voice Archives - Page 4 of 5

Aqualicious
by Victoria Kann (Author, Illustrator)

Booktalk: Pinkalicious and her family go on a trip to the beach for a day of sun, fun, and sand castles! The day gets even more exciting when Pinkalicious finds a mini-mermaid named Aqua while she’s collecting shells.

Snippet:
I was collecting seashells. I found a shell and held it next to my ear so I could hear the ocean.

TURN THE PAGE

Instead of hearing the ocean, I heard a little voice inside the shell.
“Put me down! I’m trying to nap!” the voice said.
“Eeeek!” I screamed. I was scared, but I was also curious. I looked inside the shell. I saw a little face with long hair.
“Can you help me?” said the little voice.

Six Traits Mini Lesson

Trait: Organization On the first page of the story, we meet the main character and find out that she is at the beach collecting seashells. The scene is set with just two sentences.

I was collecting seashells. I found a shell and held it next to my ear so I could hear the ocean.

On the next page, the main character has a problem. Something unexpected happens and the story begins.

Instead of hearing the ocean, I heard a little voice inside the shell.

Trait: Voice This picture book is written in the first person voice. In a first person story the main character also acts as the narrator. Readers experience the world of the story by seeing what the main character sees. The main character’s inner thoughts show and tell the story.

I was collecting seashells. I found a shell and held it next to my ear so I could hear the ocean.

We find out what happens next with MORE inner monologue. Pinkalicious tells us…

Instead of hearing the ocean, I heard a little voice inside the shell.

In dialogue, EVERY character uses the first person voice. The dialogue tags tell us who is speaking.

“Put me down! I’m trying to nap!” the voice said.
“Eeeek!” I screamed. I was scared,

After she shows us how she feels, Pinkalicious tells us what happens next with more inner monologue.

I was scared, but I was also curious. I looked inside the shell. I saw a little face with long hair.

The story continues with dialogue. The other story character speaks and now there is a new story problem, one that will carry readers through the entire book.

“Can you help me?” said the little voice.

See the book trailer.

Uh-Oh Octopus!
by Elle van Lieshout (Author), Erik van Os (Author), and Mies van Hout (Illustrator)

Booktalk: A small octopus lives in a snug apartment until one day an intruder barricades the entrance. Octopus asks for advice on how to escape but the more suggestions he gets, the less he is able to figure out what to do.

Snippet: Hermit Crab listened and sighed. “Well, well, an intruder. Who cares? Just move to another place. The sea is filled with opportunities.”

Octopus shook his head. This didn’t help at all.

Six Traits Mini Lesson

Trait: Voice This picture book story is written in the third person voice. This voice allows readers to “see” what the main character is thinking.

Octopus shook his head. This didn’t help at all.

In a third person story, the only way we know that the other characters are thinking is by listening to what they say.

Hermit Crab listened and sighed. “Well, well, an intruder. Who cares? Just move to another place. The sea is filled with opportunities.”