Customer Reviews

Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One (Picture Puffins)

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This is probably the best book I've ever used to teach story elements. A little girl and her aunt create their own story together. All along the way the aunt introduces the story elements. I use this method to teach my second graders the elements of story telling first and then story writing. Excellent!

This charming picture book helps young readers or listeners gain an understanding of the things that make a story good, or what the English teachers like to call "story elements;" you remember, those things like "plot" and "character" and "conflict."

Aunt Isabel spins a tale to entertain her young guest, and as she does, she explains all the things she'll need to make a good story. At some points, Penelope protests, until Isabel sets her straight as to why these things need to be included.

I have used this with my middletellers troupe to help them gain a sense of how to structure the stories they tell. Even though this is a young child's book, my 12-15 year old tellers seem to enjoy this more than any dull lecture I could give them. And therein lies proof of the value of story itself to teach. A truly delightful book!

My boys are 3 yrs old and too young to create stories, but they still love the storyline and illustrations of the book itself. The book is wonderful for preschoolers since it uses animals for the characters and the wording is perfect for reading aloud. It's full of adventure and the "scary" parts are downplayed by the whimsical illustrations.

For older children who are developing their writing talents, this would be an great way to "explain" the characteristics of "a good story" as requested by Penelope. Throughout the book, Aunt Isabel adds various "ingredients" essential for a good story. She starts with a WHEN and WHERE, adding a hint of scariness and cheerfullness in the adventure. Her details of the characters allow us to be part of the story. The conversation of the main characters leads to ROMANCE, but "too much niceness is dull" so they add a PROBLEM. A little DANGER is also "good for a story". Of course the heroine has creative ways of getting them out of danger and things work out in the end. "It's the HAPPY ENDING every good story should have", according to Aunt Isabel. And best of all, Aunt Isabel leaves the ending open for more adventures, because now, it's time for bed.

Several years ago I got this book from our public library to read to our two small children and two others we were babysitting at the time. I don't know whether the children or I enjoyed it more, but later when I went back to borrow the library's copy again, I was disappointed to find it no longer available.

A month or so later, the children and I were invited to visit another home-based daycare in our neighbourhood for the afternoon--the "library lady" was coming for an hour of stories and games. At the end of the visit, she pulled out a stack of discarded picture books and said she was going to give them to the daycare moms, as the library no longer needed them.

"Thank you," I said, "but I'd better not take any--our family already has a lot of books." I suggested that the other mother keep all of them. However, as we walked toward the door I suddenly spotted "Aunt Isabel Tells a Good One" in the pile. I walked back, pointed, and said, "Well actually...can we have THAT one?" Thus we ended up with a copy of our own.

This book would be excellent for teaching ANYONE how to create a story. I'd never seen the process explained so clearly, so concisely, and so humourously. When I write my first book, I'll probably get "Aunt Isabel" out and use her for a template.

This is an excellent book. It is a great resource to teach story elements.

This book is great for teaching story elements. I always start out the year (when we are teaching narratives) reading this book. I talk about all the parts, and we discuss what makes a really good story. It really motivates the students to write and do it correctly. I allow the student to create their own story step-by-step as I read the book back to them a second time around. They love it!

I read this book to my third grade students to discuss elements of a good story. They loved making predictions and discussing the story. The girls and boys both liked it because it all the elements of a great story.

This was by far my two daughters favorite book when they were little. I was beyond excited when I found it so available on Amazon. I have bought several copies and plan on giving it to any and all babies born to friends and family. A great read-out-loud book for the creative person.

I have been using this book to introduce narrative writing to my third grade students for years. They love it, and it really helps them to understand how to put a story together. My kids are spellbound when the plot gets worse and the villains almost have their way.

Instead of just telling a story, Aunt Isabel sets out to explain HOW she tells a story, as she does it. And she does, fairly competently (and without sounding too didactic, something which always turns me off a book), but the result is that this is a fairly wordy book, save it for the older end of the 4 - 8 age range.