- Boy Hook
- Character Development
- Fantasy Writing
- Grades 3-5
- Grades PreK-2
- Graphic Novel
- HIstorical Fiction
- Informational Writing
- Inspiring Writers
- Narrative Writing
- Opinion Writing
- Personal Narrative
- Procedural Writing
- Realistic Fiction
- Search for and Use Information
- Small Moment
- Strong Endings
- Strong Female
- Strong Lead
Saturday, May 9, 2015
by Seymour Simon
Seymour Simon does it again with a high interest informational book!
Seymour Simon puts together relevant, interesting information about trucks and wonderful close up photos that will really whet the nonfiction appetite of students and reach many readers.
The book is well organized. On the first two pages Simon gives a definition of what a truck is and introduces the reader to the different uses of different trucks. Each two page open spread is about a particular type of truck. One side of the page is text and the other side of the page is a photo of that type of truck.
The font is bolded and easy to see. The students are introduced to many content related words. Simon does an excellent job of using those words within sentences so that their meanings can be easily understood.
Types of trucks that are featured: log truck, cement mixer, telescoping forklift truck, dump truck, semitrailer truck, flatbed truck, tractor, buses, tanker truck, fire engine platform truck, sanitation truck, road-train truck and last, but not least—a monster truck!
A example of Simon’s writing:
“This powerful monster truck crushes cars at a truck show. Each monster truck is unique, because it is built by hand from other trucks and spare parts. Some monster trucks weigh as much as five elephants and have tires that are taller than a person.”
Suggested Uses as a Mentor Text:
Book Genre: Informational
Reading Workshop strategies: Search for and Use Information, Questioning, Critiquing, Synthesize
Writing Workshop genre: Informational Writing
Curricular Themes: Transportation