Writing with Rosie

September 5, 2016
Giff warmly documents the steps of her writing process, joined by her rambunctious dog, Rosie. Using excerpts from her own books, including Lily’s Crossing and Pictures of Hollis Woods, to help bolster the ideas being introduced, Giff explains how stories begin by coming up with “a person or two” to focus on, finding a setting for that person, and giving him or her a problem to solve. In later chapters, Giff walks readers through creating action and dialogue, as well as juggling the components of story. When writer’s block sets in, she offers clear and constructive advice: “Tell yourself it’s usually one or two things that make the story stop: a person who doesn’t seem real, or a problem that doesn’t make your person worry enough.” It’s an encouraging and frank look at the basics of storytelling, described with compassion and insight. Ages 8–12.

Starred review from July 1, 2016
A writer and her dog team up to offer tips on how to write stories. Giff's 70-pound dog, Rosie, is good at flapping her ears, wagging her tail, and shredding the daily newspaper--and, it turns out, she can be a good model for lessons on writing techniques, too. In 80 pages divided into 34 brief chapters, the volume offers a full course on the elements of fiction for young writers. With Rosie's help and brief, illustrative excerpts from her own novels--Lily's Crossing (1997), Eleven (2008), Pictures of Hollis Woods (2002), and others--Giff demonstrates how to create characters, establish a setting, give a character a problem to solve, and write dialogue. Many recent well-intentioned guides to teaching writing are big and intimidating, and brevity proves a boon here, making this short, engaging manual that speaks directly to readers the best recent writing guide for young readers and writers. The cover featuring Rosie and her presence as a canine writing prompt skews this guide to a younger audience, but it would be handy in middle school classrooms as well. The final chapter, "Read," is an ode to the delights and values of reading. The last line: "I begin to read." A simple and lively guide for young writers everywhere. (bibliography) (Nonfiction. 8-13)

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September 1, 2016

Gr 3-5-A step-by-step guide for young aspiring writers of fiction, featuring Giff's golden retriever, Rosie. In this loving and personal guide, Giff walks students through her own writing process, beginning with character ideas and moving on to cover plot, setting, dialogue, and more. Chapters like "Can You See How I Did It?" and "Your Turn" accompany lessons and challenge readers to give it their own go. For instance, readers are encouraged to think of a problem for their character and contemplate how it might be resolved ("If the problem were yours, would it worry you? Would you have to do something about it?"). While doling out the writing tips, Giff also reflects on Rosie, using the dog's antics to give the read a lighter touch. ("A reader wants action...the action I'm involved in right now is searching for Rosie. That dog is trouble!") VERDICT Likely to be popular with Giff fans, a supplemental purchase for classroom libraries.-Megan Kilgallen, Packer Collegiate Institute, Brooklyn

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