Non-fiction Book Report Assignment
In the first paragraph introduce the book title, author, and genre (informational, narrative
non-fiction, biography, autobiography).
In the second paragraph describe some of the book features and text features. Book
features include glossary, index, other reference sections, and can include major
organizational features. Text features include (but are not limited to) pictures, captions,
diagrams, charts and graphs, and sidebars or boxes. Which features did you find the
most helpful and why?
In the third paragraph, identify the text structure - how the information is organized. Is it
problem/solution? Cause and effect? Chronological order? Compare/contrast? Or
descriptive? Explain how you know this is the organizational structure.
In the fourth paragraph explain what you already knew about the topic and one
important idea or fact you learned from reading the book. Refer to specific passages or
text features from the book to help you explain.
In the fifth paragraph, explain another important idea or fact you learned. Refer to
specific passages or text features from the book to help you explain.
In the sixth paragraph, explain one more important idea or fact you learned. Refer to
specific passages or text features from the book to help you explain.
In the final paragraph, explain what new wonderings this book generated for you. What
information do you want to find out now? Or, what questions do you still have about the
topic that the book didn’t answer?
****Note: There is no assigned length for each paragraph - each section just needs to
meet the expectations explained above. Some paragraphs may be relatively short and
others much longer. The total length of the written report will probably be around two
pages, although this will vary depending on whether it is typed or handwritten (and how
big you write!).
Non-fiction Book Report Book List
Any of the “Who Was ____?” biographies
- Who Was Daniel Boone? by Sydelle Kramer
- Who Was Marco Polo? by Joan Holub
- Who Was George Washington? by Roberta Edwards
- Who Was Sacagawea? by Judith Bloom Fradin
- Who Was Thomas Jefferson? by Dennis Brindell Fradin
What Was the First Thanksgiving? by Joan Holub
What Was the Boston Tea Party? by Kathleen Krull
The Story of Sitting Bull, Great Sioux Chief by Lisa Eisenberg
The Story of Squanto, First Friend to the Pilgrims by Cathy East Dubowski
In Their Own Words Benjamin Franklin by Peter and Connie Roop
Heroes of America - Illustrated Lives: Benjamin Franklin
Don’t Know Much About George Washington by Kenneth C. Davis
Harriet Tubman: The Road to Freedom by Rae Bains
Jackie Robinson by John Grabowski
...If You Traveled on the Underground Railroad by Ellen Levine
...If You Sailed on the Mayflower by Ann McGovern
...If You Lived in Colonial Times by Ann McGovern
...If You Were There When They Signed the Constitution by Elizabeth Levy
...If You LIved With The Sioux Indians by Ann McGovern
...If You Lived at the Time of the Civil War by Kay Moore
Can’t You Make Them Behave, King George? by Jean Fritz
Shh! We’re Writing the Constitution by Jean Fritz
Where Was Patrick Henry on the 29th of May? by Jean Fritz
What’s the Big Idea, Ben Franklin? by Jean Fritz
Why Don’t You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? by Jean Fritz
And Then What Happened, Paul Revere? by Jean Fritz
Will You Sign Here, John Hancock? by Jean Fritz
World War II Pilots: An Interactive History Adventure by Michael Burgan
Usborne Young Reading Titanic by Anna Claybourne & Katie Daynes
The Civil War: Over 100 Questions and Answers to Things You Want to Know by Jason
Hook
Built To Last: Castle, Cathedral, Mosque by David Macaulay (just have to read one of
the sections, Castle, Cathedral, OR Mosque)
The Art Gallery: Faces by Philip Wilkinson
Soldier: The Machines, The Training, The Gear by Jim Winchester
Dogs On Duty: Soldiers’ Best Friends on the Battlefield and Beyond by Dorothy
Hinshaw Patent
Crossing the Delaware: A History in Many Voices by Louise Peacock
Abe Lincoln Goes to Washington, 1837-1865 by Cheryl Harness
Going Along with Lewis and Clark by Barbara Fifer
Mystery on Everest: A Photobiography of George Mallory by Audrey Salkeld
The Sante Fe Trail by David Lavender
The Buried City of Pompeii by Shelley Tanaka
Life in a Longhouse Village by Bobbie Kalman
1000 Things You Should Know About World Wonders by Adam Hibbert
The Iditarod: The Greatest Win Ever by Monica Devine
Usborne Illustrated Guide to Greek Myths and Legends, with illustrations by Rodney
Matthews
A Kid’s Guide to Global Warming by Glenn Murphy
Once a Wolf: How Wildlife Biologists Fought to Bring Back the Gray Wolf by Stephen R.
Swinburne
Wolves by Seymour Simon
River Monsters: Extreme Adventures - The Search for Bigger, Faster, Meaner Fish
(Animal Planet)
Birds of Prey Rescue by Pamela Hickman
Turtle Rescue by Pamela Hickman
NFL Wideouts by Craig Ellenport
1001 Facts About Space (DK Backpack Books)
*** All of these titles are in our classroom library. If you have another title you
would like to read, please check with me first. Thanks.