You can write a story! A story-writing recipe for kids

Gr 2-4-Bullard takes a clever approach to teaching children the basic steps in story composition by treating the process as a cooking exercise. She begins with the "basic ingredients" of character, setting, and action, and then takes readers through the various ways they can add "flavorings" to their stories, including "spicy settings," "tempting titles," and the all-important "taste test" (revising). Each chapter includes a brainstorming exercise as well as a "practice with me" section. The clear, engaging text speaks directly to a child-"Tip: Write the kind of story that you would most like to read." Melmon's cartoon illustrations are bright, amusing, and strategically placed to add interest without being distracting. Budding authors will enjoy this book on their own, and it will be a boon to teachers or librarians trying to generate interest in creative writing.-Grace Oliff, Ann Blanche Smith School, Hillsdale, NJ (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.

This guide to writing fiction gives some good advice (interview your character, know your setting, outline your plot). But the wordy, awkward, overexcited prose stretches too far for its ""recipe"" conceit, ultimately proving confusing rather than inspiring. Bright cartoonish illustrations featuring a purple polar bear offer humorous flavor but seem too young for the target audience. Reading list. Glos., ind. (c) Copyright 2010. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted. All rights reserved.