Metaphor and simile lesson plans can be a lot of fun. There's such an inherent creativity in them! The children's books below can help encourage children's creativity and provide clever 'real world' examples of how they enhance writing! Metaphors and similes are like a box of chocolates-- you never know what the students will come up with.
Once
the creative juices start flowing, that is. Some students get stuck in
the "I can't think of anything" mentality, so it's a good idea to start
the writing activity by exposing kids to creative and
fun examples. The children's books on this page are great for this. Once kids see
some examples, they have a jumping off point for their own creations!
We'd love to grow this list! If you have a favorite book that
you use in metaphor and simile lesson plans, please take a minute to share it with us by clicking here.
My Best Friend is as
Sharp as a Pencil
& other funny classroom
portraits (full of stunning
found-art illustrations)
by Hanoch Piven
1st grade to 5th grade
Skin Like Milk,
Hair of Silk
What Are Similes &
Metaphors? (Words are
CATegorical series)
by Brian Cleary
1st grade and up
My Dog is as Smelly
as Dirty Socks
and other funny family
portraits (full of stunning
found-art illustrations)
by Hanoch Piven
1st grade to 5th grade
Quick as a Cricket
by Audrey Wood
(intended audience is young,
but is great for teaching
similes to older kids)
Muddy as a Duck Puddle
and other American similes
by Laurie Lawlor
2nd grade to 5th grade
Crazy like a Fox:
A Simile Story
(story about a fox, a lamb,
and a surprise party)
by Loreen Leedy
Kindergarten to 3rd grade
Stubborn as a Mule
and other Silly Similes
by Nancy Loewen
2nd grade to 5th grade
You're Toast and Other
Metaphors We Adore
by Nancy Loewen
2nd grade to 5th grade
We also have a list of kids' books that have lots of similes and metaphors, and thus would be good as examples during simile lesson plans. To see those books, click the arrow below.
sale language arts books: just $2.75 each
These books are used but in great shape! Kids are hard on books. Don't waste your money on new, pristine books that will stay pristine for 5 minutes. Our used [but still very good] book sets are a perfect middle ground.