Book Projects
1. MAKE A BOOKMARK – Fold a piece of paper in half the “long way / hot-dog bun style” and use that to make a
bookmark. You must include: SIDE 1 = Title, Author, Setting, Character(s), Summary Paragraph. SIDE 2 = Picture
of a Main Event from the book.
2. CREATE A POSTER – Advertise your book! Think of the posters you see outside the movie theater. Emphasize
large letters, bright colors, etc. Be sure to include: Title, Author, Summary Paragraph.
3. BUILD A DIORAMA – Use a shoebox and create a scene from your favorite “Main Event” from the book. Make
sure you include: Title, Author, Setting, Summary of the Event you are using in the diorama.
4. DO A THIN COMIC STRIP – Use adding machine paper (3 ft. long). Divide this into as many chapters as there are
in your book plus 1. The first section is for the Title, Author, and their name as the re-teller. The other sections
should have a picture and a sentence about the chapter (What is happening?). **Variation – You can make a slit in
a shoebox decorated to look like a t.v. Run the skinny strip through the slits and it will play like a film or movie as
you retell the story!
5. WHIP UP A WIDE COMIC STRIP - A “wide comic” is like a skinny strip except wider. This can be made of long
strips of butcher paper cut to 10- 12 inches in width. You can decorate this with markers, water colors, etc. Divide
this into as many chapters as there are in your book plus 1. The first section is for the Title, Author, and their name
as the re-teller. The other sections should have a picture and a sentence about the chapter (What is happening?).
6. FOLDOUTS – A fold out is a strip cut out of construction paper folded into an even number of sections. Each
section is designed to tell a part of the story. (See Skinny Strip) This is folded into an accordion. The front and
back covers can be made out of tagboard or construction paper.
7. QUATROS – Take a piece of white construction paper (11x18 in.) Fold it in half twice. You now have a book. The
cover is for the: Title, Author, and Re-teller’s Name. Open up and you are looking at two pages on which to tell
parts of the story. Next, turn to the back and you have a third section. Now is the BIG conclusion! Unfold to the full
size and show the exciting conclusion (resolution)!
8. TAPE AN AD - Write a script and then record it for radio or T.V. Your script should be designed to sell the book
you read. Make sure you include the important information: Author, Title, Re-teller, Main Events, Characters, etc.
9. IMAGINEER A MASK OR PUPPET – Create a mask or puppet of the book’s main character(s). Then use this
puppet to give a Book Report. When giving the report, make sure you include the important information: Author,
Title, Re-teller, Main Events, Characters, etc.
10. CREATE THE CHARACTER – Become the “Main Character” of your story and tell it from his/her Point-of-View.
Make sure you include the important information: Author, Title, Re-teller, Setting, Main Events, Characters, etc.
11. CONSTRUCT A STORY TOWER – You will need strips of tagboard or cardboard (6 x 36 in.). These are divided
into three equal parts plus a little tab so they can be folded and glued together. This will give you a triangle with
three writing surfaces. Write and/or draw about the Beginning, Middle, and End of your story, but don’t forget to
include the important information: Author, Title, Re-teller, Main Events, Characters, etc. These can then be
stacked into a tower.
12. A POSTCARD HOME OR TO SCHOOL – Make a postcard (I have the materials for this) that can be sent to
someone telling them about the book you read. Set it up like a regular postcard. One side has a picture from your
Favorite Event, Title, and Author from the book. The other side tells the story from the Main Character’s Point-ofView. Then address it to someone at home or mail it to Mr. Carter, or me. (Heritage Elementary School, 501 South
Street, Waunakee, WI 53597)
13. SPIN A STORY WEB- A web can contain all sorts of information. This can put the Main Character in the middle of
the web. Then you can branch off using Adjectives off the character. Or, you can put the Main Character in the
middle and other Characters around the outside. Better yet…put the Main Character in the middle and then events
from the story that relate to him/her could be branched off.
14. STORY GRAMMAR- Get a piece of tagboard (11 x 18 in.) and fold it into thirds. Draw a line all the way across the
tagboard about 3 inches from the top. Writing goes in the top section and artwork goes in the bottom. The first
section is dedicated to the characters - Names, Descriptions, etc. The second section is for the Title, Main Events,
the “Problem”, etc. The third section is filled up with the Author, # of pages, and the Resolution. You can add
other options that help tell your story as well!
15. CAN IT- You will need to get a coffee can. Then wrap paper around the coffee can that will become the “cover” of
your book. Design the cover to include the important information: Author, Title, and Re-teller. It usually works
better to measure the paper first and then draw on it, then tape it on the can. Next, you should collect 5 objects
which have something to do with the story. These must be objects from around your house and must be able to fit
inside of the can! This will take some hard thinking and searching. When you give your report, you will choose the
object tell us what it represents and how it relates to the story.
16. BAG-IT BOOK REPORT – Get a brown paper bag from the grocery store.
 On the front of the bag neatly write: a) Title of the Book, b) Author of the Book, & Setting, c) Draw a picture of
the main character/s
 On the back of the bag neatly write a paragraph about your favorite part of the story. The paragraph can be
written on lined paper, cut out and glued or scotch-taped to the bag. (A paragraph should be at least 5
sentences long.) Also, write your opinion about the book. Did you like it? If you did like it, tell why. If you did
not like it, tell why you didn’t.
 On one side of the bag explain the Plot of the story (a short summary of the book).
 On the opposite side of the bag list the Main Characters and a brief description of their role in the story. Also
on the same side include the Setting (describe where the story takes place).