This Is a Good Story

PreS-Gr 2—A young girl is drawing a story as an unseen narrator coaches her and takes her (and readers) through a classic tale of good vs. evil. First the hero and heroine are introduced, along with a discussion of where they live ("Setting"). Next comes a direction for where the narrative will go: "As with any Good Story, ours has a Conflict, a problem that needs solving. And it's a good thing, too, because without a Conflict there would be no Plot." They must save the townsfolk from an evil overlord. The narrator corrects and questions the young artist's choices along the way, encouraging her to "try again" as her hero and heroine get sidetracked and make choices that are not conducive to making a "good story." So, this is a story within a story about the parts of a story—are you confused? Well, potentially, young readers may be as well without the help of a teacher or imaginative adult. A "Friendly List of Words Used In This Book" is included at the back with accessible definitions of parts of a story. The colorful, whimsical, and childlike illustrations are reminiscent of Ed Emberley's, and are thus very kid friendly and appealing. VERDICT An imaginative and creative way of educating readers about effective storytelling and elements of style. Great for sharing one-on-one or in a language arts classroom.—Megan Kilgallen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn