FICTION - RECOMMENDED BOOKS

Lists excerpted from Mentoring Young Writers by Blanche Lamont

E – indicates easier booksStrong Verbs; Details; Main Problem; Beginning, Middle, EndBailey, Linda – Stanley’s PartyBender, Rebecca, - Giraffe and BirdBrett, Jan – Honey, Honey, Lion EBright, Paul – Quiet! EBrigtht, Paul – The Bears in the Bed and the Great Big StormCannon, Janell – StellalunaCannon, Janell – CrickwingChapman, Jane – Hands Off my Honey!Crimi, Carolyn – Don’t Need FriendsCrimi, Carolyn – Boris and BellaCrimi, Carolyn – Where’s My Mummy? EDowney, Lynn - Most Loved Monster EDuke, Kate – Aunt Isobel Tells a Good OneEmmett, Jonathan – This Way, Ruby! EEmmett, Jonathan – Leaf Trouble EFearnley, Jan – The Baby Dragon Tamer EFriend, Catherine – The Perfect NestHelakoski, Leslie – Fly the Coop Heller, Nicholas – Elwood and the WitchInkpen, Deborah – HarrietKetteman, Helen – Armadillo TattletaleLachner, Dorothea – Meredith’s Mixed Up MagicLoredo, Elizabeth – Boogie BonesMadison, Alan – Pecorino’s First Concert McAllister, Angela – Yuck! That’s Not a Monster! EMcLellan, Stephanie Simpson – Leon’s SongMcNamara, Margaret – The Three Little Aliens and the Big Bad RobotNorac, Carl – Monster, Don’t Eat Me EPalatini, Margie – Piggie Pie!Palatini, Margie – Zoom BroomPalatini, Margie – GorgonzolaRawlinson, Julia – Mule SchoolRose, Marion – Georgie and the Dragon ESauer, Tammi – Mostly MonsterlySilverman, Erica – Don’t Fidget a FeatherSpinelli, Eileen – Three Pebbles and a SongStevens, Janet – The Great Fuzz FrenzyVanasse, Deb - Totem Tale – A Tall Story from Alaska Walker, Sally – Druscilla’s HalloweenWalters, Catherine – When Will It Be Spring? EWard, Nick – The Rumpus in the Night EWilson, Karma – Bear’s Loose Tooth EWilson, Karma – Bear’s New Friend EWilson, Karma – Don’t Be Afraid, Little Pip EWilson, Karma – Where is Home, Little Pip E

CharactersAdam, Addie - Hilda and the Mad Scientist Choldenko, Gennifer – Louder Lili ECrimi, Carolyn – Don’t Need FriendsCrimi, Carolyn – Boris and BellaCrimi, Carolyn – Henry and the Buccaneer BunniesGregory, Nan – How Smudge CameJoose, Barbara – I Love You the PurplestHenkes, Kevin- Julius, the Baby of the World EKetteman, Helen – Armadillo TattletaleLachner, Dorothea – Meredith the Witch Who Wasn’tLester, Helen – Hooway for Wodney WatManning, Jane – Cat Nights McLellan, Stephanie Simpson – Leon’s SongPalatini, Margie – Gorgonzola E Sauer, Tammi – Mostly MonsterlyShaw, Mary – Brady and the Cranky Kicker ESteig, William – Shrek EStuchner, Joan Betty – Sadie the Ballerina ESettingsAdam, Addie – Hilda and the Mad ScientistBrett, Jan – The Three Snow Bears EBrownridge, Bill – The Final GameCannon, Janell – PinduliCherry, Lynn – The Great Kapok Tree Crimi, Carolyn – Don’t Need FriendsGeraghty, Paul – Dinosaur in DangerKetteman, Helen – Bubba the Cowboy PrinceRawlinson, Julia – Fletcher and the Falling Leaves ERawlinson, Julia – Fletcher and the Snowflake Christmas ESadu, Itah – Christopher, Clean Up Your Room! EStuchner, Joan Betty – Sadie the Ballerina E

Extended Story EndingsBailey, Linda – Stanley’s PartyCannon, Janell – StellalunaCannon, Janell – PinduliCrimi, Carolyn – Don’t Need FriendsKetteman, Helen – Armadillo TattletaleLasky, Katherine – Porkenstein Manning, Jane – Cat Nights EMcLellan, Stephanie Simpson – Leon’s SongPalatini, Margie – Gorgonzola ESadler, Marilyn - It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny EThoms, Susan Collins – Cesar Takes a Break E

Other Well-Crafted StoriesAnderson, Derek – Gladys Goes Out to Lunch EArnold, Tedd - Huggly’s Big Mess E Arnold, Tedd - Huggly Goes to School EBailey, Linda – Stanley’s Beauty Contest Bailey, Linda – Stanley’s Little Sister EEyvindson, Peter – Kyle’s Bath (order directly from Pemmican Publishers) EEyvindson, Peter – Chester Bear, Where Are You? (order directly from Pemmican Publishers) EHelmer, Marilyn – Fog CatMorpurgo, Michael – Wombat Goes WalkaboutRoss, Tony – I Want a Cat Shaw, Mary – Brady Brady and the Big Mistake ESteig, William – Gorky RisesThayer, Jane - The Puppy Who Wanted a Boy EThoms, Susan Collins – Cesar Takes a Break EThomas, Valerie – Winnie the Witch EThomas, Valerie – Winnie and the Midnight Dragon E

Stories with skeleton events - to practice elaborationArnold, Tedd – Shoo, Fly Guy! ECampbell, Rod – Dear Zoo ECole, Babette – Princess Smartypants EEastman, P.D. – Are You My Mother? EHutchins, Pat – Rosie’s Walk EMadakoro, Hisako – Buster Catches a Cold Sadler, Marilyn – It’s Not Easy Being a Bunny EShannon, David – No, David! EShannon, David – David Goes to School EWest, Judy – Have You Got My Purr? EWordless Picture BooksMeyer, Mercer – A Boy, a Dog and a Frog EMeyer, Mercer – A Boy, a Dog, a Frog and a Friend ESchories, Pat - Jack and the Missing Piece ESchories, Pat – Jack Wants a Snack ESchories, Pat – When Jack Goes Out E

Because of their length, sterling language and myriad topics, picture books serve as excellent models for mentoring young writers as they learn the writer’s craft. Mentoring Young Writers is packed full of practical, user-friendly strategies for using picture books to teach writing techniques such as: focusing on strong verbs, using elaborative details and varying sentence structures. Help your students avoid the common pitfalls of implausible events, too much dialogue, boring beginnings (and much more) as they craft their fiction stories. Help them create poems with vivid imagery and figurative language, or learn how to engage them in exciting, meaningful personal narrative writing. Included with the book is a CD, which contains all the appendices for each chapter. In addition, educators will appreciate the recommended books lists, the examples of how to use specific books as springboards for student writing, and the shared writing examples included throughout. This book is focused on helping educators teach the skills all good writers possess. COST: $35 (plus shipping)How to Order

Send your book order request to: rainbowliteracy@shaw.caPlease include your address with postal code. A return email will be sent with detailed information about where to send payment.