Write it Your Way is a fantastic writing workbook, but possibly better for children a little older than targeted.
One of the more unique aspects of this book is that it doesn’t just focus on writing, but also on reading. It offers samples from classic literature and explains different aspects of the writing. In part this makes a better reader, but this also informs a better writer. And of course, using Alice in Wonderland as one of the examples gets bonus points from me.
After learning a little about reading and what to look for, the book moves to a Journal Prompts section. Again, this is a wise move, as regular writing, and regular journal writing is essential for writers. The journal prompts tend to focus on things such as what kind of superhero power would you like to have, or what kind of wishes would you ask for from a genie. I felt that this was slanted slightly more to the young male audience, though I suspect that’s a pretty stereotyped response. I think I would have liked to have seen some prompts that were more ‘neutral’ in tone.
There is a section on writing poetry, which I find difficult to assess. I’m not much for poetry, myself, though I’ve written and published some. And I found it odd that Haiku’s were included as a writing assignment, though the definition of a Haiku was not. Okay…not entirely true… the books says that a haiku is:
Haiku is a Japanese style of poetry that consists of three main components, although they are not necessarily required: Haiku has three lines, with the syllable pattern 5-7-5. Haiku poems are usually about a contrast between two items. Many haiku poems have a seasonal reference.
This was a little confusing, even to me and I can’t imagine an elementary school student making sense of this. So…a Haiku does NOT have to have a syllable pattern of 5-7-5? And would a third or fourth grade student know what a ‘syllable pattern’ means?
I did like, however, the ‘opinion writing’ section. Not everyone will write fiction, but most successful adults will need to write some sort of reports or forms, and essays and memoirs are a very popular form of writing today. This was handled well.
The book is very colorful, and will certainly attract a younger reader’s attention, though some of the material inside will go over their heads. There is information on where/how to get more worksheets for free, from the internet, which is a nice addition and helps for teachers who may use this in class.
Looking for a good book? There are parts of this book, Write It Your Way, that I would find useful today, for myself, and parts of the book that I think could be beyond even the above average student’s ken, but altogether I think this is a book worth using, and libraries and teachers should really find it helpful.
I received a digital copy of this book from the publisher, through Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.
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Write It Your Way: A Workbook of Reading, Writing, and Literature
publisher: Dover Publications
paperback, 112 pages