10 Inference Mentor Texts Title Image

Making Inferences is a reading comprehension skill that is essential to teach but can be challenging for some students. They may struggle to read beyond the text as they focus on what is explicitly stated within the text. As a result, teacher modeling provides students with the necessary thinking strategies to be successful with this skill. Check out these 10 picture books to teach inference!

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Wordless Picture Books

Wordless picture books are an amazing way to start your unit on making inferences. The simplicity of the books naturally encourages students to infer in order to understand the story. You may want to first begin with these wordless picture books!

10 Picture Books to Teach Inference

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The Wednesday Surprise

The Wednesday Surprise is sure to tug at your heartstrings. Grandma and Anna have been working together to surprise Dad with the best birthday present ever. Eve Bunting has so many books that are perfect for inferring. Some others to check out: The Memory String, Fly Away Home, How Many Days to America, Gleam and Glow, and The Wall.

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A Bad Case of Stripes

A Bad Case of Stripes by David Shannon tells the story of Camilla who is extremely worried about what other people think of her. In fact, she’s so worried that she breaks out into a case of stripes! Students love the imaginative story while also learning the importance of being true to yourself!

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Two Bad Ants

In Two Bad Ants by Chris Van Allsburg, we meet two ants who leave home to find sugar crystals for their queen. But they find themselves in a bit of a situation when they fall asleep in the sugar bowl! Chris Van Allsburg has several other books to use to practice inferring: Jumanji, Just a Dream, Ben’s Dream, and Wreck of the Zephyr.

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The Mysteries of Harris Burdick

The Mysteries of Harris Burdick by Chris Van Allsburg is one of the most commonly recommended mentor texts to use for making inferences. And for good reason! This collection of images and short captions encourages students to come up with their own stories. Unleash their creativity as the book doesn’t provide the answers for them!

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The Barnabus Project

The Barnabus Project by The Fan Brothers inspires readers to be true to themselves and find out where they belong. Barnabus is a half-mouse, half-elephant creature. He was created in a lab that was attempting to make perfect pets but instead, he has been labeled as a Failed Project. When the time comes that all Failed Projects are going to be recycled, he realizes it is time to make his escape!

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The Gardener

When Lydia Grace Finch moves to the city, she encounters a world of gray. Gradually with her seeds, she makes her surroundings a bit more beautiful. The Gardener by Sarah Stewart is written through letters that remind us to make the best with what we have.

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Tar Beach

Tar Beach by Faith Ringgold tells the story of Cassie who longs to be free to go beyond her apartment home in Harlem. One night while at her “tar beach” on the roof of her building, her dreams come true. Told through beautiful wording and illustrations, it reminds us to hold on to our dreams of being free.

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The Name Jar

The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi helps us be proud of who we are and our backgrounds. Unhei who just moved from Korea is nervous about being the new student at school. In an effort to fit in, she decides to choose an American name out of a jar. But nothing feels quite right until a friend helps her find the perfect name.

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Du Iz Tak?

Du Iz Tak? by Carson Ellis is sure to delight readers as they try to translate what the characters are saying! The insects all try to make sense of a small, green shoot that sprouted up from the ground. It gives us an appreciation of everything that’s happening all around us.

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Blackout

Blackout by John Rocco reminds us that sometimes it can actually be a good thing to break out of our normal routines. A bored, young boy wants his family members to spend time with him but they are all too busy. That is until the power goes out. This forces the family out of their normal routines and into making valuable memories together.

These are some of my favorite mentor texts but what other picture books to teach inference do you love using? Let us know in the comments!

Keep browsing for even more picture books to teach inference!

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