mentor texts · narrative

A moose, penguins & book giveaways

Stacey Shubitz

The end of the year is almost here and I have so many books I want to share with you (and not enough time to do it). Therefore, I’m combining two mentor text blog posts into one today.  Both books have animals and would be excellent additions to your mentor text library.
This_Moose_Belongs_to_MeOliver Jeffers fans, listen up! This Moose Belongs to Me is another must-have if you enjoy his books. The story has a strong message. The illustrations are a marvel since they are, on many pages, exquisite landscapes with “a bit if technical wizardry thrown in the mix.” The writing makes it an excellent mentor text.  It’s yet another Jeffers book you and your students will treasure.

This Moose Belongs to Me can help you teach students:

  • How to write with a conversational tone while writing in the third person. The narrator felt very familiar to me, as if a/he was speaking to me throughout the book.
    • Wilfred’s rules for how Marcel the moose could be a good pet were written with a healthy dose of humor (by Wilfred) while referring to Wilfred in the third person. I’m not sure how I’d define this as a craft move, but I think I’d touch on this if I were working with a student on 1st/3rd person.
  • There is foreshadowing in this book when the ball of string appears in Wilfred’s hands early in the book. One has to assume the string will cause him to get into trouble (& it does) in the great outdoors.
  • If you’re looking to teach kids who are crafting stories (perhaps in a narrative picture book unit of study) how to break the rules, you can show them how Jeffers crafted dialogue in this book. Instead of traditional dialogue with tags embedded in the prose, he used speech bubbles to show when the characters were speaking aloud.
  • Jeffers emphasized words or phrases by writing in all caps or by increasing the font size.
  • There’s an unexpected twist when the moose does something heroic. Since I don’t want to spoil this for you, I’ll just say that you can use this part of the text to teach story climax or turning points.
  • The book has a satisfying ending that also teaches an important lesson.  Hence, if you want to help students learn how to craft characters who grow, then this book is an exemplar since Wilfred comes to realize that it’s not really possible to own someone (in this case, Marcel the Moose).

baby penguins everywhereBaby Penguins Everwhere! is Melissa Guion’s first picture book. And what a fantastic beginning it is!  On the surface, this appears to be a story about the arrival of baby penguins and how the penguin parent’s life changes drastically.  However, upon closer reader of the text, it’s really a story about the adjustment we go through when a new family member (or members) come to live with us.  As a result, I think this book will be beloved by children who have new siblings arrive and by parents whose new addition(s) are giving them more to do than they ever imagined.

Like This Moose Belongs to Me, Baby Penguins Everywhere! can be used with young writers as a mentor text when you’re trying to illustrate craft moves.  Here are some things you can use this book for with your students:

  • A new twist on an old type of lead.  Rather than beginning with the words “Once upon a time,” Guion starts her book with the words “Once there was a penguin…,” which not only let us know that we’re reading a story, but we know who the main character is.
  • If your students overuse exclamation points, then this book is one you can hold up about how to use them appropriately and sparingly.  After all, if multiple penguins popping out of a hat only calls for a period, then surely students can end some of their sentences with periods, rather than exclamation points, as well.  (For more thinking about exclamation points, click here.)
  • While we’re talking about conventions, let me mention points of ellipses.  Guion uses ellipses to convey thoughts from one page spread to the next page or from the bottom to the top of the page.  For students who aren’t sure when, why, and how to use ellipses, you can show them how she uses them since I think they’re meant to build a sense of anticipation and wonder in the text.
  • Drawing is a form of writing. Therefore, you can show young writers that illustrations can show writers with pictures what they might not be ready or able to convey to their readers with words. For instance, to illustrate the sentence, “She was very, very busy,” there are four pages worth of pictures! On these pages readers will notice the baby penguins throwing snowballs, building snowmen, jumping rope, making a human pyramid, and even playing tug of war.
  • The story includes a satisfying ending that also carries a message.  (The message is that being alone can often be good, but having company fulfills you even though you’re often too busy and tired to realize how wonderful things are.)

Giveaway Information:

(Please read carefully since this giveaway is a bit different than most of the ones I sponsor.)

  • There are two giveaways embedded in this post.  One reader will win a copy of is giveaway is for a copy of This Moose Belongs to Me, while another will win a copy of Baby Penguins Everywhere!  Many thanks to Philomel for sponsoring this giveaway.
  • To enter for a chance to win a copy of one or both books you should leave a comment on this post.  Please specify if you want to be in the drawing for one or both of the books (You can only win one even if your commenter number is drawn twice.).  Be sure to state which one you are interested in if you only want to win one of the books.  (If your comment doesn’t state the title(s) of the books you’re interested in and it’s selected, then I’ll draw another number using the random number generator.)
  • All comments left on or before Sunday, January 6th, 2013 at 11:59 p.m. EST will be entered into a random drawing using a random number generator on Monday, January 7th.   I will announce the winner’s name at the bottom of this post by Tuesday, January 8thth.
  • Please be sure to leave a valid e-mail address when you post your comment, so I can contact you to obtain your mailing address if you win.  From there, my contact at Philomel will ship the book out to you.  (NOTE: Your e-mail address will not be published online if you leave it in the e-mail field.)

Comments are now closed.  Thank you to everyone who left a comment on this post.

The random generator worked its magic and selected Renee Tobias (This Moose Belongs to Me) and Dana Murphy (Baby Penguins Everywhere!).  Congratulations!

Dana wrote:

I would love a copy of Baby Penguins Everywhere! How I wish I knew about this book 10 months ago when I brought Baby #2 home from the hospital! Thanks for the post!

Renee wrote:

I would love to win either of the two books for our mentor text collection. Since we are writing our new ELA curriculum I am always looking for new resources.

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Published by Stacey Shubitz

Stacey Shubitz is a K-6 literacy consultant and former elementary teacher. She is the author of CRAFT MOVES and other professional books on writing workshop. Her forthcoming book, MAKE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM WORK FOR YOUR CHILD WITH DISABILITIES (Guilford Press, 2026), empowers parents to navigate the special education system.

49 thoughts on “A moose, penguins & book giveaways”

  1. I am working with a group of teachers who are looking at opportunities for their students to pay close attention to dialogue in mentor texts–particularly the difference between 1st and 3rd person. We would love to use either one of the texts you have highlighted. As mentioned in many of the other posts, we appreciate the rich discussions on your blog. Happy New Year!

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  4. Both books sound like great mentor texts to use with my writers to help them with a variety of writing techniques that we work on during the year. Please put me in the drawing for both books. Thank you!

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  5. I love your ideas and can’t wait to share these ideas with my class. I’d love the chance to win either of these books – they both sound terrific!

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  6. I have been thinking a lot about conventions and editing lately as it is coming up a lot with teachers in my school. I would love to be in the drawing for “Baby Penguins Everywhere.” I just looked at this book last night at a book store and thinking of how I’d use it. Thanks for kick-starting the thinking process.

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  8. Both of these books sound delightful and meaningful…..I would like to win either one of them. I love the way you describe how each of these mentor texts can be used…..As a college professor, it will be my privilege to share this information with my students…..

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  9. I would love to win either of these books! This Moose Belongs To Me sounds especially interesting for my class. I love satisfying endings that teach lessons!!!! THANKS!

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  10. Both of these books look fantastic. I’d love either. My preference (if I could only choose one), would probably be the penguin book.

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  12. I would love a copy of Baby Penguins Everywhere! How I wish I knew about this book 10 months ago when I brought Baby #2 home from the hospital! Thanks for the post!

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  15. Thanks for these two books, and for the blog in general. The tips you give on mentor texts are helpful. I’m interested in both titles.

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  16. This Moose Belongs to Me sounds as if it is a perfect fit to coach young writers who are ready to tackle dialogue in their writing. Thanks for entering me in your giveaway. I look forward to your email stating that I have indeed been chosen t receive a copy. :d)

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  17. I am also a big fan of This Moose Belongs to Me. I teach gifted 2nd graders and we are working on adding dialogue. Thanks for entering me in the contest for this wonderful story.

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  20. This Moose Belongs to Me sounds like just the right book to teach dialogue and show how font size can show the kids what kind of voice to use when they are writing.

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  23. Baby Penguins Everywhere sounds like a must-have for my classroom! Preschoolers are frequently welcoming new siblings into their lives…this sounds like a delightful read for a busy new family! Thanks for sharing these two special books with us.

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  27. I would love to win either of the two books for our mentor text collection. Since we are writing our new ELA curriculum I am always looking for new resources.

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  28. Both of these books are indeed incredible and would find lovely work within my classes. I am so glad that I do not have to choose a favorite. They are both on my “Must read and share” list.
    Parker Kelly

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  32. My first grade students are in love with the author, Oliver Jeffers! We would love to have the copy of “This Moose Belongs to Me!”
    Thanks!

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  38. I have heard of both books but haven’t had a chance to read either. Just on your recommendation, I am certain either would be an asset to our young writers. Thanks for an opportunity to add either to my classroom.

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  40. Both “This Moose Belongs to Me” and “Baby Penguins Everywhere” sound like fun books. Thanks for sharing some new mentor text ideas!

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  42. I am always searching for narrative that relates to nonfiction. Both of these stories are creative and informative. Thanks for the chance to win one!

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  45. Both texts hit on ideas we’ve just been noticing in class.
    When writers use elipses and when a writer may choose to write in all caps.
    I’d love to be in both drawing too.

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  47. I would really enjoy having one or both of these books for my classroom. I would like to be in the drawing for both. I believe my children would love reading these texts when learning about animals.

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