This Is a Good Story

by Adam Lehrhaupt (Author) Magali Le Huche (Illustrator)

This Is a Good Story
Reading Level: K − 1st Grade
 From E.B. White Read Aloud author Adam Lehrhaupt comes an inspiring new picture book that takes apart the pieces of a story--hero, heroine, setting, conflict--and asks the reader to put the story back together again. This is a good story...or is it? As a child takes her pencil and begins to draw pictures for a story, the narrator takes her and the reader through a rollicking sequence of events in this classic tale of bad guys and townsfolk and dungeons. With simplicity and flair, Adam tells a story and then a meta-story of the parts of the story at once! This Is a Good Story is a wonderful primer on the parts of a story and an imaginative way to encourage creative thinking, writing, and storytelling.
Select format:
Hardcover
$19.99

School Library Journal

PreS-Gr 2—A young girl is drawing a story as an unseen narrator coaches her and takes her (and readers) through a classic tale of good vs. evil. First the hero and heroine are introduced, along with a discussion of where they live ("Setting"). Next comes a direction for where the narrative will go: "As with any Good Story, ours has a Conflict, a problem that needs solving. And it's a good thing, too, because without a Conflict there would be no Plot." They must save the townsfolk from an evil overlord. The narrator corrects and questions the young artist's choices along the way, encouraging her to "try again" as her hero and heroine get sidetracked and make choices that are not conducive to making a "good story." So, this is a story within a story about the parts of a story—are you confused? Well, potentially, young readers may be as well without the help of a teacher or imaginative adult. A "Friendly List of Words Used In This Book" is included at the back with accessible definitions of parts of a story. The colorful, whimsical, and childlike illustrations are reminiscent of Ed Emberley's, and are thus very kid friendly and appealing. VERDICT An imaginative and creative way of educating readers about effective storytelling and elements of style. Great for sharing one-on-one or in a language arts classroom.—Megan Kilgallen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn

Copyright 2017 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Review quotes

"An imaginative and creative way of educating readers about effective storytelling and elements of style. Great for sharing one-on-one or in a language arts classroom." — School Library Journal
Adam Lehrhaupt
Adam Lehrhaupt's first picture book, Warning: Do Not Open This Book!, received the E.B. White Read Aloud Honor Award, was an ALA Notable Book, and a HuffPost Notable Book. School Library Journal called it, "More fun than a barrel of monkeys." He is also the author of Please, Open This Book!, which was named a Wanda Gag Comstock Read Aloud Honor Book, and Idea Jar. Adam has traveled to six continents, performed on Broadway, and lived on a communal farm. He currently lives in the suburbs of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with his wife, sons, and two bizarre dogs. Visit him online at AdamLehrhaupt.com.

Pauline Gregory is a Devon-based illustrator, living by the sea. She specializes in children's literature. Following her passion, Pauline graduated from Plymouth College of Art with an honors BA in illustration.
Classification
Fiction
ISBN-13
9781481429351
Lexile Measure
330
Guided Reading Level
-
Publisher
Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
Publication date
September 12, 2017
Series
-
BISAC categories
JUV019000 - Juvenile Fiction | Humorous Stories
JUV047000 - Juvenile Fiction | Books & Libraries
JUV009000 - Juvenile Fiction | Concepts | General
Library of Congress categories
Storytelling
Authorship

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