Rosie Woods in Little Red Writing Hood - by Maya Myers

About the Book

"Rosie is a good writer, so how come she can't come up with a single good story idea when her friend Wolfie has a million ideas? Rosie knows all the elements needed for a good story, but she wants her story for a class assignment to be GREAT--and that means giving it a surprise twist. Then Wolfie himself unwittingly inspires the perfect idea for the twist Rosie's been looking for. But will using it make her story better or ruin her friendship with Wolfie?"--

Book Synopsis

Rosie is a good writer, so how come she can't come up with a single good story idea when her friend Wolfie has a million ideas? Rosie knows all the elements needed for a great story, but she wants her story for a class assignment to be really great--and that means giving it a surprise twist. Then Wolfie himself unwittingly inspires the perfect idea for the "twist" Rosie's been looking for. But will using it make her story better or ruin her friendship with Wolfie? Author Maya Myers, former K-1 teacher and classroom literacy specialist, infuses this tale with clever curricula and captures the antics, excitement, drama, and hilarity of elementary school. Rich back matter offers additional curriculum support.

Review Quotes

Rosie Woods is a quiet bookworm who revels in the world of cleverly crafted stories. In sharp contrast stands Wolfie, an exuberant young boy and a veritable chatterbox. As the third-grade class embarks on the journey of learning to write their own tales, Rosie finds herself in a bit of a predicament. While Wolfie incessantly spills the beans about his exciting villainous ideas, Rosie struggles to find her creative footing. Her inspiration strikes after a visit to her grandmother's house, where she draws upon her observations of Wolfie to model a character in her story. She artfully captures his big eyes, big ears, and a big ol' nose, though she grapples with the dilemma of casting her friend as the story's villain rather than hero, fearing it might hurt his feelings. The sporadic illustrations include glimpses into Rosie's notebook, with word balloons reminiscent of graphic novels as well as textured and detailed color drawings. Author Myers, a former teacher, skillfully navigates the creative writing process for elementary-age children. Her expertise shines through as she takes the reader on a journey through the various stages of storytelling. The back matter extends the book's educational value, offering readers the opportunity to 'Think About It' and 'Dig Deeper.' It provides a guide for analyzing stories, along with vocabulary related to essential elements of a story and the writing process, introducing terms such as 'revision' and 'setting.' VERDICT A clever and engaging early chapter book that will undoubtedly find its way into the eager hands of young readers. Recommended for school libraries, where it can serve as a valuable resource for budding writers and literature enthusiasts alike.--Ellen Williams "School Library Journal"

Third-grader Rosie has to write a story by the end of the week. Rosie is very quiet and a very good reader; she even has a grandmother who's a librarian. So she should be able to come up with something really good. All the other kids have lots of ideas, especially her best friend and total opposite, Wolfie, a spontaneous blurter who never stops talking. While her classmates work their way through various tasks, like brainstorming and identifying the four main parts of their stories (the setting, main character, problem, and solution), Rosie seems stuck, wondering if she'll even be able to include her secret ingredient: a plot twist. Oblivious Wolfie chatters on and inadvertently gives Rosie an idea. With lots of encouragement from Gram, Rosie comes up with a good story with a great plot twist that even Wolfie likes. The action moves right along, and the straightforward language and simple declarative sentences are especially suitable for newly independent readers. This is an engaging addition for most libraries' chapter-book sections.--Kathleen McBroom "Booklist"