Hurrah for Essays! All English composition writing lessons should be this much fun. When cousins Dennis and Mellie decide to get a dog, they consider carefully what breed would be best for each family. For example, Dennis wants a big dog, but Mellie wants tiny. He has no other pets, but she has other pets that a dog must get along with. They consider different dog personalities, family situations, and personal preferences. Dennis writes an opinion essay for his teacher, Mrs. Shirky. But will his essay convince his parents to get the dog of his dreams? This story takes a popular subject—kids getting a pet—and adds dogs of all sizes and shapes: all writing lessons should be this much fun. In the end, it’s cousins and the dogs that keep a reader turning the page. What kind of dog will Dennis choose? Will Mellie want the same kind of dog? This story hits many language arts curriculum needs: -A family story about cousins, Dennis and Mellie -Information on dog breeds -Responsible dog ownership -Example of essay format -Basic English language arts for elementary or primary grades -Tips for teaching writing -Example or model of opinion essay for elementary students -Models the writing process, especially the importance of pre-writing or planning before you write -Completes the writing process by showing the results of Dennis’s essay I WANT A DOG almost makes good English opinion compositions and essays look too easy. BUY NOW! See other books in THE READ AND WRITE series: - I Want a Cat: My Opinion Essay - My Crazy Dog: My Narrative Essay - My Dirty Dog: My Informative Essay BUY THE WHOLE SET TODAY! ABOUT THE AUTHOR Children’s book author Darcy Pattison writes award-winning fiction and non-fiction books for children. Her works have received starred PW, Kirkus, and BCCB reviews. Awards include the Irma Black Honor award, five NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Books, Eureka! Nonfiction Honor book, Junior Library Guild selections, and NCTE Notable Children’s Book in Language Arts. She’s the 2007 recipient of the Arkansas Governor’s Arts Award for Individual Artist for her work in children’s literature. ABOUT THE ILLUSTRATOR In her debut picture book, Ewa O’Neill (ewaoneill.com) creates art that is luscious, inventive, and colorful, bringing the story energy and humor. A dog-lover herself, Ewa (pronounced Ĕ-vah) gives each breed a personality that helps kids begin to tell dog breeds apart. Perfect for remote learning, digital learning, or home learning. Printables available on our website. Classroom teachers will appreciate this breezy and engaging introduction to genre writing. The story outlines the development of an essay as two cousins, Dennis and Mellie, share what type of dog each would like, covering factors such as size, disposition, grooming requirements, and so on. Facts about various breeds are woven throughout their written communications, and charming pastel illustrations help portray canine physical and personality traits. Dennis' efforts not only earn him an A but also reward him with the pet of his choice: a Bernese mountain dog. The model essay can be used across multiple genres (informational and narrative nonfiction in addition to opinion). The action only covers a couple steps in the writing process (prewriting and publishing), but his picture book is not intended to be a textbook. Students will likely relate to the content, character, and the happy ending. Useful as an introduction to series such as Norwood House's Writing Builders, this can also be useful for teachers showing early elementary students the relevancy, power, and importance of effective writing. Booklist June 2015 ABOUT THE AUTHORChildren's book author Darcy Pattison finds inspiration in writing about wildlife and animals; twice her books have been honored as NSTAOutstanding Science Trade Books. Her science-nature picture booksinclude: Abayomi, the Brazilian Puma: The True Story of an Orphaned Cub (Mims House), an NSTA 2015 Outstanding Science Trade Book; - Wisdom, the Midway Albatross: Surviving the Japanese Tsunami and Other Disasters for Over 60 Years (Mims House), a starred review in Publisher's Weekly; - Desert Baths (Arbordale), an NSTA Outstanding Science Trade Book 2013; - and, Prairie Storms (Arbordale). Other picture books include The Journey of Oliver K. Woodman (Harcourt), which received an Irma Simonton Black and James H. Black Award forExcellence in Children's Literature Honor Book award, starred reviews in BCCB and Kirkus, and has been published in a Houghton Mifflin textbook; Searching for Oliver K. Woodman (Harcourt); 19 Girls and Me (Philomel); and 11 Ways to Ruin a Photograph: A Military Family Story (Mims House). Her series, The ALIEN, INC. CHAPTER BOOK SERIES includes Kell, the Alien ; Kell and the Horse Apple Parade ; Kell and the Giants ; and Kell and the Detectives . She is also the author of middle grade novels and teaches nationally aNovel Revision Retreat. For mor
