You know that feeling when you find the perfect book to teach a tough concept? It’s pure magic! With October rolling in, our classroom focus is shifting from characters to setting and story elements. I’ve curated a list of the greatest picture books for teaching these skills, designed to help your students deeply understand where and when a story takes place, as well as the key parts that make up a narrative.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen: Identify Setting (Time & Place)
This beautiful book has my readers looking closely at illustrations and descriptive language to determine the setting in this story. There are parts where I have my students close their eyes and just listen to me read Jane Yolen’s words and then describe what feelings they have when they listen to her describe the setting.
Free Owl Moon Lesson
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The Snowy Day by Ezra Jack Keats: Compare/Contrast Setting
While I love this book for MANY reasons and you may be thinking “why would I read Snowy Day in October?!” don’t be scared – we read this book a few times throughout the year!! I love to compare the setting in this story to Owl Moon. We take a close look at how the setting affects the characters in both stories as well and it always brings a great discussion.
Thunder Cake by Patricia Polacco: Setting Affects Plot
Have I ever read a Patricia Polacco book I didn’t love?! Nope.
In this story, I have my students pay close attention to how the setting affects the plot and characters in the story. It is very clear in this story to see how the thunderstorms and dark stormy, environment affect the little girl in the story! We also talk about how the story would be different if the setting had been entirely different.
Make Way For Ducklings by Robert McCloskey: Setting Affects Plot
Same as Thunder Cake, I read this story with the focus of HOW the setting of this story affects the plot of the story. The setting is very important to the ducks in this story and it is a great way for my kids to see how things change as the ducks travel in the story.
Stellaluna by Janell Cannon: Retell BME
This is a seasonal book I love to read in October to go over retelling. By this time in the year, we have certainly touched about retelling, but this book has a clear beginning, middle, and end . We also discuss which part of the book we find to be the most important to the storyline and why.
Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse by Kevin Henkes: Retell BME
As we read this Kevin Henkes classic, I have my students not only retell the story, but retell it with a focus on Lily’s feelings and actions throughout the beginning, middle, and ending of the story. I always try to emphasize that we only retell the “important” parts of our story as well.
So there you have it! Six of my favorite read alouds for Setting and Story Elements! Don’t forget, you can grab a free read aloud lesson below:
Free Owl Moon Lesson
Join my Newsletter and receive this read aloud lesson!I also spent all of last year creating one page lesson plans for all of the above books with stopping points and questions that relate to the skills I mentioned!
My video on helpful tips for read alouds!
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New to the blog 🙂 I'm working on story elements with my ELs in middle school but we use picture books as a way to introduce and reinforce the terms! I love the list you've compiled. My group this year LOVES to be read to even though they are entering their teens. Thank you!
Maria // EducationChic
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