This page is to share the suggested list of slice of life texts discussed in class and to provide a space for us to add to this list collaboratively.  *Please add your first and last name and the title and author of your text with your post. Please also add a picture if available and a hyperlink to the page where we could order the book online if we choose to.

 

Slice of Life Writing Text Set

 

Picture Books

 

Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell

Recommended by Bonnie Cumbo

 

Molly Lou Melon's Grandma told her "Walk as proudly as you can and the world will look up to you".  Molly Lou Melon takes this advice to heart and even though she is tiny, and has buck teeth, she is as confident as the very words that her grandmother told her.  Even when she moves to a new school she works through the bullying that the other kids do because she feels confident about who she is.  I'm sure her grandmother's powerful words had a lot to do with that.  What a wondeful message to share with our young people.  In the mean time, the author writes with organization and powerful voice.  In the end, Molly Lou writes a letter to her Grandma telling her that everything is okay.  The author is including a "mode" within her genre of writing.  This text would also be excllent for studying point of view.  The author has even included some examples of onomatopoeia. 

 

 

                        A Very Big Bunny by Marisabina Russo

Recommended by Crystal Weathers  When I read about this book I thought about the students who don't fit in. There is always one. One that wonders around the playground with no one to play with. One that sits with the children at lunch but never contributes to the conversation.  A Very Big Bunny is the tale of Amelia, a bunny who is large for her age and is not accepted by her fellow classmates. Amelia is isolated until a new bunny comes into the class that is smaller than the other bunnies. Amelia helps her become comfortable in her own skin and helps herself as well.

 

 

 Love You Forever by ~ Robert N. Munsch (Author), Sheila McGraw (Illustrator)

 

Recommended by Cathy Rode

I absolutely love this book. I purchased this book when my daughter was about two years old....She is 14 now!  This book tells about how a child grows and changes with their personality and how the mother will take care of that child all through his life span.  The tear-jerker ends with the mom has to be taken care in her later years by the son. It is written like a song with a rythmic tone.  It also would be great to use as tool to teach repetition and mood of an author's craft.

 

 

 

  When I am Old with You by Angela Johnson

Recommended by Cammie Price

This is a wonderful relationship story between a young boy and his grandfather. The boy goes through the story telling his grandaddy all the things they will do when he grows old with him. They will eat breakfast on the porch, fish beside the pond, and enjoying rocking in their chairs. As long as grandaddy is close by, the grandsom dreams big out loud. This is a feel good story that anyone with grandparents could relate to. 

 

 

 

Recommended by Martha Vest

 

This is the dearest book!  I was given this book when we adopted our third son and I fell in love with it.  Before he could understand, I read it to him and my other boys and I choked up each time.  A dedicated mom takes care of her child through his life stages...but in the end the son cares for her.  Such a good life lesson and written well with rhyme and repetition.

 

Someday by Alison McGhee

Recommended by Lindsay Blanton.  When I saw some other books on here for slice of life I had to add this one.  I hope this qualifies!  Someone gave me this book and ever since then it has become a favorite! LOVE this book!!  I was first attacted to it because it has the same illustrator as Ish and The Dot and those books are awesome as well.  This is a book about having a child (little girl really) and what the mom would tell her as she grows.  Dawn,  you must get it if you don't have it!  Grab some tissues! 

 

In My Mama's Kitchen by Jerdine Nolen

 

Recommeded by Kimberly Barnette.  This book has several little memories of different times in the kitchen. The setting of this book is in the kitchen. It is beautifully written, had sevearl examples figurative language: metaphors, imagery, and even diaglogue.  You could use this book in teacing basically most geners.  There are times were you remember a time in your kitchen or for me in my grandma's kitchen.

Snow Day by Lester Laminack

Recommended by Dawn Mitchell.  This is a wonderful text that definitely fits into the slice of life genre because the book is about the anticipation of a snow day home from school.  The book also utlilizes a surprise ending that would be great in a mini-lesson on endings.

 

Roller Coaster by Marla Frazee

Recommended by: Amber Pitts    I used this book with my students when we talked about taking a "small moment" and stretching it out over a lot of pages. I never even knew it was considered slice of life! It's about a first ride on a roller coaster and the story is written to be read just like you're on the ride. The text moves in different ways and she uses punctuation to help you slow down or speed up your reading. My students enjoyed this book because of great illustrations and the surprise ending. I think this is a great book that could cover many units of study!!

 

We Had a Picnic This Sunday Past by Jacqueline Woodson

 

The Hello, Goodbye Window by Norton Juster

Recommended by Joan Green.  This book is so filled with love, it practically oozes with it!  The window in the grandparents' kitchen is full of possibilities.  It is the portal that brings wonderings into the everyday life of a family.  This story is a picture of the love between grandparents and children.  I can only wish that every child has someone to love them the way this child does.

 

Come On, Rain! by Karen Hesse

Recommended by Kim Sutherland. This book is a great source to teach strong word choices, voice, dialogue and rich descriptions. The story is about a community that is desperately anticipating rain and the children can't wait to get out and play in it.  For example, "Got you some tea, Mamma," I say, pulling her inside the house." Mamma sinks onto a kitchen chair and sweeps off her hat. Sweat trickles down her neck and wets the front of her dress and under her arms.   Mamma presses the ice-chilled glass against her skin.  "Rain's coming, Mamma," I say.  This book reminds me of how I loved to play out in the rain too!

Nappy Hair by Carolivia Herron

 

I Loved You Before You Were Born by Anne Bowen

 

Quinito, Day and Night/Quinito, dia y  noche by Ina Cumpiano

 

Grandad Bill's Song by Jane Yolen

 

God Gave Us You by Lisa Tawn Bergren

Recommended by: Heather Yordy

A very sweet story that answers the age-old question - "Where did I come from?"  A great story that tells children how loved and precious they are, both to God and to the parents.  This is one of several books that share similar craft.

 

 

 My Father the Dog by Elizabeth Bluemie

Recommended by Sarah Stephanoff. This book is the hysterical comparison a girl is making between her dad and her family dog. It is a great example of slice of life writing because it is just what the girl notices about the world around her. Students will love it because it is so funny and it is very easy to imitate.

 

    Just Like My Dad by David Melling

 

Recommeded by Heather Yordy.  I stumbled upon this and "Just Like My Mom" by the same author on sale at Barnes & Noble and knew they would fit perfectly here!  They are sweet stories of a young cub looking at his parents and seeing sweet characteristics that he's like now and as he hopes to be one day.  Very sweet stories!

 

Magazines and Newspapers

 

Skirt!

 

 

 

 belle

Recomended by Renee Phillips Like many local magazines, belle is a good free source for slice of life articles as well as many other kinds.

 

Anna Quindlen,  Newsweek, columnist

 

Pam Stone Herald Journal and Go Upstate.-Suggested by Kim Wells- Stone is a featured essayist in SHJ and online publication. The Herald Journal article was re-titled "A youthful moonlit morning ride" (I like this better than the title "Sled,snow bring out kid in me" on Goupstate.

 

Craig Wilson, USA today columnist

Recommended by Sarah Stephanoff. After hearing Katie Wood Ray talk about and read some of Craig Wilson's columns, I must admit he is quite funny observer of life and the world around him. I would recommend his columns for 5th grade and up. His columns are archived online so you can find many examples and pick and choose which ones would be best for your students.

 

Bill Heavey

Recommended by Lori Milan

Heavey writes for Field and Stream Magazine. I have been asking my students and fellow teachers to bring in  magazines to use in my classroom and just happened to look at the last page of a Field and Stream. I googled Bill Heavey and actually seemed to find a lot from him. His Slice of Life is about hunting and such, but the first one I read could be applied to anyone. Middle School boys would definitely get into his writing.

 

Mitch Album, Detroit Free Press columnist

 

Good Housekeeping

Recommended Cammie Price

I love getting my hands on my mom's Good Housekeeping magazines. They often have "feel good" stories about families doing various things. In the February issue, I read an article titled "The Adventure Mom." It was about a mom staying busy with her family and planning spring break and vacations for this coming summer. She enjoyed hiking and said hiking was good for her to burn calories and stress.  I enjoy these types of articles and am able to relate to so many of them. Very practical writing that is real world.

 

 

Dave Barry, Miami Herald columnist

Recommended by Joan Green

WARNING!!!  Do not follow this link and begin reading Dave Barry's articles!  Once you start, it is impossible to stop.  He is so hilarious.  I laughed until I cried when I read his article about how cow flatulence is causing global warming, but kangaroo flatulence is not.  Hmmmm...a case for the scientists.  Then there's another one about the fact that "swingers" (yeah, those people) actually have their own convention.  Dave Barry took his wife to one, along with an insurance salesman (you'll have to read it to understand why) for journalistic research.  I cannot begin to tell you how funny this article was.  Whenever I have a bad day, I know exactly what to do to make myself feel better...read some Dave Barry!

 

William Safire, New York Times columnist

 

Roger Rosenblatt, New York Times columnist

 

Susan Reinhardt, Asheville Citizen-Times columnist

 

Leonard Pitts Miami Herald columnist

Recommended by Renee Phillips

This is one of Katie Wood Rays favorite columnist and mine too since this summer.  He would be good to use with older students as well as adults. I used some of his articles with adults in a book club.

 

 

March 2010 issue

 

Recommended by: April Camp 

"Passing the Trowel" brought so many  memories back of my mom and I in the past and in the present. By looking at an old picture the author was able to being back the memories of growing a garden and learning from her mother and family members. It was a great story that brings you right in and makes you feel like you are back home.

 

Anthologized Collections

 

Family:  The Ties That Bind and Gag by Erma Bombeck

 

 

 

Guideposts: Daily Inspirational Stories of Real Life by Amber McDonald

Guidepost is a collection of stories from ordinary everyday people that is used to inspire us! Stories from the book is from Words of Wisdom to Words of Faith/Religion. A great example of real people writing about real things.  

 

Further Still by Beth Moore

Recommended by: Heather Yordy

Oh how I'm hoping this is considered slice of life!  It's a collection of poetry and short stories that cover everything from childhood stories to being a mother and so many things in between.  Some of the stories are for biblical application and others are just designed to inspire the reader or encourage the reader who may be struggling. 

 

Teaching Day by Day by Donald Graves

Recommended by Lindsay Blanton.  I discovered this book a couple of years ago and thought about it right away for our slice of life suggestions.  I LOVE this book!  I have a soft place for inspirational stories for teachers and this is THAT book!  Donald Graves is so inspiring anyway as a writer and to have a book about different teaching experiences is so powerful.  I use these stories a lot with the teachers at my school.  Sometimes we just discuss the issues and sometimes the stories become a writing piece for inspiration and teachers write the greatest stories, which makes me think of slice of life. 

 

Smithsonian Magazine Recommended by Kimberly Trott

If you like this magizine I like the Letters section, Wild Things, and Around the mall. 

 

where i'm from, where poems come from by George Ella Lyon Recommended by Kimberly Trott.  This book was actually recommended by another teacher.  If you flip through this book you will find wonderful spice of life poems.  They are written using alot of different craft techniques.  There are bold, small, sideways, backwards, cursive, print, and sideway words also there are images and many others versions of poems. 

the Milestone project Recommended by Kimberly Trott

This book is a wonderful collection of students experiences, from birthdays, playtime, favorite animals, lossing a tooth, to the first days of school are all captured in students writings. 

 

Where the Heart Is Recommended by Amber McDonald

I hope this is slice of life. I love this book. It is an account of a young girl who has lots of hard luck with the # 7's. Everything that happens to her revolves around 7's. It is an Oprah Book Club and one that I could read for time after time! A feel good book!