(Read the full post here!) Two very different classrooms are matched up as pen pals for the school year, and this book records the communication between Blaise Dragomir (dragon) and George Slair (human). It’s fun to go back through and reread this one after you find out how it ends! Lots of different kinds of letters to look at here, and it could a good introduction to other epistolatory stories where the reader has to pull lots of information together to actually create a storyline.ĭear Dragon: A Pen Pal Tale, by Josh Funk. At last, Arfy actually gets a letter from a seemingly minor character who has been an integral part of the story but stays in the background until the very end. Arfy goes through every house on Butternut street (there’s a nice map of sorts in the back – so you could tie in some relative location words too), and everyone declines his request. So much going on here – inferencing, character development, setting, etc. Each time Arfy sends a letter, we get to read it and see the house he sent it to, then on the next page, we see the response and Arfy’s reaction.
His story is told in a series of letters back and forth between Arfy and his prospective owners. I picked this one up because of the cover – the puppy dog eyes worked! Arfy is a lonely puppy who is looking for his forever home. Home run!Ĭan I Be Your Dog?, by Troy Cummings. Then, out of the gutter, pops a letter, with instructions to the reader on how they can help rescue the characters! My preschool classes loved the story and interacting with the book, while my older elementary students could focus more on the story and the letters. Finally, Bella herself is consumed as she goes in to investigate. Bella stands confused as the book continues to eat a host of other characters. But the book EATS the dog as it attempts to cross to the other side of the two-page spread. This book is a read-aloud gem – short on text, huge on storyline and reader engagement! It begins with Bella taking her sweet dog for a walk. This Book Just Ate My Dog, by Richard Byrne. It Came in the Mail is an incredibly imaginative, captivating story that could lead any number of different writing assignments beyond just letter-writing: What would you ask the mailbox for? What would you do with the objects? What’s the most exciting thing you’ve ever gotten in the mail? The mixed media illustrations feature all kinds of envelopes, postcards, postmarks, and stamps, and the characters and objects drawn by Clanton are whimsical and captivating. The mailbox, of course, is magic, and so Liam is rewarded with all kinds of interesting mail. He realizes that maybe, if he sent some mail, he’ll get some in return, and so he proceeds to write to his mailbox. Kids love mail, and this book opens with Liam, who is no exception. Falker, here are some more choices for mentor texts on letter writing! While we all love Patricia Polacco’s Thank You, Mr. This skill is far from out-dated! The skill of letter-writing, being able to communicate effectively to a specific audience, to present ideas logically, and convey ideas clearly easily transfers into the digital realm of electronic communication as well! Students of all ages in elementary school are required to produce letters both formal and informal that include proper conventions such as a salutation, closing, etc. You can also discuss how the reader got the factual information to incorporate into the story (informational sources and a lot of research!).I love it when a book bag comes together! Every so often, my seemingly random selection of books from the library (the combined efforts of my 17-month-old who selects based on what she can reach, the 5-year-old who selects based on the color and the animal on the cover, and myself who tries to keep up with both of them) aligns to reveal an actual educational connection! Today, my kids’ obsession with dragons and dogs brings you a collection of books that feature letter-writing. With these mentor texts, you can point out the elements of Narrative Nonfiction to your students.
Unlike Historical Fiction, all of the characters and events in Narrative Nonfiction are completely true. Narrative Nonfiction is telling a true story using narrative elements like plot, dialogue, and character development.
The new part is teaching students how to use informational sources to create a narrative story. The good news is that a lot of the elements of creative writing are applicable to this writing type. Narrative Nonfiction isn’t a new genre, but it is new to many teachers.