Little Red Writing by Joan Holub (Preschool, School Age)
This fractured fairy tale is filled with wordplay and puns while also teaching story structure. We might think we know what happens in this tale, but we’d better make sure to stay on the story path, so we don’t get lost. ▸ Get it at the Library
A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen (Preschool)
While watching his big sister write stories, a young boy wishes he could write too. He knows his letters, but not many words. His sister encourages him to start with a letter, as “Every story starts with a single word and every word starts with a single letter.” This book reminds us that stories are available for everyone to tell and can encourage pre-readers to try writing stories of their own. ▸ Get it at the Library
Claymates by Dev Patty (Toddler, Preschool)
After their artist leaves, two blobs of clay start molding themselves into different shapes, limited only by the amount of clay they have and their imaginations. The two continue to change into different forms until they hear the artist coming. Will they have time to change themselves back? Writing skills start developing in the fine motor muscles of the hands and sculpting with clay and play dough is a great way to exercise them.▸ Get it at the Library
How to Write a Story by Kate Messner (Preschool)
This book cleverly takes children through the writing process in a clear and engaging way, starting from searching for inspiration all the way through searching for a solution. Read along as a young girl creates an imaginative story and maybe get inspired to write your own.▸ Get it at the Library
Perfect by Max Amato (Toddler, Preschool)
A perfect, pink eraser works hard to keep the pages of his book pristine and free of any kind of marks. But a problem pencil soon arrives and puts eraser in a predicament. Pencil likes to make swirls and smudges everywhere and eraser simply cannot have that. As their battle continues and eraser begins to tire, he realizes that he can make his own designs too.▸ Get it at the Library
Sincerely Emerson: A Girl, Her Letter, and the Helpers All Around by Emerson Weber (Preschool)
Based on a true story, this book follows an eleven-year-old girl as she writes a letter of thanks to her postal carrier, Doug, and creates a nationwide sensation and a recognition for all the essential helpers that work behind the scenes every day. ▸ Get it at the Library
These resources were recommended by Samantha Blanquart, an Early Literacy Outreach Librarian with the Anchorage Public Library. Visit their website for more info about early literacy or to check out one of their reading kits for young children.
