My Book Picks
Mentor Texts for Narrative Writing
The Best Story Ever by Eileen Spinelli
This book is great for a launch to the writing unit.
The main character goes through the process of writing a great story for a contest.
Here are some reasons why it’s a great mentor text:
The Best Story Ever by Eileen Spinelli
This book is great for a launch to the writing unit.
The main character goes through the process of writing a great story for a contest.
Here are some reasons why it’s a great mentor text:
- Told in first person.
- Goes through the writing process.
- Uses dialogue.
- Makes the writer think, Who is my audience?
- Touches on adding action, humor, feelings, to your story- and when these elements are relevant!
Some Things Are Scary by Florence Parry Heide
This is a good resource for tapping into topic choice for personal narratives.
This is a good resource for tapping into topic choice for personal narratives.
Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse
I really love the writing in this story.
There are lots of great elements in this narrative:
I really love the writing in this story.
There are lots of great elements in this narrative:
- lead with dialogue.
- voice
- descriptive language
- action
- similes
- use of dialogue
- ellipsis . . .
- show don’t tell
- character development
- building up suspense
- endings
Fireflies! by Julie Brinckloe
Another great narrative. It's sort of a like reading a series of small moments with lots of heart. . .
Another great narrative. It's sort of a like reading a series of small moments with lots of heart. . .
- lead with weather/time
- slow down the action
- show don’t tell
- descriptive language
- sensory details
- inner thoughts
- dialogue
- character development
- long and short sentences voice
- story has a heart
- ending
The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant
A wonderful book to inspire kids to recall a special moment from their lives. Kids can use a time line to plan out a story like this and string together a series of small moments into one narrative account.
A wonderful book to inspire kids to recall a special moment from their lives. Kids can use a time line to plan out a story like this and string together a series of small moments into one narrative account.
- lead with time
- details
- descriptive language
- sensory details
- long sentences that use lists (adding details)
- short sentences describe feeling
- using punctuation
- show don’t tell
- repeated lines
- ending takes you back to the start
My Best Friend by Mary Ann Rodman
Great for topic choice - a time I felt. . .
Can be used to help teach:
Great for topic choice - a time I felt. . .
Can be used to help teach:
- a series of small moments linked together by the theme
- leads with time and introduces setting and character
- dialogue
- show don’t tell
- short and long sentences
- details and descriptions
My Father’s Hands by Joanne Ryder
A good resource for descriptive language.
A good resource for descriptive language.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
An old favorite!
An old favorite!
- lead with time/setting
- descriptive language
- similes
- slow down the action
- setting
- use of dialogue
- show not tell
- action
- relationship between characters
- short and long sentences
- heart
- voice
Guess Who My Favorite Person Is by Byrd Baylor
A super strange story, but I love it.
A super strange story, but I love it.
- lead with setting and action
- tons of description
- tons of dialogue
- punctuation
- VOICE
- audience
- feelings
- verb tense
- heart
Eleven by Sandra Cisneros
A favorite of mine.
A favorite of mine.
- topic choice
- point of view
- story has heart
- small moment
- talk to the audience
- voice
- show not tell
- repetition
- short and long sentences
- dialogue
- details
- build up
- character development