The Art of Miss Chew by Patricia Polacco

Recommended Grades: 4-6

This is the heartwarming story of how Patricia Polacco discovered she was an artist, a story that shows just how important a teacher can be in a child’s life. 

Lesson Idea:  

Memoir Mentor Text:  Read aloud The Art of Miss Chew and discuss the autobiographical aspects of the story in a study of memoir mentor texts.  Use several of Polacco’s books in an author study of memoir writing.  Other books by Polacco about inspirational teachers taken from her life are Junkyard Wonders and Thank You, Mr. Falker.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester Laminack

Recommended Grades: 3-5

A memoir of the author’s weekly Saturday visit with his grandmother.  The author’s voice is prominent throughout. 

Lesson Idea:

Writers Workshop:

Memoir/Voice Mentor Text: Read aloud Saturdays and Teacakes and discuss how the author’s voice comes through in the text.  Use this book as model during a study of memoirs or as a model text for writers workshop when students are writing their own memoirs or when they need a model for voice in a memoir.

©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

George: George Washington, Our Founding Father by Frank Keating

Recommended Grades: 4-6

A first person telling of the more important events in George Washington’s life is told woven with quotes from his “Rules of Civility.”

Lesson Idea:

Memoir-esque:

Mentor Texts: Several recent books weave quotes from the person into the story.  This is a great model for students to use in their own writing.  Read aloud George: George Washington, Our Founding Father (Paula Wiseman Books) and discuss how he used his “Rules of Civility” to guide his character.  How did the author effectively weave Washington’s actual rules into the story? Read aloud other books, like Martin’s Big Words or Imogene’s Last Stand that effectively use quotes woven through story as model texts.  Have students use the models to guide their own writing.       

©2012 by Dawn Little for Picture This! Teaching with Picture Books. All Amazon links are affiliate links and may result in my receiving a small commission. This is at no additional cost to you.

A Couple of Boys Have the Best Week Ever by Marla Frazee

A very cute story based loosely on the author’s son’s adventures during a week at a friend’s grandparent’s house.

Ideas

James and Eamon spend a week at Jame’s grandparent’s house enjoying nature camp, and a few other adventures along the way. This time together allows them to enjoy the best week ever. Lesson Idea: Since this book is based loosely on true adventures of James and Eamon, it is a great book to use as an introduction to memoir writing. Read this book as part of a unit of study on memoirs. Have students determine characteristics of a memoir. Ask students to brainstorm a list of events that occurred in their lives and then pick one event to elaborate on in a memoir.