Writers Love Words, And So Does Max

This week's gemstone book to share is:  Max's Words by Kate Banks.

• illustrated by Boris Kulikov
• published by Frances Foster Books (Farrar, Straus and Giroux)
• 2006
• 698 words (took me about 40 minutes to copy by hand)
• Summary: When Max cuts out words from magazines and newspapers, collecting them the way his brothers collect stamps and coins, they all learn about words, sentences, and storytelling.

Sparkle Element:  As with all good books, I like this one on several levels. I like it because as a child, I collected both stamps and coins. Oh, and words too. Now, I only collect words (and 4-leaf clovers). I like how Max has all the power in the story, even though he doesn't know it at first. He works hard to find a way to get what he wants.  

The fact that storytelling has been done and continues to be done as a group effort resonated with me. It's a great way to brainstorm ideas and to make the mind work. It's a good writing exercise. For plot, character, suspense, action, and even setting.

Here is a list of 10+ picture books about writing, storytelling, and words:

1. Max's Words by Kate Banks
2. The Plot Chickens by Mary Jane Auch
3. Patches Lost and Found by Steven Kroll
4. The Boy Who Loved Words by Roni Schotter
5. A Weave of Words by Robert D. San Souci
6. Words Are Like Faces by Edith Baer
7. Frederick by Leo Lionni
8. Jeffrey and Sloth by Kari-Lynn Winters
9. The Desperate Dog Writes Again by Eileen Christelow
10. You Can Write a Story! by Lisa Ballard
11. The Best Story by Eileen Spinelli
12. Snow Day by Moira Fain
13. Library Mouse by Daniel Kirk 

This list is by no means comprehensive. I also own three of them.

QUESTION: Do you know of more fiction picture books that are about writing or the love of words? Share in the comments below!

Keep on keepin' on...