❖ Year 1 Book Review Guidelines – My Father’s Dragon

• Book Summary:
  – Introduce the main character and explain why they go on an adventure.
  – Describe the dragon and the problem that needs to be solved.
  – Retell the main events in the order they happen, using your own words.
  – Explain how the adventure ends.
• Personal Opinion:
  – What was your favourite part, and why?
  – Which character did you like most?
  – What did you learn about being brave or helping others?
  – How did the story make you feel?
  – Would you recommend this book to a friend?

❖ Year 2 Book Review Guidelines – Mother Goose in Prose

• Book Summary:
  – Choose a story from Mother Goose in Prose and introduce its main characters.
  – Describe where the story takes place and the problem the characters face.
  – Summarise the important events in your own words.
  – Explain how the story ends and what the characters learn.
• Personal Opinion:
  – Which story did you enjoy most, and why?
  – What was your favourite character or moment?
  – What message or lesson did you notice?
  – How did the story make you feel?
  – Would you recommend your chosen story to a friend?

❖ Year 3 Book Review Guidelines – Stories of King Arthur’s Knights

• Book Summary:
  – Choose a knight or an adventure from Stories of King Arthur’s Knights.
  – Introduce the main characters, setting and challenge.
  – Explain the important choices the characters make and what happens as a result.
  – Summarise how the adventure is resolved, using your own words.
• Personal Opinion:
  – Which knight or adventure interested you most, and why?
  – What was the most memorable moment?
  – What did you learn about courage, honesty or loyalty?
  – Do you agree with an important choice a character made? Explain why.
  – Would you recommend this collection to another reader?

❖ Year 4 Book Review Guidelines – The Railway Children

• Book Summary:
  – Introduce the children and their family at the beginning of the story.
  – Explain how a change in their circumstances affects their lives.
  – Summarise key events and describe the relationships the children develop.
  – Explain how the children’s actions contribute to the ending.
• Personal Opinion:
  – Which character did you admire most, and why?
  – Which event had the greatest impact on you?
  – What did the story suggest about family, friendship or kindness?
  – How did your opinion of a character change as you read?
  – Would you recommend this novel? Support your answer with examples.

❖ Year 5 Book Review Guidelines – Shakespeare Stories

• Book Summary:
  – Choose one of the stories in Shakespeare Stories for your review.
  – Identify the main characters, setting and central conflict.
  – Summarise the major turning points and explain how characters’ choices shape events.
  – Explain the ending and identify a theme, using examples from your chosen story.
• Personal Opinion:
  – Which character or conflict interested you most, and why?
  – Do you agree with a key decision a character made? Explain your view.
  – What ideas about human behaviour or relationships did you notice?
  – How did the ending affect your understanding of the story?
  – Would you recommend this story to another reader? Use evidence to explain why.