Using a Picture Book Mentor Text Journal

​Here at the Rhyme Doctors, we’re big fans of mentor texts. Studying published picture books while working on your own picture book is a great way to gain all sorts of insights, from fresh ways to approach a topic to unexpected structural strategies. That’s why we suggest specific mentor texts to clients. And it’s why we use mentor texts ALL THE TIME while writing our own picture books.

​I take home stacks of picture books every time I visit my local library. I never know when I’ll come across a technique or topic that might be helpful to a client or myself. But sometimes, a book I read today won’t be relevant as a mentor text for months or even years. So how do I recall those books when they do become applicable? I use a MENTOR TEXT JOURNAL! It’s really more of a spreadsheet than a journal, but it serves as a convenient place for me to keep track of the salient qualities of picture books I’ve read.

​​You’ll notice when you click on the link that I’ve created a series of columns for the information I think is most helpful to note. I’ll explain my reasoning for the some of the columns I’ve chosen to include.

I record the universal theme of each book because discovering the theme or “heart” of your story is one of the most challenging but most important aspects of creating a picture book. I find that articulating the themes of different books helps me better explain my own intended book themes.

I also like to note the structure. Is the book a chronological narrative, a list, compare/contrast, zoom in/zoom out, a combination? Pinpointing structures gives me a host of options when I’m looking for the perfect structure for my own book.

​I keep track of the various layers in each book. (For more on the  importance of layers in picture books, see THIS RHYME DOCTORS POST.) I’m always on the lookout for a unique combination of topics and approaches. This column provides me with a quick snapshot of ideas.

I like to type out the words on the first and last page of each book. I find this incredibly insightful for revealing patterns, both within a book and among several books.
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Since I mostly write nonfiction, I also keep track of which books have sidebars and what’s happening with the backmatter. For some nonfiction picture books with strong back matter, see THIS RHYME DOCTORS POST.)

Do I record every picture book I read? No! Who has the time? But I do try to keep track of the ones that I find particularly compelling. And in the spirit of “the more you read, the more you know,” I give myself the goal of recording at least 50 picture books a year.

I hope you find my MENTOR TEXT JOURNAL helpful as you attempt to keep track of your own library haul. Feel free to adapt the columns to your suit your own needs. I think you’ll find that the act of recording the elements of the picture books you read makes you a better observer. It also helps you better internalize the different techniques you notice.

Happy reading and recording, everyone!  

-Rhyme Doctor Michelle Schaub