Reading

Story elements are usually the​ ​most important​ ​features of ​any​ book that you read. They help the reader understand the book and keep the story running smoothly. Without any of these important aspects of a book, ​any​ story will seem ​pointless​ ​and ​boring​. 

They consist of 5 basic parts: 

Plot: 

●  Events​ that make up a story 

●  Main part​ of the story that includes characters, conflict, and setting 

●  Organizes​ important information of a story 

●  Most important​ story element (Without a plot, there is ​NO STORY​) 

Character: 

●  Person, animal, or thing​ in a story 

●  Without any characters, no one can perform any actions to keep the story flowing 

●  Authors use characters to ​perform actions​ or ​say something to one another 

●  Main character:​ Story is ​centered​ around them
 

Conflict:
●  The ​problem/s​ in the story
●  These can be ​major​ or ​minor
●  There is ​usually one ​large​ problem​ that drives the character along in the story, and a
few minor problems.
●  The story usually ends after the conflict is resolved, but in some cases, the author chooses
to have the characters never solve it.
 

Theme:
●  “Big Idea”​ or ​message​ of a story
●  What ​idea or belief​ the author uses to convey the reader the message of the story
●  Stories usually have ​more than one​ theme
●  Identified by the plot, characters, and conflict in the story
 

Setting:
●  The ​location​ where the story takes place
●  The location could be ​anywhere imaginable​, from your town to a fantasy world the
author created
●  The setting also has a ​time​ that the events of the story are happening in
●  The author’s description of the setting could involve the 5 basic​ senses ​(sight, hearing,
smell, taste, and touch) and more 

What is the main idea?
● The main idea is the ​main point​ that the author tries to get across to the reader 

throughout the course of the book.
● It is a ​concept​ that is used throughout the whole book. 

It is ​NOT​ the theme!!! 

How to find the main idea? 

●  The easiest way to find the main idea is to eliminate what you know is not the main idea.
●  When looking for the main idea, try to identify the ​main topic/concept ​of the story.
●  Make sure to have read the full story/book because what seems to be the main idea might
change at any point.
●  To come up with the main idea, simply ​summarize the book in one simple sentence​. 

                   ○ For example: In the book, ​Are You My Mother? ​By P. D. Eastman, the main idea is that ​        the bird is looking for his mother​. 

What is the difference between theme and main idea? 

●  Main idea is the ​topic/main events​ that are found usually ​after reading the whole story.
●  There is only ​1 main idea.
●  The theme is a ​lesson, moral, message, or idea​ that is prominent in the book in ​many
places.
●  There can be ​multiple themes. 

What is Cause & Effect? 

●  An ​action​ with a ​reaction
●  Someone or something performs an ​action (cause)​, which causes a ​reaction (effect)
●  Usually the effect impacts the story
●  Keeps the story flowing
 

How to identify the cause and its effect?
●  When you read a sentence with a cause and effect ask yourself: ​What was the action?
●  After you know what the action was ask yourself: ​What did that action do?​ Or ​What as
the reaction in response to the action?
●  Always remember:​ Action = Cause​ and ​Reaction = Effect
●  You can also use signal words to identify the cause and effect.
 

What are some common signal words?
●  So
●  Because
●  If...then...
●  Since
●  As a result
●  Due to
●  Therefore
●  Consequently
●  Thus  

What is a summary? 

●  Simply ​retelling​ of the story
●  Answers the questions: ​Who? What? When? Where? Why? How?
●  Also identifies the ​main idea​ and​ themes
●  After reading a summary of something, the reader should know what happened in the
story and what it was about.
●  Not very detailed
 

How to write the best summary:
●  Your summary should answer the questions: ​Who? What? When? Where? Why?
How?
●  Keep the ​story elements​ in mind
●  It should identify the​ main point​ and ​concept​ of the book
●  Should be ​shortened version​ of the story
●  You should keep the ​big picture​ and ​main characters ​in mind, as they are what a
summary consists of. 

 *Books Start at Grade K and progress to Grade 5 

Picture Books: 

 ●  Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? by Bill Martin, Jr.
●  Biscuit by Alyssa Satin Capucilli
●  Pete the Cat by Eric Litwin and James Dean
●  The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt
●  Zack’s Alligator by Shirley Mozelle
●  Clifford by Norman Bridwell
●  Woolbur by Leslie Helakoski
●  The Well at the End of the World by Robert D. San Souci
●  Happy Birthday Jamela! by Niki Daly
●  Fancy Nancy by Jane O’Connor
●  Any Dr. Seuss Book
●  Where the Sidewalk Ends by Shel Silverstein
●  Strega Nona by Tomie dePoala
●  Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
●  Knuffle Bunny by Mo Willems
●  The Five Chinese Brothers
●  Perfect the Pig by Susan Jeschke
●  Corduroy by Don Freeman
●  The Berenstain Bears by Stan and Jan Berenstain
 

Chapter Books and Series:
●  Judy Moody by Megan McDonald
●  Junie B. Jones by Barbara Park
●  Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate Di-Camillo
●  Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Patterson
●  Flora and Ulysses by Kate DiCamillo
●  Wonder by R.J. Palacio
●  Escape of Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein
 

Graphic Novels:
●  The Adventures of Geronimo Stilton by Elisabetta Dami
●  Smile by Raina Telgemeier
●  Roller Girl by Victoria Jamieson
●  El Deafo by Cece Bell