Animals Writing Prompt Activity for Kids
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by Dori Butler, author of The Buddy Files.
One of the best things about being an author of children’s books is I get to travel all around the country and visit schools and libraries and talk about writing. No matter where I go, there’s one question that someone almost always asks: what’s your favorite book that you wrote?
It used to be I would say, “That’s like asking me to choose which of my children is my favorite. Both of my children are special to me for different reasons. And all of my books are special to me for different reasons, too.”
My Favorite Books
But that was before The Buddy Files.
The Buddy Files is a series of books for beginning chapter book readers about a school therapy dog who solves mysteries. THESE are my favorite books that I’ve written.
Why?
Because they’re written from a dog’s point of view. I love writing from a dog’s point of view.
That can be a good exercise for kids, too, to try and view the world from an animal’s point of view rather than their own.
Writing Prompt Activity for Kids
Here’s a writing activity I sometimes use with kids when I teach writing workshops:
1) Â Choose your favorite animal
2) Â Make a list of things this animal can do better at than humans.
3)  Now make a list of things humans can do that this animal CAN’T do. What might your animal do instead? For example: a dog can’t open a door. He might solve that problem by barking until someone comes and opens the door.
4) Â Write a story about your animal and make the animal the main character. Use examples from each of your lists.
5) Â Share your story with a parent, teacher or friend. Discuss how your story would be different if the main character was a human instead of an animal.
Bio: Dori Butler’s written 25 picture books and novels for children and ghostwritten 10 Sweet Valley Twins and Boxcar Children books. The Buddy Files: Case of the Lose Boy won the 2011 Edgar® Award for best juvenile mystery published in 2010. She lives in Coralville, Iowa with her husband, son, and assorted pets. Catch up with Dori on her blog, A Day in the Life of a Children’s Book Author and her Dog.
Thanks for the giveaway
I love the great writing exercises on your blog! My favorite animal story is Because of Winn Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.
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My favorite animal story is about my childhood pets. We had 2 dogs a mixed breed and a maltese. They were both the sweetest and most loving and when I was suffering with my typical teenage angst, they would stick right to me and when I would cry, my mixed breed would cry, too. They were great friends and I miss them everyday.
ape2016(at)aol(dot)com
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