Very short, creative stories pair with bold illustrations in this picture book that will inspire young readers to stretch their imaginations and write stories of their own.
"One day. . . I went to school. I came home. The end," says our storyteller—a girl with a busy imagination and a thirst for adventure. The art tells a fuller tale of calamity on the way to school and an unpredictably happy ending. Each illustration in this inventive picture book captures multiple, unexpected, and funny storylines as the narrator shares her shorter-than-ever stories, ending with "One day. . . I wanted to write a book." This book demonstrates a unique approach to writing and telling stories and is a delightful gift for children as well as for teachers seeking a mentor text for their classrooms.
A Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book
"A series of cleverly crafted tales involving a precocious girl doing ordinary things in a creative and energetic manner. Nine 'shorter-than-ever' stories of a dozen words or less, become considerably more sophisticated when readers delve into Koehler's dynamic cartoon illustrations.... Dotlich and Koehler are ideally teamed up and offer a genius method of encouraging narrative dialogue, as well as attention to text.... These very short stories are ideal for sharing, providing opportunities for word recognition and writing prompts, dialogic reading, and narrative discussion."—School Library Journal
"Retro, digitally created illustrations are clear and uncluttered, yet provide ample details that allow readers to fill in the gaps of these oh-so-brief tales....this entertaining collection shows that storytelling can be easily accomplished and can consist of more than just words."—Booklist
"Koehler builds each story around an interaction between the giant typography and the plot, so that a very simple recounting ('One day... I went to school. I came home. The End.') becomes far sillier and involved.... Koehler's drawings have an easygoing sense of whimsy as they highlight just how much can happen in the briefest of stories."—Publishers Weekly
"In this collection of stories that are both tiny and substantial, words, pictures, and book design dance with one another in a way only possible in a picture book.... (t)he text is graphically dynamic."—The Horn Book
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is the author of over a dozen poetry and picture books, including Grumbles from the Forest (co-authored with Jane Yolen) and Lemonade Sun. She's been a poetry advisor and contributing columnist for Creative Classroom and Teaching K-8, gives numerous poetry workshops, including Highlights Founders workshops, and speaks at national conferences, retreats, libraries, and schools to teachers, aspiring writers, and students of all ages. She lives near Indianapolis, Indiana.
View titles by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Fred Koehler wrote and illustrated his first book, titled Archie the Shoestring, at age seven, and has been doodling and writing stories ever since. His debut picture book, How to Cheer Up Dad, was inspired by a coffee-shop standoff with his two-year-old son. He lives with his two spirited kids in Lakeland, Florida. ilikefred.com
View titles by Fred Koehler
Very short, creative stories pair with bold illustrations in this picture book that will inspire young readers to stretch their imaginations and write stories of their own.
"One day. . . I went to school. I came home. The end," says our storyteller—a girl with a busy imagination and a thirst for adventure. The art tells a fuller tale of calamity on the way to school and an unpredictably happy ending. Each illustration in this inventive picture book captures multiple, unexpected, and funny storylines as the narrator shares her shorter-than-ever stories, ending with "One day. . . I wanted to write a book." This book demonstrates a unique approach to writing and telling stories and is a delightful gift for children as well as for teachers seeking a mentor text for their classrooms.
Reviews
A Boston Globe–Horn Book Honor Book
"A series of cleverly crafted tales involving a precocious girl doing ordinary things in a creative and energetic manner. Nine 'shorter-than-ever' stories of a dozen words or less, become considerably more sophisticated when readers delve into Koehler's dynamic cartoon illustrations.... Dotlich and Koehler are ideally teamed up and offer a genius method of encouraging narrative dialogue, as well as attention to text.... These very short stories are ideal for sharing, providing opportunities for word recognition and writing prompts, dialogic reading, and narrative discussion."—School Library Journal
"Retro, digitally created illustrations are clear and uncluttered, yet provide ample details that allow readers to fill in the gaps of these oh-so-brief tales....this entertaining collection shows that storytelling can be easily accomplished and can consist of more than just words."—Booklist
"Koehler builds each story around an interaction between the giant typography and the plot, so that a very simple recounting ('One day... I went to school. I came home. The End.') becomes far sillier and involved.... Koehler's drawings have an easygoing sense of whimsy as they highlight just how much can happen in the briefest of stories."—Publishers Weekly
"In this collection of stories that are both tiny and substantial, words, pictures, and book design dance with one another in a way only possible in a picture book.... (t)he text is graphically dynamic."—The Horn Book
Author
Rebecca Kai Dotlich is the author of over a dozen poetry and picture books, including Grumbles from the Forest (co-authored with Jane Yolen) and Lemonade Sun. She's been a poetry advisor and contributing columnist for Creative Classroom and Teaching K-8, gives numerous poetry workshops, including Highlights Founders workshops, and speaks at national conferences, retreats, libraries, and schools to teachers, aspiring writers, and students of all ages. She lives near Indianapolis, Indiana.
View titles by Rebecca Kai Dotlich
Fred Koehler wrote and illustrated his first book, titled Archie the Shoestring, at age seven, and has been doodling and writing stories ever since. His debut picture book, How to Cheer Up Dad, was inspired by a coffee-shop standoff with his two-year-old son. He lives with his two spirited kids in Lakeland, Florida. ilikefred.com
View titles by Fred Koehler
