Possibilities for Personal Narratives

It's September (or the beginning of October) and you walk into almost any classroom that utilizes Writer's Workshop and you'll see an anchor chart listing possibilities for writing personal narratives. And if you hang out long enough, you'll hear some adorable child saying, "Nothing ever happens to me, I can't write a story about myself." Despite your best efforts, the paper stays blank. Using mentor texts (can but not always) unstick some of those kids' brains and help them come up with an idea for a story. Below are some books and ideas that you could use with these awesome, but kind-of-stuck brained kids.

Celebrating a Missing Tooth: Airmail to the Moon by Tom Birdseye

Ora Mae Cottonwood loses a tooth and plans to put it under her pillow where she “figures” that the tooth fairy will leave her “at least a thousand dollars, or maybe even a hundred dollars.” But somebody steals her tooth. Assured by her mama that the “tooth fairy is as honest as flowers in the spring,” and definitely wouldn’t steal her tooth, Ora Mae sets out to find the culprit that took it. Ora (also known as Oreo) asks everyone if they stole her tooth and each time they tell her they didn’t, she vows that when she catches the thief she’s going to “open up a can of gotcha and send him airmail to the moon.” At the end of the story Ora Mae Cotton is as “embarrassed as a zebra with stripes” when she finds a “hard thing in the bottom of her pants pocket.”

Personal Narrative Idea: Every kid loves to talk about his missing tooth. It’s a perfect story starter for kids and this book gives an idea of how a child could elaborate on losing a tooth. It’s also a perfect text for teaching kids about “comeback lines.” The line “and when I catch’s I’m gonna open up a can of gotcha and send “em airmail to the moon,” is not only funny but also links the story events together.

Celebrating a New Family Member: Maple by Lori Nichols

“On some days, when the wind was just right, Maple would simply lie under her tree, and its leaves would dance just for her.”

Maple loves her name and she loves the tiny tree her parents plant in her honor. Maple sings to her tree, sways for her tree, and when she lays under the tree, the leaves dance for her. But Maple wishes she had someone else to play with. Then something “surprising” happens – Maple becomes a big sister. Maple tries to be a good big sister, but sometimes she just can’t make her baby sister happy. That is, until she discovers that there is just enough room under her tree for her and her sister (Willow), to lay and watch the leaves dance.

Personal Narrative Idea: Obviously, some children might be inspired by this book to write about a new baby in the family. But students could also write about brothers and sisters (parents, grandparents) and something they like to do together. This book is special because it’s simple and gentle and students can learn that you don’t need a lot of action to make a story powerful.

Even losing your favorite thing can be a celebration: Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems

Trixie loves her stuffed bunny, Knuffle Bunny. Trixie and her dad go to do the laundry at the laundromat and Trixie leaves her beloved Knufflebunny behind. Unfortunately, Trixie can’t talk yet, and can’t explain to her dad why she’s so unhappy. When they return home, mom notices the missing bunny and they return to the laundromat to retrieve the stuffed bunny. Trixie utters her very first words, “Knuffle Bunny.”

Personal Narrative Idea: When I reread my review, I actually think– this doesn’t sound like much of a story. But what makes the story work is the emotional appeal. You feel the desperation of Trixie, the frustration of dad, the insightfulness of mom. This book is great for helping students understand how focusing on characters’ feelings can make a simple story have impact.

Company’s Coming Celebration: The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant

“We were so busy hugging and eating and breathing together.”

The relatives come and there’s eating and sleeping and hugging and loving. Cynthia’s Rylants’ words capture the pure joy of having relatives come to visit. And when the relatives leave they miss each other but when they crawl into “their silent, soft beds” they dream of next summer.

Personal Narrative Idea: This book might give students the idea to write about having visitors. What’s it like to have people stay in your house, what do you do together, and most importantly how does it feel? A discussion of Cynthia Rylan’s word choices and imagery might help students incorporate similar style into their stories. PS Not everyone loves visitors - that might make a great story too.

Celebrating Worrying: Wemberly Worried by Kevin Henkes

Wemberly worries about everything: about the chains on the swings, about her doll, Petal, and that no one will come to her birthday party. But she especially worries about going to school. She worries that her teacher might be mean, that she won’t be able to find the bathroom, and she worries that no one else will bring a doll. Fortunately, for Wemberly, she finds a friend (who does bring a doll) and spends the day worrying a little less than usual. At the end of the day Wemberly tells her teacher not to worry because she'll come back tomorrow.

Personal Narrative Idea: Most kids have their own set of worries. Sharing them in their writing can give those worries an outlet and help kids write about their feelings.