About the Author

Laura Purdie Salas is the author of more than 100 books for kids and teens. Her work has received the Minnesota Book Award and other honors, including Bank Street Best Books of the Year, and NCTE Notables. She and her husband live in Minnesota and have two monsters of their own, Maddie and Annabelle. When Laura's not reading or writing, she likes to dance, play games, and work with the Minnesota Brass drum corps (which involves a lot of Counting, following Patterns, and creating Shapes on the field). She tries to eat More vegetables and Less brownies, but that is hard! Learn more about Laura at laursalas.com.

Reviews

...Laura Purdie Salas walks students through the process using pictures to spur poetry. With these as a starting point, she helps young poets develop the tools needed to produce engaging writing. . . .The many tips, examples, and opportunities to"write about it," will unlock the imagination of students who want to write poetry--and help teachers who want to give them a strong start.-- "School Librarian's Workshop"

Starred Review! This series was a delightful surprise. I should have believed the subtitle: Using Photos to Inspire Writing, but I had to begin reading to realize that this is not so much a "how-to" series as it is truly an enrichment series. The books assume the students can write, their object is to inspire writers to expand their writing. Each book is full of ideas and photos to explore, and gives delightful, short samples of writing. Each book takes topics such as setting, voice, bias, plot, genre, sensory details, point of view, or character and explores them with readers, then presents a challenge for students to develop on their own. Give these to a teacher who has asked for writing inspiration and let that teacher use them to show children how to enhance their own writing. Highly Recommended.-- "Library Media Connection"

Students will want to turn the page, and if not that, they will want to start writing!-- "Book Pushin Cats blog, Tri State Young Adult Review Committee"

Teachers and budding writers can find lots of advice on poetry writing in this book. Even if they choose not to write poetry but to use the photographs or exercises as writing prompts, so much the better. . . .This is a great writing primer, filled with ideas teachers can use with little modification. Readers will wish for even more tips, examples, and full-page photographs to inspire writers. This title is sure to build confidence in even the most inexperienced writing teacher.-- "Reading Today Online"

This writing inspiring and instructive book is highly recommended for an aspiring young writer and is a must for upper elementary and middle school classrooms.-- "Children's Literature Comprehensive Database"