Best Mentor Texts of 2016

Whew!  We did it.  As a Reading for Research Family, we read read hundreds of books in 2016! The big challenge in March got us into the mentor text mode and every month the mini challenges helped us hone our picture book reading and writing skills. 

We asked the ReFoReMo Facebook group which mentor texts taught them the most about great picture book writing as a whole and why?  Here's the list of 2016 books the group responded with. 

For poetry:  
What to do With a Box, by Jane Yolen and Chris Sheban

For non-fiction narratives: 
The William Hoy Story by Nancy Churnin and Jez Tuya 
The Hole Story of the Doughnut by Pat Miller and  Vincent X. Kirsch 
Seven and a Half Tons of Steel by Janet Nolan and Thomas Gonzalez 
On the Farm at the Market by G. Brian Karas 
Coyote Moon by Maria Gianferrari and Bagram Ibatoulline

 

For tight writing and humor: 
Mary had a little Glam, by Tami Sauer and Vanessa Brantley Newton 
I Love Cake!:Starring Rabbit Porcupine and Moose by Tammi Sauer and Angie Rozelaar 
Horrible Bear! by Ame Dyckman



 For friendship and emotional resonance:
Ida Always by Caron Levis 
Too Many Carrots by Katy Hudson

For diversity: 
A Piece of Home by Jeri Watts and Hyewon Yum

For unique point of view: 
A Tree in the Courtyard: Looking Through Anne Frank's Window by Jeff Gottesfeld.

For literary appeal and illustrations: 
The Night Gardener by The Fan Brothers 

 
Thank you to the ReFoReMo Facebookers that contributed to this list!

What picture books did you use as mentor texts this year and why?

Ushering in the Third Annual ReFoReMo Challenge

It won't be long before the third annual Reading for Research Month challenge registration opens on February 15. We are working hard to complete our list of inspirational author-educators and will soon reveal our all-star calendar. March will be a busy beneficial time of year for you!

What we can tell you now is this:

You will learn from editors, agents, authors, illustrators, librarians, and educators. You will receive mentor text feedback from 24 different viewpoints and up to 125 mentor text recommendations! You won't be disappointed with your new found knowledge!

Picture book writers, as well as students and teachers, will benefit from challenge participation.

In case you missed some of the mini challenge topics in 2016, we have conveniently listed them for you here. Feel free to take advantage of this research before we usher in a new year of mentor text perspectives and research:

April Challenge: Endings
May Challenge: Comparing Texts
June Challenge: Conflict
August Challenge: Emotion
September Challenge: Favorite Books
October Challenge: CYBILS Books
November Challenge: Feeding your Soul

And of course, you can experience what you missed of the 1st and 2nd annual ReFoReMo challenges, as well: 2015 and 2016.

We are excited for ReFoReMo 2017! Are you?