read_&_reflect

Book reviews help us to reflect on what we read and to consider whether we would recommend the book to others. It's like creating an advertisement for the book. Best book reviews contain information about  - for K-2
 * Reflecting on reading **
 * **Bibliography **
 * title
 * author and illustrator
 * publisher, date and place of publication
 * ISBN number
 * format
 * series and genre
 * **Appeal to the intended audience **
 * Does the choice of topic suit the intended audience?
 * Is it likely to be something they are interested in?
 * **Format **
 * Is the typography (i.e. format, font, print size, spacing, novelty features etc) appropriate?
 * Is it integral to the story or intrusive?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is it easy to read?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the alyout draw the reader in or is it distracting?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the shape and size of the book appropriate?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What use is made of covers, end-papers and the title page?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are there any special features such as cutouts or pop-ups?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How do these special features contribute to the story?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 11pt;">**Plot**
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are you hooked from the very beginning?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you feel the atmosphere the author is trying to create?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the plot plausible and easy to follow?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the story build to a climax?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are you waiting for the climax?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is there a satisfying ending?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are you 'in' the story as an observer of everything?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If it is one of a series, do you have to read the earlier stories to understand what is going on?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If it is a particular genre, does it fit with what you expect of that genre?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is it hard to put the book down?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is it worth getting into trouble for reading it under the covers with a torck afters lights-out?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Characters **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the characters credible?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you envisage them?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do they have a real personality and seem like real people?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are they too good/too bad to be true?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you form a bond with them so you care about hwat happens to them?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the relationships between them realistic?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the things they do in keeping with their personalities?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the dialogue realistic, natural and apporpriate to the character?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you hear them talking?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do you feel like an eavesdropper on thier conversations?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If it is part of a series, are the characters' personalities and actions consistent throughout all the stories?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is there one character you really relate to? Why?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Setting **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you seen hear and smell the background setting?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you imagine yourself in that place?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If the story is set in a real place that you know, are the details accurate?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the setting suit the sorts of things that happen in the story?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do you learn things about the place or time through the setting?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is it an integral part of the story?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Purpose **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the purpose of the story only to entertain you?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is there a message the author is trying to convey?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is this subtle or does it intrude on the entertainment?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How does the author's bias influence his/her writing?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Did you discover the message for yourself or did someone else highlight it for you?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">What are the main issues raised?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are they appropriate for the intended audience and the format of the book?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Why has the author 'disguised' the issues within the context of a story?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the story leave you with things you want to discuss and questions you want answered?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">if you could talk to the author, what opinions would you offer about the issues raised? What questions would you have?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Illustrations **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do the illustrations appeal to you? Why?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do they suit the story?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do they help you understand the story better? How?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Can you predict the story by looking at the illustrations?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do they help to build up a sense of atmosphere and anticipation?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do they help you work out unfamiliar words?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the illustrations more important than the story?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is there a story in the illustrations that is not in the text? What is it and why is it there?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the medium appropriate?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Would the illustratins be as effective in another medium?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the artist's personal style distinctive and easy to recognise?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the style work with the subject?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are there any special media or techniques the artist has used?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How do they support the storyline?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">How has the artisit used colour and/or textures to enhance the mood he/she was trying to create?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is there a consistent quality of illustration throughout the book?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Would the cover catch your eye if you were browsing in a bookstore?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Was this illustrator a good choice to illustrate this book?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Readability **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the language appropriate for the audience?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the languaage rich, original and interesting?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are the words used well to build up the atmosphere and create images in your mind?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the sentence structure suitable for the audience?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do the language and sentence structure contribute to the atmosphere?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is the style and size of the print easy to read?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Does the layout assist the reader?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Do you fond yourself enjoying the story but wanting to rewrite the sentences?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are there sub-plots that have nothing to do with the main plot?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is everything well-explained by the end or are you left confused about some parts?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Has the author included too much information that has nothing to do with the story, or is there not enough information for it to make sense?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is this a read-aloud, a read-along or a read-alone book?
 * **<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Personal Opinion **
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is this a book you would like to receive or give as a gift?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Is it a book you would psend your pocket money on?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Would it be one that you would keep for your children to read?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">If it is in a series, would you look for others in tht series?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Will you now look for other stories by that author or in that genre?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Have you been changed by this book? How?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Are you glad that you read it?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">Would you recommend it to other students of your age?
 * <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">On a scale of 1-5, what would you give this book?

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">**** - for 3-4

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">**** - for 5-6
 * <span style="color: #ff00ff; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">Reflecting on reading using various media **

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">Book responses can use a range of formats and tools.

<span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">* Kids can turn their family, pets and friends into stars. They can dress and pose them for photos, then capture scenes from the story the way they see them. Use those photos as the basis for a movie-style poster (Big Huge Labs), an advertisement explaining why people should read the book, or a comic (Comic Life). Make a slideshow of your photos and add captions and music. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">* It could be in the form of a cartoon/comic. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> * Try designing an advertisement for the book. It could be in the form of : <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">text, text and an image suitable for inclusion in a magazine, text read aloud as audio, text for video if you have access to a camera, text and images for inclusion in a slideshow, improvised advertisements that can be performed after a little practise for an audience, any combination of the above. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;">* Kids can make or contribute to book trailers. For some useful help, check out Creating Trailers with Students <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; line-height: 21px;">* Instead of a book report, use animated movie people to speak about the book. At websites like Xtranormal, you can animate characters and have them speak. Kids could have one character interview another, and report about a book that way. <span style="font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%;"> * Instead of a brief book report, use Blabberize to record voice behind a photo. Or try Voki where kids can choose an avatar to use for their own voices.

<span style="display: block; font-family: Verdana,Geneva,sans-serif; font-size: 110%; text-align: left;">