Tag: mentor text

Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Mentor Text– Unique Structure–EL CHUPACABRAS by Adam Rubin

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Analyzing Picture Books for Layers

I go to the library regularly and check out mentor texts.  A mentor text is a recently published picture book that I analyze.  I try to learn from the techniques that the author used, and apply my knowledge to my own writing.

My latest treasure is a book called EL CHUPACABRAS by Adam Rubin and illustrated by Crash McCreery.  The book grabbed my attention because of the Spanish–I am a Spanish teacher, so of course I had to take a look at this book!  The Chupacabra is a terrifying creature of Puerto Rico legends, and the word Chupacabra literally means “goat sucker.”

One strength of the story is in the CHARACTER.  Instead of a terrifying monster, Rubin describes the Chupacabras a tiny gentleman who wore a bow tie and drank chocolate and ate churros. In the end of the story, he is the one to save the day.  This is a huge flip to the usual terrifying chupacabras.  I feel that this teaches children that they should get to know someone for who he is, not judge him based on a “rumor.”

The standout strength of the book in my opinion is the unique STRUCTURE.
Rubin first writes a sentence half in English and half in Spanish, then flips and writes half in Spanish and half in English. I adore the flow and the blending of the two languages!

Sample:
“Hector liked goats, pero Carla prefería las bicicletas.
A Héctor le gustaban las cabras, but Carla preferred bicicletas.”

I can definitely see myself using this in the classroom, especially as an example for preterite vs. imperfect, and of course introducing one of the famous legendary creatures of the Spanish speaking world.

Fun book!

Buy CHUPACABRAS on Amazon

More on layers:

Julie Hedlund Facebook

Here is the list of layers that Julie Hedlund described in a tutorial video that I watched back in the fall. It has been very helpful to me as I think about the elements that I want each of my manuscripts to contain:

1.  Plot
2. Character
3. Heart
4. Rule of Three
5. Pacing
6. Illustrations
7. Voice
8. Structure
9. Language
10. Theme

Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Mentor Text for Rhyme–MAMA MAMA MISSES LLAMA by Anna Dewdney

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Just finished reading this book.
Wow is all I can say. I am in awe.
If you want to know how to do rhyme…LOOK AT THIS MENTOR TEXT!

Three things that stood out to me

1. Perfect rhyme scheme.–No near rhymes at all.  Every line 7 syllables except for 4 lines (that were together) of 8 syllables.  Now that is magic!

2. Low word count--just under 350 words  Parents do not want long, drawn out stories, and pre-schoolers would not listen to it anyway.  (Reminding myself of this, too!)

3. She writes perfectly for the target audience.  Any pre-schooler or kindergartner will relate to EVERY PAGE of this book. She writes what they experience. Down to the last detail.

Here is a brief outline of the story arc.

1.  Waking up and going to school for the first time
2.  Getting dressed, brushing teeth, breakfast, running late
3.  Driving, meeting teacher and new faces
4.  Hanging up coat and saying goodbye
5.  Feeling shy, being asked by teacher what he wants to do
6.  Different activities at pre-school or kindergarten–blocks, train
7.  Story time
8.  Lunch time
9.  Missing mama
10.  Going outside for recess and play–tag, slide, hide and seek
11.  Drawing time
12.  Mama comes back–
13.  Showing mama the slide, saying good-bye
14.  He loves being with mom and school
So in summary, there is a reason that this book is so popular.  Nice work, Anna Dewdney!
Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Analyzing for layers–PICK A PINE TREE by Patricia Toht

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Even though its the middle of November, I’m in a Christmasy mood!  So I chose a sparkly, new Christmas book fresh off of the library shelf and decided to analyze it for the layers that Julie Hedlund talked about in her FB video.

Here is a picture of the cover–isn’t it cute?

Interestingly enough, this book has a unique STRUCTURE in that it is a rhyming poem about the setting up of a Christmas tree, so it does not have much on the layers of PLOT and CHARACTER, but instead it is very strong in HEART, LANGUAGE, AND PACING.

In fact, I’m pretty sure HEART is the reason I chose it!  I’m drawn to those little Hallmark-y places where you can cut down your own Christmas tree as a family, sip some cocoa or cider, and then go home and have a special family night of decorating.  I identified with the description of each step in the process, and my heart does a big “Awww, so sweet!” because of the warm feelings doing this activity evokes each year.  It is a fun, family time!

I call the layer of LANGUAGE “word choice”.  Patricia Toht has this layer down pat! Even the title “Pick a Pine Tree” is poetic.  I love the phrase in the book “hang them all in little nooks” because that perfectly describes how we look for the perfect little spot to nestle in our special ornaments.

Other vivid/specific word choices that paint pictures:  
spiky needle clumps, 
snug and sturdy
bundle it upon your sled, 
piney scent, 
thirsty tree, 
bulging boxes, 
rusty tins, 
pointy tips, 
candle clips, 
trinkets, 
lacy snowflakes, 
silver drips

She does a nice job with PACING.  There is just the right amount of text on a page.  And many times the page ends with “but wait,” “next,” “it’s a…,” Which leads you to the next page.

As I mentioned, this was a book that paints the picture of decorating the tree–not an action driven or conflict driven PLOT.

As for CHARACTER, there is one main family, but there are many other people depicted.  There is not one main character in this book.

The RULE OF THREE is in there, but more subtle.  I found these three’s:

one with spiky needle clumps, scaly bark, or sappy bumps.
Lift, bundle, and bring it home
Golden star, velvet bow, angel dressed in flowing robes
I loved the details in the ILLUSTRATIONS, and I notice something new with each reading.  
For example: 
-the red thermos by the tree salesman in the chair at the tree lot,
-the texturizing of the trees,
-the netting on the tree that dad holds while mom trims the trunk,
-the white kitty hiding in the tree,
-the welcoming light from the house as they invite their friends in for a decorating day,
-(and on last page) Santa’s sleigh on the roof and Santa in the living room

As you read, you can hear the VOICE in the story that builds and builds to the crescendo:

“It’s a CHRISTMAS TREE” 
“Merry Christmas , one and all”

Finally, the THEME is not stated (of course) but I would say it is the joy that comes from family and togetherness at the holidays.

If you read this picture book, look for these layers!  I would love to hear other examples that you find! And great job Patricia Toht and her illustrator Jarvis on a beautiful Christmas book!
Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Mentor Text…What I learned from SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL by Adam Rex

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Mentor text demonstrating…POINT OF VIEW

Adam Rex takes a ho-hum subject, one that has been done and re-done, and done AGAIN, flips it on its head with a new point of view to create something wonderfully fantastic and VERY entertaining.

In this picture book, the “character” experiencing the first day of school is a newly built Frederick Douglass Elementary.  The school himself.  The school has interesting conversations with the janitor about what he is experiencing.  The fear of what it is going to be like, the insecurity…etc.

It also shows situations such as kids saying they “hate school”…which “makes the school sag a little.”  A little girl with freckles doesn’t want to come inside, so the school says to himself, “I must be awful.”

What I noticed about this is that Rex is actually touching on our human emotions and experiences.  Every reader can relate to how it feels to be hated or not included, but by having the school feel that way, it’s a fresh and unique way to explore that topic.  It gets us to think about filtering our words…how are we making others feel (in this case the school building which is whimsical and serious all at the same time) with our words.  And not once did Adam Rex say “we should be careful what we say to others, “or any preachy thing like that.  A very masterful way to get a message across to the reader.

Way to go, Adam Rex!  I loved your story of SCHOOL’S FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.  And thank you, PBSummit, for your wonderful suggestion of a mentor text.

Book Review and Author Interviews, Writing tips

Mentor Text…What I learned from A SQUASH AND A SQUEEZE by Julia Donaldson

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I love this book!  Why?

WORD CHOICE!!!  WORD CHOICE!!  WORD CHOICE!!

This is a wonderful book showing us how to choose JUST THE RIGHT WORD in JUST THE RIGHT PLACE.  WITH JUST THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF REPETITION.

Words I love:

Squash 
Squeeze
fireside
grumble and grouse
my nose has a tickle
trod
titchy
implore
tapped out a jig
frolics and fiddle-de-dees
heavens alive
weeny for five

She is a master at rhyme–with just the right number of syllables.
Nothing is forced.
It’s just, plain, perfect!

Rhymes I love:

all by herself
jug on the shelf

grumble and grouse
room in my house

help me please
squash and a squeeze
no room to sneeze
goat’s got fleas
pig in the cupboard agrees
down on my knees

And then there’s the repetition.  She knows when to repeat and why to repeat.
Let me repeat...I love this book!

P.S. There is a lesson embedded–to be content with what you have–but it is not preachy–very natural!  So that is another take-away.  In your manuscript, don’t tell your lesson, trust that your reader will “get it” through your story.