writing

Use picture books for teaching the 6 Traits of Writing

Picture books make great mentor texts for teaching the 6 Traits of Writing. Their short text is ideal for mini-lessons, and they are engaging for students—even those in middle and high school!

Many teachers choose to introduce each trait by revealing picture book examples that exemplify the trait, pointing out specific words, phrases, and sentences that depict the trait in action. These picture books are then revisited throughout the year for skill-based trait lessons, reinforcing students’ understanding and application of each trait.

Students need mentor text examples from authors simplified, broken down so that they can grasp skills within the overall text. Simply reading a good picture book isn’t enough. Taking the time to develop trait-based mini-lessons based on skills within the books allows students to see what the author chose to do intentionally with good word choice, idea development, figurative language, and more.

While there are so many great picture books for teaching writing out there, sifting through them all to pick the perfect passage for your next mini-lesson takes time.

The Trait Trackers and its corresponding list of picture books make this easier by identifying picture books for writing that exemplify the writing traits effectively.

Trait Trackers

Rather than reading a picture book aloud and trying to figure out what to teach from it, this resource makes it easy to use picture books as mentor text examples by “tracking” when and how the 6 Traits of Writing appear in popular titles.

Each mentor text card tells you what skills you can teach for that text, gives examples of those skills in action, and lists what page in the book to find each example. No guesswork—all the dissecting has already been done! When slipped into the matching books, the bookmark-sized Trait Trackers allow teachers to easily find the most important skills from each of the titles included.

Purchase the Trait Trackers Complete Bundle.

Picture book list

Teachers seeking a quick reference guide of familiar titles will love Smekens Education’s “Picture Books for Teaching the Six Traits.” This compilation of book recommendations features titles that highlight individual traits for several grade-level ranges and includes many books that teachers already have access to within their classroom libraries.

To introduce the 6 Traits of Writing with mentor texts, teachers can select a different book for each trait or opt for a single title that covers them all. Titles marked with an * indicate books that effectively showcase all 6 Traits, making them excellent choices for yearlong trait-based lessons as well. (Some of these titles are also found in the Trait Trackers.)

For those looking for mentor text that is NOT a picture book, check out the final page of the download. It includes poems, song lyrics, text messages, and other text types that are authentic depictions of the traits in action.

(Download a PDF version.)

Learn more about each title below and look for the * that denotes titles appropriate for teaching all 6 Traits of Writing.

Access your grade-level picture book suggestions:

Kindergarten | Grade 1 | Grades 2-3 | Grades 4-5 | Grades 6-8 | Grades 9-12

KINDERGARTEN

Trait of Ideas

David’s Drawings, Cathryn Falwell
David, a young African American boy, begins by drawing a bare winter tree at school. As he adds details and enhances the drawing, the simple idea evolves into a vibrant work of art. This transformation illustrates how a single idea can grow and develop into something rich and engaging.

Good Dog, Carl, Alexandra Day
Carl, the babysitting Rottweiler, leads his infant mistress on a wordless romp through the house, causing chaos and destruction, but managing to restore order just before Mother returns home! His creative problem-solving and imaginative actions transform the story’s simple premise into a dynamic narrative, showing how ideas can evolve and resolve into a satisfying conclusion.

Trait of Organization

Today is Monday, Eric Carle
Eric Carle’s Today is Monday introduces young readers to the days of the week through a lively parade of animals enjoying different foods each day. The structured sequence of meals and days, coupled with vibrant illustrations and a sing-along song, helps children understand and follow the organization of the week in a fun and memorable way.

The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Eric Carle
Follow the progress of a hungry little caterpillar as he eats his way through a varied and very large quantity of food until, full at last, he forms a cocoon around himself and goes to sleep. Die-cut pages illustrate what the caterpillar ate on successive days. The story’s clear progression from one meal to the next shows how organizing ideas can create a captivating and easy-to-follow tale.

Trait of Voice

The Feelings Book, Todd Parr
The Feelings Book vibrantly illustrates the wide range of moods we all experience. Kids and adults will appreciate Todd Parr’s quirky intelligence as he pays special attention to the ever-changing, sometimes nonsensical emotions that we all feel. Targeted to young children first beginning to read, this book will inspire kids to discuss their multitude of feelings in a kid-friendly, accessible format, told through Parr’s trademark bold, bright colors and silly scenes.

My Crayons Talk, Patricia Hubbard
The crayons come to life with unique personalities, each expressing their own vibrant thoughts and feelings in creative rhymes and pictures.

This book vividly demonstrates how distinct voices can be crafted for different characters, allowing readers to explore how voice can bring characters and their perspectives to life.

Today I Feel Silly, Jamie Lee Curtis
Silly, cranky, excited, or sad—everyone has moods that can change each day. Jamie Lee Curtis’s zany and touching verse, paired with Laura Cornell’s whimsical and original illustrations, helps kids explore, identify, and even have fun with their ever-changing moods, recognizing through example how their moods can be displayed in their drawing and writing.

Trait of Word Choice

Hooray for Fish, Lucy Cousins
Paddle along with Little Fish on a mesmerizing underwater tour of friends spotty and stripy, happy and gripy, hairy and scary, even curly whirly and twisty twirly. Dive into Hooray for Fish to show how Lucy Cousins picks out whimsical and descriptive words to bring each fish to life in this undersea riot of color and rhyme.

How Things Work in the House, Lisa Campbell Ernst
This book introduces young readers to the inner workings of common household objects, explaining how they function in a simple and engaging way. It exemplifies how deliberate word choice can transform these explanations into an educational experience that captivates and informs.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

Chicka Chicka Boom Boom, Bill Martin, Jr. & John Archambault
In this lively alphabet rhyme, the letters of the alphabet race up the coconut tree. Will there be enough room? Oh, no—Chicka Chicka Boom! Boom! The well-known authors of Barn Dance and Knots on a Counting Rope have created a rhythmic alphabet chant that rolls along on waves of fun.

Trait of Conventions

CDB, William Steig
Vibrant color brings new life to Caldecott Medal-winning New Yorker cartoonist William Steig’s classic puzzle book! With its playful use of letters and sounds, this book is an excellent mentor text for teaching conventions, helping students explore spelling patterns, phonics, and the importance of punctuation in a fun and engaging way.

GRADE 1

Trait of Ideas

Love the World, Todd Parr
What the world needs now is love—and who better than Todd Parr to share a message of kindness, charity, and acceptance. Touching upon themes including self-esteem, environmentalism, and respect for others, Todd uses his signature silly and accessible style to encourage readers to show love for themselves and all the people, places, and things they encounter.

Wilfrid Gordon McDonald Partridge, Mem Fox *
Wilfred Gordon McDonald Partridge lives next door to a nursing home in which several of his good friends reside. Of course, his favorite is Miss Nancy Alison Delacourt Cooper because she has four names just as he does. The only problem is Miss Nancy, who is 96, has “lost” her memory. Undaunted, Wilfred sets out to “find” Miss Nancy’s memory for her.

By showing Wilfrid’s touching quest to aid Miss Nancy, Mem Fox helps students learn how to develop their own unique and meaningful ideas.

Trait of Organization

Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! Mem Fox*
Harriet doesn’t mean to be pesky. Sometimes she just is. And her mother doesn’t mean to lose her temper. Sometimes she just does. But Harriet and her mother know that even when they do things they wish they hadn’t, they still love each other very much.

Harriet, You’ll Drive Me Wild! offers a clear example of how to organize a story with a simple but effective structure, helping students understand how to sequence events and convey relationships and themes.

Scaredy Squirrel, Mélanie Watt*
The first book in the Scaredy Squirrel series is a comical story of an endearing squirrel who learns what can happen when he’s brave enough to take a risk.

The story’s clever organization of Scaredy’s planned routines and unexpected adventures teaches students how to structure their own narratives with clear sequences and turning points.

Trait of Voice

Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! Mo Willems
When a bus driver takes a break from his route, a very unlikely volunteer springs up to take his place—a pigeon! But you’ve never met one like this before. As he pleads, wheedles, and begs his way through the book, children will love being able to answer back and decide his fate.

The story is a perfect example of how a strong voice can bring a character to life, giving depth to their personality and making their actions and choices resonate with readers.

The Monster at the End of this Book, Jon Stone*
Lovable, furry old Grover is distressed to learn that there’s a monster at the end of this book! He begs readers not to turn the pages, but of course kids feel they just have to see this monster for themselves.

The playful and nervous narration, accompanied by bold and varied punctuation marks, makes this story unforgettable, proving how the trait of voice can be featured within textual content as well as font and conventions.

My Many Colored Days, Dr. Seuss
Expressive paintings reveal striking images as a bright red horse kicking its heels, a cool and quiet green fish, a sad and lonely purple dinosaur, and an angrily howling black wolf.

The book’s vivid and varied voice, paired with its powerful visuals, makes the story unforgettable, revealing how a well-crafted voice in both text and images can distinctly convey a diverse array of emotions.

Trait of Word Choice

Fancy Nancy, Jane O’Connor*
Meet Nancy, who believes that more is ALWAYS better when it comes to being fancy. From the top of her tiara down to her sparkly studded shoes, Nancy is determined to teach her family a thing or two about being fancy.

Nancy’s extravagant and expressive vocabulary showcases how specific word choice can reveal a character’s distinct traits and add a layer of charm to a story.

Max’s Words, Kate Banks
Max’s brothers have grand collections that everyone makes a big fuss over. Benjamin collects stamps and Karl collects coins, and neither one will share with their little brother. So Max decides to start a collection of his own. He’s going to collect words.

Bright, bold pictures incorporating clever wordplay accompany this highly original tale about a younger brother’s ingenuity and how a pile of words can make a story.

The Word Collector, Peter H. Reynolds
In this extraordinary new tale from Peter H. Reynolds, Jerome discovers the magic of the words all around him—short and sweet words, two-syllable treats, and multisyllable words that sound like little songs. Demonstrate the impact words can have to connect, transform, and empower.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

The Napping House, Audrey Wood*
A cozy bed, a snoring granny, a dreaming child, a dozing dog, a snoozing—WAIT! There’s a surprise in store. So pull on your sleeping cap and snuggle in for a timeless cumulative tale that’s truly like no other.

The rhythmic and repetitive structure of the text highlights how sentence fluency impacts storytelling, making it easy for readers to follow along and anticipate the next part of the story.

Trait of Conventions

Animals Black and White, Phyllis Limbacher Tildes*
Discover the answers to seven animal riddles in this beautiful book of nature’s bold designs. With dynamic pictures and simple text, Phyllis Limbacher Tildes deftly delivers the clues to piece together these pattern puzzles. Young animal lovers will delight in this black-and-white guessing game! Highlight the use of question marks with the rollout of each riddle.

Yo! Yes? Chris Raschka
Two kids meet on the street. “Yo!” says one. “Yes?” says the other. And so begins a conversation that turns strangers into friends. With vibrant illustrations, Caldecott Medalist Chris Raschka’s rhythmic read-aloud is a celebration of differences—and how it just takes a few words to overcome them.

The book’s use of dialogue and punctuation shows how conventions play a key role in conveying characters’ emotions and interactions.

GRADES 2-3

Trait of Ideas

Fireflies! Julie Brinckloe*
A young boy is proud of having caught a jar full of fireflies, which seems to him like owning a piece of moonlight. But as the light begins to dim, he realizes he must set the insects free or they will die.

The narrative shows how a central idea can emerge from a character’s experiences and insights, offering a useful example for teaching how ideas evolve.

Pictures from our Vacation, Lynne Rae Perkins*
When a family looks back on their pictures from summer vacation, they realize the memories that really mattered were ones that cannot be captured with a picture.

This exploration of personal memories highlights how they can be used to develop rich, multi-dimensional ideas in storytelling.

Trait of Organization

Roller Coaster, Marla Frazee*
Get ready to experience the thrill of riding a coaster for the very first time in this vibrant adventure from acclaimed picture book creator, Marla Frazee.

The well-structured sequence of events captures the excitement and suspense of the ride, making it a great example for teaching how organization can enhance the flow and impact of a story.

When Sophie Gets Angry, Molly Bang
Everybody gets angry sometimes. For children, anger can be very upsetting. People do lots of different things when they get angry. In this book, kids will see what Sophie does when she gets angry.

The book’s clear sequence of events and emotional progression showcase the power of effective organization in shaping a compelling narrative. This makes it a useful example for teaching narrative structure.

Trait of Voice

Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse, Kevin Henkes*
Lilly the mouse adores her teacher Mr. Slinger—until he takes away the purple plastic purse she was proudly showing off to her class. Lilly is so angry she draws a nasty picture of Mr. Slinger and slips it in his bag. At the end of the day, Lilly gets her purse back, and inside is a sympathetic note and a bag of treats.

This book exemplifies how multiple “voices” can occur within a text.

The Recess Queen, Alexis O’Neill*
A fresh and original twist on the common issue of bullying. Kids will relate, and parents and teachers will appreciate the story’s deft handling of conflict resolution (which happens without adult intervention).

With her irrepressible spirit, the new girl dethrones the reigning recess bully by becoming her friend in this infectious playground romp full of rhythm and creative sentence fluency.

Trait of Word Choice

I’m Dirty, Kate & Jim McMullan
A playful backhoe loader enthusiastically takes on the job of cleaning up the dirtiest messes. With lively onomatopoeia like “Clank! Rattle! Bang!” and expressive action words, the story uses vivid language that makes the work of being dirty sound fun and exciting.

This book can teach writers the importance of selecting energetic and descriptive words that make a story more engaging, encouraging them to experiment with sound words and strong verbs to bring their writing to life.

Outfoxed, Mike Twohy
One dark night in the henhouse, a hungry fox in search of his dinner gets more than he bargains for. Instead of a chicken, Fox grabs a duck. A very smart duck. A duck so sly, he plans to convince Fox that he isn’t a duck but a—dog! Yes, a dog.

The author’s playful and inventive word choice enhances the story’s humor and surprise, making it a great example of how selecting the right words can elevate a story’s impact and character.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

Roller Coaster, Marla Frazee*
A first time roller-coaster ride from Marla Frazee provides more than just a look at organizational structure. This book is perfect for teaching sentence fluency, as it shows how varied sentence lengths and structures can create a natural flow that mimics the pacing of the story, helping writers understand how to maintain a smooth and engaging rhythm in their own writing.

Saturday Night at the Dinosaur Stomp, Carol Diggory Shields*
What did the dinosaurs do for fun? They had themselves a Dinosaur Stomp! With illustrations by Scott Nash that leap off the page like a raptor doing the fandango, Carol Diggory Shields tells dinosaur devotees all about reptilian revelry with a foot-tapping, tail-whacking beat that reminds writers that rhythm is part of the trait of sentence fluency.

Trait of Conventions

Punctuation Takes a Vacation, Robin Pulver
When all the punctuation marks in Mr. Wright’s class decide to take a vacation, the students discover just how difficult life can be without them. Help writers see what it would be like if their readers had to make sense of text that included no punctuation.

Scaredy Squirrel, Mélanie Watt*
Scaredy Squirrel tells the humorous tale of a cautious squirrel who sticks to his routine and avoids danger at all costs, until an unexpected event forces him to face his fears. The story’s playful tone and well-paced sentences add to the tension and excitement as Scaredy navigates the unknown.

This book can be used to teach sentence fluency by demonstrating how varying sentence lengths and structures enhances the pacing of a story, showing writers how to build suspense and keep readers engaged.

GRADES 4-5

Trait of Ideas

One Day, The End, Rebecca Kai Dotlich
“One day…I went to school. I came home. The end,” says our storyteller—a girl with a busy imagination and a thirst for adventure.

The genius of this picture book is that each illustration captures multiple, unexpected, and funny storylines as the narrator tells her shorter-than-ever stories, ending with “One day…I wanted to write a book.” An original and incredibly deep combination of text and art invites readers to develop their ideas to make up stories of their own.

Saturdays and Teacakes, Lester Laminack*
Lester Laminack reminisces about his childhood Saturdays spent with his grandmother, filled with simple joys like riding his bike, mowing the lawn, and baking teacakes. The vivid storytelling transports readers to a small town in the 1960s, where the bond between the boy and his grandmother is captured in tender detail.

This book is ideal for teaching the trait of ideas, as it demonstrates how a single, simple memory can be expanded into a rich narrative. It encourages writers to draw from their own experiences and use descriptive details to bring those moments to life.

Shark Nate-O, Tara Luebbe & Becky Cattie*
In Shark Nate-O, Nate is obsessed with sharks but has one big problem—he can’t swim! Determined to live up to his shark-loving persona, Nate faces his fears and works hard to learn how to swim just like his favorite creatures.

Kids will love this jawsome book complete with vibrant and whimsical art and a list of shark facts in the back! The trait of ideas can start with something as simple as the writer’s favorite things.

Trait of Organization

Blackout, John Rocco
One hot summer night in the city, all the power goes out. The TV shuts off and a boy wails, “Mommm!” His sister can no longer use the phone, Mom can’t work on her computer, and Dad can’t finish cooking dinner. What’s a family to do?

Using a blackout as a starting point, the story unfolds sequentially both in text and images, exemplifying how organization can impact the plot.

Diary of a Worm, Doreen Cronin*
Diary of a Worm humorously chronicles the everyday life of a worm, from school struggles to family moments, all through the format of a diary. Each entry provides a quirky glimpse into the underground world, making readers see worms in a whole new way.

This book is excellent for teaching the trait of organization, as the diary format creates a clear, sequential flow, showing young writers how events build upon one another in a logical progression.

Trait of Voice

Arnie the Doughnut, Laurie Keller*
Arnie, an optimistic and chatty doughnut who’s eager to meet his new owner, is unaware of what usually happens to doughnuts. As Arnie faces the shocking truth, his lively personality shines through, leading him on a mission to change his fate.

This book is a great tool for teaching the trait of voice, as Arnie’s playful and distinct personality leaps off the page. It shows writers how a strong, unique voice can make a character memorable and add humor and depth to a story.

How Are You Peeling? Saxton Freymann
Full of whimsical, vibrant, full-color photographs, this fun book depicts different varieties of foods expressing their feelings through facial expressions.

Perfect for an example of how to add voice to illustrations, this title challenges writers to bring feelings into their words and their pictures.

Trait of Word Choice

Thesaurus Rex, Laya Steinberg
This playful dinosaur will “slither, skid, slide, and glide” his way into children’s hearts!

Explore good word choice with the loveable cheeky Thesaurus Rex, who has an irresistible way with words. Each page is filled with vibrant language and energetic wordplay, showcasing well-chosen verbs, synonyms, alliteration, repetition, and rhyme.

Walter the Farting Dog, William Kotzwinkle & Glenn Murray*
Walter is a fine dog, except for one small problem: he has gas. He can’t help it; it’s just the way he is. Fortunately, the kids Billy and Betty love him regardless, but Father says he’s got to go! Poor Walter, he’s going to the dog pound tomorrow. And then, during the night, burglars strike. Walter has his chance to be a hero.

Highlight the significance of the rules for how to use nouns and pronouns effectively with examples from the text.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

Come On, Rain! Karen Hesse*
Through exquisite language, acute observation, and poetic fluency, Newton medalist Karen Hesse recreates the glorious experience of a quenching rainstorm on a sweltering summer day. Tess hopes for rain… and when it comes, she and her friends are ready for a surprising joyous celebration.

The smooth, rhythmic sentences enhance the story’s flow and emotional impact, making it a perfect example of sentence fluency.

Dogteam, Gary Paulsen
On a moonlit winter night, a team of dogs pulls a sled, taking the narrator and readers on a wondrous ride through the snow, into and out of the woods. It is a ride you’ll wish would never end.

The joy, beauty, and grandeur of the outdoors is portrayed in a beautifully written poetic piece, highlighting sentence-length variety.

Trait of Conventions

Click, Clack, Moo: Cows That Type, Doreen Cronin*
Farmer Brown is puzzled and then exasperated when his cows begin typing out demands for better working conditions and eventually go on strike. The humorous story showcases the cows’ clever use of a typewriter to negotiate their terms.

This mentor text is ideal for teaching the trait of convention, as it offers a wealth of punctuation examples, including the use of colons in the cows’ typed messages. It provides an engaging way to introduce and practice various punctuation marks within writing units.

The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg *
A young boy is taken on a magical journey to the North Pole on Christmas Eve where he experiences the wonder of the holiday season and makes a special Christmas wish. The story’s enchanting illustrations and narrative have made it a timeless classic for readers worldwide.

Van Allsburg’s inventive approach to conventions helps illustrate how effective punctuation and layout can elevate a narrative and engage readers.

GRADES 6-8

Trait of Ideas

The Other Side, Jacqueline Woodson*
Clover questions the reason for a fence that separates her neighborhood from the white side of town, but her curiosity is piqued when she meets Annie, a white girl who sits on the fence every day. As Clover bravely approaches Annie, she begins to understand that the fence should not keep them apart and sees the possibility of friendship despite the division.

This book is a powerful tool for teaching the trait of ideas, as it demonstrates how a simple concept—like a fence—can be used to explore complex themes such as racial division and the potential for connection.

What Do You Do With an Idea? Kobi Yamada
This is the story of one brilliant idea and the child who helps bring it into the world. As the child’s confidence grows, so does the idea itself. And then one day, something amazing happens.

Excellent for teaching the trait of ideas, this story shows how a single concept can evolve into something significant when given attention and care. It encourages students to explore and develop their own ideas, highlighting the importance of persistence and creativity in the process.

Trait of Organization

The Relatives Came, Cynthia Rylant*
A family’s summer visit is warmly depicted, from their joyful arrival and shared activities to their heartfelt departure, with the anticipation of their next reunion. The narrative flows smoothly as it follows the passage of time marked by the ripening of crops and seasonal changes.

The Relatives Came illustrates how a story can be structured around a clear sequence of events. The organized progression of the visit, from arrival to departure, helps writers understand how to arrange their own stories coherently and effectively.

The Paperboy, Dav Pilkey
A boy and his dog embark on their early morning newspaper route, experiencing the quiet, pre-dawn world that belongs only to them. The story beautifully captures their journey from house to house as they complete their deliveries.

Follow the paperboy as he goes through his route sequentially, demonstrating how to effectively arrange events in a logical order to show writers how to develop well-structured stories.

Trait of Voice

Lon Po Po, Ed Young
Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother in this Chinese retelling of Little Red Riding Hood.

The word choice and sentence rhythm provide a tone and perspective that creates a unique voice.

Voices in the Park, Anthony Browne*
Four people enter a park, and through their eyes we see four different visions. There’s the bossy woman, the sad man, the lonely boy, and the young girl whose warmth touches those she meets. As the story moves from one voice to another, their perspectives are reflected in the shifting landscape and seasons.

Teach voice using this mentor text to help students grasp that each topic or story could be written from many different perspectives, each of which would provide a unique tone.

Trait of Word Choice

Hoop Kings, Charles R. Smith Jr.
The dynamic play and personalities of twelve top basketball players come to life through vibrant, rap-inspired language that vividly captures each player’s unique style and skill, making their individual stories and contributions to the game pop off the page.

Smith’s energetic and descriptive language highlights how selecting the right words can create an engaging picture. The varied and expressive vocabulary used throughout the text demonstrates how effective word choice can enhance storytelling and character portrayal.

Piggie Pie! Margie Palatini*
Gritch the Witch is on a quest for the perfect lunch: Piggie Pie. She flies to Old MacDonald’s Farm to find eight plump piggies disguised as various farm animals, leading to a hilariously unexpected twist.

Words pack a punch in this mentor text, illustrating the impact of precise and playful language. The lively word choice enhances the story’s humor and energy, making it a great example for teaching the trait of word choice.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

Mr. George Baker, Amy Hest
An unlikely friendship blossoms between George Baker, a hundred-year-old musician, and Harry, a young schoolboy, as they bond over their shared challenges with reading while waiting for the school bus. Their warm relationship highlights how even the most different people can find common ground and support each other.

Its varied sentence lengths and punctuation create a rhythmic and engaging read-aloud experience. The smooth flow of sentences helps illustrate how variety in sentence structure can enhance the overall readability and emotional impact of a story.

Owl Moon, Jane Yolen*
On a quiet winter night, a little girl and her father venture into the still woods to search for owls, finding that sometimes the experience is more about the journey than the destination. As they walk in silence, their bond and the serene beauty of the natural world come to life in this poetic tale.

Jane Yolen’s lyrical, flowing sentences create a soothing rhythm that enhances the story’s quiet beauty. The smooth transitions between descriptive passages and dialogue demonstrate how varied sentence structures can contribute to a story’s overall fluency and emotional resonance.

Casey at the Bat, Christopher Bing
This story brings to life the classic poem about a baseball game, vividly illustrating the dramatic and emotional moments of the pivotal game. Through detailed illustrations and rhythmic text, it captures the excitement and tension of Casey’s final at-bat and its surprising outcome.

As a poem, rhythm is part of the writing. Highlight the sentence fluency by reading portions aloud and asking students to apply the rhythm they hear to their own writing.

Trait of Conventions

Eats, Shoots & Leaves (commas), Lynne Truss
Punctuation really does matter. Illuminating the comical confusion the lowly comma can cause, Eats, Shoots & Leaves uses lively, subversive illustrations to show how misplacing or leaving out a comma can change the meaning of a sentence completely.

This picture book is sure to elicit gales of laughter—and better punctuation—from all who read it.

Girl’s Like Spaghetti (apostrophes), Lynne Truss
Everyone needs to know where to put an apostrophe to make a word plural or possessive (Are those sticky things your brother’s or your brothers?) and leaving one out of a contraction can give someone the completely wrong impression (We’re here to help you).

Full of silly scenes that show how apostrophes make a difference, too, this is another picture book guaranteed to provide humorous inspiration and incentive for improved conventions.

GRADES 9-12

Trait of Ideas

The Table Where Rich People Sit, Byrd Baylor
As her family attempts to calculate the value of the desert hills, the colors of blooming cactus, and the calls of eagles and great horned owls, Mountain Girl realizes that she, too, knows they are rich beyond measure.

From a simple idea grows a descriptive and detailed story that can inspire students to expand on their own ideas.

This Plus That, Amy Krouse Rosenthal
In this fanciful collection, Amy Krouse Rosenthal puts together unexpected combinations that always add up to something special. Whether it’s “wishes + frosting = birthday” or “birds + buds = spring,” each equation is a small delight.

A simple idea about math equations challenges students to think of their own—or to come up with a new idea based on any content area.

Trait of Organization

An Angel for Solomon Singer, Cynthia Rylant*
Unhappy and lonely living in a New York City hotel for men, Solomon Singer yearns to return to his rural Indiana roots. When Solomon wanders into the Westway Cafe, he meets a waiter whose cheerful smile and friendly attitude change Solomon’s outlook on life.

Text and illustrations work together to demonstrate the organizational progression and change that takes place in the story.

Smoky Night, Eve Bunting*
During a night of rioting, Daniel and his mother are forced to leave their apartment for the safety of a shelter.

From beginning to end, the story chronicles a night of rioting and displacement—but woven through it is a thread of hope and change.

Trait of Voice

The Harmonica, Tony Johnston*
A father’s gift of a harmonica brings a young boy comfort and ensures his survival in a concentration camp. Inspired by the life of a Holocaust survivor, this award-winning book reveals the story of survival and hope.

Voices differ within the text, demonstrating how more than one tone can be set in any given piece of writing.

The Rough-Face Girl, Rafe Martin
In an Algonquin village by the shores of Lake Ontario, many young women have tried to win the affections of the powerful Invisible Being who lives with his sister in a great wigwam near the forest. Then comes Rough-Face Girl, scarred from working by the fire. Can she succeed where her beautiful, cruel sisters have failed?

A twist on a familiar story provides a similar voice with a Native American cultural flavor.

Trait of Word Choice

Fox, Margaret Wild* (Out of print)
This story follows a one-eyed dog and a wounded magpie in their unlikely friendship. All is well until a jealous fox enters the picture and tries to separate the two so that they, too, will know the meaning of being alone.

Beautifully worded, the text is perfect as a read aloud for upper grades. Excerpts from it will make perfect examples to use during word choice mini-lesson instruction.

Mudball, Matt Tavares*
The shortest player on the Minneapolis Millers baseball team, Andy Oyler, struggles to make his mark until a rainy day in 1903 changes his fortunes, turning him into an unexpected hero.

Tavares’ choice of language brings this true story to life, illustrating how precise word selection can amplify the emotional impact and highlight key moments in a narrative.

Trait of Sentence Fluency

The Wall, Eve Bunting*
A boy and his father come from far away to visit the Vietnam War Memorial in Washington and find the name of the boy’s grandfather, who was killed in the conflict.

The use of short, staccato dialogue as well as longer, descriptive sentences makes this a perfect mentor text to demonstrate the impact of sentence-length variety.

Train to Somewhere, Eve Bunting
Marianne journeys west on an Orphan Train, hoping to be reunited with her mother who promised to come for her. As the train makes its stops with no sign of her mother, Marianne’s story unfolds with a rhythm and flow shaped by varied sentence lengths and structures, demonstrating how sentence fluency enhances the emotional depth and pacing of a narrative.

Trait of Conventions

Twenty-Odd Ducks (20 different marks), Lynne Truss
Truss and Timmons put hyphens, parentheses, quotation marks, periods, and more in the spotlight, showing how which marks you choose and where you put them can cause hilarious mix-ups.

Finally a book that makes conventions fun–and funny! Share excerpts from this in convention mini-lessons that fit within mini-units on persuasive/argumentative, informative, and narrative writing.

Scaredy Squirrel, Mélanie Watt*
Scaredy Squirrel is a simple book for younger grades but also offers a fresh look at creativity with the layout and design the book provides. Throw in a few colons and other punctuation marks and discover a mentor text that includes humor and lesson fodder on conventions.

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