How to Write a Story: (Read-Aloud Book, Learn to Read and Write)

by Kate Messner, Mark Siegel (Illustrator)

Overview

The inspiring sequel to the 2015 Parent's Choice Winner, How to Read a Story!

Step 1: Choose an idea for your story. A good one.
Step 2: Decide on a setting. Don't be afraid to mix things up.
Step 3: Create a heroine—or a hero.
Now: Begin.

Accomplished storytellers Kate Messner and Mark Siegel playfully chronicle the process of becoming a writer in this fun follow-up to How to Read a Story, guiding young storytellers through the joys and challenges of the writing process. From choosing an idea, to creating a problem for their character to resolve, to coming to The End, this empowering picture book breaks down the writing process in a dynamic and accessible way, encouraging kids to explore their own creativity—and share their stories with others!

• Perfect for educators, librarians, and parents who are helping children develop early writing and reading skills
• Great read-aloud book for preschool- and kindergarten-aged children interested in learning to read
• Helps teach Common Core Curriculum skills

Young readers who love We Are in a Book!, How Rocket Learned to Read, and Also an Octopus will love the reading and writing lessons and inspiration in How to Write a Story.

• Read-aloud books for kids ages 3–5
• Learning to write books for kids
• Kindergarten, pre-K creativity books

Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose many books for kids have been selected as Best Books by the New York Times, Junior Library Guild, Indie Bound, and Bank Street College of Education. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family.

Mark Siegel is the author of many graphic novels and children's picture books, including the 5 Worlds series, as well as the illustrator of How to Read a Story and the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. He lives in New York.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781452156668
Publisher:	Chronicle Books LLC
Publication date:	07/07/2020
Pages:	36
Sales rank:	130,572
Product dimensions:	10.10(w) x 9.70(h) x 0.60(d)
Lexile:	590L (what's this?)
Age Range:	5 - 8 Years

About the Author

Kate Messner is an award-winning author whose many books for kids have been selected as Best Books by the New York Times, Junior Library Guild, Indie Bound, and Bank Street College of Education. She lives on Lake Champlain with her family.

Mark Siegel is the author of many graphic novels and children's picture books, including the 5 Worlds series, as well as the illustrator of How to Read a Story and the Robert F. Sibert Honor Book To Dance: A Ballerina's Graphic Novel. He lives in New York.

Editorial Reviews

06/29/2020

That muse of fire isn’t going to ascend all by herself, so Messner and Siegel, in their follow-up to How to Read a Story, walk readers through 10 steps of literary creation, starting with “search for an idea” and ending with “share your story.” The exemplar of this process is a brown-skinned girl who seems unstoppable in her determination to commit words to page. Messner offers realistic advice: not every idea may be “shiny,” “make the problem worse... until finally, your character thinks of something to do,” and revise again (and again): “Reading out loud helps.” The tale that results from the girl’s shiniest idea is an impressive one: a battle royale between a brave mermaid and a nasty sea monster, vividly illustrated in school notebook style by Siegel. Readers new to writing should find this accessible volume a smart choice to get the creative writing juices flowing. Ages 5–8. (July)

Publishers Weekly

"That muse of fire isn't going to ascend all by herself, so Messner and Siegel, in their follow-up to How to Read a Story, walk readers through 10 steps of literary creation, starting with "search for an idea" and ending with 'share your story.' The exemplar of this process is a brown-skinned girl who seems unstoppable in her determination to commit words to page. . . . Readers new to writing should find this accessible volume a smart choice to get the creative writing juices flowing."-Publishers Weekly

"This follow-up to How to Read a Story (2005) shows a child going through the steps of creating a story, from choosing an idea through sharing with friends. . . . [How to Write a Story is a] lovely encouragement to young writers to persist."-Kirkus Reviews

"In this complement to How to Read a Story (2015), Messner offers an easy 10-step guide to

writing a story. . . . [How to Write a Story] will be a welcome addition to literacy centers and for students who struggle with the question of what to write about."-Booklist 

From the Publisher

2020-03-29
This follow-up to How To Read a Story (2005) shows a child going through the steps of creating a story, from choosing an idea through sharing with friends.

A young black child lies in a grassy field writing in a journal, working on “Step 1 / Search for an Idea— / a shiny one.” During a walk to the library, various ideas float in colorful thought bubbles, with exclamation points: “playing soccer! / dogs!” Inside the library, less-distinct ideas, expressed as shapes and pictures, with question marks, float about as the writer collects ideas to choose from. The young writer must then choose a setting, a main character, and a problem for that protagonist. Plotting, writing with detail, and revising are described in child-friendly terms and shown visually, in the form of lists and notes on faux pieces of paper. Finally, the writer sits in the same field, in a new season, sharing the story with friends. The illustrations feature the child’s writing and drawing as well as images of imagined events from the book in progress bursting off the page. The child’s main character is an adventurous mermaid who looks just like the child, complete with afro-puff pigtails, representing an affirming message about writing oneself into the world. The child’s family, depicted as black, moves in the background of the setting, which is also populated by a multiracial cast.

A lovely encouragement to young writers to persist. (Informational picture book. 6-10)

Kirkus Reviews