The Parts of a Book
A 30-minute Kindergarten lesson on naming the front cover, the back cover and the title page, and knowing what each is for.
The Parts of a Book is a free 30-minute Kindergarten English lesson plan for Common Core standard RI.K.5 — point to the front cover, the back cover and the title page. It is timed across 5 sections, gives the exact wording to use where the wording carries the meaning, names 3 misconceptions with the teaching move that addresses each, and ends with an exit ticket and a printable worksheet with its answer key.
- Grade:
- Kindergarten
- Length:
- 30 minutes
- Standard:
- RI.K.5
Kindergarten · Reading: Informational Text
RI.K.5
Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.
Objective
Students will be able to name the front cover, back cover and title page of a book.
Students are successful when they can
- Holds a book the right way up with the front cover facing them and the spine on the left.
- Points to the front cover, back cover and title page when each is named.
- Says what each part is for: "The title page tells the title again and who made it."
What you need
- One picture book per pair, each with a title page and a blurb on the back
- Three large labels: FRONT COVER, BACK COVER, TITLE PAGE
- The printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan
The lesson
Warm-up — which way up?
4 min- Hold a book upside down with the back cover facing the class. Say cheerfully: "Let us read!"
- Let the class correct you. Ask: "How do you know it is wrong?" Fish for "the picture is upside down" and "the title is on the other side."
- Turn it the right way. Say: "Books have parts, and each part has a job."
Teach — three parts, three jobs
10 min- Hold up the front. Stick FRONT COVER on it. Point to the title and read it. Say: "The front cover shows the title and a picture. It helps you choose the book."
- Turn it over. Stick BACK COVER on it. Read the blurb: "The back cover tells you a little bit about what is inside, so you can decide if you want to read it."
- Open to the title page. Stick TITLE PAGE on it. Point to the title and then to the author's name. Say: "The title page tells the title again, and who wrote it. It is the first page of the book, before the story or the facts begin."
- Turn to the first page of the text and say: "This is where the reading starts. It is not the title page, because it does not just say the title."
- Ask: "Where would you look to find out what the book is about before you read it?" Fish for "the back cover."
“Front cover to choose it. Back cover to find out more. Title page to see the title and who made it.”
Guided practice — find them
8 min- Pairs take a book. Call out quickly: "Front cover!" Pairs hold it up. "Back cover!" "Title page!" Repeat in a different order.
- Ask pairs to find the title on the front cover, then on the title page. Ask: "Are they the same words?" Fish for "yes."
- Ask: "Which parts tell us who wrote it?" Fish for "the front cover and the title page."
- Ask one pair to read their book's back cover with you and say what the book is about.
“Show me the title page. Put your finger on the title.”
Independent practice
6 min- Read each question on the sheet aloud.
- Children circle front cover, back cover or title page, and for the "where would you look?" questions, circle the part they would open.
Close
2 min- Hold up a book open at the title page. Ask: "Which part?" Then show the back cover.
- Fish for "title page" and "back cover."
What goes wrong, and why
Each of these is a reasoning error rather than carelessness. The fix addresses the reasoning.
Calls the first page of the story the title page.
Why: Both are near the front and both have words, and the child does not yet know the title page has its own job.
Fix: Put them side by side. Ask: "Does this page tell a story, or just say the title and names?" Only one is the title page.
Starts reading from the back cover because it has a big picture.
Why: Some back covers are as colorful as the front, so the picture side seemed to be the start.
Fix: Show that the title is on the front and the spine sits on the left when the book is ready to open. Check the spine every time.
Says "the back cover is the end of the story."
Why: It is the last thing you touch in a book, so it seems to be part of the ending.
Fix: Read a blurb aloud. Ask: "Is this the end, or does it tell you about the whole book?" The blurb is a little advert for the book.
If they are not there yet
- Name only the front and back covers first, then add the title page next week.
- Use books with very clear titles and big pictures on the front.
- Use the labels on the class read-aloud book every day.
If they finish early
- Find the spine and say what it is for when books are on a shelf.
- Make a front cover, back-cover blurb and title page for a class book.
- Find a book with extra parts, such as a contents page, and guess what that part is for.
Exit ticket
Show me the title page of this book. What does it tell you?
What to look for: The right page and "the title and who wrote it." Pointing at the first story page means title page and text are not yet separated. Pointing at the back cover means front and back need more practice.
Printable practice for RI.K.5
Free to print and copy, answer key included. Each sheet can generate a fresh set of problems for a retake.
- Parts of a BookCircle the right answer.
Questions about The Parts of a Book
How long does the The Parts of a Book lesson take?
30 minutes, split across 5 timed sections: warm-up 4 min, teach 10 min, guided practice 8 min, independent practice 6 min, close 2 min. The minutes are stated per section and add up to the stated length, so the plan can be cut or extended at a section boundary rather than abandoned halfway.
Which standard does The Parts of a Book teach?
CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RI.K.5 — RI.K.5, Reading: Informational Text for Kindergarten: “Identify the front cover, back cover, and title page of a book.” In plain terms, point to the front cover, the back cover and the title page.
What do I need to teach this lesson?
One picture book per pair, each with a title page and a blurb on the back, three large labels: FRONT COVER, BACK COVER, TITLE PAGE and the printable practice sheet linked at the end of this plan. Everything listed is either ordinary classroom equipment or a free printable from this site — there is nothing to buy and nothing to prepare beyond photocopying.
What mistakes should I expect in this lesson?
Three, each a reasoning error rather than carelessness: calls the first page of the story the title page; starts reading from the back cover because it has a big picture and says "the back cover is the end of the story.". The plan gives the thinking behind each one and the teaching move that addresses the thinking rather than the symptom.
How do I know whether the lesson worked?
The exit ticket asks: “Show me the title page of this book. What does it tell you?.” The right page and "the title and who wrote it." Pointing at the first story page means title page and text are not yet separated. Pointing at the back cover means front and back need more practice. That tells you whether the class needs a reteach or a thirty-second conversation before you plan tomorrow.
Is there a worksheet to go with The Parts of a Book?
Yes — 1 printable RI.K.5 worksheet, linked at the end of the plan and free like the rest of the site. Each one comes with an answer key and 25 versions, so the practice after the lesson can be a different paper on every desk.
Is The Parts of a Book free to use?
Yes. The plan, its printables and their answer keys are free to read, print and photocopy for your own class, with no account and no email capture. It was last reviewed on October 8, 2026. Please do not resell it or republish it as your own.
Last reviewed 2026-10-08. Aligned to RI.K.5 of the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts.