Finding the Heart of Nonfiction: Teaching 7 Essential Craft Tools with Mentor Texts

"Good writing is good writing no matter what genre you’re writing in, and I believe that there are only a handful of fundamental craft tools that are essential for any genre―including nonfiction."
Georgia Heard

Humanity and warmth are the cornerstones of quality nonfiction writing. But how can students create them in genres that at first seem more informational than intimate? In Finding the Heart of Nonfiction, Georgia Heard shows how mentor texts can help students read for seven essential craft tools and then use them to create inviting nonfiction that keeps readers’ interest.

Lyrical and practical, Finding the Heart of Nonfiction describes how to choose mentor texts, use them, and mine them for exemplary instruction. Between these suggestions and the instructional ideas, Georgia shows how students can write nonfiction that informs and inspires. You’ll find thoughtful, immediately useful support as you:

• introduce nonfiction with her handpicked, reproducible mentor texts
• get students writing with the instructional ideas in Georgia’s “Try This” sections
• familiarize writers with nonfiction craft and text features
• connect nonfiction work to the Common Core State Standards
• collect mentor texts tailored to your students.

“My hope,” writes Georgia, “is that you and your students will be inspired by the mentor texts I’ve chosen―but also inspired to seek out your own mentor texts and continue to explore the world through nonfiction.” Trust Finding the Heart of Nonfiction and help your students write with purpose, voice, and passion.

Preview the book. Download and read a sample chapter.

Georgia Heard has taught writing and poetry for over 25 years in urban, rural, and international classrooms.  She was the 2023 recipient of NCTE’s prestigious Award for Excellence in Poetry for Children.  Her numerous other books for teachers include Heart Maps, The Revision Toolbox, and Finding the Heart of Nonfiction.  The first edition of Awakening the Heart was heralded as one of “12 Books Every Teacher Should Read” by Instructor Magazine.  Georgia Heard received her M.F.A. in poetry from Columbia University and was a founding member of the Teachers College Reading and Writing Project.

In addition to her Heinemann professional books, Georgia is the coauthor of the professional titles Poetry Lessons to Meet the Common Core Standards and A Place for Wonder, as well as children’s literature such as Falling Down the Page: A Book of List Poems.