Learning from Picture Books – How to Wash A Woolly Mammoth

I always enjoy stories that try to show me how to do the impossible! (Kind of like washing your dog after it runs into a skunk, which I had to do earlier this summer.) Anyway, this book is a lot of fun and a good one to use with students to explain how to write step by step instructions in a fun way.

Summary from Amazon:

Things can get a bit messy when you try to wash a woolly mammoth. Follow this step-by-step guide to successfully clean up your hairy friend. Be forewarned! A mammoth's tummy is terribly tickly. 

Young readers and parents alike will appreciate this hilarious bath time adventure.

How to Wash a Woolly Mammoth was written by Michelle Robinson and illustrated by Kate Hindley, published by Henry Holt and Company, 2014.

My Thoughts as a Writer:

This story has a fun concept that captured my attention. It’s written as a series of steps, an interesting story structure to try if you’re wanting a new approach to story writing. The illustrations add so much humor and life to the text, especially the expressions on the mammoth’s face.

The author, Michelle Robinson, has an interesting and useful Ten Minute Story Making Masterclass. 

My Thoughts as a Teacher:

The step by step instruction format is a great model for young writers who are learning to write procedures. I’d love to discuss the character’s creativity and ingenuity in problem-solving in a group discussion, talking about going beyond the obvious, and how sometimes you need to try more than one idea or be persistent to get something to work.

I also enjoyed the different washing products illustrated inside the front cover. They could be used as a model for an art or media activity. And I liked the way the illustrations were labeled Fig. and shown on graph paper, demonstrating scientific illustration.  

Themes: persistence, planning, following steps, problem-solving

Ages: 3 – 7

Grades: preschool – grade 2

Follow-Up Activities:

Create a plan for how to do something using pictures and labels.

Brainstorm a list of different ideas for how to get a mammoth down from a tree and write a different ending for the story. 

Watch the video with Michelle Robinson to learn how an author uses a "web" to brainstorm story ideas, and give it a try.

Brainstorming Tip: Keep the Writing Flowing

I hate being stuck. Sometimes, I get to a point in my story where nothing is happening. The words I'm writing aren't advancing the story. The story itself seems like the worst thing I've ever written. And the plot has worked itself into a giant tangled mess before I've even gotten to the good parts.

A lot of the writing advice I read says that when this happens, the best thing is to put the story aside for a while and do something else. For me, that can lead to even more time away from the story. You know the saying: "Out of sight, out of mind." After all, there is Christmas baking to do.

Instead of taking a break, I like to think of being stuck as a sign that I need to go back and do some more thinking. There's a reason the writing isn't flowing. It's probably because I took a wrong turn somewhere, and wrote something that sabotaged my story.

What often works for me is to revisit my outline or short summary and rewrite it. First I read through it, finding places where I can ask "Why?" This reminds me of my character's goals and what she wants. Or gets me thinking about different ways to continue on the story path.

The more writing I do, the more important it's becoming to make sure the story is all about what my character wants and how she's going to get it.

Goal Update:

In case you're wondering, here's what I accomplished during November:

1) I came up with 30 ideas for PiBoIdMo (Picture Book Idea Month), and ended up writing a picture book draft for one idea that wouldn't let go

2) I wrote 10,000 words in my "mini-NaNo" where I was focusing on my new project (Novel # 5). I'm pleased with how much I accomplished, even though I know I'll need to do some serious rewriting.

How did you do? Did you get something accomplished in November?