How Do You Raise a Raisin?

By Pam Munoz Ryan

Illustrated by Craig Brown

How Do You Raise a Raisin? is a great model for a narrative informational text.

Book Talk

Pam Munoz Ryan provides a creative example of informational writing for young writers. 

She introduces the information about different aspects of a raisin by asking questions framed in a fun, rhyming poem.  Then, on the same page, she provides the answers to the questions-in-the-poem in an interesting, easy to read text.

An example of this unique informational text:

Poem at the top of the page:

“So, who discovered raisins?

Were they here when Earth began?

Who was the first to nibble them—dinosaur or man?”

Answer at the bottom of the page:(Great illustration in between!)

“Raisins were probably discovered when someone 

or someTHING tasted grapes that had dried on

the vine. Over the years people and animals

figured out which grapes produced the sweetest, 

yummiest raisins.”

The book continues in this way, with every turn of the page presenting a new poem asking a question about raisins.  

The last few pages, a narrative timeline is presented telling readers what is known about the history of the raisin.

Suggested Uses as a Mentor Text:

Book Genre: Informational (Narrative)

Reading Workshop strategies: Inferring, Questioning, Search and Use Information

Writing Workshop genre: Informational (Narrative), Strong Lead

Curricular Themes: Health/Food Groups

Bio on Pam Munoz Ryan:http://www.scholastic.com/teachers/contributor/pam-munoz-ryan-1