Skip to content
Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest Email

Trending Post: Books Made Into Movies

Imagination Soup
  • Books by GenreExpand
    • Adventure Books
    • Fantasy Books
    • Funny Books
    • Graphic Novels
    • Historical Fiction Books
    • Mystery Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Realistic Books
    • Scary Books
    • Science Fiction Books
    • Survival Books
  • Books by AgeExpand
    • Age 1
    • Age 2
    • Age 3
    • Age 4
    • Age 5 Picture Books
    • Age 5 Easy Readers
    • Age 6
    • Age 7
    • Age 8
    • Age 9
    • Age 10
    • Age 11
    • Age 12
    • Ages 13+
  • Playful LearningExpand
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • STEM
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Games
    • Toys & Gifts
  • home
  • Blog
  • About
  • Picture Books
  • Chapter Books
  • Middle Grade Books
  • Nonfiction
Facebook Twitter Instagram
Imagination Soup
Home / Mentor Texts

Mentor Texts

A mentor text is a piece of written text that models specific skills and strategies (or craft moves) for students in reading and writing.

Mentor texts are authentic, real-world examples of different kinds of writing from which writers can practice strategies and use as examples.

READING

Use mentor texts when you teach reading to study things like genre or text structure as well as practice reading strategies and skills.

WRITING

Most authors will tell you that the NUMBER ONE thing you can do to become a better writer is to be a READER.

What’s even more powerful is LEARNING TO READ LIKE A WRITER. That’s where mentor texts benefit our students.

We can use picture books, chapter books, nonfiction, middle grade books, and so forth to show growing writers specifics about the author’s craft.

So, find exceptionally written children’s books that are mentor texts for a writing concept. You might want to teach thinking of interesting IDEAS, describing with VIVID VERBS, writing with SENSORY DETAILS, or concluding with SATISFYING endings.

Then, you’ll read and notice and label the craft strategies. Explicitly. (Where are the vivid verbs, etc.?)

And finally, you will help kids apply the strategies from the mentor text to their own writing.

18 Beautiful Picture Book Personification Examples

18 Beautiful Picture Book Personification Examples

40 Impressive Personal Narrative Examples in Children’s Books

40 Impressive Personal Narrative Examples in Children’s Books

15 Picture Books to Teach Positive Character Traits

15 Picture Books to Teach Positive Character Traits

Teach Kids to Use Vivid Verbs in Their Writing

Teach Kids to Use Vivid Verbs in Their Writing

22 Good Compare and Contrast Examples in Picture Books

22 Good Compare and Contrast Examples in Picture Books

Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels by Tim Smyth

Teaching with Comics and Graphic Novels by Tim Smyth

Children’s Books Mentor Texts to Teach Character Arc

Children’s Books Mentor Texts to Teach Character Arc

Mentor Text Book List for Character Traits

Mentor Text Book List for Character Traits

32 Picture Books About Readers, Reading, and Books

32 Picture Books About Readers, Reading, and Books

Using Mentor Texts to Discuss Social and Emotional Topics

Using Mentor Texts to Discuss Social and Emotional Topics

14 Mentor Texts to Launch Reading Workshop

14 Mentor Texts to Launch Reading Workshop

12 Cause and Effect Children’s Books (+ Examples and Activities)

12 Cause and Effect Children’s Books (+ Examples and Activities)

5 Kinds of Nonfiction: a PD Book for Teachers & Librarians

5 Kinds of Nonfiction: a PD Book for Teachers & Librarians

Using Picture Books for Theme-Based Learning

Using Picture Books for Theme-Based Learning

BARK! SQUEAK! MOO! Writing From an Animal’s Point of View

BARK! SQUEAK! MOO! Writing From an Animal’s Point of View

Good Children’s Book Examples to Teach Point of View

Good Children’s Book Examples to Teach Point of View

How to Successfully Use Mentor Texts to Teach Writing

How to Successfully Use Mentor Texts to Teach Writing

The Best How-To Books (to Model Procedural Writing)

The Best How-To Books (to Model Procedural Writing)

12 Children’s Books to Teach Letter Writing to Kids

12 Children’s Books to Teach Letter Writing to Kids

Mentor Texts for Teaching Small Moments Writing

Mentor Texts for Teaching Small Moments Writing

Mentor Texts to Teach Juicy Word Choice in Writing

Mentor Texts to Teach Juicy Word Choice in Writing

20 Picture and Chapter Books to Teach Voice

20 Picture and Chapter Books to Teach Voice

20 Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Inference

20 Mentor Text Picture Books to Teach Inference

Picture Books to Teach Similes and Metaphors

Picture Books to Teach Similes and Metaphors

Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Picture Books to Teach Problem and Solution

Mentor Text Children’s Books to Teach Sensory Description

Mentor Text Children’s Books to Teach Sensory Description

Picture Books to Teach Sequencing & Beginning, Middle, and End

Picture Books to Teach Sequencing & Beginning, Middle, and End

Picture Books to Teach Perspective

Picture Books to Teach Perspective

Picture Books to Teach Onomatopoeia 

Picture Books to Teach Onomatopoeia 

3 New Inspirational Girl-Power Middle Grade Books

3 New Inspirational Girl-Power Middle Grade Books

Picture Books About Books, Words, and Storytelling

Picture Books About Books, Words, and Storytelling

Hi! I’m Melissa Taylor!

I'm a mom, writer, & former elementary teacher & literacy trainer. I love sharing good books & fun learning resources.

Easy Reader Books​


Easiest Beginning Chapter Books


Best Books for 7-Year Olds​


Best Books for 8-Year Olds​


Best Books for 9-Year Olds​


Best Books for 10-Year Olds​


Best Books for 11-Year Olds​


Best Books for 12-Year Olds​


YA Books​

Popular Posts

Best Books for 2nd Graders (7 Year Olds)

Mentor Texts to Teach Sequencing & Beginning, Middle, and End

Picture Books to Teach Sequencing & Beginning, Middle, and End

best books for 4th graders

80 Best Books for 4th Graders (Age 9)

writing contests for kids

Excellent Writing Contests for Kids (and Other Ways To Get Published)

Join other teachers, parents, and librarians who receive FREE book reviews and learning resources.

  • Mail
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Browse

  • Books by Topic
  • Books by Age
  • Playful Learning
  • Blog

Connect

  • About
  • Contact Me
  • Newsletter
  • Privacy Policy
Facebook Twitter Instagram Email Pinterest

© 2023 Imagination Soup

Scroll to top
  • Books by Genre
    • Adventure Books
    • Fantasy Books
    • Funny Books
    • Graphic Novels
    • Historical Fiction Books
    • Mystery Books
    • Nonfiction
    • Picture Books
    • Realistic Books
    • Scary Books
    • Science Fiction Books
    • Survival Books
  • Books by Age
    • Age 1
    • Age 2
    • Age 3
    • Age 4
    • Age 5 Picture Books
    • Age 5 Easy Readers
    • Age 6
    • Age 7
    • Age 8
    • Age 9
    • Age 10
    • Age 11
    • Age 12
    • Ages 13+
  • Playful Learning
    • Reading
    • Writing
    • STEM
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Games
    • Toys & Gifts
Search