Using Mentor Texts 

 

MENTOR TEXT LIST FOR WRITERS WORKSHOP

 

The mentor texts are arranged in two groups right now --

1) a list arranged by craft or structure and

2) a list arranged by 6 traits.

 

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Mentor Texts

arranged by craft technique / structure

 

Memories / Getting Ideas for Writing

Nana’s Big Surprise / Nana, iQue Sorpiesa! By Amanda Irma Perez

Grandma and Me at the Flea / Los Meros Meros Remateros by Joan Felipe Herrera

With My Brother / Con Mi Hermano by Eileen Roe

Salt in His Shoes – Michael Jordan, In Pursuit of a Dream by Deloris Jordan

Mama Panya’s Pancakes – A Village Tale from Kenya by Mary and Rich Chamberlin

Elazabiti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve Bodeen

Night Shift Daddy by Eileen Splinelli

Snow on Snow on Snow by Cherly Chapman

Miss Bindergarten Get Ready for Kindergarten by Joseph Slate

A Quilt Full of Memories by Joanne Ryder

 

Sequence of Events

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

There was an Old Lady who Swallowed a Fly by Pam Adams

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Grouchy Ladybug by Eric Carle

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Feast for 10 by Cathryn Falwell

Snow on Snow on Snow by Cheryl Chapman

The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

 

Great Leads

Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen

The Creature in the Classroom (Poem by Jack Pelutsky)

Sock Monster (Poem by Lois Simmie)

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anything by Linda Williams

Who, Me? (Poem by Joyce Armor)

Mrs. Stein (Poem by Bill Dodds) If You Give A Pig A Pancake by Laura Numeroff

 

Surprise Endings

Sick (Poem by Shel Silverstein)

The New Kid on the Block (Poem by Jack Prelutsky)

First Day Jitters by Julie Danneberg

Band Aids (poem by Shel Silverstein)

Boa Constrictor (poem by Shel Silverstein)

The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey

 

Problem / Solution

Corduroy by Don Freeman

Big Pumpkin by Erica Silverman

Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman

The Little Old Lady Who Was Not Afraid of Anythingby Linda Williams

Elazabiti’s Doll by Stephanie Stuve Bodeen

Snow on Snow on Snow by Cheryl Chapman

 

Circular Endings

Lion King

Be Glad Your Nose is On Your Face (Poem by Jack Prelutsky)

Boing! Boing! Squeak! (Poem by Jack Prelutsky)

Homework! Oh, Homework! (Poem by Jack Prelutsky)

I’m in a Rotten Mood! (Poem by Jack Prelutsky)

 

Words Instead of “Said”

Mama Panya’s Pancakes – A Village Tale from Kenya by Mary and Rich Chamberlin

“Could be Worse” by James Stevenson

The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey

WOLF! By Becky Bloom

 

Dialogue

Big Mama’s by Donald Crews

Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen

“Could Be Worse” by James Stevenson

The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

 

Using Details in Writing

Big Mama’s by Donald Crews

Holes by Louis Sachar

Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen

Different Just Like Me by Lori Mitchell

The Teacher from the Black Lagoon by Mike Thaler

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis

 

Literary Language

Raising Dragons by Jerdine Nolen

Night Shift Daddy by Eileen Spinelli

The Wind Blew by Pat Hutchins

Holes by Louis Sachor

 

Transition Words

Thomas’ Snowsuit by Robert Munsch

The Hallo-Weiner by Dav Pilkey

Ruby the Copycat by Peggy Rathmann

Stellaluna by Janell Cannon

 

Poems can be found in the following books

• Kids Pick the Funniest Poems by Bruce Lansky

 

• The New Kid on the Block by Jack Prelutsky

 

 

• Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein

   

 

Mentor Texts arranged by 6 Traits

Click on the following links for lists of picture books that are models of:

Focus (a clear main event, a clear moment in time)

Organization (beginnings, endings, transitions)

Support and Elaboration, included with Focus (details that are relevant, specific, and sufficient)

Style/Voice (word choice, sentence fluency)

Conventions

 

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