Taste Your Words Picturebook

 

From the Publisher:

Teach kids about the power of words and the importance of kindness with this charming picture book that cleverly illustrates why we should think before we speak.

Amera's having a bad day. Her best friend ruined her cupcake and they both said mean things. When Amera brings her bad mood home with her, her mom tells her to "taste her words." Amera's mean words taste like rotten eggs, spoiled milk, and lemons! As Amera realizes that her mean words make her feel bad and others feel worse, she starts saying the kindest, sweetest words she can find.

Picture books in the middle:

This is a cute book where Amera literally must eat her words, or in her case, taste her words. Therefore, the nastier her attitude and words are, the grosser the foods are that hit her tongue. It takes her all day and being sent to her room, but she finally realizes that the opposite is also true. The nicer her words, the more delicious the taste of her words are.

Craft mini lessons using this book:

Examples of show don't tell language. Like an artist who paints on canvas, our writers paint word pictures in the mind of the reader. However, what if you are a struggling reader who does not see pictures in your mind while reading? This book can paint tastes on your tongue versus painting pictures in your mind. What does anger taste like? What does it smell like? What does forgiveness taste like? Smell like, feel like?

When should you use this book:

Use this book before writing their own stories, narratives or poems.  Use this as a model for other kinds of sensory writing. Use this book as a catalyst for students to go outside of the classroom and connect words with other sensory details by exploring outside and recording sounds, sights, smells, tastes, then be ready to connect their observations together into a sensory overload poem or short piece. Keep that in their writing folder as a possible inspiration for other pieces.