Comparing Books

English · Reading Comprehension · ages 10-11

Name ______________________ Date ____________

You want to compare two books you have read. Which of these can you compare?
- Their themes
- The colors of their covers
- How much they cost at the shop
Ana read a book about a brave knight. Then she read a book about a brave mouse. She asks what is the same and what is different about the two heroes. What is Ana doing?
- She is choosing which book to buy
- She is learning the books by heart
- She is comparing the two books
Two authors both write about friendship. What does it mean if they use 'different narrative techniques' to show it?
- They tell the story in different ways, like through action or through quiet moments
- They use the exact same words
- They must be writing about different themes
True or false: Two books in the same genre can use their setting in different ways.
Circle one: True False
Two mystery books are both set in an old house. In one, the house feels scary and dangerous. In the other, it feels cozy and full of clues. What does this show?
- Both books must have the same plot
- Mystery books always use scary houses
- The same kind of setting can work differently in each story
In one book, the story happens by the sea. In another book, it happens in a busy city. What could you compare about these two settings?
- Which place is real
- Which book has better pictures
- How each setting shapes what happens in the story
True or false: You can compare two books even when their characters are completely different.
Circle one: True False
One book shows courage through a character fighting a dragon. Another shows courage through a character telling a hard truth. What do these books share?
- The same setting
- The same character names
- The same theme, told with different narrative techniques
Sam compared two books and wrote, 'Both books are funny, so they are the same.' How could Sam make his comparison stronger?
- He could also look for what is different and ask why the authors made their choices
- He could write the word funny three more times
- He could stop reading one of the books
Ben says, 'These two books can't share a theme because different authors wrote them.' What's wrong with his thinking?
- Different authors can explore the same theme in their own way
- Ben is right, themes only repeat within one author's books
- Themes never repeat across any books

Answer key

For grown-ups. Fold this page away before handing over the rest.

Comparing Books W1-mt_sUVOS2jH3J-s1

Their themes · You compare things inside the stories, like themes, characters, and settings.
She is comparing the two books · Comparing means looking at what is the same and what is different between two books.
They tell the story in different ways, like through action or through quiet moments · Narrative technique is how a story is told. Two books can share a theme but tell it very differently.
True · A setting can feel scary in one story and cozy in another, even in the same genre.
The same kind of setting can work differently in each story · A setting isn't just a backdrop. It does a different job depending on how the author uses it.
How each setting shapes what happens in the story · A setting does a job in a story, so you can compare what each place makes possible for the characters.
True · Comparing works on themes, settings, and author choices too, so different characters do not stop you.
The same theme, told with different narrative techniques · Both stories explore courage, just through different kinds of scenes and choices.
He could also look for what is different and ask why the authors made their choices · A strong comparison covers what is the same, what is different, and why the author chose to tell it that way.
Different authors can explore the same theme in their own way · A theme like courage or friendship can show up in books by completely different authors.