Are you looking for picture book ideas for your next writing unit? Perhaps you’re about to teach personal narrative writing to your students and you’re in dire need of ideas and recommendations for story books. Don’t worry, I’ve got you covered with the best mentor texts for teaching personal narratives!
Why use personal narrative mentor texts?
First up, let’s just acknowledge the importance of using mentor texts when teaching writing. The simple truth is that WE know what we expect our students to do, but our students have no idea! Students need to be exposed to examples of the writing genre that we teach.
Mentor texts aren’t just great for exposing students to the genre, they are also powerful for explicitly teaching the structure and features. For example, we can show examples of characterization, setting, problems and solutions. We can show an author’s use of dialogue or transition words. Overall, mentor texts can be really powerful.
Let’s dive in to my recommendations! FYI, I recommend these books in my third grade personal narratives writing unit (which you can check out here).
Let’s take a look at the best mentor texts for teaching personal narratives. Please note that this blog post features Amazon affiliate links (if you purchase, I make a small commission, at no cost to you).
‘Saturday’ by Oge Mora
In this heartfelt story, a mother and daughter look forward to their special Saturday routine together every single week. But this Saturday, one thing after another goes wrong – ruining story time, salon time, picnic time and the puppet show they’d been looking forward to going to all week. Mom is nearing a meltdown…until her loving daughter reminds her that being together is the most important thing of all.
Teaching idea – A weekend recount pairs well with this storybook. Ask your students to write a personal narrative about what they did last Saturday.
You can check out the storybook here.
‘Ralph Tells A Story’ By Abby Hanlon
Nothing ever happens to Ralph. So every day when it’s time to write stories, Ralph thinks really hard. He stares at his paper. He stares at the ceiling. But he has no stories! With the help of his classmates, Ralph realizes that a great story can be about something very little . . . and that maybe he really does have some stories to tell.
Teaching idea – If you are tired of your students wailing, ‘I don’t know what to write about!”, this story book is what you need. It’s great for when your students are stuck for writing ideas. It can accompany your lesson about brainstorming narrative ideas.
You can check out the story book here.
‘A Moment In Time’ By Jennifer Butenas
A fun loving story in rhythm and rhyme about a family of four and their moment in time. It’s a balmy, summer Cape Cod day and this visiting family is savoring every moment. Experience the delight, the joy and exhilaration a mindful moment can bring!
Teaching idea – This picture book is ideal for teaching about small moments. Ask your students to share and write about small moments from their lives.
You can check out the picture book here.
‘Roller Coaster’ By Marla Frazee
This exhilarating amusement park visit begins with a line of prospective riders, eagerly awaiting their turn . . . with at least one person who has never done this before. Zooming, swerving, dipping, and diving, this delightful story featuring a breathtaking ride and a hilarious range of reactions, will help readers lose their roller coaster anxiety.
Teaching idea – This is the perfect mentor text for teaching small moments. Encourage your students to pick a small moment and really zoom in on the details, just like in the book!
You can check out the mentor text here.
‘The Snowy Day’ By Ezra Jack Keats
No book has captured the magic and sense of possibility of the first snowfall better than The Snowy Day. Universal in its appeal, the story has become a favorite of millions, as it reveals a child’s wonder at a new world, and the hope of capturing and keeping that wonder forever.
Teaching idea – This storybook pairs well with a lesson about positive memorable moments. Get your students to brainstorm happy small moments and share the details.
You can check out the storybook here.
Psst! If you’re a 3rd grade teacher, I’ve got something extra special for you! Click here to grab a FREE lesson plan, graphic organizer, and poster that goes well with this book.
‘Knuffle Bunny’ By Mo Willems
Trixie, Daddy, and Knuffle Bunny take a trip to the neighborhood Laundromat. But the exciting adventure takes a dramatic turn when Trixie realizes somebunny was left behind…Using a combination of muted black-and-white photographs and expressive illustrations, this stunning book tells a brilliantly true-to-life tale about what happens when Daddy’s in charge and things go terribly, hilariously wrong.
Teaching idea – This story book pairs well with a lesson about negative memorable moments. Get your students to brainstorm sad or angry small moments and share the details.
You can check out the story book here.
‘Stella Tells Her Story’ By Janiel M. Wagstaff
Stella and her classmates were excitedly sharing stories before class, prompting Ms. Merkley to teach a lesson on how to write narratives, or stories. Ms. M tells explains that they have to choose a topic first, then organize their stories by telling what happened first, next, and last. Students will learn along with Stella as she goes through the writing process of brainstorming, planning, drafting, publishing, and finally sharing her story.
This is definitely one of the best mentor texts for teaching personal narratives!
Teaching idea – This picture book is great for teaching the structure of a narrative. You can introduce your students to the idea of writing a beginning, middle, and end.
You can check out the picture book here.
‘Jabari Jumps’ By Gaia Cornwall
Jabari is definitely ready to jump off the diving board. He’s finished his swimming lessons and passed his swim test, and he’s a great jumper, so he’s not scared at all. “Looks easy,” says Jabari, watching the other kids take their turns. But when his dad squeezes his hand, Jabari squeezes back. In a sweetly appealing tale of overcoming your fears, newcomer Gaia Cornwall captures a moment between a patient and encouraging father and a determined little boy you can’t help but root for.
Teaching idea – This mentor text is about father and son, which is a great way to introduce characterization to your students.
You can check out the mentor text here.
‘Owl Moon’ By Jane Yolen
Late one winter night a little girl and her father go owling. The trees stand still as statues and the world is silent as a dream. Whoo-whoo-whoo, the father calls to the mysterious nighttime bird. Distinguished author Jane Yolen has created a gentle, poetic story that lovingly depicts the special companionship of a young child and her father as well as humankind’s close relationship to the natural world.
Teaching idea – This storybook is a great accompaniment to a personal narrative lesson. It’s ideal for teaching students about setting and they can discuss the setting in the book.
You can check out the storybook here.
‘Come On, Rain’ By Karen Hesse
Come on, rain! Tess pleads to the sky as listless vines and parched plants droop in the endless heat. Up and down the block, cats pant while heat wavers off tar patches in the broiling alleyway. More than anything, Tess hopes for rain. And when it comes, she and her friends are ready for a surprising joyous celebration.
Teaching idea – This story book is ideal as a lesson warm up when you are teaching about problems in a personal narrative. Ask your students about a time where they have had a problem, like getting hurt or losing something.
You can check out the story book here.
‘Fireflies’ By Julie Brinckloe
A young boy is proud of having caught a jar full of fireflies, which seems to him like owning a piece of moonlight, but as the light begins to dim he realizes he must set the insects free or they will die.
Teaching idea – This picture book is perfect for introducing the idea of solutions in a personal narrative. You can ask students to write about solutions to problems they’ve faced.
You can check out the picture book here.
‘Nothing Ever Happens On 90th Street’ By Roni Schotter
Eva, a would-be writer, sits on her New York City stoop with her notebook, waiting for something to happen. She has been given a homework assignment to record goings-on in her Manhattan neighborhood. A hilarious sequence of happenings ensues and Eva learns that you can find inspiration for writing anywhere if you observe carefully enough.
Teaching idea – This mentor text pairs well with a brainstorming lesson. When your students are planning what to write about for their personal narrative, this book will be a great warm-up.
You can check out the mentor text here.
‘The Best Story’ By Eileen Spinelli
The library is having a contest for the best story, and the quirky narrator of this story just has to win that rollercoaster ride with her favourite author! But what makes a story the best?
Her brother Tim says the best stories have lots of action. Her father thinks the best stories are the funniest. And Aunt Jane tells her the best stories have to make people cry. A story that does all these things doesn’t seem quite right, though, and the one thing the whole family can agree on is that the best story has to be your own.
Teaching idea – As your students are planning their personal narratives, read them this storybook as a lesson warm-up. It opens up the discussion about what a ‘good’ story is.
You can check out the storybook here.
‘Kate And Nate Are Running Late’ By Kate Egan
Being on time is an art–an art most of families have yet to master. From spilling coffee to misplacing keys, we’ve all dealt with the many things that can derail our morning routines. This humorous depiction of chaotic mornings is oh, so true. Kate and her two children, Nate, and his older sister, Maddie, have all overslept. How will they EVER make it to school and work on time dressed, fed, and organized?
Teaching idea – This story book pairs well with a lesson about endings/solutions/conclusions. Ask students what happened at the end of the story.
You can check out the story book here.
I hope you’ve enjoyed reading about the best mentor texts for teaching personal narratives!
If you’re a 3rd grade teacher, be sure to check out Terrific Writing. It is a comprehensive writing curriculum for Third Grade.
The books in this blog post are used in Unit 1 ‘Personal Narratives’, where students learn how to write engaging personal narratives about their lives. Click here to check out the unit!
P.S. Click here to grab free activities from my free resource library!
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