Learn aloud picture books and search for simile examples and metaphor examples to find out how writers use figurative language to make writing lovely and convey which means.
Use these favourite mentor texts to point out writers write utilizing similes and metaphors in their very own writing. You’ll love these!
Read this article to learn how to use mentor texts with readers and writers.
Image Books to Train Simile Examples and Metaphor Examples
Quiet is Strength written by Mary Rand Hess, illustrated by Dow Phumiruk
In a world that values extroversion, this mild guide shares the various methods to worth being quiet. “Quiet is…big clouds the form of thriller…a prayer behind closed eyes.“
Being Edie Is Hard Today by Ben Brashares and Elizabeth Bergeland
Edie is having a tough day. She imagines she’s a bat hiding the other way up in her cubby or a quick and fierce cheetah or possibly a chameleon sitting so nobody can see her. “However inside, she felt like a unadorned mole rat.” Edie shares her tears and fears along with her mother. And that makes all the things really feel higher.
Black is a Rainbow Color by Angela Pleasure, illustrated by Ekua Holmes
A bit of lady sits sadly on her porch steps occupied with the colours of the rainbow and the way black isn’t within the rainbow. Poignant, lyrical metaphors and luminous illustrations inform readers what the lady thinks of with black — a crayon, a feather, braids, rhythm, blues, trains, goals, and a lot extra. “Black is the colour of ink staining web page. Black is the masks that shelters his rage. Black are the birds in cages that sing– Black is a coloration. Black is a tradition.// …My coloration is Black.” Her narration celebrates black tradition, exhibiting satisfaction and context and historical past. She ends with the assertion that in her field of crayons, black is a rainbow, too.
Fry Bread: A Native American Family Story by Kevin Noble Maillard, illustrated by Juana Martinez-Neal
This superbly written gem celebrates Native American tradition by means of the lens of the meals Fry Bread. The repetitive textual content begins every two-page unfold, “Fry bread is…” then descriptive, lyrical verse follows every assertion, elaborating on the which means. “Fry bread is sound / The skillet clangs on the range / The hearth blazes from under / Drop the dough within the skillet / The bubbles sizzle and pop.” This wealthy textual content paired with evocative illustrations culminates in a beautiful guide that can present kids Native American traditions of household, meals, and love.
A Place Inside of Me by Zetta Elliott, illustrated by Noa Denmon
A black boy expresses a myriad of emotions that wait inside him for him to really feel each. Pleasure that glows vibrant and heat because the solar when he’s enjoying basketball, sorrow that’s chilly & darkish when he sees the information a few police taking pictures, worry that stalks him and “seeps like a poison into my goals”. He expresses his anger, starvation, satisfaction, hope, love, and compassion in lyrical phrases and illuminating illustrations. That is a vital image guide crammed with metaphor examples and simile examples that can make it easier to begin conversations about racial injustice, feelings, and what it’s prefer to be black within the U.S.
Owl Moon by Jane Yolen, illustrated by John Schoenherr
Lyrical, evocative language captures a quiet winter night when the little lady and her Pa trek by means of the woods to search out owls.
I Love You Like Yellow by Andrea Beaty, illustrated by Vashti Harrison
Stunning, lyrical, and so very candy, this love story to a toddler. It’s meant to be learn aloud to the youngsters in your life. “Like sunny. Like shady. Like gloomy. Like grey. From the breaking of daybreak until the tip of the day.” Numerous simile examples!
My Rotten Red Headed Older Brother by Patricia Polacco
Based mostly on Patricia’s personal life, she shares all about her rivalry along with her annoying brother and the turning level that modified all the things between them. “He had orange hair that was like wire; he was lined in freckles and appeared like a weasel with glasses.“
Honey by David Ezra Stein
I really like the fantastic phrases, smilies, and descriptions Stein makes use of all through this new image guide leaves readers with the satisfaction of savoring life’s treasured moments. The language pops with sweetness, similar to the honey there bear so anxiously awaits. The world round bear. “spicy, fragrant, glowing with daylight“, reminds him of honey. however it’s too quickly and he should wait.”Clouds cracked and grumbled in a heavy sky.” Till lastly, he hears a buzz — and meaning honey!
The Whole Wide World and Me by Toni Yuly
A bit of lady compares herself utilizing easy textual content (with just a few phrases per web page) to the pure world round her. She is part of the world similar to a flower in a subject. One of the best half about this guide is the daring illustrations — they’re completely charming. The similes are apparent, making this a great guide selection for youthful kids simply studying about similes and metaphors.
Love by Matt de la Peña, illustrated by Loren Lengthy
Every web page illustrates and describes completely different elements of affection. “Love, too, is the odor of crashing waves…” or “And it’s love in every deep crease of your grandfather’s face as he lowers himself onto an overturned bucket to fish.” Books like this that don’t have a storyline typically work effectively within the classroom for mentor textual content and make lovely reward books for commencement or different events. This guide’s suave metaphor examples present how metaphor conveys which means in a novel manner.
My Hair is a Garden by Cozbi A. Caberera
A neighbor helps the little lady comb her hair on this sweet story about accepting your distinctive magnificence similar to the vegetation in a backyard who’re distinctive, lovely, and require cultivation. “My hair is a backyard. And like each good backyard, it should be/cared for, day-after-day.“
I Am the Storm by Jane Yolen, illustrated by Heidi E. Y. Stemple
When there may be unhealthy climate like a twister, a blizzard, a forest hearth, and a hurricane, the lady shares what she does along with her household that feels protected and comforting. Then, after it stops, because it at all times does, the lady and her household do one thing useful like decide up or sort things. The predictable textual content construction additionally feels reassuring. The guide ends with kids discovering similarities between themselves and the climate. “I’m loud just like the twister. I’m wild just like the blizzard. I’m sizzling like the hearth. I’m fierce just like the hurricane. I’m the storm.” METAPHORS and SIMILIES!
Magnificent Homespun Brown: A Celebration by Samara Cole Doyon, illustrated by Kaylani Juanita
Lyrical, figurative language (crammed with similes, personification, and vivid imagery) not solely celebrates individuals of coloration residing life totally however transports readers into scenes wealthy with sensory imagery. “Deep, secret brown. Just like the subtly churning river currents playfully beckoning me by means of my grandmother’s kitchen window, winding steadily previous banks of tall grass and wild rose buses.” Or “Feathery brown. Just like the jagged shadows of hemlock branches thrown over me and Daddy on a delicate mountain hike.”
Dangerously Ever After by Dashka Slater, illustrated by Valeria Decampo
Princess Amanita loves harmful issues — daggers, scorpions, and vegetation with spikes. When Prince Florian slices grapes that blow up a wheelbarrow, he apologizes with roses. In fact, Amanita solely likes the thorns. It’s a terrific story a few not-your-ordinary princess who grows noses as an alternative of roses and turns into greatest pals with Prince Florian. “It smelled like sweet and lemons and cloves. It smelled like sleeping within the solar and staying up late for a celebration.”
Saturdays and Teacakes by Lester L. Laminack, illustrated by Chris Soentpiet
Saturdays are the times the boy pedals to his Mammaw’s home to go the time cooking and consuming. Laminack makes use of all of the senses in his vivid imagery. “This was the place my tire gave up their buzzing on the pavement and started the crunching of gravel. Simply earlier than reaching Mammaw’s again porch, I slammed on my brakes, sending a bathe of tiny pebbles into her flowers.” Not solely is the language use beautiful however the story exhibits a loving relationship between boy and grandmother.
My Heart by Corinna Luyken
Impactful black, grey, and yellow illustrations instantly seize your consideration. Easy textual content personifies the feelings of the guts. Collectively they create a deeply poignant guide that begs to be mentioned. “My coronary heart is a window. My coronary heart is a slide. My coronary heart will be closed…or opened up broad.” Ask your youngsters what they assume this implies. Ask what they might say about their very own hearts. Use this guide as a mentor textual content for finding metaphor examples and making inferences.
How to Solve a Problem: The Rise (and Falls) of a Rock-Climbing Champion by Ashima Shiraishi, illustrated by Yao Xiao
Written by one of many world’s youngest and greatest climbers, she shares her experiences with climbing tough “issues” which is what climbers name the boulders that they climb. This personal narrative focuses on a growth mindset of perseverance and dealing with challenges like tough climbs with grit. “One half was arched like a query mark, one other half caught out like my father’s elbow in a photograph I’ve seen of him dancing…”
The Chicken-Chasing Queen of Lamar County by Janice N. Harrington, illustrated by Shelley Jackson
This younger lady loves chasing chickens when Huge Mama isn’t wanting, particularly her favourite, Miss Hen, who’s as “plump as a Sunday purse.” (Simile instance.) However that hen is simply too quick. Ultimately, she finds Miss Hen sitting on her nest and, in a pleasant character arc, decides not to catch her.
Seashells More Than a Home by Melissa Stewart, illustrated by Sarah S. Brannen
Informative and exquisite, this image guide will make you lengthy to go to the seashore to search out your individual seashells. Written in dual-layered figurative language textual content, readers will be taught the fundamentals of shells within the first layer of larger textual content dimension — “Seashells can pry like a crowbar . . . or bore holes like a drill bit. // Seashells can flit and flitter like a butterfly . . . or curl up tight like an armadillo.” Secondary textual content elaborates on the precise sorts of shells.
Picture the Sky by Barbara Reid
One of the best factor about this guide is the three-dimensional, eye-catching paintings. However the textual content can also be spectacular — with how the author personifies the sky and offers readers metaphors that make us see the sky in a different way.
I Am Peace A Book of Mindfulness by Susan Verde, illustrated by Peter H. Reynolds
That is the objective — to really feel the bottom, take a deep breath, to be nonetheless, to say what you are feeling, and so forth. Studying this guide exhibits youngsters what mindfulness is. It actually is peace. Reynolds’ whimsical watercolor illustrations make the ideas visually interesting and accessible.
Wilfrid Gordon MacDonald Partridge by Mem Fox, illustrated by Julie Vivas
I really like this story a lot — and browse it aloud often in my classroom. This little boy exemplifies kindness! He learns his good friend, “Miss Nancy,” is dropping her reminiscence. He tries to determine what a reminiscence is and the way he may also help her keep in mind.
I Will Fight Monsters for You by Santi Balmes, illustrated by Lyona
This intelligent parallel story of a younger lady (and a younger monster) who’re each frightened to sleep due to the upside-down world of monsters (and people) beneath and above their beds. Fortunately, dads will battle monsters for his or her youngsters and so they give good recommendation: “the scale of the monsters depends upon how scared you’re. In the event you really feel very courageous, the monster will shrink and run away” and “worry is elastic, like bubble gum. As you develop braver, worry shrinks smaller and smaller till it disappears.”
Crescent Moons and Pointed Minarets: A Muslim Book of Shapes by Hen Khan, illustrated by Mehrdokht Amini
Lavish, richly coloured illustrations instantly draw me into this lovely guide of shapes from an Islamic perspective. “Hexagon is a tile, / daring and vibrant, / painted with an ayah / I like to recite.” Study in regards to the geometric shapes like circles, squares, and octagons from the every day life and structure of somebody who’s Muslim.
How Do You Feel? by Rebecca Bender
It is a literal (tactile) emotions guide with a number of lovely similes. Toad feels bumpy just like the trunk of a gnarly tree. Duckling feels fuzzy like tall grass reaching for the solar. Rabbit feels silky like an internet rigorously spun.
Wild Feelings by David Milgrim
Do you ever really feel . . . ? asks this guide. Do you are feeling as cussed as a mule? as hen as a hen? as daffy as a duck? Easy illustrations and metaphorical textual content present that everybody feels completely different emotions — and all are okay.
Green on Inexperienced by Dianne White, illustrated by Felicita Sala
Sturdy figurative language and sensory descriptions in regards to the colours and seasons make this not only a lovely studying expertise however a great mentor textual content for younger writing. Sparse, lyrical language with evocative illustrations seize the colours of the seasons. “Brown the squirrel. Brown the mouse. Brown the timber round our home.” Completely beautiful.
Learn these beautiful image books to search out simile examples and metaphor examples! They’re full of gorgeous imagery and can assist your rising writers study utilizing figurative language.
Then go forth and write!
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