How to Write a Fairy-Tale Review: A Simple Plan for Children

After reading a fairy tale, it can be easy to say, “I liked it.” Explaining what you liked, which character stayed with you, what the story made you think about, and why you would or would not recommend it is harder.

That's why we need a review.

A review of a fairy tale should not be a long retelling plot. Its main value is that the child expresses his own opinion about the read and explains it. There is no task to guess one "right" answer. Two readers can read the same story and pay attention to different points.

One remembers the hero's courageous deed. The other will notice how the character corrected the error. The third one will like humor or the magical world of history. If the opinion is related to the text and clearly explained, the review already has its own voice.

Below is a simple algorithm by which a child can independently write a review about a read story.

What is a review on a fairy tale

Review na baśń is a short personal account of the impression of the read work.

In review you can say:

- whether they liked the story;

- which character or episode was remembered most;

- how the story made you feel;

- what action of the hero seems right, bold, funny, strange or unfair;

- what the story made me think about;

- Who can be advised.

It is important that the review answers not only the question "what happened?", but above all the question "what do I think about what I read and why?".

For example, the phrase:

> "In a fairy tale, a boy went to the forest, met an old man, got a magic key and returned home."

It's like a short retelling.

And the phrase:

> "I liked that the boy didn't take the magic key for himself, but used it to help another. Because of this act, the hero seemed to me good and responsible."

is already part of the review, because it contains a personal evaluation and explanation.

How is review different from retelling, summary and analysis

These tasks are often next to each other, so they are easily confused.

Retelling is retelling events in your own words. It is important to keep the sequence of the plot: what was first, what happened next and how it all ended.

Summary compresses the plot to the most important events. He primarily answers the question "What happened?".

Analysis examines the work in more detail: topic, main message, characters, their traits, conflict, plot structure and other elements.

Review starts with the reader. The most important question is: "What did I feel or think after this story? What exactly in the text made such an impression?"

A good review can have one or two sentences about the plot, but it doesn't have to retell the whole story. Just recall the events that help explain your opinion.

How to write a review for a story in 6 steps

You don't have to start with a blank sheet and immediately invent a beautiful text. First, you can answer a few simple questions, and then combine the answers into a short story.

1. Name the tale and its author or origin, if known

The start can be very simple:

- "I read a fairy tale..."

- "Recently I read a Ukrainian folk tale..."

- "I remembered a fairy tale by Hans Christian Andersen..."

You should not invent the author if the tale is folk or the author is unknown. It is better to write "folk tale" if it is really stated in the source.

Already in the first sentence the reader should understand what work is being discussed.

2. Describe the Impression the Story Left on You

Now give a short personal assessment.

For example:

- "The story seemed to me funny and a little unexpected."

- "This story was sad to me, but very warm."

- "What I liked most was that the hero didn't give up after the first failure."

- "At first the heroine's behavior surprised me, but in the end I understood her act better."

The words "liked" or "did not like" are a good start, but it's better to explain why right away.

Compare:

"I liked the story".

and

"I liked the story because the hero made mistakes a few times, but he didn't blame others and tried to fix it."

The second sentence is much better.

3. Mention Only the Most Important Moment in the Plot

A review does not have to tell the whole story from beginning to end.

Choose one episode without which it is difficult to explain your impression.

For example:

"The moment I remembered most was when the little hero decided to return for his friend, even though he was already safe."

Or:

"I was interested in reading the scene where the fox tried to trick others but fell into its own trap."

This short example of plot confirms your point, but does not turn a review into a retelling.

4. Write about a hero or a memorable act

A tale is often best evaluated through the behavior of the characters.

Ask yourself:

- Who did I remember the most?

- What did he do that mattered?

- Do I agree with this decision?

- What would I do if I were him?

- Has the character changed over the course of history?

It is not necessary to call the hero "good" or "bad". Try to be more specific.

Instead of:

"The hero was good"

can write:

"I liked the hero because he admitted his mistake and returned what he had taken without permission."

Instead of:

"The fox was bad"

more precisely:

"I didn't like that fox cheating on others for its own benefit."

That makes review sound more convincing, because the assessment is based on a specific act.

5. Explain what the story made you think about

Here you can connect the story with a broader idea, but you do not need to turn every fairy tale into a strict moral.

Try completing one of the sentences:

- "After this story I thought about..."

- "History reminded me that..."

- "I thought it was important that..."

- "The story showed how..."

- "I wondered why..."

For example:

"History has reminded me that courage does not always mean being fearless. Sometimes courage is to act cautiously, even when it's scary."

Or:

"The story made me think about how easy it is to offend a friend with a joke if you don't notice his feelings."

That's your own conclusion from what you've read.

6. End with your own conclusion or recommendation

Finally, I can summarize my impressions:

- "I would recommend this story to anyone who loves adventure and unexpected endings."

- "I want to read another story with this hero."

- "I would recommend reading this story together and then discussing the protagonist's actions."

- "I liked the story not because of the magical events, but because of the character's change."

It is not necessary to recommend every fairy tale to everyone. If you don't like the piece, you can write it calmly and argumentatively:

"It was difficult for me to get interested in this tale because the events repeated themselves many times. But the finale was unexpected, and it was the one that I remembered the most."

Your own honest opinion is better than the standard "the story is very interesting and instructive" if you can explain it.

Simple outline review for a fairy tale

If the task is "compose outline review", you can use the following scheme:

1. The name of the story. What have I read or read?

2. First impression. How did the story feel?

3. The most important moment. What remembered you most?

4. Hero or Deed. Who do I want to remember and why?

5. My opinion. What do I support, disapprove of or want to discuss?

6. Conclusion. What did the story make me think about and who do I recommend it to?

It's not a rigid pattern. If the teacher gives a different outline, the assignment must be followed. But this scheme helps to gather thoughts and not slip into full retelling.

Review example for a fictional story

In order not to replace an independent work with a ready-made review of a well-known work, let's take a fictional mini-story.

Imagine the story of "The Lantern in the Forest". In it, a little hedgehog finds a magic lantern that only lights up when used to help someone. At first, the hedgehog wants to leave the lantern as a beautiful treasure, but later lights the way for the lost bunny and understands what the find is really for.

Example review:

> I liked the tale "The Lantern in the Forest" because it is short, but the hero has time to change his decision. I remembered the moment most when the hedgehog could go home with the magic torch, but came back to help the bunny. At first he thought of the lantern as his own treasure, but then he realized that a thing becomes truly valuable when it is used. I liked that the character was not perfect from the start, but came to the right decision himself. The story made me think about how help often starts with a small choice. I would recommend this story to children who like good stories about animals.

This example has everything you need: a title, your own impression, one important episode, a character assessment, a conclusion and a recommendation. There is no retelling of each event.

How to write a short review on 5-7 sentences

If you need very short text, you can use the formula "1 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1":

- 1 sentence: name a fairy tale;

- 1 sentence: give your general impression;

- 2 sentences: explain it through a character or important episode;

- In one sentence: state the message the story leads you to;

- 1 sentence: Make a conclusion or recommendation.

For example:

> I read a fairy tale "...". I liked her character's ability to not give up after failure. Especially memorable was the moment when he returned to help his friend. This feat showed me the hero as courageous and reliable. After the story, I thought about the fact that true friendship is not seen in words, but in deeds. I would recommend this story to anyone who loves adventure.

It's just a frame. It should be filled with your own thoughts about a specific story read.

Which words help you express your own opinion

Sometimes a child knows what he wants to say, but can't start a sentence. Then language hints help.

For the first impression

- "I liked it..."

- "I was surprised..."

- "I was curious..."

- "I'm sad at the moment..."

- "The funniest thing for me was..."

- "At first I thought... but then..."

For hero rating

- "I support the hero's act because..."

- "I had a hard time understanding why the character..."

- "A hero seemed courageous to me when..."

- "I disagree with his decision because..."

- "The hero changed most when..."

For the conclusion

- "The story made me think about..."

- "After reading I realized..."

- "For me, the main thought has become about..."

- "This story reminded me..."

- "I would recommend this story because..."

You don't have to copy all these sentence starts at once. Choose those that help express your own opinion.

Standard errors in review

1. Retell the whole story

If most of the text answers the question "what happened next?", it is closer to retelling.

A review plot is only needed to the extent that it helps explain one's own assessment.

2. Using Only Words Such as “Interesting,” “Good,” or “Instructive”

Such words in themselves explain almost nothing.

Add a reason:

"The story seemed good to me because even a character who was initially selfish changed after he received help from others."

3. Writing About Things That Are Not in the Text

Review can be personal, but the evaluation should be related to the read story.

If you write that the hero is brave, mention the act that shows it. If you think the ending is unfair, explain why.

4. Guess Author or Origin

If a tale is folk, it is not necessary to attribute it to a specific writer. If the author is not given in the source, it is better not to guess.

5. Look for "right opinion" instead of your own

The teacher can check whether the child understands the text and whether he can argue his position. But review should not consist of other people's ready-made phrases.

If a child can explain his or her point by a fairy tale example, it is much more helpful than mechanically repeating someone else's answer.

6. Convert review to list

A draft can be written in paragraphs, but a completed review is usually better written as a coherent text, unless the assignment says otherwise.

Child's hint-question

If you don't know where to start, don't look at a blank sheet right away. First, answer a few questions orally:

1. What's the name of the fairy tale?

2. What first word describes my impression: cheerful, anxious, unexpected, kind, strange, sad, fascinating?

3. Why did I choose that word?

4. What moment do I remember best?

5. Who of the heroes remembered the most?

6. Which of the character’s actions do I agree or disagree with?

7. Has the hero changed?

8. What did I think about after reading it?

9. Would I like to read something like that?

10. Whom can I recommend this story to?

You do not need to include all ten questions in the review. Just choose the most interesting ones and make a coherent text out of them.

How parents can help but not write a review for their child

The most useful help here is not a ready-made sentence that the child has to re-write. Better help them get their own opinion out.

You can ask:

- "What moment would you tell a friend first?"

- "Which heroes would you invite to your team and which ones wouldn't?"

- "What performance surprised you?"

- "If the hero had done differently, what would have changed?"

- "Would you like to be inside this fairy tale? Why?"

After the conversation, the child can write down one or two strongest thoughts and build a review around them.

If it is difficult to formulate a sentence, an adult can suggest a beginning: "I remembered the moment when...", but let the child choose the ending.

That way the text will remain her own.

Checklist before submitting

Before you finish, read review again and check:

- Did I name a fairy tale?

- Is it clear what impression she made on me?

- Did I explain my opinion, not just say "I liked it"?

- Did you mention at least one specific episode or action of the hero?

- Haven't I retold the whole plot?

- Is there my own conclusion in the text?

- Are the sentences connected?

- Are there any facts I haven't checked: the author, the country, the name of the hero?

- Did I read the text for mistakes?

If the answer to most of the questions is "yes", the review has already a good foundation.

Main Rule

A review of a fairy tale is not a competition for the most beautiful words or an attempt to guess someone else's correct answer. It is a short text in which the reader shows: I have read the story, understood it, noticed an important point and can explain my own attitude to it.

So the best review starts not with a ready-made template, but with a simple question to yourself:

"What did I remember most from this story and why?"

Your answer will almost always suggest what to write next.