When teaching students about small moment writing, having varied mentor texts is beneficial. I have found that my middle school students love having picture books read aloud to them during mini-lessons for personal narrative writing and it shows them that part of the writing process is reading. Here are some of my favorite small moments mentor texts.
1. Night Driving by John Coy
A father and son road trip told in vivid detail, with all the expected sights. Coy shows us how truly special a road trip can be and shows students how they can create actual stories from a small idea.
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2. Smoky Night by Eve Bunting
This story tells of a larger event, from the perspective of a young boy and his mother. The illustrations and words use sensory details to show what it was like during the L.A. Riots.
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3. Owl Moon by Jane Yolen
A girl and her father go out owling on a cold winter night. The world is still around them as they wait to see an owl. Jane Yolen is a personal favorite, and this book doesn't disappoint.
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4. Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee
Frazee uses sensory details to depict a roller coaster ride that leaves the reader wanting to ride again. This story can also be used to help create an anchor chart for a story mountain.
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5. Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon
Ralph has to write a story in school, but he can't come up with anything. After some help from his friends, he learns that he doesn't need a big idea. This book is great to help stumped students get going with their writing by helping them with ideas vs. watermelon seeds.
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6. Our Very Own Dog by Amanda McCardie
This book teaches prospective dog owners everything they need to get ready to welcome a dog into their home. You could use this to create an anchor chart for points of view and voice.
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7. We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson
Woodson beautifully tells about a family picnic, complete with all the family members that Teeka expects, except for Cousin Martha and her apple pie.
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8. Blackout by John Rocco
The power goes out, forcing everyone to take a step back from technology and get together as a community. While this story features a larger event, it shows how the writer focused on a smaller moment.
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9. Jabari Jumps by Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is about to jump off the diving board and is more than prepared for it, but he's still scared. Cornwall shows all the steps he takes to prepare himself for his dive and how he overcomes his fears.
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10. Come On, Rain by Karen Hesse
Tess is pleading for it to rain on a hot hot summer day. There is no lack of descriptive details in this story.
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11. Those Shoes by Maribeth Boelts
Wants versus needs are explored in this story when Jeremy wants an expensive pair of shoes that his family can't afford. Photo strips can be used for students struggling with the difference between a want and a need.
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12. The Relative Came by Cynthia Rylant
What looks like a house packed with people, is a story about a loving family that gets together every summer in one place. It can be used for a classroom project about family traditions.
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13. The Kissing Hand by Aubrey Penn
When Chester Racoon doesn't want to go to school, his mother kisses his hand and tells him to remember that she is with him when he's at school. This story lends itself to personal narratives as many people can relate to it.
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14. Bigmama's by Donald Crews
A mother and her four kids travel to Florida on the train to spend the summer at Bigmama's house.
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15. Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
A little girl drops her beloved Knuffle Bunny on the way back from the laundromat with her dad and they have to backtrack to find it. Mo Willems writes in such a fun way, that this book would be great for a writing center prompt.
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16. Fireflies by Julie Brinkloe
A boy gathers a jar full of fireflies but learns that he must release them before they die. Reluctant writers can easily relate to this event and use it to spark their own ideas.
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17. Amazing Grace by Mary Hoffman
An imaginative girl named Grace loves stories, so when she gets to play a part in Peter Pan, she knows who she wants to be.
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18. The Night is Yours by Abdul-Razak Zacharian
Amani is playing hide and seek one evening with the other kids from her apartment and the moonlight helps her find everyone. A fun activity to follow up on reading this story could be a game of hiding and seek in a dark classroom.
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19. A Chair for My Mother by Vera B. Williams
A mother, daughter, and grandmother save coins in a jar so they can buy a chair for the mother, who is a diner waitress. They finally have enough money in the end and go in search of the perfect chair.
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20. The Two of Them by Aliki
A touching tale of a grandfather and granddaughter who share a special bond from the day she was born.
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21. The Other Way to Listen by Byrd Baylor
This book shows that there's more than one way to listen. An old man hears nature and a child hopes to learn his ways.
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22. Honey, I Love You by Eloise Greenfield
This poem shows that love can be found just about anywhere.
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23. The Leaving Morning by Angela Johnson
It's moving day and a brother and sister are saying goodbye to their neighborhood before they go.
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24. Salt Hands by Jane Chelsea Argon
A deer wakes a girl in the middle of the night, so she goes outside and puts salt on her hands for it to lick off. This story really focuses on one event in time.
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25. The Big Big Sea by Martin Waddell
Mother and child walk next to the sea one evening, creating a lasting memory for the girl.
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26. The Underbed by Cathryn Clinton Hoellworth
A classic story of a child who is afraid to go to sleep, because they believe there is something under their bed. This story can help inspire reluctant writers to see that a small moment can be almost anything.
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27. Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day by Judith Viorst
When one bad thing is happening after the other, Alexander is convinced that he's going to have the worst day ever.
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28. Ira Sleeps Over by Bernard Walker
First sleepovers are exciting, but Ira has an internal conflict about whether or not to bring his teddy bear.
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29. Night Shift Daddy by Eileen Spinelli
A father that works the night shift has a special dinner and bedtime routine with his daughter before he leaves for the night.
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