4 Must-Have Picture Books to Teach Personal Narrative Writing
Back to school season is a time to get to know students and build classroom community. What better way to do that than by diving deep into writing personal narratives?
Right from the start of the year, students learn that writing a personal narrative is an opportunity for them to share a small moment in their lives with others. I have found that the best way to help students understand personal narratives is by sharing high-quality picture books that truly illustrate what a small moment is.
No matter how old students get, they absolutely love to get lost in stories and picture books, often asking me to show the pictures a few moments longer. What I especially love about using picture books during writing lessons is that they are memorable. Students remember the specific word choice and illustrations and associate them with different writing styles, forms, and techniques.
The following are my favorite picture books to use during our personal narrative writing unit. Before reading any of these books, pose a simple question to get students thinking like writers. One I present with my students before a read-aloud is: What did this mentor author do to make their writing so powerful? Write this question on the board or create an interactive anchor chart with the question at the top. Encourage students to record their thinking on sticky notes and add it to the chart after sharing the read-aloud.
Now on to the must-have picture book list!
The Raft written by Jim LaMarche
This book is at the top of almost every one of my picture book lists because it is just that good! This book can be used over and over, being read with a different lens each time, but is genuinely perfect for personal narrative units. This book follows the main character as he spends the summer with his outdoorsy grandmother, who does not have a TV. He thinks he will have a horrible time until the day he finds a raft, and everything changes. As if the story was not enough, the author’s note at the beginning will help students understand how powerful personal narratives truly are.
Owl Moon written by Jane Yolen, and The Deer Watch written by Pat Lowery Collins
These two similar stories follow main characters who spend memorable moments with their fathers, one pair is looking for owls, and the other is trying to spot a deer. Both books focus on two characters during one small moment. These picture books include rich vocabulary and figurative language, making them perfect to read during any writing block! Pick one or read them both!
Fly Away Home written by Eve Bunting
This powerful picture book tackles the topic of homelessness and is filled with symbolism. It is a powerful way to show students that not every personal narrative is filled with happy moments and significant, fun events. This book helps students use writing as a way to express their thoughts and feelings.
Come on Rain! Written by Karen Hesse
This book truly zooms in on one small moment during an ordinary day in the main character’s life. Often students think they need a big event to write about, but this book changes all of that! The main character tells the story of one hot afternoon waiting for the rain to cool her off. I especially love this story because the voice of the character comes through loud and clear. It is a perfect read-aloud to help students find their own writer’s voice, too! Filled with figurative language and just a dash of dialogue, this is one book you will want for your classroom library!
Honorable Mentions
Love this list and want even more picture books that perfectly illustrate personal narratives? Try A Chair for My Mother written by Vera B. Williams and The Relatives Came written by Cynthia Rylant. A Chair for My Mother is another picture book that addresses struggles in life. The character in this story lost her home and belongings in a fire and is trying to help her family save money to buy a simple chair to try to make everything better. The Relatives Came tells about an exciting family reunion and takes everyday moments of just being together and turns them into something to cherish.
Adding picture books to your writing block will not only provide students with modeled mentor texts that you can refer to all year long, but it will also inspire them as writers! Leave these picture books out on display to encourage students to visit and revisit them throughout the year to be inspired all over again!
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Jeanine is the creator of Think Grow Giggle and has been teaching upper elementary students for 16 years, specifically third and fifth graders. When it comes to teaching, Jeanine includes her love of reading and writing in every lesson. She loves teaching writing and having the opportunity to bring out the author in each of her students. Jeanine holds a BA from Western Connecticut State University in American Studies and Elementary Education and an MA from Fairfield University in Educational Technology. In addition to being a certified elementary teacher, she is also a certified Reading Specialist for grades K-12. Living on the north shore of Long Island means that her free time is spent at the beach, where she enjoys outdoor activities, reading, and spending time with her husband and three children.
