If You Want to Write a Story

PreS-Gr 2–A little mouse spins a tale of big adventure in this uplifting picture book geared toward young aspiring authors. Mack takes readers through the process of developing an idea into a story as the mouse imagines their green rabbit toy hopping into the backyard and launching an epic outer space journey filled with peril and triumph. The text and illustrations deftly showcase the essential elements of story structure: when the text suggests that every story should have a problem, a mysterious creature with a mechanical arm appears and plucks the green rabbit away from the mouse. The gently rounded illustrations are expressive and appealing, arranged in easy-to-follow layouts reminiscent of a graphic novel. While the narrative serves as an effective guide to storytelling techniques, its themes also offer an affirmative message about facing any kind of adversity with determination and bravery. This universal message of encouragement is sure to resonate with readers whether or not they have an interest in writing.