Then I asked the students to help me come up with some “if” sentences for my garden picture: “If you want to go into the garden, you have to say the secret password” “If you plant a piece of Lego, a Lego box will grow” We first looked for “if” sentences in Kevin Henkes book. The new writing technique I introduced for this piece of writing was “if” sentences cause an effect sentences that can add a sophisticated sentence structure to beginning writing. Every morning when I go into my garden there is a new book growing just for me! In my garden there is a book tree that grows books. I asked the students to help me think of an interesting detail I could add about my book tree: Adding details is one way we can help make our writing interesting. I reminded the students that writers need to make sure their writing is interesting for their readers. Many hands went up to tell me that I had written “robot writing” – “Boring!” Teacher model: “Robot Writing” I read my piece out loud and asked the children to tell me what they had noticed about it. I had intentionally written in “robot writing”, listing facts with no details. And when you pick a hockey card – the guy shows up!” There was even a tree that grew French Fries and a nest that was filled with ketchup! Sharing their garden pictures with a partner – “Point and Talk” Sharing Garden picturesĪfter the children shared their garden pictures, we met on the carpet and I showed them the writing I had done about my garden. One little boy was so excited to tell me that “In my garden there is a tree that grows hockey cards. The chatter in the room was filled with excitement as the children described the amazing things in their gardens.

Kevin Henkes lives with his family in a house in Madison, Wisconsin.The next day, when their garden pictures were complete, the students paired up and did a “point and talk- point to your picture and talk to your partner about it”.

His other books include Sun Flower Lion, A Parade of Elephants, Chrysanthemum, and the beloved Lilly’s Purple Plastic Purse. He received the Caldecott Medal for Kitten’s First Full Moon Caldecott Honors for Waiting and Owen two Newbery Honors-one for Olive’s Ocean and one for The Year of Billy Miller-and Geisel Honors for Waiting and Penny and Her Marble. Kevin Henkes has been praised both as a writer and as an illustrator and is the recipient of the Children’s Literature Legacy Award for his lasting contribution to literature for children.

My garden by kevin henkes