The document discusses using picture books as mentor texts for writing. It highlights how picture books often feature unexpected elements like characters, pairings, endings, points of view, and glimpses of hidden worlds. These unexpected elements can inspire creativity in writing by showing how conventions can be subverted. The document argues that sharing picture books with unexpected elements is a way to mentor writers and spark new story ideas.

1. THE MAGICAL UNEXPECTED:
SHARING PICTURE BOOKS
AS MENTOR TEXTS
KATE MESSNER
Write to Learn Conference 2016

2. UNEXPECTED
CHARACTERS
(IN FAMILIAR SETTINGS
& SITUATIONS)

12. UNEXPECTED PAIRINGS

17. CHARACTERS SETTINGS THEMES/MOODS
SEA MONSTER 1ST DAY OF SCHOOL ANXIETY
HEDGEHOG DOCTOR’S OFFICE BOSSY KIDS
RACE CARS OUTER SPACE WANTING A PET

19. UNEXPECTED ENDINGS

26. UNEXPECTED ROLES

32. UNEXPECTED
POINTS OF VIEW

36. UNEXPECTED
GLIMPSES
OF HIDDEN WORLDS

37. UNEXPECTE
D GLIMPSES
OF HIDDEN
WORLDS

44. UNEXPECTED
CURIOSITY

47. UNEXPECTED
SIMPLICITY

50. UNEXPECTED STORIES
FROM HISTORY

53. UNEXPECTED FORMATS

60. THE
UNEXPECTED
UNEXPECTED?

61. THE MAGICAL UNEXPECTED:
SHARING PICTURE BOOKS
AS MENTOR TEXTS
KATE MESSNER
Write to Learn Conference 2016