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30 Non-Fiction Book Club Questions For Your Next Read (+PDF Download)

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Non-fiction books make great book club reads because there’s just so much to discuss – theories, experiments, quotes, real-life events and more.

In this non-fiction book club question guide, you’ll find 20 discussion questions that can be used for any non-fiction book. 

Most of these are open-ended questions for non-fiction books. Meaning you’ll never again hear just a “yes” or “no” from your fellow book-club members. 

The aim of these questions is to aid them to “open up” about the book more so your bookclub can have an active discussion session.

More Book Club Questions:

• Atomic Habits Book Club Questions
• Verity Book Club Questions For Colleen Hoover Fans
• It Ends With Us Book Club Questions & Quotes
• Reminders of Him Book Club Questions & Guide
• The Viscount Who Loved Me Book Club Questions
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30 Non-Fiction Book Club Questions

• What were your expectations before diving into this book?
• What do you think about the title of this book?
• If you could rewrite the title if this book, what would it be?
• What do you think about the cover of this book?
• How would you design this book’s cover art?
• Have you read this author’s books before? If yes, did you enjoy them? If no, why did you choose to try reading this book?
• What is your preferred format for reading non-fiction books like this one? Why? (E-book, audiobook, paperback)
• Did you find any note-worthy quotes from this book? What were they?
• How long did it take for you to read this book?
• What parts of the book did you enjoy?
• What parts of the book did you dislike?
• If you were able to meet the author, what would you say to him/her?
• Did do any additional reading or research for this book club session? Would you like to share them?
• What emotions did this book evoke in you?
• What is something new you’ve learned from this book?
• What was the main idea the author was trying to get across to its readers?
• To whom would you recommend this book and why?
• Is there a similar author or similar book you’d recommend and why?
• Did this book meet your expectations and why?
• Is this type of book your usual cup of tea or did it make you read out of your comfort genres?
• Do you have any thoughts on the writing style of this book?
• Describe this book in one sentence.
• Did you take away anything from this book and apply it in any part of your life?
• Describe this book using 3 emojis.
• What songs would you add to a playlist for this book?
• How do you think the author could have improved this book?
• Is the topic of the book something you’re familiar with?
• How often do you see yourself reaching out for this book again?
• What do you think about the length of this book?
• Do you have any tips on reading non-fiction books?

Printable Non-Fiction Book Club Discussion Questions

My top 3 non-fiction books for your next book club session, atomic habits by james clear.

Atomic Habits by James Clear is a self-help book that discusses how the accumulation of tiny changes can lead to big, impactful results.

Positive tiny changes or negative tiny changes can have a compounding effect. This is where Clear’s very famous 1% better everyday concept comes to play. 

This book teaches how to build tiny habits instead of giving in to instant gratification.

Read More: Atomic Habits Book Club Questions & 30 Note-Worthy Atomic Habits Quotes By James Clear

How To Change by Katy Milkman

Written based on a combination of principles of psychology, Milkman’s own research and findings. The book sheds insights into understanding our own internal obstacles – laziness, procrastination, forgetfulness, among others. 

Milkman points out that failure is inevitable so it’s important to shift our focus to learning how to navigate around those situations instead.

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen R. Covey

7 Habits of Highly Effective People different from Atomic Habits is the approach – the former is more strategic and the latter is more tactical.

This is one of those books that readers would either hate or love. Some readers found that the 7 habits helped remind and rekindle what lies within them.

Hi there, i'm Sonia. The founder and author at Brewing Writer, a blog that features detailed book reviews, bookstagram tips, book blogging tips, thoughtfully curated book lists (which my readers love!) and cozy aesthetic photography that’ll make you crave a cup of coffee and a good book.

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24 Book Review Questions to Ask Before Writing a Review

By: Author Laura

Posted on Published: 23rd February 2021  - Last updated: 29th February 2024

Categories Book Blogging , Books

Trying to write a book review but don’t know where to start? Don’t worry, these book review questions for a book report will help you on your way!

Writing a book review or book report can feel overwhelming for one of two reasons. Either you have too much to say or nothing to say at all.

In either case, having some structure to your review and a roadmap of questions to answer can be helpful in focussing your thoughts so you can write a useful book review.

These book review questions are designed to get your brain thinking about some of the key issues and interesting points about your book in question.

You certainly don’t have to answer all of them and you don’t need to follow the order I have listed the book report questions below.

RELATED: How to Write a Good Review of a Bad Book

Book Review Questions: General Information

Before you delve into sharing your own opinions, you should share some general information about the book.

This can be to do with its plot, its genre, the setting and whether there is anything readers should be aware of before delving in.

These are good questions to ask about a book as a basic starting point and where you should always begin.

What is the book about?

What genre does this book fit into?

In what time and place is the book set?

Who is the intended audience of the book?

Is the book appropriate for that audience?

Should this book come with any content warnings?

Book Review Questions: Stylistic Points

An author could craft the most fascinating story in the world but if they can’t convey that story with an interesting or logical style then a book may well just fall flat.

Consider whether the author of the book you are reviewing has a particularly interesting style and what is it about their style that shaped the book and your opinion of it.

What style is the book written in?

What point of view is the book written from?

Does the author use any interesting techniques?

Book Review Questions: The Characters

Really compelling characters, whether you love them or hate them, can make a book really stand out. If they don’t feel real then a book can crumble pretty quickly.

Make sure to include some information about the main character (or characters) but there’s no need to mention every single person, there simply isn’t space!

Who are the key characters in the book?

Did the characters feel real?

Are the characters likeable?

Which character did you find most compelling?

Could you relate to the key characters?

Book Review Questions: Your Opinions

Of course, any good book review should contain what you, the reviewer, actually thought about it! These book review questions to ask yourself are some of the most important.

Did you discover a new favourite book or is this one you wish you had never picked up in the first place?

Try to share a balanced view so reader’s of your review can come to their own conclusions about whether this book is worth reading for them. Some points that you might not have liked might be another reader’s favourite trope!

What did you like about the book?

What did you dislike about the book?

What could have been improved?

How did the book make you feel?

How does the book compare to other similar books?

Book Review Questions: Conclusion

Make sure to wrap up your book review with some final reflections about who should read this book, what you learnt from it and what other books it is similar to.

If a reader sees that a book is similar to one they have already read and loved then that’s a great indication that they’ll love this one too.

Would you recommend this book?

What did you learn from reading this?

What sort of reader would like this book?

What other books did this one remind you of?

What star rating would you give this book?

That concludes my list of book questions to ask yourself kick your brain in gear and get you thinking about all the most interesting points of the book you’ve just read.

Do you have any more relevant book review questions to add to the list?

Let me know in the comments below!

Follow me on Instagram and Goodreads for regular book updates!

If you liked this post, check out these: How to Write a Negative Book Review How to Start a Book Blog 36 Easy Book Blog Post Ideas

Editor of What’s Hot?

Saturday 10th of December 2022

Book report question: What made this book unique from other books you have read?

Thursday 25th of February 2021

This is so so useful.

Tuesday 23rd of February 2021

Very key points here. That first part, where I talk about the synopsis, the intended audience, the genre, that is my biggest struggle.

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Good book report questions

Writing a book report is a common activity students are required to go through today. Reading is one thing but the ability to summarize and analyze information is totally different. One can read a lot of books but still be unable to develop a good book report due to the lack of knowledge of what it should look like. Therefore, students often seek book report help in order to understand how to write one. In this article we are going to provide some good book report questions that will provide guidance as to which direction to go when choosing a format of a book report. Even if you have never faced the challenge of writing one, it is most likely that you will soon receive such assignment. And it is always better to face it prepared knowing what to do. So keep reading to get to know more about how to develop a good one. Even if you have written one or many reports by now, you can still find out more to polish up your writing skills. Questions for a book report provided below will serve a good foundation for every student.

❓ How to Write a Good Book Report

There is a difference between a book report and a book review which everybody should know prior to writing any of these. They are not the same although there are some similarities. A lot of students mix them up turning in reports when reviews are requested and vice versa. Book reports are all about explaining topical details and the storyline of the book. Those writing this type of assignment are to present biographical information about the author of the book (year of birth, marital status, his/her education and worldview, etc.). After the biographical information, there should go a brief summary of the book content – the main characters and the development of the plot.

Now a book review is different as it requires an in-depth analysis in addition to the things mentioned in a book report. The bio of the author along with the summary of the story also belongs in the review but the attention paid to these things should not be so significant. In other words, these things are not central in writing a book review . Instead, they are all considered a background information upon which one may analyze and evaluate the book in general. A book review is then more about analysis and evaluation where students are required to identify the author’s main message and ideas as well as to understand the meaning of symbolic elements present in the text. Now as we have managed to draw the line of separation between a book report and a book review, we can move on to how to write a book report.

Book reports can be of different types and formats. Most common forms of book reports are plot summaries, theme and character analysis. This type of assignment will help you practice expressing your own opinion about different aspects of the text and eventually expressing your thoughts on pretty much any subject in future. But no matter what type of book report you are about to write, there are some common things you have to include into your paper:

• Specify the kind of book report
• Include the title of the book
• Put the name of the author
• Indicate the time when the story takes place
• Mention the location of the events taking place in the book
• List the names of the characters briefly describing each one of them (at least those you will be discussing in the report)
• Add quotations in order to back up your opinions

📄 Plot Summaries

This type of book report assumes one has to explain own opinions about the plot and why he/she believes so. Your purpose should be to describe and characterize the plot and back up your opinions by some examples from the book.

🖋 Character Analysis

Here you can explore the traits of the main characters and how they affect the development of the plot in the book. There are many things you can pay attention to when analyzing the characters, such as clothing, moral flaws, dialogues, actions, etc.

📗 Theme Analysis

This form of book reports allows exploring the themes and big ideas that are interwoven within the entire story. You can simply choose a theme that seems to be the most important or the one you like the most and try to bring some of your thoughts to highlight the topic.

📚 Book Report Questions

What can help you write book reports efficiently is the list of questions to direct your thinking and writing. You can google phrases like “book report questions for high school” or “book report questions for middle school” depending on what your level of writing is. But in order to save some time for you, we have decided to come up with our own list of questions that should help develop a good book report. Therefore, there is no need to type something like “write my book report” in a google search tab in hopes to find someone who will do it all for you. Instead, you may consider the questions to ask for a book report and try to write it on your own. Here is the list:

• What genre does your book belong to? Fiction, non-fiction, etc.
• Do you like the book? Why so? If yes, would you recommend it to your friends?
• Can you come up with another title?
• What is the setting/background information?
• Who are the main characters?
• Are the names of the characters in any way descriptive?
• How does the story start? Why do you think the author chose to start his book this way?
• How does the story develop?
• Did you have any associations coming to your mind when you were reading the story?
• Did you find anything funny in the story?
• What’s your favorite part?
• Is there a problem in the story? What is this problem?
• Do you think that the author could have come up with a better solution (if there is one)?
• Is there the main idea that you can identify?
• Can you identify the purpose of the book?
• What are the lessons the book teaches (if any)?
• Is the topic of the book important? Why?
• Did any of the characters in the book do something you did not quite like?
• Can you identify the main purpose of writing the book?
• Did the book help you generate new ideas?

✅ Final Remarks

Now that you know what book reports are all about, we recommend you to try and write one. But when we say “write one”, we don’t necessarily mean that the very first thing you have to do in order to produce a good book report is to take a pen and start writing something. There are other things one should do before writing. We suggest you jot down the information you would want to take special note of when reading the book. Keep this piece of paper next to you when you read a book. As you read, take notes of the plot, characters and the main idea. Then you can go through the questions listed above – they should help you understand the book better. When you are done with the questions, organize your thoughts into an outline and draft the book report. From there you have to only edit and revise the draft to produce a perfect paper.

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Non Fiction Book Report: How to Write the Perfect Paper

The thought of a non fiction book report may bring to mind early school days. In fact, a parent could easily use this article to help their kids complete one of these report assignments. However, even college students may be asked to review or report on a nonfiction book. Thankfully, the standards for what makes a perfect analysis paper doesn’t change across grade levels. The content itself becomes more complicated but the principles stay the same.

There are two main principles to writing a perfect book report: describe and evaluate. Knowing how to perform each and how to balance them can help you, your students, or your kids write the best paper they can.

Describe: The Facts of the Non Fiction Book Report

Description in a book report includes names and major points in the book. This is not the time to state your analysis of the work but simply to list the relevant information so the reader knows where your analysis will go.

The information in the description portion of a nonfiction book report includes background on the author and relevant information on the creation of the book. State how the book has been assembled or organized, especially if it takes a unique genre form. This includes the author’s intention with the book as a thesis or a statement of purpose. Let the reader know that you have a big picture of the nonfiction book being discussed.

Finally, offer a summary of the nonfiction book to get your readers on the same “page” for your evaluation. By selectively summarizing information, the reader (or grader) knows what they should take from your analysis.

Evaluate: Make Your Points

When you begin evaluating, use the information you reviewed and summarized in the description section. Evaluation involves your opinion, but a supported opinion that includes relevant scholarship. This means that other writers’ reviews and journal articles that discuss the nonfiction book you’re studying can come in handy to back up your points.

You can observe the strengths and faults of the book based on your observations and experience. However, the more you can support your statements with the words of others and of the book itself, the better your report will be.

How to Start Writing a Book Report

As you read, you have to read the right way ! This means observing the author’s purpose quickly, learning the background information that will go into your report beforehand, and taking notes. As you read, note the author’s expertise and how they incorporate their thesis. When you see quotes that support the author’s ideas (or yours), take note of where they occur. This can only make writing the report easier in the long run.

The Takeaway

A non fiction book report sounds like a hefty obligation. However, whether it’s a college paper or a child’s school project, a book report doesn’t have to be a burden. Get the two qualities of description and evaluation clearly distinct in your head so that when you read, you can already sort and note the informtation that will make your paper work.

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Raise the Bar Reading

A Reading Teacher's Blog

Nonfiction Book Report Templates and Ideas for 3rd, 4th and 5th Grade Students

Generally, when we think of book reports, we think of fiction reading response. However, nonfiction book report templates serve equally as important of a purpose for digging deep into nonfiction texts.  

Book reports are such a great way to encourage the use of many different reading skills with the same text. With one nonfiction text, students can practice skills like identifying main idea and details, analyzing text structure, finding nonfiction text features, summarizing, quoting, paraphrasing, finding the author’s purpose, citing text evidence, etc. The list goes on and on! 

By allowing students to practice so many skills at once, they are able to deeply analyze the text and think critically about the topic. Students can then form their own opinions on the topic and the author’s writing style, and ask important questions for further investigation.   

1. BACKPACK BOOK REPORT:

Backpack Book Reports are an engaging, hands-on twist on a classic book report. They are very easy to prep and make a great bulletin board display when completed. 

Each page focuses on an important nonfiction reading skill. These include: 

• Main Idea & Supporting Details
• Summarizing
• Nonfiction Text Features
• Author’s Point of View & Text Evidence
• Text Structure
• Academic Vocabulary
• Interesting Facts
• Back Up Opinions
• Reflection (What I Learned, My Connection, Questions I Still Have)

2. BOOK REPORT TAB BOOKS:

These tab books really bring nonfiction texts to life! Students re-create the cover of their informational book on the front of their book report. Then, each of the 10 tabs represent an important nonfiction reading response skill.  The tabs include:

They also come in full page option to maximize student writing space, or half page size to maximize wall space for a display.  

3. INFORMATIONAL TEXT LAP BOOK REPORT:

These lap books are great in that you can have students 1.) completely design their own lap books, or 2.) provide them with more structured directions.  

• Lap Book Free-Writes: The teacher tells students what nonfiction elements they are responsible for reporting on, but does not tell them exactly how to present them. The teacher provides students tools like paper, envelopes, scissors, etc. and students can present the information however they would like.

• Structured Lab Book: With this option, the teacher can set clear expectations and provide a model for how to present each nonfiction element on their lap books.

4. NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

Students can fill in each template and staple them together with the included cover page. These 10 templates are versatile in that if there’s a skill you haven’t yet covered, you can easily leave that page out until later into the school year and it won’t affect the finished book report product.

5. DIGITAL NONFICTION BOOK REPORT TEMPLATES:

These digital slides are the same as the nonfiction book report templates above, just in a digital Google Slides format. With this format, teachers can just delete any of the slides that cover skills that their students are unfamiliar with before making them their own copy. 

6. CEREAL BOX BOOK REPORT IDEAS:

Cereal boxes are a popular 3D way to have students present their book report since cereal boxes are easily accessible for any student to get their hands on. Students cover their boxes with paper to create drawing and writing space.  

The front of the box is transformed into a type of cereal that is fitting for the text they read.  For example, a student reporting on owls might name their box “Hoot Loops”. Then, the back and sides of their box are filled with information on the text. 

Similar to the lap book options described above, it is up to the teacher in how much structure they want to provide in this activity. Students can follow a model of how to present each element of nonfiction, or come up with their own ways to present each element on their box.

7. ONE PAGE BOOK REPORT (One Pager) :

Not every single book report we assign needs to take up tons of class time. A one-page book report option is an essential resource as it can be used as a quick, zero prep assessment tool. Although short, this type of report can still have students dig deep into reading comprehension.  

On the one pager that is pictured, students still use many important nonfiction skills. These include writing a nonfiction summary, identifying text structure, finding facts, giving an overall opinion, writing a recommendation, reflection on what they learned, and providing a rating.

8. PARAGRAPH WRITING WITH GUIDELINES:

If you are looking for a way to provide a lot of structure and clear expectations, you can give students a nonfiction book report writing rubric for what their reports need to include from the very start.

Students can also use graphic organizers that break down necessary points to include according to their rubric. Using a graphic organizer for prewriting is a great support for students in organizing their ideas before jumping into their drafts. 

No matter what book report format you go with, it is important that students know and understand what is expected of their writing content. Displaying a Nonfiction Book Report Bulletin Board is such a helpful way to provide students with steps to writing a book report as well as terms they will come across in their templates.

All of the nonfiction book report templates from this blog post are included in the Nonfiction Book Reports Bundle as well as the Fiction & Nonfiction Book Reports Megabundle !

Next up: Fiction Book Report Writing Ideas

Teaching Book Report Writing: Book Report Ideas and Formats (Grades 3-5)

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The Best Nonfiction Book Club Questions

Do you love the idea of a book club, but find yourself reaching for nonfiction rather than fiction? Perhaps you like discussing books with others, but you want those discussions to be more than just a social event. Nonfiction book clubs are totally a thing, and while the core principle might be the same as book clubs that focus primarily on fiction and discussion, you can make a nonfiction book club into an organization dedicated to growth and action! Here are some ideas and nonfiction book club questions to get you started!

Getting Started

Check out our guide to how to run a book club for some nuts and bolts on how to get started , and stay organized. While the advice is geared towards a fiction book club, it can be adapted for a nonfiction one as well.

One of the most important things you might want to do is create a mission statement. What is the purpose of your book club? This will be a guiding principle for how you pick books, but also how you discuss them, and what action you might take in your meetings. Some things to consider might be who makes up your group (e.g. are you colleagues, or do you serve on a committee together?), what your group’s goals might be, and the amount of time and resources you can devote to this book club. You might also want to decide how often you meet and how you choose the books you read, paying special attention to ensuring the you’re reading widely and diversely, and learning new things.

Nonfiction Book Club Questions

Once you’ve set up your club, and you’ve picked your first book, here are some book club questions for personal development and deeper conversation!

What are the central themes in this book?

What did you learn from reading this book? Did the book confirm something you already knew?

What resources did the author consult? Is the author an authority on this subject? Do they have credibility in this field?

Is there a piece of advise or wisdom that you disagreed with? Why? What would you suggest as alternative?

If the book discusses strategies or solutions for a problem raised, how might you apply these strategies and solutions in your own life? Walk through various scenarios, and role play with other members if necessary.

Does this work make you rethink current policies or procedures that are currently in place in your organization or place of business? Do your policies and procedures need to be updated?

How does this book address conflict, or conflicting information or opinions? 

What questions do you still have after reading this book? What other resources might you look into? Do any of your members recommend any news articles on the subject?

How familiar are you with this topic? Have you read anything else about the subject that you’d recommend to your group members?

What personal or group action can you take after reading this book?

Secondary Activities

Aside from discussing the book you’ve read, you can really take your club to the next level by brainstorming a way to pair your discussion with an activity that ties to the book in some way. For example, if you read a book about the opioid crisis, is there a documentary you can also watch that will complement your book? If you read a memoir about sustainability, is there a class you can take that will aid your members in their sustainability journey? Is your book politically minded? Consider attending a lecture or event that centers on an issue important to your club. Does the book talk about a need in communities that your group can fill? Look into volunteering opportunities, or discuss ways that your group can work collectively to make a positive impact. 

By taking what you learn and discussing ways to put the concepts into action, you can grow as a group, and as individuals. Your book club will be more than just a social event, but a learning opportunity a nd force for positivity and change in your community!

Looking for some great nonfiction recommendations for your new nonfiction book club? We can help! Sign up for TBR: Tailored Book Recommendations! TBR is a personalized book recommendation service that sends you books you’ll love to read. Here’s how it works: Simply fill out the reader survey and let us know what you want more of–such as fairy tales for adults–and what you’re not keen on. Then, an expert Bibliologist will read your responses and recommend three books just for you. Receive your recommendation letter via email in about two weeks, or opt to receive your recommendations as brand new hardcovers in the mail in about three to four weeks.  Learn more and sign up now!

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Free Book Report Templates: Printables for Grades 3-5 for Fiction or Nonfiction Books

Take a new spin on your book report assignment. 📚😍

The Nocturnals are fun-filled animal adventure books with companion nonfiction for elementary school classrooms. Check out The Nocturnals World , a resource hub with free turnkey printable activities and educator guides, and browse The Nocturnals bookstore!

Building lifelong readers is one of the most important things we can do in our classrooms. The benefits of reading are wide-ranging, from improving vocabulary skills to boosting cognitive development, concentration skills, and curiosity for learning. So, how do we get young learners excited about reading and sharing what they’ve learned? Check out our free book report template printables .

Four different activities are ready to print to help you take a new spin on your next book report assignment for fiction or nonfiction books. Students will love filling in their mini book report one-pagers or making their selections from the choice board to share details about what they read.

Worksheets Included:

My mini book report—fiction and nonfiction.

These book report one-pagers are a great way for students to reflect on their readings as they complete different sections of the worksheet. There’s a version for both fiction and nonfiction.

Book Report Choice Board

Give students choices on how they want to complete their book report assignment. This choice board offers eight fun options, from designing a comic to creating a playlist or writing interview questions, so students can let their creativity guide them.

Designing Water Bottle Stickers

Students are obsessed with stickers. In this unique activity, students will design water bottle stickers that the main character of the book would love to have, along with a short description of their choices.

Give students fun-filled books to choose from

Animal adventure books from The Nocturnals are the perfect way to get your upper elementary students excited about reading. Paired with nonfiction companion texts that explore nocturnal animal facts, this series is great for hi-lo readers. Visit The Nocturnals World for more free printable activities and educator guides.

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This Reading Mama

FREE Discussion Questions for Fiction and Nonfiction

By thisreadingmama 2 Comments

Too often, we use comprehension questions so unnaturally. Our child finishes a book and we grill her with a barrage of questions: Who was the main character? Where was the setting? What was the problem? The list could go on and on. And don’t get me wrong. I believe kids need to learn these story elements, as they are essential to helping kids determine what’s important .

But what I want to challenge all of us to take it a step deeper. It’s the basis of my article, Struggling Readers Need to Develop “Thoughtful Literacy.”  But developing thoughtful literacy isn’t just for struggling readers. It is a goal for all our readers.

*This post contains affiliate links.

Discussion Questions for Fiction and Nonfiction

It is vitally important that we don’t stop at the surface-level questions. Those are just the tip of the iceberg, my friend! Today, I’m sharing some FREE open-ended discussion questions for BOTH fiction and nonfiction that will spark conversation after kids read. {My FREE download can be found the end of this post.}

Simply print these off onto card stock and laminate for durability. Place them where you can pull them out to give some guidance to a discussion for fiction OR nonfiction texts. Note that the questions are general enough that they will work for almost any text.

While I recommend highly that these be used mainly for oral discussion, they would work wonderfully at a reading center or as a reading journal prompt.

Easter Egg Discussion Questions

And check out this FUN way that we have adapted these discussion questions for Easter!

• Simply print off the question strips of choice {I do not recommend mixing the fiction and nonfiction discussion questions.}
• Place the discussion question strips in your eggs.
• Set them out in your schoolroom or on your kitchen counter.
• After kids read, they can pick an egg, open it up, read the prompt, then answer it.

More Resources You May Enjoy:

• How to Choose “Just Right” Books {includes even more question stems for fiction and nonfiction!}
• 10 Things Struggling Readers Need
• How to Ask Questions to Check Comprehension
• Nonfiction Text Features & Text Structures
• Fiction Story Elements & Text Structure
• Reading Comprehension Strategies Series
• Comprehension Pinterest Board

Download this FREE Printable  HERE .

Enjoy teaching! ~Becky

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March 19, 2019 at 1:37 am

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March 21, 2019 at 1:49 pm

The link has been fixed. 🙂

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The Joy of Learning

• Jun 20, 2022

Questions to Build Reading Comprehension with NONFICTION

In the previous post we discussed that your child “has broken the code” and can efficiently use phonics to figure out the words, and now it’s time to be certain your reader is comprehending what is read. That is equally important with NONFICTION. Your child is ready to read in order to learn new and exciting information.

Let’s review….

What is reading comprehension?

To reiterate, reading is actually “ thinking ”. Reading gives us something to contemplate. This also occurs while reading nonfiction. The internal conversation, however, may be different than fiction.

Here are a few examples of what a person who reads might be thinking about as they engage with a nonfiction text.

“I think I know….”

“I wonder….”

“Now my understanding is…”

“I did not know that!”

“Wow, that is amazing!”

“I have a question about this…”

“What a cool picture!”

"I think… would like to learn about this topic because…..”

"This graph helps me understand…”

"When the camera zooms in for a photo, I REALLY see details."

How can you help your child build comprehension with nonfiction text?

The time has come. It is time to use reading to learn new information. In order to expand nonfiction reading comprehension, let’s be sure to cover the basics. Most nonfiction texts have common text features and are organized accordingly. It’s always a good idea to review and find these text features in nonfiction text. It’s a way to preview the topic and activate background knowledge. What are the most common nonfiction features?

MAIN ELEMENTS NONFICTION

Table of contents

Captions under pictures and diagrams

Glossary terms

Labels or features of graphs and charts

Bolded words

Here are a few questions to help learners think deeply about nonfiction. They are grouped by questions making connections, content, accuracy and authenticity, text structure and organization, text features, and author. They are taken from Questions to Support Comprehension of Nonfiction

Making Connections:

What do you already know about this topic?

How does this book remind you of other texts you have read?

What have you experienced in your life that helps you understand this topic?

What useful information does this text provide?

What is your interest in this topic?

How does this information fit with what you already know?

Why is this topic important in science?

What perspective does the author take on this topic?

What are some of the most important words related to science and what do they mean?

Were there parts of the book you didn’t understand? What puzzled you? What questions do you still have about this topic?

What did you learn about this topic?

What do you want to learn more about?

Accuracy and Authenticity:

How up to date is this information?

Is there evidence provided to support what the author says?

Are the pictures authentic? Do they look real?

Are the facts and information consistent with other sources?

Is any important information missing?

Does the author show the difference between fact and opinion?

Is there any information that could be misleading?

Text Structure and Organization:

What are the ways the author presents information on this topic?

How is this information organized?

Text Features:

What does the title tell you about this book?

How do the headings and subheadings help you find information?

What information is found in pictures, diagrams, maps, charts, etc.?

How does table on contents (index, glossary, bibliography, etc.) help you?

What information did you get from labels, legends, and captions?

Are these text features easy to use? How did they help you get information?

How does the format of the text help you to understand the topic better?

Who is the author of this book?

How does the author use experiences and knowledge to do a good job giving us information?

How does the author feel about this topic? What is the author’s perspective?

What has the author said to make you question the accuracy of the information?

Would you want to read other books by this author? Why or why not?

Another way to increase nonfiction text comprehension is to focus questioning on the elements of a summary.

What is the main topic?

Are there subtopics? For example, the book might be about dogs. But subtopics might include: what dogs eat, how to care for a dog, etc.

Tell me 2-3 things you learned for each topic/subtopic?

Tell the big ideas of the text using 2-3 sentences.

* Pro tip: There are questions that can cover almost any nonfiction text. Here they are:

General Questions to Use with almost any nonfiction text:

What kind of book is this?

What are the different parts of this book?

What kinds of illustrations and graphics are included? (photographs, drawings, diagrams, maps, sidebars)

Is there a chart? What information does it give you?

Did the illustrations help you understand the text?

What did you know about the topic before you read?

Based upon what you know about ____, are you wondering what you will learn?

What picture provided you the most information?

How did the caption help you understand the topic/picture?

What words are bolded? Use the glossary to find out about them before you read.

Did the facts change your thinking?

What was the most amazing thing you learned?

What surprised you the most?

Why might learning about this topic be important?

Don’t forget…. Talking to your children about the books they read is one of the best ways to strengthen reading comprehension. When learners participate in critical thinking to discuss a book, comprehension is strengthened.

Remember, as stated before, reading is thinking . It goes beyond just getting the words right. Reading provokes us to evaluate and synthesize new ideas and learning. Take time to read aloud to your learner and ask comprehension questions. Take time for readers to answer comprehension questions after their own reading too.

Most of all…..everyone needs to keep on learning and enjoy a good book!

“A book is a gift you can open again and again.” -Garrison Keillo

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Reading, writing, or math, the joy of learning provides engaging, evidence based instruction in reading, writing, and math, for students with diverse learning styles, taught by highly qualified learning specialists., we offer personalized, 1-1 and small group instruction in person in boulder and denver, co, and in the east sf bay area, as well as engaging virtual options., interested to learn more book a free consultation here , or visit our homepage. you can also sign up for our mailing list below to receive valuable tips about supporting your unique learner., recent posts.

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Book Report Nonfiction Template

Make it easier to dissect the different sections of the story by editing and customizing this book report nonfiction template from venngage..

• Design Style : modern
• Colors : light
• Size : Letter
• Plan : free

One of the most important parts of reading is understanding the meaning and essence of the book. Dissecting the story into sections and identifying the focal points of each part is crucial to memory retention and reading comprehension. If you want to make reading more fun and enjoyable, a book report outline can help you achieve this goal. A book report nonfiction template can help readers, especially kids, understand and recall the parts of the book better. Non-fiction is a kind of writing based on facts, not fantasy. Non-fiction books talk about events, people, biographies, or historical events that occurred in real life. When reading non-fiction literature, you must always be objective about your approach. Unlike fantasy and make-believe, non-fiction literature relies on facts that trace back to real-life events. Thus, you must always be objective when discussing non-fiction literature. This is where this book report nonfiction template from Venngage becomes handy. Members of academic institutions such as teachers, educators, and librarians can use this book report nonfiction template to create professional-looking, high-quality book reports. Instead of making kids and students write

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17 Works of Nonfiction Coming This Spring

Memoirs from Brittney Griner and Salman Rushdie, a look at pioneering Black ballerinas, a new historical account from Erik Larson — and plenty more.

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By Cody Delistraty

The House of Hidden Meanings : A Memoir, by RuPaul

Though this isn’t the drag queen and TV personality’s first memoir, it’s arguably RuPaul’s most revealing. Excavating questions of childhood love, a reckoning with his challenging father and the power found in thinking more expansively about gender (especially as a “feminine Black man, in violation of society’s norms by virtue of just existing,” as he writes), “The House of Hidden Meanings” is a powerful coming-of-age of a prominent queer icon.

Dey Street, March 5

Lessons for Survival: Mothering Against ‘the Apocalypse ,’ by Emily Raboteau

As a mother disturbed by Donald Trump’s presidency and the misogyny and inequalities she sees as endemic to many facets of American life, Raboteau turns a critical eye on a number of contemporary issues, including police relations, pollution and the pandemic. The author is an English professor and also a street photographer, who finds hope in “making private anxieties public concerns,” as she writes, as well as in murals and signage, people and birds, as she seeks refuge for herself and her children.

Holt, March 12

Who’s Afraid of Gender? , by Judith Butler

The philosopher takes aim at the new interpretations and weaponization of “gender” in what might be read as a follow-up to their pioneering 1990 book, “Gender Trouble.” No longer just “a box to be checked,” gender has become a politicized concept — and one at the heart of a number of moral panics among far-right and authoritarian movements, Butler writes. The book offers thoughtful arguments placed within larger sociopolitical movements, showing why the modern conception of gender deserves, in Butler’s view, a rigorous examination.

Farrar, Straus & Giroux, March 19

One Way Back: A Memoir , by Christine Blasey Ford

In her 2018 testimony in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee, the author, a psychologist and professor, alleged that Brett Kavanaugh had sexually assaulted her at a high school party. Full of unforgettable moments and pathos, Ford’s words dominated headlines. Nearly six years later, she provides a behind-the-scenes look at both the lead-up to her testimony and its aftermath.

St. Martin’s, March 19

There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension , by Hanif Abdurraqib

In his ode to his home state, Ohio, and basketball, the National Book Award finalist weaves in insightful reflections about so-called bad neighborhoods, grief and staying put in Columbus even as so many peers chose to leave. Dotted with poetic aphorisms and split into sections reflecting a basketball game — a pregame, quarters and a game clock counting down subsections — basketball becomes a lens through which almost everything else in life might be refracted.

Random House, March 26

All Things Are Too Small: Essays in Praise of Excess , by Becca Rothfeld

The Washington Post’s nonfiction book critic mixes analyses of popular culture with an incisive look at literature, film and sex. Rothfeld pushes several steps beyond the surface to reveal a variety of arguments, like how disgust can be a reprieve from banality, how democratizing culture has done so little for politics and how minimalism depletes us spiritually.

Metropolitan Books, April 2

We Loved It All: A Memory of Life , by Lydia Millet

This “anti-memoir” grapples with being a parent and a child as nature is decimated. The book wastes no time exploring the disturbing, persuasive specifics of how humans harm and slaughter animals, reducing them to objects. Full of personal anecdotes and curious histories, this book suggests a shift in our view of ourselves — one in which we are no longer at the center of the world.

Norton, April 2

Knife: Meditations After an Attempted Murder , by Salman Rushdie

Rushdie was grievously injured in 2022 after being stabbed onstage at a literary event. Now, he tells the harrowing story of his attempted killing and recovery, advancing an argument about the power of art to counter violence.

Random House, April 16

New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West , by David E. Sanger with Mary K. Brooks

Sanger, a New York Times journalist , and Brooks, a foreign policy writer and researcher, offer a deeply-reported account of America’s relations with Russia and China after the Cold War. The questions are timely — Will Xi invade Taiwan? How will cyberwarfare play out? Will the U.S. continue to be a global leader amid its internal political strife? — and anchored by a look at how is global power captured, held and lost.

Crown, April 16

The Age of Grievance , by Frank Bruni

To have a grievance is not inherently bad — it can be a motivator for important change. But as The New York Times contributing columnist and Duke professor lays out in his latest book, certain grievances have been confounded and taken too far. At once an excoriation of Fox News, college speech policing, self-obsession fueled by social media and “oppression Olympics,” this is a book that finds faults and possibilities on both sides of the political aisle. A final “antidote” chapter proposes a reprieve rooted in humility.

Avid Reader Press, April 30

Bite by Bite: Nourishments and Jamborees , by Aimee Nezhukumatathil

The daughter of an Indian father and Filipino mother, Nezhukumatathil has crafted 40 short essays, each centered on a different food, from mangoes to waffles. Most include a historical dive and an insightful takeaway, such as how messiness is part of cooking, as it is of life. (And yet, she writes, “you make it anyway.”)

Ecco, April 30

The Demon of Unrest: A Saga of Hubris, Heartbreak, and Heroism at the Dawn of the Civil War , by Erik Larson

Larson, one of today’s pre-eminent nonfiction storytellers, trawls a variety of archives to explore the historically momentous months between Abraham Lincoln’s election and the Battle of Fort Sumter — the end of which, in 1861, began the Civil War.

Crown, April 30

The Swans of Harlem: Five Black Ballerinas, Fifty Years of Sisterhood, and Their Reclamation of a Groundbreaking History , by Karen Valby

Long before Misty Copeland, there was the Dance Theater of Harlem: This account, building on an article for The New York Times , follows Sheila Rohan, Gayle McKinney-Griffith, Lydia Abarca-Mitchell, Marcia Sells and Karlya Shelton-Benjamin, pioneering dancers who performed for the likes of the Queen of England and Mick Jagger. Valby dives into the story of the group, including their successes and struggles, and brings their overlooked history to light.

Pantheon, April 30

Coming Home , by Brittney Griner with Michelle Burford

In a season of newsworthy memoirs, this will no doubt be one of the biggest. Griner, a W.N.B.A. star and two-time Olympic gold medalist, was detained by the authorities at a Russian airport for carrying hashish oil in her luggage. She was later jailed and eventually freed after nearly 10 months in a prisoner exchange. Her memoir, per her publisher, is about her time in a Russian penal colony, but it’s also about how her family and her love for her wife helped her through some of the most difficult moments.

Knopf, May 7

Rebel Girl: My Life as a Feminist Punk , by Kathleen Hanna

The front woman of Le Tigre and Bikini Kill, Hanna provides background on her challenging childhood and time at the Evergreen State College, and the excitement and risks of creating a punk “girl band” that became a rallying cry for feminism and a stand against male violence. Told in something of a stream of consciousness style, “Rebel Girl” jumps briskly through stories, including her struggle with Lyme disease and friendships with Kurt Cobain, Joan Jett and other musical legends.

Ecco, May 14

Challenger: A True Story of Heroism and Disaster on the Edge of Space , by Adam Higginbotham

The British journalist’s 2019 book, “ Midnight in Chernobyl ,” clarified and retold a history many thought they already knew well. With “Challenger,” Higginbotham unearths new archival information and conducts original reporting to provide a detailed account of the disaster. The book takes a wide lens, exploring the tragedy and its aftermath but also the years leading up to it, including tracing the lives of the seven crew members who died.

Avid Reader Press, May 14

American Diva: Extraordinary, Unruly, Fabulous , by Deborah Paredez

A journey into messiness and transcendence, this collection includes 10 essays on iconic divas, and draws on the author’s own experience. Moving from the “Mexican” side of San Antonio to the “white” side as a girl, Paredez, a poet and professor at Columbia University, recounts how “the sound of a diva’s voice” taught her what it meant to be Mexican. She explores the careers of divas — defined broadly — from Tina Turner to Venus and Serena Williams, and places them at the center of American ideas on feminism, the free market and freedom since at least the 1970s.

Norton, May 21

Explore More in Books

Want to know about the best books to read and the latest news start here..

A few years ago, Harvard acquired the archive of Candida Royalle, a porn star turned pioneering director. Now, the collection has inspired a new book  challenging the conventional history of the sexual revolution.

Gabriel García Márquez wanted his final novel to be destroyed. Its publication this month  may stir questions about posthumous releases.

Tessa Hulls’s “Feeding Ghosts” chronicles how China’s history shaped her family. But first, she had to tackle some basics: Learn history. Learn Chinese. Learn how to draw comics.

James Baldwin wrote with the kind of clarity that was as comforting as it was chastising. His writing — pointed, critical, angry — is imbued with love. Here’s where to start with his works .

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Each week, top authors and critics join the Book Review’s podcast to talk about the latest news in the literary world. Listen here .

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