Using Picture Books in the classroom
Getting to know picture books is the first step in using picture books to inspire, encourage and model
writing. Use the following examples for ideas as to how you might use picture books as mentor texts in your
class.
Illustrations fill in the words
1.
The Boy who was Followed Home by Margaret Mahy, ill. Stephen Kellogg, pub. Puffin Books, 2010
2.
Tad-cu’s Bobble Hat by Malachy Doyle, ill. Dorry Spikes, pub. Llandysul: Gomer, 2014
3.
Whatever by William Bee, pub. Candlewick Press, 2005
4.
Tea with Grandpa by Barney Saltzburg, pub. Roaring Brook Press, 2014
Illustrations add to the story
1.
The Little Yellow Digger by Betty Gilderdale, ill. Alan Gilderdale, pub. Scholastic, 2009
Illustrations give a different perspective
1.
This is not my Hat by Jon Klassen, pub. Candlewick Press, 2012
Narrative
1.
The Teddy Bear’s Promise by Diana Noonan, ill. Robyn Belton, pub. Craig Potton, 2013
2.
Johnny the Clockmaker by Edward Ardizzone, pub. Frances Lincoln Children’s, 2008
3.
Grandfather’s Wrinkles by Kathryn England, ill. Richard McFarland, pub. Flashlight Press, 2007
4.
The Mermaid and the Shoe by K.G. Campbell, pub. Kids Can Press, 2014
Topic starters
1.
No English by Jacqueline Jules, ill. Amy Huntington, pub. Mitten Press, 2007 (migrants; differences)
2.
Dairy of a Wombat by Jackie French, ill. Bruce Whatley, pub. Angus & Roberston, 2012 (diary writing)
3.
Thank you, Miss Doover by Robin Pulver, ill. Stephanie Roth Sisson, pub. Holiday House 2010 (letter
writing)
4.
Flashlight by Lizi Boyd, pub. Chronicle Books, 2014 (shadows; outdoor education/school camp)
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Creative Writing
1.
Journeys (Think About It series) by Harry Cory-Wright, pub. Franklin Watts, 2009
2.
Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg, pub.Andersen Press, 2011
3.
Willy’s Stories by Anthony Browne, pub. Walker Books, 2014
Picture books to support your writing programme
Alligator in an anorak by Daron Parton. Random House, 2014 – Alphabet, alliteration, imagination
Bye bye grumpy fly by Ruth Paul, Scholastic, 2015 – Rhyme, rhythm, descriptive language, exclamation
marks, imperative voice, and conveying a lot of meaning with just a few words. Lots of Ms Paul’s picture
books are great for looking at different features of writing as well as being terrific stories.
I am not a worm by Scott Tulloch, Scholastic, 2014 – character, conversation, questions, exclamation marks,
camouflage in nature, metamorphosis, bullying, surprise endings
My heart is like a zoo by Michael Hall, HarperCollins Childrens’ Books, 2010 – rhyme, simile, animals
Non-fiction resources to support writing
You can find some great resources on surface features of writing in the 420 - 429 section of the library.
Words are categorical (series) by Brian P. Cleary, ill. By Jenya Prosmitsky / Brian Gable. Millbrook Press
(includes nouns, verbs, adjectives, prepositions, synonyms, homonyms and homophones)
Getting to grips with grammar by Anita Ganeri. Heinemann, 2012 (includes sentences, conjunctions,
punctuation, verbs, nouns and pronouns)
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