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SIX TRAITS WRITING WORKSHOP Ideas Organization Word Choice Sentence Fluency Voice Conventions THE TRAIT OF WORD CHOICE Creating Mental Pictures Alliteration Metaphors Similes Personification Onamotopopiea Poetic Language Verbs Every word in a picture book must be precise. The text is condensed, but not dense. It must be rich and create strong mental images in the reader's mind. A good story is filled with strong sensory images and uses figurative language effectively. The books listed here are fine examples of word choice. Creating mental pictures in the mind of the reader is the writer's art, and using sensory images are the tools. Children need to learn how to open up their senses and create word pictures using their senses. Poetry is one way to explore sense, and the use of picture books that use lots of sensory images is another model to follow.
Alliteration is a poetic device that can be used in all types of writing. Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds of several words in a group.
Metaphors is the stuff that life is made of. Metaphors make comparisons. Poetry is one place to search for examples of metaphors. The picture books listed here have outstanding metaphors to use as modeled examples.
Similes compare two things using "like" or "as".
Personification brings inanimate objects to life. Stories with animals or toys talking are examples of personification, but personification at its best is when the writer gives "human-like" qualities to objects that seems to give the objects a life of their own. For example: "The grandmother oak sheltered the children beneath her gown of leaves and wrapped them in her protective arms." An oak tree is not a grandmother, nor does it wear a gown or have arms. These are qualities and features of a human being.
Onomatopoeia are words that make noise like "crunch" and "munch" and "vroom" and "boom". Noisy words are fun to use in writing. Kids love them and they can really help add new dimensions to their pieces.
Sometimes called "mood pieces" or "quiet books," these picture books use poetic language and end to have beautiful rhythm and pace, flowing voice, and poetry-like words. Picture books with poetic language are lovely to read and soothing to listen to.
Verbs are the powerhouse of voice. Verbs are active. They are action. They take writing from passive to active. A strong verb punches writing up and gives it strength. This list is of picture books that uses verbs effectively.
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