I Recommend It! Writing a Book Report

About This Resource

A free Grade 4 ESL writing worksheet on book reports. Students read a model report on The Secret Garden, identify the title, author, characters, setting, summary, favorite part and opinion, practice writing a short summary with beginning, middle and end, give reasons for a rating and write a report on a book they have read. Includes a timed lesson plan, a six-activity worksheet, an editable Word version and answer key.

Overview

A book report tells other readers about a book and helps them decide whether to read it. It includes the title and author, the main characters and setting, a short summary of what happens at the beginning, middle and end, the writer's favorite part and an opinion with reasons and a rating. Students read a model report on the classic novel The Secret Garden, answer questions, match report parts to their content, separate summary sentences from opinion sentences and practice giving reasons. Then they plan and write a report on a book they have read.

Resource Details

Subject: ESL
Topic: Writing a Book Report
Category: Writing
File Type: PDF
File Size: 241.6 KB
Published: 12 Nov 2026
Downloads: 0

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Grade 4 ESL (ages 9–10), A2 50 minutes Writing reading summarizing giving opinions with reasons

Student Task

Ask: "What is the best book you have read? Why should I read it?"
Read the model report and do activities 1 and 2 together.
Students complete activities 3 to 6 about a book they know. Answers are in the answer key.

Classroom Use

Book talk: students give a one-minute talk about a book using their report.
Star ratings wall: students post their book, rating and one reason on a class wall.
Summary in three: partners summarize a familiar story in exactly three sentences: beginning, middle and end.

Differentiation

Support: give a report frame with headings and sentence starters (At the start…, Then…, By the end…). Challenge: students compare the book with another book by the same author or on the same theme.

Answer Key & Assessment

Activities 1 to 5 check the parts of a report and the difference between summary and opinion (answer key included). Activity 6 shows whether students can write a complete report.

Learning Objectives

Identify the parts of a book report.
Write a short summary with a beginning, middle and end.
Give an opinion about a book with reasons.

Teacher Tips

Students often retell every detail. Teach them to choose only the most important events for the summary and to keep opinions for the opinion section. Picture books, graded readers and class readers all work well for this task.

What's Included

8-page printable PDF lesson pack: teacher lesson plan with timings, materials and differentiation
Key vocabulary list (6 words with meanings and examples)
Student worksheet (6 activities)
Editable Word version of the worksheet
Complete answer key (also as a separate PDF)

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