Let’s Get Writing! 13 Picture Books to Encourage Writing

Does your child love to write? They’re not alone! Lots of kids enjoy writing stories on the computer or on paper. In this book list, you’ll find more than a dozen picture books to encourage writing.

But not every kid loves to read and write from the moment they’re born. When my oldest daughter finished kindergarten, she wasn’t the strongest reader. She was struggling. So, I asked her teacher what I could do over the summer to help her. Her answer surprised me. She said that the best way to help kids read better was to encourage them to write their own stories. BAM! It was a light bulb moment for me.

That summer, and every summer since, I’ve made sure my kids had access to paper, pencils, crayons, markers, stickers, and anything else they needed to write a story. And it worked! My kids love writing stories, they’re strong readers, and I couldn’t be happier.

Since reading and writing are two activities that go hand in hand, I’ve created this list of picture books that encourage kids to write. From workbooks and how-to manuals to funny stories and inspirational writing prompts, these picture books teach kids about the writing process. Whether you’re looking for picture books to teach writing in the classroom or at home, these titles will instruct, inspire, and motivate your child to write their own stories!

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Picture Books to Encourage Writing

101 Story Starters for Little Kids by Maisy Day

Kids love making up their own crazy stories, but sometimes they need something to get them started. This book is filled with fun and creative story starters and first sentences to give kids a head start on their own story. With over 100 creative writing prompts to choose from, there is something in this book for everyone. If you want story starters for kids in grades 4-7, check out the companion book.

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Little Red Writing by Joan Holub and Melissa Sweet

When her class is given the assignment to write a story, Little Red is excited. She likes writing stories and she wants to write an exciting one. As she starts her story-writing journey, she finds herself in a deep, dark forest. It’s a good thing her teacher gave her a basket full of words to use. This delightful picture book about writing a story is the perfect way to introduce young children to creative writing.

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Author, A True Story by Helen Lester

This is an older book, but it’s a true gem. The author shares her own story of learning how to write. As the young Helen grows up, she faces many challenges to her writing, but she overcomes them all. This delightful book shares that obstacles are part of the journey. The key is persistence.

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The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch

Learn the rules of writing with this plucky chick. With the help of her three clucky aunts, Henrietta writes and publishes a book. But when the bad reviews start pouring in, Henrietta’s feathers get ruffled. This hilarious picture book will have your kids in stitches as they learn the rules of writing.

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Rocket Writes a Story by Tad Hills

Kids who have grown up on a steady diet of Tad Hills books like Duck and Goose will like this story about the dog Rocket who wants to write a story. When he can’t decide what to write about, he takes a walk and gathers all sorts of ideas. This book is as cute as it is helpful!

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A Squiggly Story by Andrew Larsen

A little boy wants to write a story, but he doesn’t know how to write words. With the help of his older (and wiser) sister, he learns that getting started is the hardest part. This adorable book shows readers that we all have what we need in order to write a story.

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One Day, The End: Short, Very Short, Shorter-Than-Ever Stories by Rebecca Kai Dotlich

Every story needs a beginning and an end, but what about the middle? Is that part important? This brightly illustrated picture book teaches the importance of the middle of your story. Even though this book has super-short stories that are just a beginning and an end, the illustrations fill in the rest.

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Draw Your Own Comics! Blank Comic Book by Batch of Books

Sometimes, kids need to get visual before they can start writing. This blank comic book is filled with various panel layouts that kids can experiment with. They can plan out their comic, draw the illustrations, and write the narration and dialogue. It’s perfect for kids who love graphic novels and want a visual approach to writing a story.

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Ralph Tells a Story by Abby Hanlon

As anyone who has ever tried to write a story knows, blank page anxiety is a real thing. No matter how hard he tries, Ralph can’t come up with a story. With a little encouragement from his classmates, Ralph discovers that writing stories can be really fun! This adorable picture book from the author of the popular Dory Fantasmagory series will encourage even the most reluctant writers to put their pencil to paper.

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Writer’s Toolbox: Learn How to Write Letters, Fairy Tales, Scary Stories, Journals, Poems, and Reports by Nancy Loewen, illustrated by Dawn Beacon

This author and illustrator duo created an entire series of picture books to encourage writing anything from stories and poems to reports and letters. This book is a collection of six of their instructional books about writing. If you’re homeschooling, teaching a class, or have a child that loves writing, this is a great resource to have.

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Show Me a Story: Writing Your Own Picture Book by Nancy Loewen, illustrated by Dawn Beacon

This book isn’t included in the Writer’s Toolbox collection (above), but for kids that like writing picture books, this is a must-have resource. The book takes children through the mechanics of writing a picture book with fun and engaging text.

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Look at My Book! How Kids Can Write & Illustrate Terrific Books by Loreen Leedy

Get out the art supplies and turn on your thinking cap! This how-to book is an oldie but goodie. It gives kids a starting point for many kinds of creative projects, including writing and illustrating stories. Young authors and illustrators will feel inspired to write and draw ’til their heart’s content.

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Idea Jar by Adam Lehrhaupt, illustrated by Deb Pilutti

A teacher has a special jar for students to keep their story ideas in. But when you don’t use your ideas, they grow restless and rowdy. Find out what happens when these story ideas get tired of waiting and start to run rampant around the classroom! This adorable book is about stories, ideas, and how to combine them.

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The Word Collector by Peter H. Reynolds

Dive into the wonderful world of words with this delightful picture book about a boy who collects them. He finds words in books, in conversations, and all around him. This picture book is a celebration of words and all the amazing things they can do.

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Related post: Keep Kids Busy with These Activity Books

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