The Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English Language Arts seem to relegate fiction and poetry to the back shelf. This change in emphasis, favoring nonfiction, has an impact in the classroom. After districts and schools realign the curriculum, many English teachers feel compelled to put away some of their fiction and poetry units. One way to sidestep the pressure to teach more nonfiction at the expense of fiction and poetry is to use short literature that does not consume much class time. In this article, Sheryl Lain discusses how she selects literature that teaches the literary elements embedded in author's craft and writing tone by reading poetry, picture books, and short fiction and by having students write, applying the literary device in their own creations.