If they can pick out the aspects they did (or didn’t) engage with, it helps to narrow down which book they might want to read next (or, conversely, if they have enjoyed one ‘type’ of book, whether it might be an opportunity to read a different type and branch out a little!).īook reviews don’t need to be a labour of love. We encourage children to think about the genre, whether the book has illustrations, whether it’s set in modern times or in a different time. If the child is encouraged to step back from the story and assess the book in more general terms, it can help them understand which ‘types’ of books they enjoy. It’s also the reason why I enjoy reading books aloud to my children (aged 6 and 10): if we’re reading together, they can just relax and enjoy the story and I can choose books that are a little more challenging that what they might read on their own, and I can stop and explain any words I think they might not understand. They instinctively understand that it’s better to use a variety of words and phrases, so they’ll actively try and think of new descriptive words. As they think back, they often gain a different perspective and pick up on things that they missed when they were reading it initially.Īs with all original writing, writing a review can be a great way to help children develop their vocabulary. The opportunity to reflect on the book can help the child connect events and themes and develop a deeper understanding of the story. So then they start thinking about what they liked and didn’t like about the book and this can also open up an interesting conversation on the subjectivity and creativity of writing, very apt in these days of ‘fake news’. We find that younger readers are desperate to tell you the story but as children mature, they understand that this might spoil it for other readers.
Not only is this interesting in itself but it gives me a real indication of whether a book is at the right reading level for them or not.īy asking a child to describe their response to the book, they have to think about what they will include in the review, and what they will leave out. When my children write a review, I can see if they have just understood the basic narrative or if they have picked up on themes and issues, which are less explicit.
A review can show you how deeply the child has engaged with the various levels of meaning within the story.
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