Stories by Storie

Everyone has a story to tell. What is yours?

  • Stories by Storie
  • Home
  • About
  • Blog
    • Book Activities
    • Book Lists
    • Classroom Management
    • Freebies
    • Math
    • Reading Tips
    • Writing
  • Free
  • Shop
    • Teachers Pay Teachers
    • Amazon
    • Bookshop
  • Subscribe
  • Contact

Fortunately, Unfortunately Stories

January 10, 2016

Several weeks ago I shared with you about an entertaining poem I write with my students (click here to read).  Now I’m back to share a second form of writing I have done with my second and third grade students: Fortunately, Unfortunately stories.
we are a participant in the amazon services llc associates program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to amazon.com and affiliated sites.

Many moons ago when I was a little girl, my teacher read me the book, Fortunately by Remy Charlip and I wrote my own Fortunately, Unfortunately story.
I knew I had to get my hands on this book. Unfortunately, it’s kind of hard to find.  Fortunately, our school library had a copy I could borrow. I read it to my students and we discussed all of the elements the author used. It also helped that we had previously worked on cause and effect, too.
For the next two weeks my students worked on these stories during Daily 5 and either myself or a volunteer would conference with them during our writing block.  Finally the stories were finished.  I typed them up in Word and then created little booklets where each idea had it’s own page.

(Please forgive my use of Comic Sans – this story was typed a few years ago)

The books were printed and the students started illustrating.  Once completed, the students picked their cover (fancy-schmancy cardstock), the books were assembled, and ready to share.

Fortunatelyby Remy Charlip is my favorite book to use with my students before we write these stories. However, this book is not always easy to find. There is good news – I was recently introduced to this book, which follows a similar pattern: Fortunately, Unfortunately by Michael Foreman.

These books are a great way to encourage your students to write their own Fortunately, Unfortunately stories.

You can click on any of the covers below to learn more about each book. Or click the buttons to shop for these books on Amazon and Bookshop.
I hope you’ll try writing these stories with your own students. You might also like:

Picture Books about Writing

Friendly Letter Writing Mentor Texts

How-To Writing Mentor Texts

Opinion Writing Mentor Texts

Happy Teaching!
Looking for a way to add more excitement to your writing block? Introduce Fortunately, Unfortunately stories to your children. These stories are inspired by the authors of two children's books and students really enjoy writing in this style.
signature

Related posts:

This School Year Will Be the Best Freebie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs Snowzilla Idea Jar Activities
«
»

Filed Under: book activities, writing 1 Comment

Comments

  1. Kristin Krem says

    January 12, 2016 at 5:00 pm

    Great idea. Thanks for sharing.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Search

Categories

Latest on Instagram

My favorite library find this week is a charming s My favorite library find this week is a charming story with an unexpected narrator - one who works her magic to help two strangers form a friendship. 

Every day, Ellie the elevator works tirelessly to make the residents of her building happy. She loves everyone who lives in her building - even the dogs with muddy paws and the over-enthusiastic button-pushers. But Ellie has a soft spot for Thea, who bounces through Ellie’s doors with a cheerful grin every day.

After Thea’s best friend moves away, Ellie rarely sees Thea smile anymore. Ellie wants to cheer Thea up…but what can an elevator do to help? Leave it to Ellie to make Thea’s world better!

The Elevator on 74th Street
📚 @simonkids + Beach Lane Books 
✏️ @authorlauragehl 
🎨 @yas.imamura 

Have you read this book yet?

⭐️ Not only would this be a great addition to your friendship collection, but it could also be used to help teach personification!
As we step into a fresh new year, it’s the perfect As we step into a fresh new year, it’s the perfect time to introduce kids to the power of goal setting. These picture books are just what you need to inspire students to dream big, set meaningful goals, and understand the value of perseverance, hard work, and having a growth mindset. 

By guiding students to set their own goals and resolutions, we’re not just teaching them to aim high, but we’re giving them the tools and support needed to navigate challenges and celebrate their achievements along the way. 

What is your favorite book to share about goal setting in the new year?

🔗 Ready to check out more books for goal setting?
Blog Post: https://storiesbystorie.com/picture-books-for-goal-setting/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/49gPkHn
(affiliate link)

.
.
.
.
.
.
#classroombookaday #childrensbooks #kidlit #iteach #iteachtoo teachersfollowteachers picturebooks iteach2nd picturebooksaremyjam elementaryteacher kidsbooksofinstagram
🎶 On the first day of Christmas…🎵 These are not y 🎶 On the first day of Christmas…🎵

These are not your typical advent calendars! Each of these books features a new chapter of the story to read every day as we count down the days to Christmas.

And it’s not too late to add these to your cart. I’m pretty sure you won’t go on the naughty list if you have to read a couple of chapters a day to catch up! 😉 

🧑‍🎄 The Christmas Contest 
@simonkids 
Santa notices that there are too many kids on the nice list. He  worries he won’t be able to deliver all of the presents by himself. He decides to find a new apprentice by holding a contest featuring sledding, a reindeer rodeo, and Yule log eating! But who will win?

🎄Jingle All the Way Home
@clarionbooks @harperkids 
When Chris discovers a puppy wedged in his family’s chimney on Christmas morning, he knows exactly how it got there because the dog tells him. Jingle stowed away in Santa’s sleigh, got left behind accidentally, and he can talk! Can Chris, his big sister, Holly, and her best friend, Ivy, find a way to help Jingle return to the North Pole?

A big thank you to the publishers for sharing these books with my family!

.
.
.
.
.
.
#picturebooksofinstagram #kidlit #picturebooklove #childrensbookstagram #classroombookaday #picturebookaday  #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteach #iteachtoo #librarylove #kidsbookstagram #picturebooksaremyjam #kidlitpicks #iteachtoo #SimonKidsCrew
If you could build the perfect town, what would it If you could build the perfect town, what would it look like?

🌳 Would it include spectacular trees with walkways that rise high above the ground?

🦒 Would you add an open-air zoo with well-behaved animals, including Jurassic and mythical creatures? 

🤖 Would there be robots running the grocery store where all items are free? 

📚 Would your library be filled with cozy nooks and stacks of books, where no one tells you what you can and can’t read?

Those are just some of the ideas Jack shares with Mayor McKay in Chris Van Dusen’s latest book, If I Built a Town.

I love that all of these books encourage kids to explore their imagination without limitations. They would be a great addition to your home or classroom library!

If I Built Series
✏️ 🎨 @chrisvandusenbooks
📚 @penguinkids

🔗 Ready to check out more books that inspire creativity?
Blog Post: https://storiesbystorie.com/childrens-books-that-inspire-creativity/

Amazon: http://amzn.to/3WNphAd
(affiliate link)

.
.
.
.
.
.
#classroombookaday #childrensbooks #kidlit #iteach #iteachtoo #teachersfollowteachers #picturebooks #iteach2nd #picturebooksaremyjam #elementaryteacher #kidsbooksofinstagram
If you love Strictly No Elephants as much as I do, If you love Strictly No Elephants as much as I do, you’ll want to read The Trouble with Giraffes. 

In this follow-up story, a young girl is on her way to Pet Club with her giraffe. When they get there, her giraffe is too tall to fit inside. I guess it’s a good thing there’s some delicious salad right outside the clubhouse window!

After the girl gets hurt, her friends are ready with a welcome back party at the clubhouse. When she realizes just how high off the ground it is, she starts questioning how welcoming the Pet Club actually is - especially if some can’t get inside. 

Can she find a way to make sure All Are Welcome, just like the sign on the door says?

This sweet story reminds us that friendship often requires a lot of compromise. But when one friend can’t quite reach the middle, a true friend will meet you more than halfway. It combines a story of friendship with an important message about inclusion and accessibility.

Have you read 🦒 The Trouble with Giraffes or 🐘 Strictly No Elephants yet?

Thank you @simonkids for sharing this book with my family! I can’t wait to see if more books are added to The Pet Club series by @lisamantchev and @yooillustration ! 

 

.
.
.
.
.
.
#picturebooksofinstagram #kidlit #picturebooklove #childrensbookstagram #classroombookaday #picturebookaday  #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteach #iteachtoo #librarylove #kidsbookstagram #picturebooksaremyjam #kidlitpicks #iteachtoo #SimonKidsCrew
Jasper Rabbit is back!! We’ve seen him tackle Cre Jasper Rabbit is back!!

We’ve seen him tackle Creepy Carrots, a Creepy Crayon, and a Creepy Pair of Underwear. This time he has a different tale to share…one filled with chills AND chuckles.

In this story we meet Charlie Marmot. Unfortunately, his tonsils are infected and need to come out. He’s nervous about the operation, but excited about the extra ice cream. Then he has the brilliant idea to keep his tonsils so he can take them to school for show-and-tell! On the big day, Charlie opens wide. However, when the doctor looks inside, the tonsils are already gone! 

This longer chapter book combines the writing style we’ve come to know and love with a plot that will make you feel like you’ve entered The Twilight Zone. With a touch of eerie excitement, get ready for an adventure filled with laughter and an unexpected twist! Perfect for readers of the original series who are ready for a few more thrills and chills!

📚 Do you have a favorite Creepy Tale?

Thank you @simonkids for sharing this book with my family!

 

.
.
.
.
.
.
#picturebooksofinstagram #kidlit #picturebooklove #childrensbookstagram #classroombookaday #picturebookaday  #teachersofinstagram #teachersfollowteachers #iteach #iteachtoo #librarylove #kidsbookstagram #picturebooksaremyjam #kidlitpicks #iteachtoo #SimonKidsCrew
A heartfelt thank you to Peter Brown for captivati A heartfelt thank you to Peter Brown for captivating readers of all ages with The Wild Robot series! Your ability to bring Roz’s adventures to life in both chapter book and picture book form is nothing short of magical. 

The Wild Robot introduces us to Roz, and readers get to tag along as she finds herself on a strange, new island. Along the way she learns that the only way to survive is to adapt to her surroundings and learn from the other animals who live there. 

The Wild Robot on the Island might simplify Roz’s story, but the detailed, colorful illustrations draw young readers in. 

Combined, these stories are perfect for readers of all ages and attention spans. They remind us that adventure, friendship, and self-discovery can be beautifully explored in any format. 

Do you have a favorite book in The Wild Robot series?
 
#TheWildRobot

Copyright © 2026 · Website Design By Jumping Jax Designs