealing format.

6. Scrapbook Book Report

Create a scrapbook as if you were a character in the book. Include diary entries, photos, mementos, and drawings that represent significant events and personal reflections. This immersive project helps students explore the book from a character’s perspective, enhancing their empathy and comprehension.

7. Board Game Book Report

Design a board game based on the book. Create game pieces, a board, and rules that incorporate the plot, characters, and themes. Players should navigate through the story, encountering challenges and questions that test their knowledge of the book. This interactive project encourages critical thinking and creativity.

8. Newspaper Book Report

Write a newspaper edition featuring articles, interviews, and advertisements related to the book. Include a headline story summarizing the plot, character profiles, opinion pieces, and even classified ads. This project helps students practice journalistic writing and understand the book’s context in a fun way.

9. Character Diary Book Report

Write a diary from the perspective of a main character. Include entries that cover significant events, personal thoughts, and emotional responses throughout the story. This project encourages deep character analysis and creative writing skills, allowing students to connect more intimately with the book.

10. Mobile Book Report

Create a mobile that hangs from a hanger or dowel, with various elements of the book represented by hanging objects. Include characters, scenes, symbols, and themes, with brief descriptions attached to each piece. This visually dynamic project makes the book report interactive and engaging.

11. Travel Brochure Book Report

Design a travel brochure that promotes the setting of the book. Highlight key locations, cultural aspects, and significant events that take place in the story. Use images, catchy headlines, and persuasive language to make the setting come alive. This project helps students focus on the book’s world-building and descriptive details.

12. Shoe Box Book Report

Turn a shoebox into a creative display of the book’s elements. Decorate the outside with the title and author, and inside, create compartments for characters, plot points, themes, and favorite quotes. Use small objects and miniatures to represent different aspects of the story.

13. Interview Book Report

Conduct an imaginary interview with a character from the book. Write questions and answers that delve into the character’s thoughts, motivations, and experiences. This project encourages students to think critically about character development and engage in creative dialogue writing.

14. Poster Book Report

Create a large poster that visually represents the book. Include sections for the plot summary, characters, themes, and personal reflections. Use drawings, magazine cutouts, and other materials to make the poster colorful and informative. This project is great for visual learners and allows for creative expression.

15. Book Trailer Video Report

Produce a video trailer that teases the book’s plot and characters, similar to a movie trailer. Use video editing software to add music, transitions, and effects. This project combines storytelling and technical skills, making the book report exciting and modern.

16. Collage Book Report

Make a collage using images and words cut from magazines and newspapers to represent different aspects of the book. Include characters, settings, themes, and important quotes. This project encourages creativity and helps students visually organize their thoughts about the book.

17. Social Media Profile Book Report

Create a fictional social media profile for a character in the book. Include posts, comments, and interactions that reflect the character’s experiences and relationships. This project helps students think about the characters’ personalities and how they would present themselves in a modern context.

18. Puzzle Book Report

Design a puzzle that represents the book’s plot or themes. Create pieces that fit together to form a picture or message related to the story. This project is interactive and can be a fun way for students to review the book’s content while engaging in a hands-on activity.

19. Letter Exchange Book Report

Write a series of letters between two characters in the book. These letters should cover key events, emotions, and conflicts in the story. This project encourages students to explore character relationships and develop their creative writing skills.

20. Timeline Book Report

Create a detailed timeline that outlines the major events of the book. Include dates, brief descriptions, and illustrations for each event. This project helps students organize the plot chronologically and understand the sequence of events.

21. Puppet Show Book Report

Create puppets for the main characters and perform a puppet show that summarizes the book’s plot. Write a script and use a simple stage to act out key scenes. This project is great for younger students and encourages public speaking and performance skills.

22. E-Book Book Report

Design an e-book that includes summaries, character descriptions, themes, and personal reflections. Use digital tools to add images, links, and interactive elements. This project combines technology with traditional book report elements, making it engaging and modern.

23. Pizza Box Book Report

Transform a pizza box into a creative book report. Decorate the top with the book’s title and author. Inside, create slices with different sections: plot summary, characters, themes, favorite quotes, and a personal reflection. This hands-on project allows students to visually and interactively present their understanding of the book.

24. Recipe Book Report

Write a recipe that represents the book or a character. Include ingredients and instructions that metaphorically relate to the plot or themes. This creative project encourages students to think about the book in an abstract, symbolic way.

25. Interactive Notebook Book Report

Create an interactive notebook with flaps, fold-outs, and pockets that explore different aspects of the book. Include sections for plot summary, character analysis, themes, and personal reflections. This hands-on project is great for tactile learners.

26. T-Shirt Book Report

Design and decorate a T-shirt that represents the book. Include key quotes, symbols, and images that capture the essence of the story. Wear the T-shirt to class and present it, explaining each design element and its significance.

27. Infographic Book Report

Create an infographic that visually summarizes the book. Use charts, graphs, and icons to represent characters, plot points, and themes. This project is great for visual learners and helps students condense information into an easy-to-read format.

28. Poetry Book Report

Write a series of poems that capture the essence of the book. Each poem can represent a different character, theme, or event. This project encourages creative writing and allows students to explore the book through a different literary form.

29. Map Book Report

Draw a detailed map of the book’s setting. Include important locations and a legend explaining each one. This project helps students visualize the book’s world and understand the geographical context of the story.

30. Character Scrapbook

Create a scrapbook for a character in the book. Include diary entries, photos, mementos, and drawings that represent significant events and personal reflections. This immersive project helps students explore the book from a character’s perspective.

31. Podcast Book Report

Record a podcast episode discussing the book. Include a summary, character analysis, themes, and personal reflections. This project combines technology with traditional book report elements, making it engaging and modern.

32. Drama Performance Book Report

Write and perform a short play based on a key scene from the book. Include dialogue and stage directions. This project encourages public speaking, performance skills, and a deep understanding of the book’s content.

33. 3D Model Book Report

Create a 3D model of a significant object or scene from the book. Use clay, cardboard, or other materials. Present the model to the class, explaining its significance and how it relates to the story.

34. Vlog Book Report

Create a vlog (video blog) summarizing the book. Discuss the plot, characters, and themes, and share your personal reflections. This project combines technology with traditional book report elements, making it engaging and modern.

35. Character Playlist Book Report

Create a playlist of songs that represent different characters or themes in the book. Write a brief explanation for each song choice and how it relates to the book. This project allows students to connect music with literature, enhancing their understanding of characters and themes through a different medium.

36. Character Facebook Page

Design a Facebook page for a character from the book. Include status updates, friend interactions, and photos that reflect the character’s journey and experiences. This project encourages students to think about how characters would present themselves on social media and explore their personalities in a modern context.

37. Newspaper Obituary

Write an obituary for a character who dies in the book. Include details about their life, accomplishments, and the impact they had on other characters. This project helps students practice their writing skills while analyzing the significance of the character’s role in the story.

38. Game Show Book Report

Create a game show with questions about the book. Include categories for plot, characters, themes, and quotes. Host the game show in class, encouraging classmates to participate and test their knowledge. This interactive project makes learning fun and engages students in a competitive yet educational way.

39. Pinterest Board

Create a Pinterest board dedicated to the book. Pin images, quotes, and articles that relate to the book’s themes, setting, and characters. Write brief descriptions for each pin explaining its significance. This project encourages students to research and curate content that enhances their understanding of the book.

40. Scene Reenactment

Reenact a key scene from the book with classmates. Write a script, assign roles, and perform the scene in front of the class. This project encourages collaboration, public speaking, and a deeper understanding of the book’s pivotal moments.

41. Interactive Timeline

Create an interactive timeline using a digital tool like Prezi or TimelineJS. Include major events, character developments, and significant plot points. Add images, videos, and links to enhance the presentation. This project helps students organize and visualize the book’s sequence of events.

42. Character Interview Video

Record a video interview with a character from the book. One student can play the interviewer, and another can play the character. Prepare questions and answers that delve into the character’s thoughts, motivations, and experiences. This project encourages creative dialogue writing and performance skills.

43. Virtual Book Club

Organize a virtual book club discussion using a platform like Zoom or Google Meet. Invite classmates to join and discuss the book’s plot, characters, and themes. Prepare discussion questions and encourage everyone to share their thoughts. This project promotes collaborative learning and enhances comprehension through group interaction.

44. Character Trading Cards

Create trading cards for the main characters in the book. Include a picture, character traits, and important information on each card. Distribute the cards to classmates and explain each character’s significance. This project is fun and helps students summarize and share key character details.

45. Animated Book Report

Create an animated video summarizing the book using a tool like Powtoon or Animaker. Include key plot points, character descriptions, and themes. Add voiceovers, music, and effects to make the animation engaging. This project combines storytelling with technology, making the book report dynamic and entertaining.

46. Book Report Blog

Start a blog dedicated to book reports. Write a detailed post about the book, including a summary, character analysis, themes, and personal reflections. Encourage classmates to read and comment on your post. This project combines writing skills with digital literacy and encourages ongoing literary discussion.

47. Postcard Book Report

Design a postcard from a character’s perspective. Include a picture on one side that represents the book, and on the other side, write a message summarizing the book and sharing the character’s thoughts. This project is creative and helps students condense their analysis into a concise format.

48. Twitter Thread Book Report

Create a Twitter thread summarizing the book. Write a series of tweets that cover the plot, characters, and themes. Use hashtags, images, and links to enhance the thread. This project encourages brevity and helps students practice summarizing information in an engaging, modern format.

49. Character Map

Draw a character map that shows the relationships and connections between characters in the book. Use lines and arrows to illustrate how characters interact and influence each other. This project helps students visualize complex character dynamics and understand the story’s interpersonal relationships.

50. Soundtrack Book Report

Create a soundtrack for the book, selecting songs that match different scenes, characters, and themes. Write a brief explanation for each song choice and how it relates to the book. This project allows students to explore the book’s emotional tone through music and enhances their analytical skills.

51. Infographic Poster

Design an infographic poster that summarizes the book. Use charts, graphs, and images to represent key elements like plot, characters, and themes. Present the poster to the class and explain each section. This project is visually engaging and helps students distill information into an easy-to-understand format.

52. Character Twitter Profile

Create a Twitter profile for a character in the book. Write tweets that reflect the character’s thoughts and actions throughout the story. Include interactions with other characters and use hashtags relevant to the plot. This project helps students think creatively about character development and social media use.

53. Movie Poster

Design a movie poster for a hypothetical film adaptation of the book. Include the title, author, cast, and a tagline that captures the essence of the story. This project encourages artistic skills and helps students think about how to market a book visually.

54. Email Exchange

Write a series of emails between two characters discussing key events and their thoughts about them. This project encourages students to explore character relationships and develop their creative writing skills through a modern communication format.

55. Character Resume

Create a resume for a character in the book. Include their background, skills, experiences, and goals. This project helps students think about characters in a professional context and analyze their traits and accomplishments.

56. Video Diary

Record a video diary from a character’s perspective. Share their thoughts and feelings about key events in the book. This project encourages creative performance and deepens students’ understanding of character motivations and emotions.

57. Newspaper Editorial

Write a newspaper editorial discussing a controversial issue from the book. Take a stance and support it with evidence from the story. This project helps students practice persuasive writing and critical thinking while engaging with the book’s themes.

58. Infographic Timeline

Create an infographic timeline that highlights the book’s major events. Use visuals and brief descriptions to make the timeline engaging and informative. This project helps students organize and summarize the plot in a visually appealing way.

59. Book Report Podcast

Record a podcast episode where you discuss the book’s plot, characters, and themes. Invite a classmate to join as a guest and share their perspectives. This project combines technology with literary analysis and encourages collaborative discussion.

60. Interactive Google Map

Create an interactive Google Map that includes locations from the book. Add descriptions and images for each location, explaining their significance in the story. This project helps students visualize the setting and understand the geographical context.

61. Comic Book Adaptation

Adapt the book into a comic book, illustrating key scenes and adding dialogue bubbles. This project combines artistic skills with storytelling, making the book report engaging and creative.

62. Character Family Tree

Draw a family tree for the characters in the book. Include descriptions and relationships for each character. This project helps students understand character connections and lineage, especially in books with complex family dynamics.

63. Blog Post Series

Write a series of blog posts that analyze different aspects of the book. Cover the plot, characters, themes, and personal reflections in separate posts. This project encourages ongoing literary discussion and digital literacy.

64. Virtual Reality Tour

Create a virtual reality tour of the book’s setting using a tool like Google Tour Creator. Include 360-degree images and descriptions of key locations. This project combines technology with literary analysis, making the book’s world come to life.

65. Character Speech

Write and deliver a speech from a character’s perspective. Include their thoughts, feelings, and motivations related to key events in the book. This project encourages public speaking skills and deep character analysis.

66. Digital Storyboard

Create a digital storyboard that outlines the book’s major events. Use images and brief descriptions to visualize the plot. This project helps students organize their thoughts and present the story in a clear, visual format.

67. Illustrated Scene

Draw an illustration of a key scene from the book. Include a brief description explaining the scene’s significance. This project combines artistic skills with literary analysis, making the book report visually engaging.

68. Interview with the Author

Write an imaginary interview with the author of the book. Prepare questions and answers that explore the author’s intentions, themes, and character development. This project encourages critical thinking and understanding of the author’s perspective.

69. Character Trading Card Game

Create a trading card game with cards representing characters from the book. Include stats and abilities based on their traits and actions. This project is fun and helps students summarize and analyze character details in an interactive way.

70. Book Report App

Design a mock-up of an app that provides book reports. Include sections for summaries, character analyses, themes, and reviews. This project combines technology with literary analysis and encourages innovative thinking.

71. Puppet Show Video

Record a puppet show video summarizing the book’s plot. Write a script and use simple puppets to act out key scenes. This project is great for younger students and encourages public speaking and performance skills.

72. Character Pinterest Board

Create a Pinterest board dedicated to a character. Pin images, quotes, and articles that relate to the character’s journey and experiences. Write brief descriptions for each pin explaining their significance. This project encourages students to research and curate content.

73. DIY Book Cover

Design and create a new book cover for the book. Include the title, author, and an illustration that captures the essence of the story. Write a brief summary for the back cover. This project combines artistic skills with literary analysis and encourages students to think about visual representation.

74. Book Report Slideshow

Create a slideshow presentation summarizing the book. Include slides for the plot, characters, themes, and personal reflections. Add images, transitions, and effects to make the presentation engaging. This project helps students organize their thoughts and present their analysis in a dynamic format.

75. Interactive Quiz

Design an interactive quiz about the book using a tool like Kahoot or Google Forms. Include questions about the plot, characters, themes, and quotes. Share the quiz with classmates and test their knowledge. This project is fun and encourages engagement with the book’s content.

76. Character Instagram Profile

Create an Instagram profile for a character from the book. Post pictures and captions that reflect the character’s experiences and personality. Include interactions with other characters. This project helps students think creatively about character development in a modern context.

77. Time Capsule Book Report

Create a time capsule with objects that represent the book. Include letters, drawings, and items that reflect key events and themes. Write an explanation for each item. This project encourages hands-on creativity and helps students connect with the book in a tangible way.

78. Book Report Mural

Collaborate with classmates to create a mural that represents the book. Assign sections to different students and include scenes, characters, and themes. Present the mural to the class and explain each part. This project encourages teamwork and artistic expression.

79. Radio Show Book Report

Record a radio show episode discussing the book. Include segments for plot summary, character analysis, and themes. Add sound effects and music to enhance the presentation. This project combines technology with literary analysis and encourages creative audio production.

80. Character Mood Board

Create a mood board for a character using images, colors, and textures that reflect their personality and journey. Include brief descriptions explaining each choice. This project helps students explore character traits in a visually creative way.

81. Book Report Jigsaw Puzzle

Design a jigsaw puzzle that, when assembled, reveals an image related to the book. Include clues and quotes on the pieces to make it interactive. This project is fun and helps students review the book’s content in a hands-on manner.

82. Character Letter Exchange

Write a series of letters between two characters discussing key events and their thoughts about them. This project encourages students to explore character relationships and develop their creative writing skills through a modern communication format.

83. Character Fan Art

Draw or create fan art for a character from the book. Include a brief description explaining the artwork and its significance. This project combines artistic skills with literary analysis and encourages students to express their interpretation visually.

84. Virtual Field Trip

Create a virtual field trip to the book’s setting using a tool like Google Earth. Include descriptions and images of key locations and explain their significance in the story. This project combines technology with literary analysis, making the book’s world come to life.

85. Character Resume and Cover Letter

Create a resume and cover letter for a character applying for a job. Include their background, skills, experiences, and goals. This project helps students think about characters in a professional context and analyze their traits and accomplishments.

86. Interactive Word Cloud

Create an interactive word cloud using a tool like WordArt.com. Include important words and themes from the book. Present the word cloud and explain the significance of the largest words. This project is visually engaging and helps students summarize key concepts.

87. Book Report Collage Poster

Make a collage poster using images and words cut from magazines and newspapers to represent different aspects of the book. Include characters, settings, themes, and important quotes. This project encourages creativity and helps students visually organize their thoughts about the book.

88. Scene Diorama

89. book report cookbook.

Create a cookbook with recipes that represent different elements of the book. Include ingredients and instructions that metaphorically relate to the plot or themes. This creative project encourages students to think about the book in an abstract, symbolic way.

90. Book Report Trading Cards

Design trading cards for the main characters in the book. Include a picture, character traits, and important information on each card. Distribute the cards to classmates and explain each character’s significance. This project is fun and helps students summarize and share key character details.

91. Book Report Escape Room

Design an escape room with puzzles and clues related to the book. Include challenges that require knowledge of the plot, characters, and themes to solve. This project is interactive and encourages engagement with the book’s content in a fun, immersive way.

92. Character Video Diary

93. book report journal.

Keep a journal while reading the book. Write entries summarizing each chapter, reflecting on characters and themes, and noting important quotes. This project helps students organize their thoughts and track their understanding of the book as they read.

94. Book Report Memory Box

Create a memory box for a character in the book. Fill it with objects that represent their experiences and memories. Write an explanation for each item. This project encourages hands-on creativity and helps students connect with the book in a tangible way.

95. Book Report Flipgrid

Create a Flipgrid video summarizing the book. Discuss the plot, characters, and themes, and share your personal reflections. This project combines technology with traditional book report elements, making it engaging and modern.

96. Character Fashion Design

Design an outfit for a character based on their personality and experiences in the book. Create a drawing or collage of the outfit and write a brief explanation of each design choice. This project encourages creativity and helps students explore character traits through fashion.

97. Book Report Newspaper

Create a newspaper edition featuring articles, interviews, and advertisements related to the book. Include a headline story summarizing the plot, character profiles, opinion pieces, and even classified ads. This project helps students practice journalistic writing and understand the book’s context in a fun way.

98. Character Instagram Story

Create an Instagram story from a character’s perspective. Include pictures, captions, and interactions that reflect the character’s journey and experiences. This project helps students think creatively about character development and social media use.

99. Book Report Digital Scrapbook

Create a digital scrapbook using a tool like Canva or Google Slides. Include pages for plot summary, character analysis, themes, and personal reflections. Add images, stickers, and interactive elements to enhance the presentation. This project combines technology with traditional book report elements, making it engaging and modern.

100. Pop-Up Book Report

Create a pop-up book that illustrates important scenes from the book. Use paper engineering techniques to make the scenes three-dimensional. This project combines artistic skills with literary analysis and makes the book report interactive.

How to Do It:

• Select key scenes from the book.
• Design and construct pop-up elements for each scene.
• Write a brief description for each pop-up page.
• Assemble the pages into a book format.

Now that you have your ideas, here is a quick video on how to write a book report:

Top 10 Creative Book Report Ideas

Here are the top 10 creative book report ideas that will make your assignment both fun and engaging.

Final Thoughts: Book Report Ideas

Turn your book reports from dull to dazzling with these inventive ideas.

Not only will you enjoy the process, but your reports will also leave a lasting impression. Get started now!

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10 creative ideas for homeschool book reports

by Kim Kautzer | May 10, 2021 | Books and Reading

Do your kids roll their eyes at the thought of having to write another boring book report? If so, they’ll jump for joy at the chance to try these creative ideas for book reports in your homeschool. There’s something for everyone, including your:

• Letter writer
• Game creator
• Imaginative child

So ditch the traditional book report! Instead of squashing your children’s love of books, invite them to extend the reading experience by wrapping it up with a delightful book-themed activity.

Which one will they choose first?

1. Design a Game

Make a game based a book you recently read. It can be a board game, card game, guessing game, or other idea. Write step-by-step directions and rules that are easy to follow. Gather any extra supplies needed to play the game, and then try it out with a friend or family member.

2. Plan a Birthday Gift 

Imagine that you’ve been invited to a birthday party for one of the book’s characters, and you want to bring  the perfect gift ! Consider the character’s personality, likes, and dislikes before deciding on a gift he or she would really love and use. Create a greeting card to go along with your gift. In the greeting, explain to your friend from the book why you chose this gift.

3. Walk in a Character’s Shoes

In a good novel, the main character must make some hard choices. Think about a book you read recently. Write 5-10 questions that will give this character a chance to talk about the choices they faced. Then, answer the questions as if you were the character . As you write your answers, talk about the events, thoughts, and feelings that surrounded your choices and discuss the impact of your decision(s).

4. Prepare a Lesson

Do you love history? Nature? Boating? Knitting? Basketball? Read a nonfiction book about a topic that interests you. Now, pretend that you get to be the teacher and  create a lesson that will teach something you learned from the book. Your lesson can explain a concept or idea, teach some facts, or explain how to do something. Write the information in a logical order. Finally, present your lesson to a sibling, friend, or parent.

5. Create a Brochure

Does your novel take place in a different city, state, country, or planet? Think about the sites in the story that would be educational, fun, or exciting to visit. Whether the story setting is real or imaginary, design a travel brochure to entice visitors. Include maps, drawings, photos, text, bulleted lists, and attention-grabbing section titles. For content ideas, try this list of Things to Include in a Travel Brochure . It may also be helpful to look at some real travel brochures.

6. List Character Traits

What makes a book’s protagonist, or hero, likeable? What makes the antagonist, or “bad guy,” unlikeable? Write down the names of four or more characters from your book and list each one’s traits . (Remember that likeable characters can sometimes be jealous, angry, or selfish. Likewise, “bad guys” can sometimes demonstrate positive character qualities.)

7. Jump into a Book!

Pretend you’re going to join the characters in your book for a week. Make a list of all the things you’ll need to pack . Plan carefully, because you won’t be able to go home for (or buy) anything you forgot!

8. Make a Diorama

Creative ideas for book reports include projects like dioramas, which are short on writing and long on fun.

A diorama is a miniature 3-dimensional scene that recreates a setting . It can feature models of buildings, plants, animals, or people set against a background. A diorama can use photos and paper, or it can include 3-dimensional materials such as Styrofoam, plastic figurines, or natural items such as twigs, shells, or pebbles.

Make a diorama in a shoebox to represent a scene or main event from your book. Then write a vivid description of the scene OR explain what happened at this scene during one of the main events of the book.

9. Write to the Author

Write a letter to the author of a book you recently read.

• Mention this book, plus any others that you have read by this author.
• Tell the author three things about the book you just read (something you did or didn’t like; your opinions about the characters, setting, and plot; why you did or didn’t like the way the story ended; an idea for a sequel; etc.)
• Ask the author 2-3 questions. These can either be personal questions (favorite childhood memory, number of brothers or sisters, favorite book, favorite place to visit) or they can be about the process of writing this book.

10. Make a Timeline and Map

After reading a biography or historical-fiction novel , make a timeline to show the main events of the story. Use drawings, clipart, or magazine cutouts to illustrate events along the timeline. Then draw a map showing the location(s) where the story took place.

Looking for more ways to engage your kids with books?  Writing About Books: Book Reports and Beyond  offers loads of ideas that  get kids talking and writing about the books they’re reading , from the earliest picture books to high-school level novels. It also includes printable reading logs for all ages, book-themed journal prompts, and loads of additional creative ideas for book reports. Sprinkle them into your weekly reading and writing lessons and watch your children make more  meaningful connections with the books they read .

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DLTK's Educational Activities - Book Report Ideas Make a Diorama

Welcome to the Diorama -- today's grade school staple for all sorts of projects!  Since my daughters started school I have been through at least a dozen diorama projects (typically for book reports).  I've even had to dash out and buy shoes just so I had a shoebox (I'm now an experienced mom and have a stash of them on hand *laugh*)

This section provides a few examples of dioramas we've made including material lists and instructions, some "parental involvement" guidelines and some handouts teachers can print out for various projects.

Tips on Making a Book Report Diorama in a Shoebox

Christopher cascio, 26 sep 2017.

A shoebox diorama represents a scene within the confines of a shoebox. When used as a book report, you can decorate and arrange figures and objects inside of the shoebox to illustrate a scene from the book. Think of the shoebox as a theater stage, and you are the director, prop-master and set designer.

Explore this article

• Capture The Moment
• Draw It Out
• Build from Back to Front
• Use The Lid

1 Capture The Moment

When making a diorama for a book report, it is important you choose a significant scene from the book to display in your diorama. Ideally, you want people who see your project to know which book it is from without being told, or having to read the title. Furthermore, if you capture a moment of action in your scene, it will draw attention and prompt those unfamiliar with your book to ask about what happens next in that scene.

2 Draw It Out

Before you start crafting figures and pasting colored paper to this inside of your shoebox, take the time to make a drawing of what you plan to do. Figure out which objects will go near the front and back and so on, so you don't get to the building stage and realize you don't have enough room for the important parts of your scene. Consider your sketch a blueprint, which will let you try different ideas without having to waste materials and construction time.

3 Build from Back to Front

It is tempting to begin by placing objects and decorations in the foreground of your scene first, because that is what the audience sees first, and the foreground is usually where the action happens. However, it is much easier to paint -- or apply colored -- paper to the background first, followed by any background objects before placing any of the foreground objects or decorating the front of the box.

4 Use The Lid

The lid of the shoebox is an effective tool that can significantly enhance the presentation of your diorama. You can use it as a base to increase the area of the "ground." If it's a hinge-type lid that is connected to the box, you can stand the box on end and use the lid as additional foreground space beside the main box area. You can even use this type of lid to represent space underwater or underground: simply keep the lid attached and place the box near the edge of the table, allowing the lid to drape down in front.

• 1 First Palette: Polar Habitat Diorama
• 2 ABC Teach: Visual Book Report - Diorama
• 3 WonderHowTo: Humanities: How to Craft a Diorama Out of a Shobox

About the Author

Christopher Cascio is a memoirist and holds a Master of Fine Arts in creative writing and literature from Southampton Arts at Stony Brook Southampton, and a Bachelor of Arts in English with an emphasis in the rhetoric of fiction from Pennsylvania State University. His literary work has appeared in "The Southampton Review," "Feathertale," "Kalliope" and "The Rose and Thorn Journal."

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42 Creative Book Report Ideas for Students

Inspire your students to share their love of books.

Responding to what you read is an important literacy skill. Reading about other people’s experiences and perspectives helps kids learn about the world. And although students don’t need to dive deeply into every single book they read, occasionally digging into characters, settings, and themes can help them learn to look beyond the prose. Here are 42 creative book report ideas designed to make reading more meaningful for kids.

1. Concrete Found Poem

This clever activity is basically a shape poem made up of words, phrases, and whole sentences found in the books students read. The words come together to create an image that represents something from the story.

2. Graphic Novel

Have students rewrite the book they are reading, or a chapter of their book, as a graphic novel. Set parameters for the assignment such as including six scenes from the story, three characters, details about the setting, etc. And, of course, include detailed illustrations to accompany the story.

3. Book Snaps

Book Snaps are a way for students to visually show how they are reacting to, processing, and/or connecting with a text. First, students snap a picture of a page in the book they are reading. Then, they add comments, images, highlights, and more.

4. Diary Entry

Have your students place themselves in the shoes of one of the characters from their book and write a first-person diary entry of a critical moment from the story. Ask them to choose a moment in the story where the character has plenty of interaction and emotion to share in a diary entry.

5. Pizza Box Book Report

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas that use upcycled materials, try this one using a pizza box. It works well for both nonfiction and fiction book reports. The top lid provides a picture of the book cover. Each wedge of the pizza pie tells part of the story.

6. Book Jacket

Have students create a new book jacket for their story. Include an attractive illustrated cover, a summary, a short biography of the author, and a few reviews from readers.

7. Mint Tin Book Report

There are so many super-creative, open-ended projects you can use mint tins for. Teacher blogger Teacher Thrive describes the process of creating book reports using them. There’s even a free template for cards that fit inside.

8. Fictional Yearbook Entries

Ask your students to create a yearbook based on the characters and setting in the book. What do they look like? Cut out magazine pictures to give a good visual image for their school picture. What kind of superlative might they get? Best-looking? Class clown? What clubs would they be in or lead? Did they win any awards? It should be obvious from their small yearbooks whether your students dug deep into the characters in their books. They may also learn that who we are as individuals is reflected in what we choose to do with our lives.

9. Book Report Cake

This project would be perfect for a book tasting in your classroom! Each student presents their book report in the shape of food. Learn more about book tastings .

10. Current Events Comparison

Have students locate three to five current events articles a character in their book might be interested in. After they’ve found the articles, have them explain why the character would find them interesting and how they relate to the book. Learning about how current events affect time, place, and people is critical to helping develop opinions about what we read and experience in life.

11. Sandwich Book Report

Yum! You’ll notice a lot of our creative book report ideas revolve around food. In this oldie but goodie, each layer of this book report sandwich covers a different element of the book—characters, setting, conflict, etc.

12. Book Alphabet

Choose 15 to 20 alphabet books to help give your students examples of how they work around themes. Then ask your students to create their own Book Alphabet based on the book they read. What artifacts, vocabulary words, and names reflect the important parts of the book? After they find a word to represent each letter, have them write one sentence that explains where the word fits in.

13. Peekaboo Book Report

Using cardboard lap books (or small science report boards), students include details about their book’s main characters, plot, setting, conflict, resolution, etc. Then they draw a head and arms on card stock and attach them to the board from behind to make it look like the main character is peeking over this book report.

14. Act the Part

Have students dress up as their favorite character from the book and present an oral book report. If their favorite character is not the main character, retell the story from their point of view.

15. T-shirt Book Report

Another fun and creative idea: Create a wearable book report with a plain white tee. Come up with your own using Sharpie pens and acrylic paint.

16. Bookmark

Have students create a custom illustrated bookmark that includes drawings and words from either their favorite chapter or the entire book.

17. Rays of Sunshine Book Report

This is great for biography research projects. Students cut out a photocopied image of their subject and glue it in the middle. Then, they draw lines from the image to the edges of the paper, like rays of sunshine, and fill in each section with information about the person. As a book report template, the center image could be a copy of the book cover, and each section expands on key information such as character names, theme(s), conflict, resolution, etc.

18. Reading Lists for Characters

Ask your students to think about a character in their book. What kinds of books might that character like to read? Take them to the library to choose five books the character might have on their to-be-read list. Have them list the books and explain what each book might mean to the character. Post the to-be-read lists for others to see and choose from—there’s nothing like trying out a book character’s style when developing your own identity.

19. Character To-Do List

This fun activity is an off-the-beaten-path way to dive deep into character analysis. Get inside the head of the main character in a book and write a to-do list that they might write. Use actual information from the text, but also make inferences into what that character may wish to accomplish.

20. Collage

Create a collage using pictures and words that represent different parts of the book. Use old magazines or print pictures from the Internet.

21. Book Reports in a Bag

Looking for book report ideas that really encourage creative thinking? With book reports in a bag, students read a book and write a summary. Then, they decorate a paper grocery bag with a scene from the book, place five items that represent something from the book inside the bag, and present the bag to the class.

22. Timeline

Have students create a timeline of the main events from their book. Be sure to include character names and details for each event. Use 8″ x 11″ sheets of paper taped together or a long portion of bulletin board paper.

23. File Folder Book Report

Also called a lap book, this easy-to-make book report hits on all the major elements of a book study and gives students a chance to show what they know in a colorful way.

24. Public Service Announcement

If a student has read a book about a cause that affects people, animals, or the environment, teach them about public service announcements . Once they understand what a PSA is, have them research the issue or cause that stood out in the book. Then provide a template for a storyboard so they can create their own PSA. Some students might want to take it a step further and create a video based on their storyboard. Consider sharing their storyboard or video with an organization that supports the cause or issue.

25. Triorama Book Report

Who doesn’t love a multidimensional book report? This image shows a 3D model, but you can also try an accordion-folded book report, a quadrama, or an info-sphere.

26. Character Cards

Make trading cards (like baseball cards) for a few characters from the book. On the front side, draw the character. On the back side, make a list of their character traits and include a quote or two.

27. Book Report Mobile

This creative project doesn’t require a fancy or expensive supply list. Students just need an ordinary clothes hanger, strings, and paper. The body of the hanger is used to identify the book, and the cards on the strings dangling below are filled with key elements of the book, like characters, setting, and a summary.

28. Fact Sheet

Have students create a list of 10 facts that they learned from reading the book. Have them write the facts in complete sentences, and be sure that each fact is something that they didn’t know before they read the book.

29. Dodecahedron Book Report

Creative book report ideas think outside the box. In this case, it’s a ball! SO much information can be covered on the 12 panels, and it allows students to take a deep dive in a creative way.

30. Be a Character Therapist

Therapists work to uncover their clients’ fears based on their words and actions. When we read books, we must learn to use a character’s actions and dialogue to infer their fears. Many plots revolve around a character’s fear and the work it takes to overcome that fear. Ask students to identify a character’s fear and find 8 to 10 scenes that prove this fear exists. Then have them write about ways the character overcame the fear (or didn’t) in the story. What might the character have done differently?

31. Charm Bracelet Book Report

What a “charming” way to write a book report! Each illustrated bracelet charm captures a character, an event in the plot, setting, or other detail.

32. Mind Maps

Mind maps can be a great way to synthesize what students have learned from reading a book. Plus, there are so many ways to approach them. Begin by writing a central idea in the middle of the page. For example, general information, characters, plot, etc. Then branch out from the center with ideas, thoughts, and connections to material from the book.

33. Book Report Booklets

This clever book report is made from ordinary paper bags. Stack the paper bags on top of each other, fold them in half, and staple the closed-off ends of the bags together. Students can write, draw, and decorate on the paper bag pages. They can also record information on writing or drawing paper and glue the paper onto the pages. The open ends of the bags can be used as pockets to insert photos, cut-outs, postcards, or other flat items that help them tell their story.

34. Letter to the Author

Have kids write a letter to the author of the book. Tell them three things you really liked about the story. Ask three questions about the plot, characters, or anything else you’re curious about.

35. Cardboard Box TV

This cardboard box TV book report project is a low-tech version of a television made from a cereal box and two paper towel rolls. Students create the viewing screen cut out at the top, then insert a scroll of paper with writing and illustrations inside the box. When the cardboard roll is rotated, the story unfolds.

36. Board games

This is a great project if you want your students to develop a little more insight into what they’re reading. Have them think about the elements of their favorite board games and how they can be adapted to fit this assignment.

37. Foldables

From Rainbows Within Reach, this clever idea would be a great introduction to writing book reports. Adapt the flap categories for students at different levels. Adjust the number of categories (or flaps) per the needs of your students.

38. Timeline

Create a timeline using a long roll of butcher paper, a poster board, or index cards taped together. For each event on the timeline, write a brief description of what happens. Add pictures, clip art, word art, and symbols to make the timeline more lively and colorful.

39. Comic Strips

If you’re looking for creative book report ideas for students who like graphic novels, try comic strip book reports. Include an illustrated cover with the title and author. The pages of the book should retell the story using dialogue and descriptions of the setting and characters. Of course, no comic book would be complete without copious illustrations and thought bubbles.

40. Movie Version

If the book your students have read has been made into a movie, have them write a report about how the versions are alike and different. If the book has not been made into a movie, have them write a report telling how they would make it into a movie, using specific details from the book.

41. Wanted Poster

Make a Wanted poster for one of the book’s main characters. Indicate whether they are wanted dead or alive. Include a picture of the character and a description of what the character is “wanted” for, three examples of the character showing this trait, and a detailed account of where the character was last seen.

42. Wheaties Box Book Report

Recycle a cereal box and create a book report to look like an old-fashioned Wheaties box that features sports heroes. Include a main image on the front side of the box. Decorate the sides of the box with information about the book’s characters, setting, plot, summary, etc.

Come share your own creative book report ideas in our We Are Teachers HELPLINE group on Facebook.

Plus, dont’ miss 100 famous children’s books every kid should read (plus free printable).

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Teachnet.com

Creative perspectives on education and classroom management, not your same old book report – dioramas, trioramas, quadramas.

October 26, 2010 Teachnet Staff Language Arts , Reading 0

For some ideas that really make you rethink the concept of three dimensional reports, we’ve pulled together ideas from some of our T2T contributors. Perfect for book reports and author studies, these are bound to make your students go that extra mile when putting together their information. If you have a great idea you’d like to share, simply drop us an email.

Accordion Folded Book from Sharon Brandt 1. Folded a 12 x 18 sheet of newsprint in half long-wise (I call it a hot dog). 2. Open in and fold it in half width-wise (I call it a hamburger). 3. Fold it again while in the hamburger stage. 4. Open hamburger once. 5. Folded part should be by the students’ stomachs. 6. Cut on the middle fold going only so slightly past the next fold. 7. Open it back to the hot dog. 8. Accordion it to make a folded book. Should have about 7-8 pages to use for a book report project. Sizes vary according the size of the paper use.

Book Jackets from Laura B. The 4th grade teacher in our school does a book jacket book report. She has the kids fold the paper like it’s a hard cover book book jacket. On the ‘cover’ they illustrate a cover for their report (this is usually any picture that they want that will describe the story – not the cover of their book). On the inside flap they write a description of the main character. On the inside back flap they write a description of either the setting or the problem (she switches it every now and again). On the back ‘cover’ they write a summary of their story.

Info-spheres from Pamela Udelhofen Materials: Scissors, glue, markers, a length of string, a 9×12 sheet of colored paper, a hole puncher and assorted craft materials 1. You need to create a large (symmetrical) flower with only four petals on the 9×12 sheet. 2. On one petal: Write the title of the book, the author’s name, and your name. 3. On the second petal: Write the name of the main character. Describe this character using three verbs, three nouns, and six adjectives 4. On the third petal: Write a brief summary of the book’s plot. 5. On the last petal: Describe the setting of the book. Use words and/or pictures to tell where and when the story took place. Construction: 1. Carefully cut out the flower. 2. Using a hole puncher, make a hole in the center of the flower. 3. Choose an object from the book that symbolizes the story. Use colored paper and other craft materials to create a figure to represent that object. The figure must be small enought to fit inside the completed ornament. 4. Tie one end of the string to the top of the figure, thread the other end of the string through the hole. 5. Glue the ends of the four petals together by carefully curing each strip around the center figure and then overlapping the tips.

For a quick list of folded paper book report ideas, check out this site from About.com.

Don’t miss our related page, More Ideas Than You’ll Ever Use For Book Reports!

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Book Report Diorama

Skill Level: Beginner

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• FloraCraft® Diorama Kit
• Raffia - Natural
• (20) Toothpicks or Loose Straw
• Paint Marker - White
• 3 1/2" White Sheep
• 5 1/2" Brown Horse
• 2" Pink Pig
• 2" Babe Chick Set
• 1.5" Black Spider
• Scissors 
• Small Rubber Band
• Mechanical Pencil
• Transparent Tape
• (2) Straight Pins
• Glue Gun and Glue Sticks
• Old Newspapers

Instructions

• (Optional: To create a “barn board” look inside Diorama, horizontal or vertical grooves can be made. Hold side panels up against back panels to see that they will run vertically – sides will overlap the top and bottom of the Diorama. Then decide which way you want the grooves to run inside the back and side panels.)
• Place back and both side panels of Diorama on the work surface. Use pencil and ruler to mark and draw vertical or horizontal lines 1/2″ apart. Then go back over the lines pressing with a pencil (with lead retracted) to make grooves.
• Turn over grooved panels (grooved side down). On a newspaper-covered work surface, paint all pieces and edges of Diorama sheets red. Let dry. Turn over pieces and paint tan. Let dry.
• Refer to package instructions to assemble Diorama using tacky glue and toothpicks.
• For the roof, trace half-pattern twice on white cardstock and cut it out. Place roof pieces side by side and use transparent tape on the back to tape them together. Similarly, trace, cut, and tape two red roof pieces—position by centering red on white roof pieces and use tacky glue to spot glue together.
• For the barn door, measure and use scissors to cut a 3 1/2″ x 4″ white rectangle; two 3/8″ x 4 1/2″ white strips; and a 2 1/2″ x 3 1/4″ red rectangle. Position and white glue strips in “X” on the red rectangle and trim excess strips. Center mount and glue red on white rectangles. Position and glue the door to the roof.
• Referring to the photo, use a paint marker to draw a spider web and write the book’s name on the roof. Let dry.
• To attach the roof, squeeze a line of tacky glue along the top front edge of Diorama and position the roof. Use straight pins to hold in place until the glue dries. Then remove pins.
• For barn straw, grasp a bunch of raffia and diagonally cut all at once into 2″ lengths. Scatter straw on the floor of Diorama.
• Use a rubber band to gather the doll’s hair into a ponytail to represent the book’s character—position animals and doll in Diorama. Ask an adult to use a glue gun to glue a spider to the roof.

Click on the pattern to enlarge.

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Top 5 Creative Book Report Ideas That Guarantee Success in Class

Assigned reading helps students develop their critical analysis skill, and book reports test their progress. But it is not enough to simply analyze a literary work — you also need to express your creativity while presenting book report ideas. In this article, you will learn the definition of a literary report, its purpose, and five alternative book report ideas to show off your creativity in class.

What is a book (literary) report?

A book report is an overall summary and personal assessment of a book that includes key details like the title, writer, text type, and genre. Literary reports also include a concise retelling of the story's plot. It typically examines the main protagonists, motifs, and the writer's intentions. 

These reviews often include the reader's personal reflections, assessing the story’s strong and weak points and the impact it had on the audience. This type of assignment helps students improve their critical analysis, writing, and comprehension skills by encouraging them to engage deeply with the story.

Main goals of book reviews

Literary reports serve several key purposes in the educational process:

• Improving understanding of the written material. Book reports encourage students to demonstrate how they understood the story's content, themes, and messages. By making a summary of the story’s plot, analyzing motifs, and discussing characters, students engage deeply with the writing.
• Developing critical analysis abilities. Preparing a literary review requires students to critically analyze what they've read. They must assess the book's strong and weak points, the writer’s purpose, and the effect the story has on its audience.
• Encouraging personal reflection. Book reports often ask students to relate the motifs or circumstances of the book to their own experiences or to the wider world, fostering personal reflection and a deeper connection with the written story.
• Boosting communication skills. By discussing their opinions and interpretations in a book review, students find new ways to express their impressions and defend their viewpoints, which is an essential aspect of effective communication.

These purposes make book reviews a crucial part of your learning process. That’s why you need to put effort into your submission. And to make sure you get the highest score for your project, we prepared five fun book report ideas that you can use as your inspiration!

Top 5 alternative book report ideas

1. book report board game ideas.

A book report board game would probably be the most unexpected way of presenting your book review in school. This is a great idea to include the whole class in a playful manner while allowing them to learn about the story’s main motifs and messages in practice.

Here is a brief tutorial on how to make your book review into a full-fledged board game:

• Center your attention on the main storyline, its protagonists, and events from the book to form the game's foundation.
• Decide on the game goal that reflects the book's story, like reaching a destination or solving a mystery.
• Establish clear rules for movement, challenges, and interactions that closely follow the book’s plot.
• Introduce cards or dice to add randomness and represent plot twists or special actions.
• Playtest the game, adjust as needed, and explain how it connects to the book's motifs and setting when presenting.

With this option, you will surely present a unique and well thought-out book report idea in your class.

2. Soundtrack playlist

Music is one of the most beautiful art forms. Combining music and literature can result in a wonderful blend of emotions.

To use music as one of the alternative book reports, you can compile a playlist of songs that reflect the mood, motifs, or key moments of the story. For each song, prepare a short explanation of its relatability to specific protagonists, events, or the general vibe of the story.

3. Write a character diary

Character diaries are a solid project idea for a book report. This medium allows you to capture a character’s feelings and reflect on how they change throughout the progression of the book.

To create a character diary for a book review, use these steps:

• Select a main character whose perspective will offer deep insights into the story.
• Draft diary entries from this character’s point of view, capturing their ideas, feelings, and reactions to central events in the book.
• Include flashbacks on how the character grows throughout the book, highlighting significant changes or realizations.
• Incorporate details about the character’s relationships and how essential plot events affected their personal journey.

This report idea provides an unorthodox, personal perspective on the book’s narrative and gives you an opportunity to relive the character’s emotions and decisions.

4. Newspaper front page

In fiction, newspapers are often used to underline the importance of an event. So why not copy this idea and choose a newspaper as one of your creative book report ideas?

To do this, design a newspaper front page featuring headlines, articles, and images that report on the book’s major events as if they were real news. Include interviews, editorials, and advertisements related to the story. Don’t forget about the style of newspaper writing, and use it as another tool to make your review more creative and entertaining.

5. Book in a box

This is one of the most creative book report ideas. A book in a box refers to a hand-made project where you create a 3D representation inside a box to illustrate a significant scene or location from a book. The hand-made diorama should include detailed elements such as characters, objects, and the environment from the selected scene.

To make a book in a box report, use this short guide:

• Choose a key scene or setting from the book to depict.
• Use a box to build a replica of the chosen scene, including detailed backgrounds, characters, and plot-relevant objects.
• Label the details inside the box to explain their relevance to the scene or story.
• Prepare a short description of the scene to give your viewers necessary context.

This approach provides an interactive opportunity to showcase key events of the book, bringing the story's environment and pivotal moments to life.

Create fun book report ideas with Aithor!

With our trust-worthy AI generator, you can find the most creative book report ideas and amaze classmates. Simply give Aithor prompt to create a creative book project ideas and become the talk of your literature class!

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10 Book Report Ideas That Kids Will Love

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Fun book report ideas for fourth, fifth and sixth graders.

Book reports don’t need to be painfully boring. In fact, they can be a ton of fun, and with the right project, students will love the entire process of creating and sharing meaningful book projects. There are loads of great book report ideas out there just waiting to happen in your classroom!

Here are 10 book report ideas that kids will love:

1. cereal box book report.

These oh-so-cool reports were always the top-ranked project by my fifth graders. Students loved creating an original book report display using a covered cereal box and ready-made templates. The finished projects made a great classroom display, and students loved looking at their classmates’ creative reports. Read more about Cereal Box Book Reports HERE .

2. Paper Bag Book Report

This is a super simple idea that is quite fun for students. Provide each student with a lunch-sized paper bag. Tell them to think about 5 objects that relate to the main character of their book . The objects have to be small enough to fit into the bag . Send the bags home and have students place the 5 objects in the bag and bring them back to school. On the day they are due, have students take turns sharing the objects in their bags and explaining how they relate to the main character of the book. You can even make a great display with the bags, objects, and books to pique the interest of other students.

3. Character Day

Have students dress up as the main character of their book. Then, have each student take a turn standing in front of the class and telling their character’s story in first person point of view.

4. Book Report Lap Book

you need are two file folders, some cardstock or construction paper, scissors, glue, and the FREE book report template found here . The finished products are quite amazing, and your students will probably keep theirs forever! Check out my photo tutorial for making a lap book .

5. Book Scene Diorama

Have students construct a diorama of one of the main events of their book. They will make a 3-dimensional scene, including models of characters, the setting, and objects. A shoebox makes a great place to build a diorama. Require students to write a description of the scene.

6. Book Report Posters

This might be the easiest option of the book report ideas. Have students first sketch their posters on a sheet of notebook paper. Then, provide students with a large piece of poster paper or chart paper. Posters must identify main characters, setting, title, problem, and solution. Display finished posters in the classroom or on hallway walls.

7. Book Report Mobiles

Mobiles are easy to make, and it’s fun to watch students use their creativity in designing their own projects. A paper plate folded in half makes a great base/topper for mobiles. Have students write the title of the book on this paper plate semi circle and hang the mobile pieces from it. Provide students with construction paper, yarn, markers, paper hole punches, and any other materials they might need.

8. Book Report Mini Books

With just one piece of paper, your students can make a complete, creative book report!

In these clever book projects , students identify:

• Title/Author
• Main Character

No tape, glue, or staples required! Photo directions are included in this download.

9. Design a Book Jacket

Show your students several examples of some outstanding book jackets. Point out the front with the title and illustration, the spine and its information, and the back with the book summary. Also show the two inside flaps with information about the author and a smaller summary. Provide them each with a larger piece of paper and have them design a jacket for the book they have just read.

10. Ready-to-Print Templates

Use NO PREP book report templates to save your sanity AND to keep things fun for your students. You could print out all 12 templates in this Book Report Templates Packet and let students choose the one they want to do each month! There is even a really nice digital option for Google classroom included!

Regardless of which of these book report ideas you choose, be sure to clearly outline the expectations before your students begin. It’s best if you can model a project to demonstrate the quality of work your students should strive for.

Keep it fun and engaging, and your students will be excited to invest their time in their projects!

Check out these ready to go, easy to use book report projects in my store:

SAVE THIS POST FOR LATER!

Pin this to your favorite classroom Pinterest board  so you can come back for these book report ideas!

To recap, the 10 Book Report Project Ideas are:

• Cereal Box Book Report
• Paper Bag Book Report
• Character Day
• Book Report Lapbook
• Book Scene Diorama
• Book Report Posters
• Book Report Mobiles
• Design a Book Jacket
• Ready-to-Print Templates

Shelly Rees

Hi, I’m Shelly! Thank you for being here. I love helping third, fourth, and fifth grade teachers with fun and engaging activities that require no to little prep! Let me help you by taking some of the stress and work off your plate.

Hi, I'm Shelly

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Shoe Box Book Report Diorama- Narrative Fiction Fun Project! At Home or In Class

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Description.

I loved using this book report option after reading our class novel. You can use this in class or it is a good "At Home" (Distance Learning) book report option for students to think about their reading. This is also a great option for centers, small group, homework, or end of unit project. Students will create a diorama in their shoe box, highlighting all of the story elements from the book. This product includes:

• Student Examples
• Directions for teacher
• Directions for students (2 levels for difficulty)
• Grading Rubric (2 versions for Traditional vs. Standards Based Grading)
• 2 Layout versions to use for dioramas for students to choose from
• Example Answer Sheets
• Parent Letter (2 versions for at home vs. at school project)

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