Books that Teach About the Writing Process

I love teaching kids to write. I really do. When I was a classroom teacher, it was probably my favorite part of the day. And while I have many tools in my kit, teaching writing as a craft is my favorite way to teach writing. It’s all about the writing process of brainstorming, drafting, conferring, editing, revising, publishing and sharing that gets me excited.

Today, I’m sharing a few books that I’ve either used or reviewed heavily. I feel these do a great job of teaching young writers about the writing process… and that it isn’t always an easy process either! When applicable, I have included the steps of the writing process that the book covers.

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If you’re looking for more information about teaching writing as a process or craft, be sure and visit my 5 Days of Unleashing the Author in Your Child as well as our 12 week series, Simple Writing Lessons for Primary Grades. You may also enjoy my review of WriteShop, a fantastic curriculum that teaches writing as a process.

You may also like to look through the books included at the end of this post that are meant for older kids, but would work very well broken down into read aloud sections about the writing process.

 

Books that Teach Kid About the Writing Process

 

Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon {writing steps included: brainstorming, drafting} is a book about a boy named Ralph who wants more than anything to write a story. His teacher tells him stories are everywhere, but every time it’s writing time, he just can’t think of anything to write about! {Sound familiar?} He just can’t find his story. While trying to find his story, his mind wanders off to the time he was in the park and an inchworm crawled on him. With the encouragement of his classmates, he realizes he does have a story to tell! {P.S. I love Ralph’s writing tips at the end, especially #4!}

 

In Arthur Writes a Story by Marc Brown {writing steps included: drafting, conferring, & revising}, Arthur is supposed to write a story for homework. The moment he gets home, he starts to write. But as he shares his story with different characters and listens to their ideas, he begins to change his original story. But what will people think of his story after he makes all the changes?

 

The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli {writing steps included: brainstorming, drafting, revising, conferring } reminds me in many ways of Arthur Writes a Story.  What makes the best story? Is it humor or action or romance or that it makes you cry? This little girl finds out that the best story comes from the heart.

 

Rocket Writes a Story {writing steps included: brainstorming, drafting, revising, & sharing} will probably appeal to the younger crowd, like Kindergarten through 1st grade. Rocket uses the great wide world around him to observe and write a story. Kids will learn that writing doesn’t always come easily and they take time to write.

 

The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch {writing steps included: drafting, conferring, & publishing} is such a cute and creative book on teaching kids some basic rules on writing a fiction story. We all know that kids like to say, “I’m done!” when we know they could expand the story or add suspense. The rules in this book are touched on quickly, so I would spend some time on each one, making sure kids know what they mean.

 

Look at my Book by Loreen Leedy is filled with interestingly illustrated pages that teach children all about the writing process. From drafting to illustrating to publishing, it is a great resource to have as you teach children how to write!

 

Show; Don’t Tell: Secrets of Writing by Josephine Nobisso can be a little hard to follow at first, especially for younger writers. I would recommend this one for grades 3-6, as the author cleverly illustrates several secrets of showing your reader, not just telling through word choice and vocabulary. I would also say that this book works best in a small group setting, where kids can see the smaller printed words and details of the illustrations.

 

What Do Authors Do? by Eilieen Christelow Is similar to Look at My Book in that it takes kids through the entire writing process. I love how this one lets kids walk in the shoes of professional authors and kids can see that the writing workshop method is from the same model. My little writers always took writing time more seriously when we visited {and re-visited} this book.

 

From Pictures to Words by Janet Stevens is quite literally a book about making a book! It’s a unique angle, as Stevens approaches the writing process through the eyes of an illustrator, not author. So, if you have children who like to draw and create, this book is a wonderful way to hook them into the writing process.

 

Little Red Writing by Joan Holub is a creative take on the traditional Little Red Riding Hood! It has the added bonus of teaching kids how to write a fiction story {similar to The Plot Chickens} and the benefits of using exciting words. I will say that, for me, the extra tips were a little distracting to the story.

 

Author a True Story by Helen Lester is an autobiography about the struggles she went through as a writer, starting at the age of three. I love, love, love how honest Lester is about her frustrations with the writing process. Kids can SO relate to this and are often amazed that a “real” authors can feel this way, too!

 

In Max’s Words by Kate Banks, Max decides he must collect words after seeing his brothers’ impressive collections. He soon discovers that his collection of words has power. He can form thoughts, sentences, and even a story! He even learns to use his words to his advantage.

 

 

Even More Books about the Writing Process

 

 

 

 

 

 

~Becky