He develops a passion for animal welfare and conservation, wanting to use his voice to speak up for animals. Later, Carlitos returns home to his mama, abuela, and cat.Ī Boy and a Jaguar by Alan Rabinowitz, illustrated by Catia ChienĪlan stutters when he talks yet fluently speaks without a stutter with animals. Tired from his unproductive search, a park ranger reminds Carlitos that his father will be forever in his memory whether he’s found or not. His experiences give readers the flavors of Puerto Rico with the old men playing dominoes, a parade with singing and guitars, and kite flying near the castle. Then we eat it all.” As well as, “Outside Abuela’s morning kitchen red ants climb over scratchy grass and bite my feet while I pick naranjas with abuelo in the yard.”īased on the author/illustrator’s childhood, this is a tender story about little Carlitos who leaves his family’s home to travel across the bay to San Juan and search for his father. Mamaw pours the pudding and I cover the top with slices of banana. Later my sisters stack vanilla wafer cookies. “ Outside the stray cat who lives in the old trailer meows and morning mountain fog wrinkles and rolls. Beautifully written with descriptive sensory images that transport readers to each setting. Each grandparents’ home is filled with love, memorable food, unique decor, and a distinct culture. Let Me Fix You a Plate a Tale of Two Kitchens by Elizabeth Lillyīased on the author’s childhood, a little girl and her family visit both parents’ families starting with the grandparents in West Virginia and later visiting grandparents in Florida. Not only is this a sweet story of friendship and resiliency but it also models details that matter, inner dialogue, and parallel storytelling from both main characters’ perspectives. Rescue and Jessica: A Life-Changing Friendship by Jessica Kensky and Patrick Downes, illustrated by Scott Magoonīased on Jessica’s real-life when she was an adult, read how after her leg was amputated, she connected to a service dog named Rescue. I finally knew this, like I knew many things, because now I could read.” Based on the true story of the author, Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, her story shows the power of spirit and literacy to survive and overcome even the most horrible of circumstances.
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“ And like Alice, I was brave, clever, and as unyielding as the strong stone that sharpens an ulu. The nuns’ abuse doesn’t crush this brave girl’s spirit. She’s treated with cruelty and forced to do endless chores yet her desire to learn remains. Olemauan wants to learn to read and begs to go to the outsiders’ school. When I Was Eight by Christy Jordan-Fenton and Margaret Pokiak-Fenton, illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard Young Patricia recounts staying with her Babushka when a thunderstorm arrives Her Babushka takes Patricia around the farm to gather ingredients, counting to see how long in between the lightning and thunder, then they go inside to make a special cake, a Thunder Cake. I wish I could read across the ocean and hold her up.” Even when Popo is gone from this world, she visits the little girl in her dreams and their love endures. I sing to her as she lies in bed, frail under heavy blankets. Then, “ I pray for Popo when we hear she is sick. and thinks of Popo during her days, talks to her on video calls, and returns for a short visit.
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I Dream of Popo by Livia Blackburne, illustrated by Julia KuoĪ little girl remembers times with her beloved Popo…visiting the park, celebrating New Year’s Day, and looking at the globe to see where they are in Taiwan and where the girl will be moving, San Diego. Here are my favorite books to use with growing writers who want to write their own stories.
MENTOR TEXTS FOR WRITING HOW TO
In my curriculum, as I did when I taught writing workshops in the school system, I show parents how to use excellent mentor texts like the books listed below to model for kids how published authors craft their own personal narratives. In my Imagination Soup Writers Homeschool Writing Curriculum, growing writers will be starting out writing personal narratives using children’s books as examples. I’m doing this so you have a bigger list of choices from which to find books that appeal to your specific writers. NOTE: I’m including a few picture books that are not actually personal narratives but read as such. Personal narrative and memoir are someone’s true-life story based on their real lives which are authentic to the readers with details and reliability that show experience and authority.Ĭhoose from these picture book and middle-grade book mentor texts to show your growing writers examples of good personal narrative mentor texts with sensory details, vivid verbs, small moments, and organization.