Next month, I’ll be presenting at the Millersville University Elementary Literacy Institute. My presentation, “Help Kids Imagine Possibilities in Their Writing Using Mentor Texts,” will include time for teachers to dig into picture books to mine them for craft moves so they can create a lesson set for the book of their choice. One of the nicest things about the Millersville Institute is that it’s a short drive from my house. Therefore, I can easily bring lots of picture books with me, which is something I can’t do when I fly to a speaking engagement.
Seeing as the Institute participants will have read Craft Moves, I am going to bring lots of new picture books with me so they’ll have a variety to choose from when creating a lesson set with a partner. Each one has a sticky note inside the front cover that provides a few ideas to help teachers get started mining each book for craft moves. Each list is purposely not comprehensive. It’s merely a starting point to help someone mine each book for craft moves.
Since summer is a great time to seek out new mentor texts for your writing workshop, here are some of my new favorites — most of which have a 2017 publication date — that I think are perfect for classroom use:
A Beetle Is Shy by Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long (Chronicle Books, 2016)
Publisher’s Summary: The award-winning duo of Dianna Hutts Aston and Sylvia Long team up again, this time creating a gorgeous look at the fascinating world of beetles. From flea beetles to bombardier beetles, an incredible variety of these beloved bugs are showcased here in all their splendor. Poetic in voice and elegant in design, this carefully researched and visually striking book is perfect for sparking children’s imaginations in both classroom reading circles and home libraries.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: technical language, circular ending, vivid verbs, sharing a secret lead, print layout, creating categories, grouping related information and illustrations, and ellipses points
A Good Day for a Hat by T. Nat Fuller and Rob Hodgson (Abrams Appleseed, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Mr. Brown loves hats and can’t leave the house without wearing just the right one. But on this day, every time he opens the door to leave, the situation changes, and Mr. Brown must change his hat accordingly. At last, wearing every hat he owns, Mr. Brown is on his way. When he finally arrives at his destination, we find that it’s Mr. Brown’s birthday, and his friends have just the right hat for that as well.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: lead (dialogue with action), surprise ending, ellipses points, repetition, turning point, precise words (e.g., vivid verbs)
About Habitats: Seashores by Cathryn Sill and John Sill (Peachtree, 2017) – US ONLY
Publisher’s Summary: In this addition to the About Habitats series, award-winning author Cathryn Sill uses simple, easy-to-understand language to teach children about seashores and what kinds of animals and plants live there. John Sill’s detailed, full-color illustrations reflect the wide variety of seashore topography. A glossary and afterword provide further fascinating details about seashores to inspire readers to learn more.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: precise words (e.g., specific nouns, vivid verbs), captions, commas in lists, back matter (i.e., glossary, detailed explanations of each illustration plate)
Animals Do, Too! How They Behave Just Like You by Etta Kaner and Marilyn Faucher (Kids Can Press, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: “Do you like to dance?” asks the first spread of this playful nonfiction picture book. “Honeybees do, too!” responds the next. Illustrating the simple text are joyful drawings that visually connect the children enjoying a dance party to the honeybees performing their own “dance” in the hive. A block of more in-depth text fleshes out what the honeybees are actually doing and why: their waggle dance tells other honeybees “where to find a tasty meal.” Using this same rhythmic question-and-answer style throughout, the book compares a series of children’s favorite activities to similar things that animals do. From playing tag and leapfrog (gazelles and cattle egrets) to blowing bubbles and getting piggyback rides (gray tree frogs and marmosets), there are seven activities/animals in all. And though the behaviors might look the same, while the children are playing, the animals are performing essential tasks such as finding food or caring for their young.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: Q&A structure, teaching tone, precise words (e.g., specific nouns, vivid verbs), parenthetical references, dashes, back matter (i.e., more details on each animal)
Catching Air: Taking the Leap with Gliding Animals by Sneed B. Collard III (Tilbury House Publishers, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Only a few dozen vertebrate animals have evolved true gliding abilities, but they include an astonishing variety of mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. North America’s flying squirrels and Australia’s sugar gliders notwithstanding, the vast majority of them live in rainforests. Illustrated with arresting photographs, Catching Air takes us around the world to meet these animals, learn why so many gliders live in Southeast Asia, and find out why this gravity-defying ability has evolved in Draco lizards, snakes, and frogs as well as mammals. Why do gliders stop short of flying, how did bats make that final leap, and how did Homo sapiens bypass evolution to glide via wingsuits and hang gliders—or is that evolution in another guise?
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: content-specific words, ellipses points, font treatment, print layout, vivid verbs, topics/subtopics, teaching tone, text features (e.g., information boxes, captions, diagrams), dashes, back matter (e.g., glossry, website list, books list)
Come with Me by Holly M. McGhee and Pascal Lemaitre (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: When the news reports are flooded with tales of hatred and fear, a girl asks her papa what she can do to make the world a better place. “Come with me,” he says. Hand-in-hand, they walk to the subway, tipping their hats to those they meet. The next day, the girl asks her mama what she can do—her mama says, “Come with me,” and together they set out for the grocery, because one person doesn’t represent an entire race or the people of a land. After dinner that night, the little girl asks if she can do something of her own—walk the dog . . . and her parents let her go. “Come with me,” the girl tells the boy across the hall. Walking together, one step at a time, the girl and the boy begin to see that as small and insignificant as their part may seem, it matters to the world.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: dialogue, internal thinking/feelings, sharing a secret lead, repetition, show, don’t tell, movement of time and place, varied sentence lengths, power of three, lesson learned ending
Flowers for Sarajevo by John McCutcheon and Kristy Caldwell (Peachtree, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: One morning, the bakery is bombed and twenty-two people are killed. The next day, a cellist walks to the bombsite and plays the most heartbreaking music Drasko can imagine. The cellist returns for twenty-two days, one day for each victim of the bombing. Inspired by the musician’s response, Drasko finds a way to help make Sarajevo beautiful again.
Based on real events of the Bosnian War, award-winning songwriter and storyteller John McCutcheon tells the uplifting story of the power of beauty in the face of violence and suffering.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: internal thinking, repetition, meet the characters lead, varied sentence lengths, movement of time and place, dashes, final action ending, back matter
Go sleep in your own bed! by Candace Fleming and Lori Nichols (Schwartz & Wade Books, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: This funny and irresistible picture book feels like a classic in the making. When Pig plops into his sty at bedtime, he finds Cow fast asleep in his spot. “Go sleep in your own bed ” he squeals, and sends her packing. But when Cow finally snuggles down into her stall, she finds Hen sleeping there. So begins a chain reaction of snoozing barnyard animals being awakened and sent off to their own beds, until every last one is in just the right place. Young children will delight in repeating the refrain “Go sleep in your own bed ” and laugh at the antics of these hilarious–and very sleepy–farm animals.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: vivid verbs, onomatopoeia, repetition, dashes, surprise/circular ending, end punctuation (e.g., exclamation points)
If You Were the Moon by Laura Purdie Salas and Jaime Kim (Millbrook Press, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: What would you do if you were the moon? Do you think you would rest quietly in the night sky? Oh, no. The moon does so much more than you might imagine! It spins like a twilight ballerina, plays tug-of-war with the ocean, and lights a pathway for baby sea turtles. Discover the many other roles the moon plays in this whimsical and lyrical picture book.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: dialogue lead, fact inserts, teaching tone, vivid verbs (i.e., that start each page’s heading), categories, parentheses, content-specific words, back matter (e.g., glossary, further reading)
Life by Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel (Beach Lane Books, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Cynthia Rylant and Brendan Wenzel explore the beauty and tenacity of life. Life begins small, then grows… There are so many wonderful things about life, both in good times and in times of struggle. Through the eyes of the world’s animals—including elephants, monkeys, whales, and more—Cynthia Rylant offers a moving meditation on finding beauty around us every day and finding strength in adversity. Brendan Wenzel’s stunning landscapes and engaging creatures make this an inspiring and intriguing gift for readers of all ages.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: teaching tone, precise words, lead (simple statement), varied sentence lengths, punctuating longer sentences with commas, colons, circular ending
Noah Webster’s Fighting Words by Tracy Nelson Maurer and Mircea Catusanu (Millbrook Press, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Noah Webster, famous for writing the first dictionary of the English language as spoken in the United States, was known in his day for his bold ideas and strong opinions about, well, everything. Spelling, politics, laws, you name it—he had something to say about it. He even commented on his own opinions! With a red pencil in hand, Noah often marked up work that he had already published. So who edited this book? It certainly looks like the ghost of the great American author and patriot picked up a pencil once again to comment on his own biography!
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: meet the character/dialogue lead, internal thinking (i.e., inside the boxes), varied sentence lengths, ellipses points, power of three, precise words, repetition, way we are known ending, back matter (i.e., timeline, author’s and illustrator’s notes, source list, bibliography)
Snowflake in My Pocket by Rachel Bright and Yu Rong (Kane Miller, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: The snow is coming – Bear can smell it! Squirrel is so excited – he’s never seen snow before! But when the snow arrives, Bear suddenly gets sick. Can Squirrel still share this silvery, sparkly, tumbly, magical whiteness with his best friend?
A friendship story, a story about patience and longing, this delicately-crafted book features a cut-out window in Squirrel’s oak tree home, giving readers a sneak-peek to the wintry world outside, and capturing the cozy, cuddly feeling of sharing a snowy night with a loved one.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: movement through time, dialogue, setting/meet the characters lead, onomatopoeia, vivid verbs, exclamation points, ellipses, lesson learned/dialogue ending
Stand Up and Sing! Pete Seeger, Folk Music, and the Path to Justice by Susanna Reich and Adam Gustavson (Bloomsbury, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Pete Seeger was born with music in his bones. Coming of age during the Great Depression, Pete saw poverty and adversity that would forever shape his worldview, but it wasn’t until he received his first banjo that he found his way to change the world. It was plucking banjo strings and singing folk songs that showed Pete how music had the incredible power to bring people together.
Using this gift throughout his life, Pete encouraged others to rally behind causes that mattered–fighting for Civil Rights, ending the Vietnam War, or cleaning up the Hudson River. For Pete, no challenge was too great, and what started out as a love for music turned into a lifetime of activism and change. His greatest talent–and greatest passion–would become an unforgettable part of American history.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: partial quotations, compound adjectives, precise words, back matter (e.g., author’s note, quotations), dashes, movement of time and place, way we are known ending
Strong as Sandow: How Eugen Sandow Became the Strongest Man on Earth by Don Tate (Charlesbridge Publishers, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Little Friedrich Muller was a puny weakling who longed to be athletic and strong like the ancient Roman gladiators. He exercised and exercised. But he to no avail.As a young man, he found himself under the tutelage of a professional body builder. Friedrich worked and worked. He changed his name to Eugen Sandow and he got bigger and stronger. Everyone wanted to become “as strong as Sandow.”Inspired by his own experiences body-building, Don Tate tells the story of how Eugen Sandow changed the way people think about strength and exercise and made it a part of everyday life.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: meet the characters lead, headings, topics/subtopics, dialgoue, varied sentence lengths, show, don’t tell, compound adjectives, power of three, dashes, ending, accomplishments/way we are known ending, back matter (e.g., afterword, author’s note, bibliography, quotation sources)
That Thing Lou Couldn’t Do by Ashley Spires (Kids Can Press, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: “Lou and her friends are BRAVE adventurers. They run FASTER than airplanes. They build MIGHTY fortresses. They rescue WILD animals.” But one day, when they’re looking for a ship to play pirates in, Lou’s friend has an idea: “Up there! The tree can be our ship!” “Ummm …” says Lou. This is something new. Lou has never climbed a tree before, and she’s sure she can’t do it. So she tries to convince her friends to play a not-up-a-tree game. When that doesn’t work, she comes up with reasons for not joining them — her arm is sore, her cat needs a walk, you shouldn’t climb so soon after eating. Finally, she tells herself she doesn’t want to climb the tree. But is that true, or is this brave adventurer just too afraid to try?
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: meet the characters lead, repetition, varied sentence lengths, speech bubbles, font treatment, internal thinking, wraparound ending
Click here to read Ashley Spires’s Author Spotlight piece, “To Edit or Not to Edit,” which she shared on TWT last month.
The Mermaid’s Purse by Patricia Polacco (G.P. Putnam’s Sons, 2016)
Publisher’s Summary: Young Stella loves books so much, her books begin to take over the farmhouse. “Why, Stell, you need your own library to hold those books,” her pa tells her, so he and the neighbors build her one! She calls it “the Mermaid’s Purse,” since the midwife said Stella was born in one. Stella opens the Purse to her neighbors and travels around the countryside, sharing her books door-to-door. Not everyone gives them a chance at first, like grouchy Pig Ears Lonsberry. But farmer Dunkle sure changes his mind when information in a book saves his sick sheep. Eventually, everybody comes to love the Mermaid’s Purse—so when a tornado destroys it, scattering Stella’s precious books far and wide, the whole community rallies to help.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: dialogue, meet the characters lead, show, don’t tell, dashes, compound adjectives, structure, surprise ending
The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles by Michelle Cuevas and Erin E. Stead (Dial Books for Young Readers, 2016)
Publisher’s Summary: The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles, who lives alone atop a hill, has a job of the utmost importance. It is his task to open any bottles found at sea and make sure that the messages are delivered. He loves his job, though he has always wished that, someday, one of the letters would be addressed to him. One day he opens a party invitation—but there’s no name attached. As he devotes himself to the mystery of the intended recipient, he ends up finding something even more special: the possibility of new friends.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: repetition, compound adjectives, varied use of commas, movement of time and place, structure, pivot point, meet the characters lead, varied sentence lengths, power of three, surprise ending
Things That Grow by Libby Walden and Becca Stadtlander (360 Degrees, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: The world around us is always growing and changing! Step into this beautifully illustrated book where time has slowed down, and discover how a seed transforms into a mighty tree; how mountains and islands are formed; and what a puggle becomes when it grows up.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: teaching tone, text features (e.g., captions, diagrams), lists, headings, content-specific words, dashes, commas in lists, parentheses (for explaining technical language)
Tornadoes (Updated Edition) by Seymour Simon (Harper, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: In this updated and revised edition of Tornadoes, award-winning science writer Seymour Simon gives readers an in-depth look at these captivating and powerful storms through fascinating facts and stunning full-color photographs. Readers will learn all about tornadoes, from how they are first created to the destruction they leave behind.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: content-specific vocabulary, back matter (e.g., glossary), technical language to teach about topics, hyphenated words, grouping related information into categories, partial quotations, commas to punctuate complex sentences, text features (e..g, captions, text boxes, maps)
Tree of Wonder: The Many Marvelous Lives of a Rainforest Tree by Kate Messner and Simona Mulazzani (Chronicle Books, 2015)
Publisher’s Summary: Deep in the forest, in the warm-wet green, 1 almendro tree grows, stretching its branches toward the sun. Who makes their homes here?
2 great green macaws, 4 keel-billed toucans, 8 howler monkeys, 16 fruit bats, 32 fer-de-lance vipers, 64 agoutis, 128 blue morpho butterflies, 256 poison dart frogs, 512 rusty wandering spiders, 1,024 leafcutter ants.
Count each and every one as life multiplies again and again in this lush and fascinating book about the rainforest.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: fact inserts, teaching tone, vivid verbs, structure (i.e., using numbers that multiply), dashes, ellipses, back matter
Yaffa and Fatima, Shalom, Salaam by Fawzia Gilani-Williams and Chiara Fedele (Kar-Ben Publishing, 2017)
Publisher’s Summary: Two neighbors, one Jewish, one Muslim, have always been best friends. When they both fall on hard times, can they find a way to help each other? In Fawzia Gilani’s retelling of this folktale, which has both Jewish and Arab origins, differences are not always causes for conflict and friendship can overcome any obstacle.
Some craft moves you might teach kids with this book: repetition, meet the characters lead, see-saw structure, precise words, internal thinking, varied sentence lengths, pivot point, final action ending
…..
Giveaway Information:
Most of the publishers whose books are featured above are giving away one copy of each book that’s listed above. As a result, I’ve clustered books together so four lucky educators will receive a set of mentor texts. (You must have a U.S. mailing address to enter this giveaway.)
Leave ONE COMMENT by Friday, June 30th at 11:59 p.m. EDT to enter to win one of the above-mentioned sets. When you leave your comment, be sure to write down whether you’d like to win the primary fiction, primary nonfiction, upper-grade fiction, or upper-grade nonfiction. I will use a random number generator to pick the winners. However, if your commenter number is selected, but you haven’t specified which set you’d like to win, then another number will be drawn.
Prizes will be announced by Monday, July 3rd. If you are the winner of one of the text sets, I will email you with the subject line of TWO WRITING TEACHERS – NEW MENTOR TEXTS. Please respond to my e-mail with your mailing address within five days of receipt. Unfortunately, a new winner will be chosen if a response isn’t received within five days of the giveaway announcement.
Comments are now closed. Thank you to everyone who left a comment about these books. I used a random number generator and the following people won the book sets:
- Primary Fiction: Lily Esquivel
- Primary Nonfiction: readingtothecore
- Upper-Grade Fiction: Julie Monetta
- Upper-Grade Nonfiction: Marsha Ladd
TWO WRITING TEACHERS 
I’d love to win the primary fiction set! I’m really trying to build out school’s mentor text library!
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Such a great list of books! Thanks for sharing the resources. Upper-grade fiction set 🙂
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Thanks so much for the info on each text!! I appreciate all the help I can get!! I’d love to win the upper-grade fiction set. 🙂 ❤
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What a terrific list–thank you! Upper-level fiction, please.
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Thank you for another great resource and contest. I would appreciate the upper-grade fiction books. Thank you again!
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Primary fiction.
New teacher and I’d love to have more book selections in my library. Thank you for all the ideas!
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Wow! I love the list of new books to add my mentor text box! I would love the primary fiction books!
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Wonderful list of titles and looking forward to using them next year! I would love the upper-grade nonfiction set.
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This is very helpful, especially during my summer planning time. Thank you! I would love to use the Primary non-fiction.
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Wonderful resources. Our district is beginning writing literacy in ernest. As a librarian my goal is to provide tubs of mentor texts for each grade level. I would love a set of upper grade nonfiction. Thanks for the great ideas!t
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Thank you for this timely article. This is a hot topic in my PLC groups. I’d live a chance to win either set of book. Upper grade level would be most useful.
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Awesome resource!! Upper grades, fiction. Thank you!!
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Thank you so much for this wonderful resource! I really appreciate you sharing the craft moves for each text you shared. I would love a chance to win the primary non-fiction mentor texts.
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Wonderful resources! I love using picture books. Upper grades fiction please! Fingers crossed!
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Hi, my name’s Marie and I am part of our school’s third grade curriculum planning committee. I would love to win a fiction text set to read during the first 20 days of school and to support our Book Review Unit in October. What a treat to have some brand new titles to critique right along with my kiddos!
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I am a new teacher of Fifth graders next year. I’d love a chance at the upper-grade non-fiction books. Mentor texts are such a powerful way to teach writing. Thank you for the amazing giveaway!
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Love these ideas! Would like to have upper elementary nonfiction books!
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Thank you so much for sharing this resource!
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Wonderful list! I can’t wait to read them. I would love the primary non- fiction.
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Thanks for the super post. I’d love a set of upper grade fiction 🙂
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Thank you for this wonderful resource. I’ve already started planning how I can use these titles next year. I would love to win the primary nonfiction set.
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Thank you for sharing. I love learning about new picture books to build/revise my mentor text library. I hope I will be the lucky winner of the non-fiction primary set to help me teach my writers there are many ways to craft a non-fiction book. Thanks again
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John McCutcheon has such a voice and heart for social justice. I’m excited about his Flowers for Sarajevo and I would love to win the Upper Grades Fiction set.
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I’m so intrigued by The Uncorker of Ocean Bottles! I would be so appreciative to win the upper grade non-fiction set!
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Great list of mentor texts to use in conjunction with Fletcher’s joy write. I’d love to use the upper grades fiction set to help make writing more fun and meaningful for my 3rd graders.
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Your lists of ideas for craft moves are very comprehensive and I appreciate that tremendously. The nonfiction upper grades set would be the ticket for my gifted fifth graders.
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What a great list! It was a little bit of a tease at the beginning to hear about this wonderful workshop I wouldn’t be able to attend, but your long list of titles and ideas helped to ease the pain! ; )
Thanks for taking the time to write all of that. I added most to my list of books to find this summer while on library tours with my daughters. I would love the primary non-fiction set if picked!
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I love new picture books to use when teaching writing to my fifth graders. Upper grade fiction set would be awesome!
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Thanks for an updated list. I enjoyed incorporating Craft Moves into my 4th grade writing curriculum last year, really loved Last Stop on Market Street. I can’t wait to try these out on 2nd graders next school year, as I am changing grade levels. Primary fiction would be very useful, thank you!!
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Thanks for this wonderful list–honored to have IF YOU WERE THE MOON on it along with so many books I already love or can’t wait to read. Thanks, Stacey! (I don’t need to be in the drawing:>)
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Thank you for the fabulous post! Primary fiction or nonfiction, please!
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This is a wonderfully helpful post! Thank you so much for putting this set of mentor texts together. I would be thrilled to have the primary grades fiction set if I were to win.
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Thank you for this great list! I am always looking for new mentor texts.Will be adding several to my library I’m sure. Would love either primary set – fiction or nonfiction.
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This is SUCH a helpful and useful post. I am often looking for more mentor texts for my classroom yet have a hard time setting time aside to look. Thank you so much!
I’d love the primary fiction or nonfiction set. Thank you!
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Wow this is so timely! I am working on reading my current mentor texts for author’s craft. Love the idea of writing the potential moves in the front of the book. Thank you for the inspiration Stacey! I would love the upper grade fiction set.
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Primary fiction
First year teacher and I would love to start by having mentor texts available to help me better teach.
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Great! My local Indie says a few titles (i.e. Rachel Bright’s book: “Snowflake in my pocket” is not yet published. But, could I be entered into your giveaway? Primary nonfiction please.
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You would need to order Snowflake in My Pocket directly from Kane Miller. (Link is in the post.)
A couple other books, such as Seashores, will be published later this summer.
Hope that helps.
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I am always looking for ways to incorporate picture books into my high school curriculum and this post has given me a lot to think about and consider for this next school year and you can never go wrong with a Patricia Polacco title, right? (I can never get through one without getting choked up, that’s for sure). I am interested in the upper grade fiction set.
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Primary fiction please.
Fantastic ideas here!
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Thank you for sharing so many new picture books–looks like I’m heading to my local library to check them out. I’m excited to collect a few new mentor texts for mini lessons!
Upper-grade nonfiction, please.
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These look like great books to have in our library! I would love to have the primary fiction collection.
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Thanks for this great resource! I would love to win the upper grade non fiction:)
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Thank you for the opportunity! I’d love the upper elementary non-fiction set!
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Not only is the title so smoooooove, it has resparked my personal writing! Primary fiction, please.
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Thank you for sharing some new titles! I’m giving a presentation on the use of mentor text for teaching elaboration next week. Such perfect timing!! If I’m lucky enough to get picked, I’d love the upper grade NF or upper grade fiction.
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Love these titles and ideas for using as mentor text! Polacco is one of my favorites. You are never too old for picture books. It would be great to have the Upper-Grade Fiction Set to use with my 8th grade special education students. Thank you! “May the odds be ever in my favor!”
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I’ve been studying mentor texts for my inquiry project with Wyoming Writing Project and your Craft Moves book has helped immensely. I would love to add the upper grade nonfiction set to my class library for my 6th graders. Thank you!
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I would love the Upper Grade fiction set. Thank you for the opportunity and fantastic ideas!
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This is amazing! I would love the Upper Grade non-fiction set. Thank you!!!!
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I am so excited to get this list of new mentors texts and ways to incorporate with writing!
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Thanks for some new titles and possibilities for their use. I used the Uncorker of Ocean Bottles this past spring with a lens of being brave and having empathy for others. I would love the primary nonfiction set.
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Thank you, Stacey, for sharing so many engaging new books! I’d love to have the primary non-fiction set to share with students.
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Wow! School has ended, but I’m still thinking about teaching every day. This post is making me think even more about it! I’d love the primary fiction set.
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Thank you for a great list of mentor texts to use. I just started looking into texts to teach writing snd these are s terrific start. I love the upper elementary non-fiction texts.
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Wow! Another gold mine of beautiful texts and craft moves! So many new-to-me titles too! Can’t wait to check them out! (I’d love the primary fiction!)
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I wanted to read so many of the fresh books mentioned and do bedtime reading all over again with my kids! (Ok, maybe not tonight!). Thank you for sharing. I’d be interested in the primary non-fiction set.
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Love all these ideas and this blog entry inspires me to work harder at using mentor tests next school year! Please enter my name in the Primary Fiction category – Thanks.
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So many wonderful titles! I teach 5th grade in the Bay Area and would love to be able to use these texts with my kids during Writers Workshop. Upper-Grades Nonfiction
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Just when I should be thinking about summer vacation, you have sent me down the rabbit hole. I am a firm believer that summertime is also a great time to read picture books and plan lessons/conferences for writing workshop. I would love the upper-grade non-fiction set.
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PLEASE PUT ME ON THE LIST FOR THE UPPER GRADE FICTION COLLECTION. I have read Zlata’s Diary as a read aloud and a mentor text a couple of years and I would love to add this amazing book (and true story) Flowers for Sarajevo to my lessons. The lessons of compassion and basic humanity to man are forefront to the lessons about fiction from nonfiction as well as your insightful suggestions internal thinking, repetition, meet the characters lead, varied sentence lengths, movement of time and place, dashes, final action ending, back matter…thank you for always making me a better teacher!
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Thank you for all the wonderful new ideas!
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Thank you for sharing! I am a new member to your blog and am just setting up my mentor text library! Your info was so helpful. I would love the upper-grade fiction or non-fiction, whichever one you have left! Thanks!
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Thanks for the heads up on some wonderful books. I would be able to use the primary fiction books with my class.
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I forgot to mention that I would love both F & NF book sets (😊), but if I have to choose, I would like the fiction set.
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Thank you for sharing this wonderful list of new mentor texts! Heading to the library, looking forward to some enjoyable reading. I would love the primary fiction set! 🙂
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Next year will be my first in kinder (coming from 6 years in middle school) so I would LOVE to win the primary books because I have zero books. Crossing fingers!
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Thank you for the wonderful Mentor Texts, the descriptions, and how to use them. I look forward using them with my 4th grade students. I would love to have the upper-grade fiction set. I love this website!
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I love the idea of mentor texts to teach writing. These are sets of new ideas for me. I haven’t heard of many of them. I am excited to explore them. I would love to have the upper-grade non-fiction set.
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Love using mentor texts! Would love the primary fiction set.
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This is a great list of new books! I’m teaching Creative Writing next year and I’ll have many of my previous students again which means I need new resources for their class! 🙂
The upper grades non-fiction books would be awesome since I’m at the high school level.
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I’m always on the look out for new picture books. What would writing be like without them.
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Wonderful suggestions! I am looking forward to sharing them! I would love the upper grades fiction set.
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This is a great post! I have been teaching for 7 years, but only teaching writing for the past three so I love getting new ideas for mentor texts to use – so thank you! I would love the Upper Grades Fiction set!
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Always looking for new texts to help my writers! I’d be interested in the upper grade fiction set.
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Stacey, your post on mentor texts is breathing new life into my writing workshop. Our district has virtually eliminated writing from our curriculum… I’ve been in mourning for the last several years. I’m determined to close my door and get back to teaching what I know is best for kids this coming September. These titles will jumpstart my third grade writers. Thank you 🙂
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I can’t even imagine the elimination of writing, Rissa. That’s tragic.
I am confident you’ll do what’s best for your kids.
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These books are amazing! This would be a good summer project to go through my own books and add a sticky with teaching points! I would love the primary fiction set.
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Great resource! Upper grade Nonfiction.
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Thank you so much for sharing. I am always excited to learn of new mentor texts. The giveaway is wonderful. I would love, love either primary fiction or nonfiction sets.
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Writing is a difficult. Having good published examples of what it could look like are extremely important to both teacher and student. Thanks for creating this resource and all the work that went into it is much appreciated. Love, love, love it and will use it.
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What is your description of “back matter”?
Upper nonficiton set.
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I love your blog, and this has got to be the best one yet! I will be goiing from self-contained to departmentalized teaching writing to 90 5th graders next year. I was looking for good books to use as mentor texts and to have available for students to read with a writer’s eye. This is a great start! I would really like the upper elementary nonfiction set!
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Nothing better than finding new titles and some great examples of the craft moves. Thanks I would be interested in the Upper Grade Fiction.
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Thanks!! Always looking for new picture books to add to my mentor text collection!
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Thank you for this amazing list and the craft moves for using them as mentor texts. I am always looking for new mentor texts for writing. The primary fiction set looks awesome!
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Mentor texts inspire by example! I would love the primary non-fiction set. Thank you for the suggestions.
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Once again TWT has come up with a fabulous books. I teach kindergarten so either primary set–fiction or nonfiction would be great. Whether I win or not, some new books will be added to my classroom collection.
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I would love the upper grades nonfiction set. Thanks for sharing all of these titles! I can’t wait to read them and use some in writing workshop in the fall!
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What a treasure trove of information!! I’d love the upper fiction set if I’m lucky to win. Thanks so much!! dgrohman@somsd.k12.nj.us
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Wowza! What a treasure chest of title and craft move opportunities! I would love to share the primary nonfiction with my students and team!
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Thank you for the fabulous ideas. This will work perfectly in my classroom.
Giveaway choice – Primary Fiction
Thanks.
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Thanks for providing such a wonderful resource! Your book summaries and suggestions for craft lessons will definitely help me develop Writing Workshop lessons for my seventh graders. I would love to win the upper-grade fiction set.
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Love this list!! Thanks so much for sharing. I am always looking for new mentor texts. I would love the primary fiction set!
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Love this post so much and love using picture books as tools for teaching. The primary nonfiction set would be great!
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Thank you for this awesome resource. I love using mentor texts! I would love the upper grade non-fiction.
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Great blog post! Primary Non fiction mentor text set looks awesome. I’d love to win that.
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It’s always a joy to find new mentor texts! I love these ideas. I would appreciate a chance to win the primary nonfiction set. Thank you!
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Your blog is a must read for me! I live in a small town and the closest bookstore is 80 miles away! Your book recommendations are the best help to find titles I would normally find if I could browse! Thanks!
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What wonderful craft books and another generous giveaway. Thank you for always introducing me to something new. I think the primary nonfiction would be the most useful for me. I’m slowly trying to beef up my nf mentor texts. Thank you!
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This is so helpful! I love learning about new books that make great mentor texts for students! Thank you!
Upper-Grade Fiction would be great!
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Oh boy, more books to buy. I so enjoy using Craft Moves and love when you share additional titles. The primary fiction would be a wonderful addition to my collection although I would love to get any of the sets. Thanks for sharing!
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I love using picture books for my 8th graders too, and am always amazed at how engaged even the boys that age are! Would love the upper grade non-fiction set.
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All of these books would be great to use. I would love the upper grade nonfiction set.
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This list of children’s books are so current and amazing. I will use them for writing mentor texts. I would love to have a set. I will use the PRIMARY NONFICTION set for mentor texts.
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I am reading all I can this summer on using mentor texts to improve my writing workshop next year and lead my second grade team on this adventure. Thank you for this list of new resources and ideas. I would love to use the primary nonfiction set.
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Your mentor texts are always appreciated and to have these suggested craft moves are a bonus! Time for me to get reading! The Primary Fiction Set would be a complement to my library as I transfer grades.
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Such an amazing collection of mentor texts! I love learning about new titles! Thank you for sharing all your suggestions. Either primary nonfiction or fiction.
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I am reading all I can this summer on using mentor texts in hopes of improving my writing workshop and leading my second grade team next year. It is wonderful to see a list of fresh resources. Thank you for sharing. I would love to use the primary nonfiction set.
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So many books…so little time! But there’s always time for picture books! Thanks for the generous offer. (Upper nonfiction, please)
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More books to check out! Love mentor texts suggestions- thanks!
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Thanks for sharing your thoughts on ways to use these books as great mentor texts! I know some kids and teachers that could benefit from the UPPER ELEMENTARY NONFICTION set. What a great opportunity!
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These all sound amazing, I can never have enough picture books because a message can come up at any moment! Thank you for the opportunity (upper grade set)
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I see so many titles I can’t wait to use in my classroom! I’d love to win the upper grade fiction set! Thanks for sharing these books!
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Upper grades fiction. Thank you. I’m always on the lookout for great picture books to use, especially ones with kids from a variety of backgrounds.
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These books look amazing! Thanks for sharing. primary fiction
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I am so grateful for all the work you do finding mentor texts. It makes teaching writing a little easier. I would love the Upper Elementary Fiction books if I am chosen.
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They all look like great books!
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I loved reading about these new picture books and ways to put them to use in Writing Workshop! If I’m so fortunate to win, I would prefer the upper grade nonfiction. Thank you so much! I’m also exploring the Institute – it sounds wonderful.
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Love this list!!! Always looking for new mentor texts!! (Primary fiction set)
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I don’t teach writing next year but I will be teaching reading. So I am always looking for new picture books. Thank you for doing this research. I feel if it is a good mentor text for writing it works for reading too and I am always looking for new nonfiction for read aloud for my fifth graders. I would like the Upper-Grade Nonfiction Set.
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I concur, Joanna. I wrote about this a bit in Craft Moves. It helps to use several books that kids know well across a day. (Especially since time is always short for teachers!)
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Upper grade fiction, please. I love this idea!!
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I ❤️ using picture books to teach writing craft. Ss love it too even in middle school because they don’t get mired down in a lot of text.
I would like upper grade non-fiction.
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Yay to using picture books in middle school! Your comment made my morning.
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These books look amazing! Upper grade nonfiction
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I love getting new mentor text ideas. Thanks! Upper non-fiction
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Thank you for the ideas. I would like the primary set.
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Can’t say enough about mentor text and your list is a fabulous resource for the new year. Your suggestions of what to highlight is a great addition. I would love the upper grade fiction set.
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I love the idea of using picture books as mentor texts for writing. I am new to elementary teaching and used mentor texts this past year for the first time. I would love the primary non-fiction set, but would be happy with fiction set as well. Thank you for sharing these titles with us!
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The book list is terrific! I can’t wait to introduce some new books to my students next school year. I have a multi-age classroom and I am always looking to switch up books to teach craft moves.
I would prefer the primary nonfiction set.
~Becky
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This post is a wonderful gift itself! Thank you for this list of ideas for mentor texts AND ways they can be used. Having new texts also helps the teacher continue to keep the lessons exciting – I enjoy new books that spark more ideas and even more fun/new lessons from the students.
Lower primary – fiction
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The things I mentioned in this post are the tip of the iceberg (so to speak) for teaching with these books. There are many possibilities for each one.
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This is a great resource and I like how you suggested craft moves for each book. I would love the upper elementary non fiction set.
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This post is very timely for me! I am working on curating a mentor text set this summer, so I can’t wait to check these out. I would love the upper grade nonfiction set- it would help fill in gaps in my mentor text collection. 😊
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Glad it hit at the perfect time!
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What a fun display of books! In my next life, I want to be a librarian with a big budget! I discovered this past year, my building’s library has very few lower level nonfiction books, so I have crossed my fingers to win the primary nonfiction set!
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I think we all wish we were librarians with big budgets!
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These look wonderful. Upper grade fiction.
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I am working on piloting an integrated approach to teaching and learning in kindergarten this fall and it involves thematic units. The primary non-fiction mentor texts will be a wonderful support, and I would love to win them! Thank you for this post and I will be putting them in my Amazon cart to purchase, just in case 😉
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I’d love to hear more about your integrated approach in Kindergarten. Do you have a blog?
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Some great books listed here that are new to me!
*upper nf
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This is an incredible list! Thank you! I’d love to win the upper grade texts.
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Thank you for the amazing gift of mining those picture books for craft moves & sharing them. Picture books are such writing treasures. I would love to win the upper grade nonfiction set!
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Love using mentor texts! (Upper grade fiction)
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Thank you for this rich resource!
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What a great list!! I would love to have the primary fiction set to add to my mentor text collection.
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I can’t wait to check out these new books. (Upper grade fiction)
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What a great list and resource. Good luck presenting. Thank you!
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Thank you! The primary non-fiction text set would be amazing.
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Wonderful selection! I’d love either the primary non fiction ir fiction – nonfiction would be my first choice
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Just ordered Craft Moves for my move into 3rd grade from primary; would love a set of upper grade nonfiction to help me start the year!
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Stacey, what a great post! I’m supposed to be doing a million things to get ready for the last day of school and an evening flight to NYC. Instead, I got drawn right into your post! I’d love a chance to win any of these sets–Upper grade non-fiction would be my first choice. Thanks for ending my school year by sparking exciting thoughts for next year!
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What a fabulous list of new reads! I want to buy them all.
Thank you also for providing craft moves to accompany each book. What a wealth of information!
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I am always looking for new books to add to my mentor texts. Thank you for the suggestions! I would love to win the upper grade nonfiction set.
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Upper grade nonfiction please.
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Thanks for this great list! I’ve enjoyed Craft Moves this year & have plans for mining some of the books already on my shelf!
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This post is amazing! Thank you Stacey!!! I would love to win the primary fiction set!!!
Dana 💛
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I love using g men to texts to help teach writing! Thanks for these re suggestions. I would love the upper grade fiction set!
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I love this fresh set of mentor texts! I can’t wait to use some of these in my 3rd grade classroom. I would so love to have the upper-grade fiction set.
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