Our Favorite Mentor Texts for How-To or Procedural Writing

  1. “How to Babysit a Grandma” by Jean Reagan: This delightful book provides step-by-step instructions for a child on how to babysit their grandma. It is a perfect mentor text for teaching children how to write procedural texts.
  2. “How to Make a Bed” by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor: This book breaks down the process of making a bed into easy-to-follow steps. It is a great mentor text for teaching young children how to write clear and concise procedural texts.
  3. “How to Code a Sandcastle” by Josh Funk: This book combines coding concepts with the steps involved in building a sandcastle. It is an engaging mentor text for teaching older children how to write procedural texts with a technological twist.
  4. “How to Catch a Star” by Oliver Jeffers: This charming book takes readers through the steps of catching a star and encourages them to use their imagination. It is a wonderful mentor text for teaching children how to write procedural texts that incorporate creativity.
  5. “How to Draw a Unicorn” by Rae Hermann: This book provides simple instructions on how to draw a unicorn in a step-by-step format. It is an excellent mentor text for teaching children how to write procedural texts in the form of drawing tutorials.

These mentor texts offer valuable examples of how to write procedural texts and can serve as a source of inspiration for students learning the genre. By studying these texts, students can learn how to write clear instructions, organize their writing effectively, and engage their readers.