Mentor Texts Curriculum Materials Center David & Lorraine Cheng Library, William Paterson University Mentor texts are pieces of literature that serve as models for young writers. The titles on this list are available in the Curriculum Materials Center of the David and Lorraine Cheng Library. Most titles have been identified as mentor texts in at least one of the following: AB Morris, L. (2012). Awakening brilliance in the writer s workshop. Larchmont, NY: Eye on Education. Call Number: 2 nd floor LB1576.M785 2012 BTW Saccardi, M. (2011). Books that teach kids to write. Santa Barbara, CA: Libraries Unlimited. Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1576.S2227 2011 GS MT Fountas, I. C., & Pinnell, G. S. (2012). Genre study. Portsmouth, NH: Heinemann. Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1575.F68 2012 Dorfman, L. R., & Cappelli, R. (2007). Mentor texts. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers. Call Number: 2 nd floor LB1576.D657 2007 NMT Dorfman, L. R., & Cappelli, R. (2009). Nonfiction mentor texts. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers. Call Number: 2 nd floor LB1576.D635 2009 PMT Dorfman, L. R., & Cappelli, R. (2012). Poetry mentor texts. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers. Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1575.D67 2012 WS WT Kendall, J., & Khuon, O. (2006). Writing sense. Portland, ME: Stenhouse Publishers. Call Number: Curr.Mats. PE1128.A2 K4158 2006 Culham, R. (2014). The writing thief. Newark, DE: International Reading Association. Call Number: Curr.Mats. LB1576.C8469 2014 In addition to listing in which of the above texts the title is cited, Lexile scores have been added to aid in selecting appropriate titles. Lexile score codes: (AD) Adult Directed, (BR) Beginning Reader, (IG) Illustrated Guides, (NC) Non Conforming, (NP) Non Prose. More information on Lexile scores can be found at https://lexile.com Many of these books were purchased with a grant from the Albert Payson Terhune Foundation (APT).
2 Adler, D. A. (2005). Joe Louis: America s fighter. New York, NY: Harcourt. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: jb Lou Lexile AD 810L Anderson, L. H. (2008). Independent dames: What you never knew about the women and girls of the American Revolution. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 3, 7). (APT). Call Number: j973.082 And Lexile AD 930L Anderson, L. H. (2002). Thank you, Sarah: The woman who saved Thanksgiving. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 4, 5, 7). Call Number: j394.2649 And Lexile AD 350L Aston, D. (2007). A seed is sleepy. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (NMT, Chapter 2; PMT, Chapter 4; BTW, Chapter 5) Call Number: j581.46 Ast Lexile AD 750L Babbit, N. (1975). Tuck everlasting. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. (NMT, Chapter 5; MT, Chapter 8; GS p. 66). Call Number: J Bab Lexile 770L Barnett, M., & Scieszka, J. (2013). Battle bunny. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (APT). Call Number: PJ Bar Lexile AD 480L Blume, J. (1980). Superfudge. New York, NY: Dutton. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: J Blu Lexile 560L Blume, J. (2012). Tales of a fourth grade nothing. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (NMT, Chapter 5). (APT). Call Number: J Blu Lexile 470L Bridges, R. (1999). Through my eyes. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: jb Bri Lexile 860L Brown, M. (1983). Arthur s Thanksgiving. Boston, MA: Little, Brown. (NMT, Chapter 5). (APT) Call Number: J Bro Lexile 440L Bryant, J. (2008). A river of words: The story of William Carlos Williams. Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans Books for Young Readers. (NMT, Chapter 2, 3, 6, 7; PMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: j811.52 Bry Lexile AD 820L Burleigh, R. (1991). Flight: The journey of Charles Lindbergh. New York, NY: Philomel Books. (NMT, Chapter 4; MT, Chapter 4, 5, 9). Call Number: j620.14 Bur Lexile AD 570L
3 Burleigh, R. (2007). Stealing home: Jackie Robinson: Against the odds. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 4). (APT). Call Number: jb Robinson Lexile AD 910L Cha, D. (1996). Dia s story cloth. New York, NY: Lee & Low Books. (WS p. 164). (APT). Call Number: j972.0495 Cha Lexile 1050L Chatterjee, D., & D Arcy B. (Eds.). (2011). Let s celebrate!; Festival poems from around the world. London, ENG: Frances Lincoln Children s Books. (APT) Call Number: j394.2 Cha Lexile NP Cherry, L. (1992). A river ran wild. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace. (NMT, Chapter 3, 5). Call Number: j974.44 Che Lexile 670L Christelow, E. (2003). Vote. New York, NY: Clarion Books. (NMT, Chapter 3, 4). Call Number: j324.97 Chr Lexile 420L Clark, D. C. (1989). A kid s guide to Washington, D. C. New York, NY: Harcourt Brace. (NMT, Chapter 6). Call Number: j917.53 Cla Lexile 870L Cohn, A. L., & Schmidt, L. (2002). Abraham Lincoln. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 2). Call Number: jb Lin Lexile 660L Cole, J., & Degen, B. (1996). The magic school bus: Inside a beehive. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 3) (APT). Call Number: j595.79 Col Lexile 890L Coles, R. (1995). The story of Ruby Bridges. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: jb Bri Lexile AD 730L Cooper, F. (2000). Mandela: From the life of the South African statesman. New York, NY: Puffin Books. (GS p. 123). (APT). Call Number: jb Mandela Lexile 440L Cronin, D. (2000). Click, clack, moo: Cows that type. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 5; MT, Chapter 5; BTW, Chapter 2). Call Number: PJ Cro Lexile AD 160L Crossingham, J. (2003). Lacrosse in action. New York, NY: Crabtree. (NMT, Chapter 3, 6). Call Number: j796.34 Cro Lexile 1030L Cullen, M. (2015). Dear Mr. Washington. New York, NY: Dial Books. (APT). Call Number: J Cul Lexile AD 760L
4 Curlee, L. (2001). Brooklyn Bridge. New York, NY: Atheneum. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: j624 Cur Lexile 1160L depaola, T. (1997). Strega Nona. New York, NY: Aladdin. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: j398.2 DeP Lexile AD 660L Edwards, P. D. (2005). The bus ride that changed history: The story of Rosa Parks. Boston, MA: Sandpiper. (NMT, Chapter 2, 3). (APT). Call Number: j323.2 Edw Lexile 860L Farris, C. K. (2003). My brother Martin. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 3, 4; MT, Chapter 4). Call Number: jb King Lexile 970L Frazee, M. (2006). Walk on!: A guide for babies of all ages. Orlando, FL: Harcourt. (NMT, Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Fra Lexile 560L Freedman, R. (1987). Lincoln: A photobiography. New York, NY: Clarion Books. (NMT, Chapter 3, 7; BTW, Chapter 3). Call Number: jb Lin Lexile NC 1040L Fritz, J. (1991). Bully for you, Teddy Roosevelt. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam s Sons. (NMT, Chapter 4, 6; MT, Chapter 9). Call Number: jb Roo Lexile 980L Fritz, J. (1969). George Washington s breakfast. New York, NY: Coward-McCann. (NMT, Chapter 2). Call Number: J Fri Lexile 710L Fritz, J. (1976). What s the big idea, Benjamin Franklin? New York, NY: Putnam. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: jb Fra Lexile 830L Frost, H. (2008). Monarch and milkweed. New York, NY: Atheneum. (NMT, Chapter 7). Call Number: j598.78 Fro Lexile AD 970L Gershwin, G., DuBose, H., Heyward, D., & Gershwin, I. (1999). Summertime. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 7). Call Number: j782.421 Ger Lexile NC 1010L Gerstein, M. (2003). The man who walked between the towers. Brookfield, CT: Roaring Brook Press. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: j791.3 Ger Lexile AD 480L Gibbons, G. (1993). Caves and caverns. San Diego, CA: Harcourt Brace. (GS p. 293). (APT). Call Number: j551.4 Gib Lexile AD 760L
5 Gibbons, G. (1999). The pumpkin book. New York, NY: Holiday House. (WS p. 100). (APT). Call Number: j635.62 Gib Lexile AD570L Gibbons, G. (1992). Recycle: A handbook for kids. Boston, MA: Little, Brown. (NMT, Chapter 5, 6). Call Number: j628.445 Gib Lexile AD 840L Grimes, N. (2002). Talkin about Bessie: The story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman. New York, NY: Orchard Books. (NMT, Chapter 3, 5; MT, Chapter 8). Call Number: jb Col Lexile 1030L Guiberson, B. (1991). Cactus Hotel. New York, NY: Henry Holt. (NMT, Chapter 3, 4). Call Number: j574.5 Gui Lexile 700L Halpern, S. (1992). My river. New York, NY: Macmillan. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: [Big Book] PJ Hal Lexile BR Hansen, J. (2007). Women of hope: African Americans who made a difference. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: j920 Han Lexile 1140L Hearne, B. (1997). Seven brave women. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. (NMT, Chapter 4, 6, 7; GS p. 123). Call Number: PJ Hea Lexile 840L Heller, R. (1988). Kites sail high: A book about verbs. New York, NY: Atheneum. (NMT, Chapter 7). Call Number: j428.2 Hel Lexile AD 600L Henkes, K. (2010). Wemberly worried. New York, NY: Greenwillow books. (MT, Chapter 2, 9; WS p. 107). (APT). Call Number: PJ Hen Lexile AD 170L Holub, J. (2013). Little Red writing. San Francisco, CA: Chronicle Books. (WT p. 98). (APT). Call Number: PJ Hol Lexile AD 740L Hoose, P., & Hoose, H. (1998). Hey, little ant. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle. (NMT, Chapter 5, 6; MT, Chapter 3, 6, 8; WT p. 152). Call Number: PJ Hoo Lexile 520L Hopkinson, D. (1997). Birdie s lighthouse. New York, NY: Atheneum. (NMT, Chapter 6, 7). Call Number: J Hop Lexile 700L Hopkinson, D. (2006). Sky boys: How they built the Empire State Building. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books. (NMT, Chapter 3, 7; PMT, Chapter 5; BTW, Chapter 3). (APT). Call Number: PJ Hop Lexile AD 740L
6 James, S. (1991). Dear Mr. Blueberry. New York, NY: Simon and Schuster. (NMT, Chapter 5; PMT, Chapter 6). Call Number: PJ Jam Lexile AD 660L Jenkins, S. (2011). Actual size. Boston, MA: Sandpiper. (NMT, Chapter 2). (APT). Call Number: j591.4 Jen Lexile IG 1080L Jenkins, S. (2007). Almost gone: The world s rarest animals. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (NMT, Chapter 4, 5). Call Number: j591.68 Jen Lexile AD 1020L Jenkins, S. (2007). Living color. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. (NMT, Chapter 2, 4). Call Number: j591.47 Jen Lexile NC 950L Jenkins, S., & Page, R. (2008). Sisters and brothers: Sibling relationships in the animal world. Boston, MA: Houghton Mifflin. (NMT, Chapter 2). (APT). Call Number: j591.56 Jen Lexile IG 1030L Kalman, M. (2002). Fireboat: The heroic adventures of the John J. Harvey. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam s Sons. (NMT, Chapter 4, 7). Call Number: PJ Kal Lexile AD 280L Kellogg. S. (1971). Can I keep him? New York, NY: Penguin. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: PJ Kel Lexile AD 510L Kerley, B. (2008). What to do about Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt broke the rules. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 3, 7). Call Number: jb Roosevelt Lexile AD 800L Kroll, S. (1994). Lewis and Clark: Explorers of the American West. New York, NY: Holiday House. (GS p. 137). (APT). Call Number: j917.804 Kro Lexile AD 1000L Krull, K. (1996). Wilma unlimited: How Wilma Rudolph became the world s fastest woman. New York, NY: Harcourt. (NMT, Chapter 4; GS p. 123). Call Number: jb Rud Lexile AD 730L Leedy, L. (2000). Mapping Penny s world. New York, NY: Henry Holt. (NMT, Chapter 6). Call Number: PJ Lee Lexile AD 640L Lester, J. (1998). From slave ship to freedom road. London, ENG: Puffin Books. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: j759.13 Les Lexile AD 720L Levine, E. (2007). Henry s freedom box. New York, NY: Scholastic Books. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: J Lev Lexile AD 380L
7 Levine, G. C. (2015). Writer to writer: From think to ink. New York, NY: Harper. (APT). Call Number: j808.02 Lev Lexile AD 860L Lin, G. (1999). The ugly vegetables. Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (WS p. 56, 83). (APT). Call Number: PJ Lin Lexile AD 860L Locker, T. (1984). Where the river begins. New York, NY: Dial Books. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: PJ Loc Lexile 840L Maruki, T. (1980). Hiroshima no pika. New York, NY: Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard Books. (NMT, Chapter 3, 4, 7). Call Number: j940.54 Mar Lexile AD 620L McDonnell, P. (2014). A perfectly messed-up story. New York, NY: Little, Brown. (APT). Call Number: PJ McD Lexile 270L McGovern, A. (1966). If you grew up with Abraham Lincoln. New York, NY: Four Winds Press. (NMT, Chapter 2). Call Number: jb Lin Lexile AD 670L McGrath, B., & Alderman, P. (2003). Soccer counts! Watertown, MA: Charlesbridge. (NMT, Chapter 2, 3; MT Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: j513.2 McG Lexile 390L McNamara, M., & Karas, G. (2015). A poem in your pocket. New York, NY: Schwartz & Wade Books. (APT). Call Number: PJ McN Lexile AD 530L Mochizuki, K. (1993). Baseball saved us. New York, NY: Lee and Low Books. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: J Moc Lexile AD 550L Naylor, P. R. (1991). Shiloh. New York, NY: Dell. (NMT, Chapter 5; MT, Chapter 4). Call Number: J Nay Lexile 1020L Nobisso, J. (2004). Josephine Nobisso s show, don t tell!: Secrets of writing. West Hampton Beach, NY: Little, Brown. (APT). Call Number: j372.62 Nob Lexile AD 760L Okimoto, J. D. (2004). Winston of Churchill: One bear s battle against global warming. Burton, WA: Endicott and Hugh Books. (NMT, Chapter 5). (APT). Call Number: PJ Oki Lexile 1170L Orloff, K. K., & Catrow, D. (2014). I wanna go home. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam. (APT). Call Number: PJ Orl Lexile AD 430L
8 Orloff, K. K., & Catrow, D. (2004). I wanna iguana. New York, NY: Putnam. (NMT, Chapter 5, 7; PMT Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Orl Lexile AD 460L Palatini, M., & Whaley, B. (2003). The perfect pet. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (NMT, Chapter 5; WT p. 147). (APT). Call Number: PJ Pal Lexile AD 590L Polacco, P. (1995). Babushka s doll. New York, NY: Alladin Paperbacks. (WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 360L Polacco, P. (2001). Betty doll. New York, NY: Philomel Books. (MT Chapter 2, 4, 5, 6; WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 360L Polacco, P. (2013). The keeping quilt. New York, NY: Simon & Schuster. (WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 920L Polacco, P. (1992). Mrs. Katz and Tush. New York, NY: Bantam Books. (BTW, Chapter 4; WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 530L Polacco, P. (1994). Pink and Say. New York, NY: Philomel Books. (BTW, Chapter 2; WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 590L Polacco, P. (1990). Thunder cake. New York, NY: Philomel Books. (AB p. 193; WS p. 54, 119). (APT). Lexile 630L Pringle, L. (2000). Bats!: Strange and wonderful. Honesdale, PA: Boyds Mills. (NMT, Chapter 2, 4, 7). Call Number: j599.4 Pri Lexile 820L Rappaport, D. (2001). Martin s big words. New York, NY: Hyperion. (NMT, Chapter 3, 6). Call Number: jb Kin Lexile AD 410L Recorvitis, H. (2003). My name is Yoon. New York, NY: Frances Foster Books. (GS p. 75; WS p. 107). (APT). Call Number: PJ Rec Lexile 320L Reynolds, P. (2003). The dot. Cambridge, MA: Candlewick Press. (GS p. 349). (APT). Call Number: PJ Rey Lexile AD 500L
9 Rockwell, A. (2006). Why are the ice caps melting?: The dangers of global warming. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (NMT, Chapter 3, 5). Call Number: j363.738 Roc Lexile AD 950L Ryan, P. M. (1999). Amelia and Eleanor go for a ride. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 4; GS p. 118). (APT). Call Number: J Rya Lexile AD 600L Ryan, P. M. (2002). When Marian sang. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 4). Call Number: jb And Lexile 1220L Rylant, C. (2000). In November. New York, NY: Harcourt. (NMT, Chapter 5), (MT, Chapter 6, 8; BTW, Chapter 3). Call Number: PJ Ryl Lexile AD 440L Salisbury, G. (1994). Under the blood red sun. New York, NY: Delacorte. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: J Sal Lexile 640L Schroeder, A. (1996). Minty: A story of young Harriet Tubman. New York, NY: Dial Books. (NMT, Chapter 7). Call Number: jb Tub Lexile 560L Schulman, J. (2008). Pale male: Citizen Hawk of New York City. New York, NY: Alfred A. Knopf. (NMT, Chapter 3, 5, 6). Call Number: j598.9 Sch Lexile 1030L Schwartz, D. M. (1998). G is for Googol: A math alphabet book. Berkeley, CA: Tricycle. (NMT, Chapter 6, 7). Call Number: j510 Sch Lexile IG 760L Siebert, D. (1991). Sierra. New York, NY: Harper Collins. (NMT, Chapter 7), (MT, Chapter 3, 6). Call Number: PJ Sie Lexile 430L Silverstein, S. (1974). Sarah Cynthia Sylvia Stout would not take the garbage out. In Where the sidewalk ends. New York, NY: Harper and Row. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: j811 Sil Lexile NC 1510L Simon, S. (1989). Whales. New York, NY: Crowell. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: j599.51 Sim Lexile AD 950L Smith, C. L. (2000). Jingle dancer. New York, NY: Morrow Junior Books. (WS p. 164). (APT). Call Number: PJ Smi Lexile 710L Smith, D. J. (2002). If the world were a village: A book about the world s people. Towanda, NY: Kids Can Press. (NMT, Chapter 3). Call Number: j304.6 Smi Lexile 710L
10 Spinelli, E. (2004). I know it s autumn. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: PJ Spi Lexile 820L Stewart, S. (1997). The gardener. New York, NY: Farrar, Straus, and Giroux. (NMT, Chapter 6). Call Number: PJ Ste Lexile AD 570L Teague, M. (2011). Dear Mrs. LaRue: Letters from obedience school. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Tea Lexile 500L Teague, M. (2004). Detective LaRue: Letters from the investigation. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Tea Lexile AD 950L Thimmesh, C. (2004). Madam President. New York, NY: Harper Mifflin. (NMT, Chapter 3). (APT). Call Number: j320.082 Thi Lexile 1150L Thimmesh, C. (2006). Team Moon: How 400,000 people landed Apollo 11 on the moon. New York, NY: Harper Mifflin. (NMT, Chapter 3, 4, 7; WT p. 77). Call Number: j629.45 Thi Lexile 1060L Thomas, K. (2007). How baseball works. Toronto, ON: Maple Tree Press. (NMT, Chapter 2, 3, 6). (APT). Call Number: j796.357 Tho Lexile 1060L Thomas, P. (2008). Farmer George plants a nation. Honesdale, PA: Calkins Creek. (NMT, Chapter 3). (APT). Call Number: jb Washington Lexile AD 970L Uegaki, C., & Jorisch, S. (2003). Suki s kimono. Tonawanda, NY: Kids Can Press. (NMT, Chapter 5). (APT). Call Number: PJ Ueg Lexile 690L Viorst, J. (1990). Earrings! New York, NY: Atheneum. (NMT, Chapter 5; PMT, Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Vio Lexile 470L Walton, R. (2007). Just me and 6,000 rats: A tale of conjunctions. Layton, UT: Gibbs Smith. (NMT, Chapter 7). (APT). Call Number: PJ Wal Lexile 340L Weatherford, C. B (2006). Moses: When Harriet Tubman led her people to freedom. New York, NY: Hyperion. (NMT, Chapter 7; GS p. 118). Call Number: J Wea Lexile AD 660L
11 Wells, R. (2008). Otto runs for president. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 5). (APT). Call Number: PJ Wel Lexile AD 570L Wells, R. (1998). Yoko. New York, NY: Hyperion. (NMT, Chapter 5) Call Number: PJ Wel Lexile AD 350L White, E. B. (1952). Charlotte s web. New York, NY: Harper and Row. (NMT, Chapter 5; MT, Chapter 3, 4, 5; BTW, Chapter 2; WT p. 1585), Call Number: J Whi Lexile 680L Wick, W. (1997). A drop of water. New York, NY: Scholastic. (NMT, Chapter 3, 7; GS p. 293). Call Number: j546.22 Wic Lexile 870L Willems, M. (2006). Don t let the pigeon stay up late. New York, NY: Hyperion. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: PJ Wil Lexile AD 270L Williams, V. (1981). Three days on a river in a red canoe. New York, NY: Greenwillow Books. (NMT, Chapter 6). (APT). Call Number: PJ Wil Lexile AD 560L Yolen, J. (1996). Welcome to the sea of sand. New York, NY: G. P. Putnam s Sons. (NMT, Chapter 4; MT, Chapter 9). Call Number: j508.315 Yol Lexile AD 830L Zolotow, C. (1992). The seashore book. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (NMT, Chapter 5; MT, Chapter 2, 4, 7, 8). Call Number: PJ Zol Lexile AD 840L Zolotow, C. (1972). William s doll. New York, NY: HarperCollins. (NMT, Chapter 5). Call Number: PJ Zol Lexile 840L Prepared by Pat Moore August, 2015