Two Thumbs Up! Get Students Writing and Publishing Book Reviews

Materials and Technology

Printouts

Websites

Preparation

 

MATERIALS AND TECHNOLOGY

• Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell (Penguin Putnam for Young Readers, 2001) or another short picture book
  
  
• Children’s books for students to review (see the Database of Award-Winning Children’s Literature or the Children’s Choices Booklist for ideas)
  
  
• Computers with Internet access
  
  
• General classroom supplies (e.g., paper, pencils, chart paper)
  
  
• Video camera and tripod (optional)

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PRINTOUTS

• Role-Play Book Reviews
  
  
• Homework Letter
  
  
• Book Review Rating Sheet
  
  
• Revision Questions
  
  
• Book Review Rubric
  
  
• Sample Book Reviews
  
  
• Role-Play Scenarios
  
  
• Book Review Template
  
  
• Story Map 3 graphic organizer
  

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WEBSITES

• Scholastic: Share What You’re Reading
• Spaghetti Book Club
• World of Reading

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PREPARATION

1.	Locate a magazine such as Entertainment Weekly or People or a local newspaper that has book reviews to show students during Session 1.
2.	Bookmark the Spaghetti Book Club, Scholastic: Share What You're Reading, and World of Reading websites on the computer you will be using during this lesson. Choose several book reviews from one of these websites. One or two will be read aloud in Session 1 and another should be copied onto chart paper or a transparency for use in Session 2.
3.	Provide a selection of 20 to 30 age-appropriate children's books for students to choose from for their book reviews (see the Database of Award-Winning Children's Literature or the Children's Choices Booklist for appropriate book titles). As an alternative, ask students to choose a book from the classroom or from home that they can read well and would like to recommend to other readers.
4.	Get a copy of the book Stand Tall, Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell or choose another short picture book to write a review with your class in Session 4.
5.	Print and make copies of the Story Map 3 graphic organizer if you would like a literature response or prewriting organizer.
6.	Rent or borrow a video recorder and tripod if you plan to record students' reviews for publishing. In addition or as an alternative, preview the Scholastic: Share What You're Reading site or sign your class up for World of Reading for publishing their reviews online.
7.	Print out the Homework Letter, Revision Questions, Role-Play Scenarios, Book Review Template, and Book Review Rating Sheet; make a copy for each student in your class.

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