Writer's Toolbox: Learn How to Write Letters, Fairy Tales, Scary Stories, Journals, Poems, and Reports

by Nancy Loewen, Todd Ouren (Illustrator), Christopher Lyles (Illustrator)

Turn readers into writers. Using a single or small number of genre-specific works, this new series explores the tools all beginning writers need. Each title includes a review list of key concepts, at least four exercises for getting started, and numerous writing tips.

Genres: Education, Writing

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

About the author

Nancy Loewen grew up on a farm in southwestern Minnesota, surrounded by library books and cats. She's published more than 140 books for children. FOUR TO THE POLE (co-authored with polar explorer Ann Bancroft) and THE LAST DAY OF KINDERGARTEN were Minnesota Book Award finalists. Her WRITER'S TOOLBOX series received a Distinguished Achievement Award from the Association of Educational Publishers.

Nancy lives in Saint Paul and has an MFA in Creative Writing from Hamline University. She has two adult children and a cat who sometimes bites her knees under the table as she writes.

Reviews

[Panda Incognito · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book shares solid, basic information for elementary-aged children who are interested in writing, or who need to learn about writing for homework help. I like that the part about journaling shows a boy keeping a journal.

Parents of sensitive kids should know that the example scary story in this book is terrifying, especially because of its illustrations. It would have definitely given me nightmares when I was a kid.